Steve Lonegan, New Jersey Director of Americans for Prosperity, released the following in his weekly update.
Quote of the Week:
“The true foundation of republican government is the equal right of every citizen in his person and property and in their management.” –Thomas Jefferson
New Jersey Continues to lead in Eminent Domain Abuse
A Note from State Director Steve Lonegan:
Yesterday I attended a press conference in Trenton with Cindy Gallenthin. The conference was in front of the Department of Environmental Protection where bureaucrats were meeting to plan an aggressive use of eminent domain to take Cindy’s farm. Cindy was prohibited from attending or partaking in the very meeting that could determine her future.This was the not the first time Cindy fought this battle. She and her husband George Gallenthin won a historic property rights lawsuit when the New Jersey Supreme court ruled 7 to 0 in their favor, defending them against an unlawful attempt to take their family farm by the Gloucester County Improvement Authority. The case took years and more than $500,000 in legal fees, as well as an emotional toll on the family.
When George Gallenthin left for Iraq with the Defense Department where he is currently embedded, he thought his farm was safe. He was wrong.
The Gloucester County Improvement Authority is planning another attempt to take the Gallenthin Property—this time using a different approach– claiming the land is needed for “public” access to a private business and therefore constitutes as “public use.” Cindy Gallenthin is alone and trying to defend the family farm against a coalition of Big Business and Big Government.
The Founding Fathers understood the importance of owning property without the fear of government powers interfering. Do not think the Gallenthin family farm is an isolated incident. Everyone reading this newsletter could become a victim of eminent domain abuse. I am urging all of our citizen activists to come to the aid of Cindy and George by calling your legislator, calling talk radio and writing letters to the editor. While George Gallenthin is in Iraq, that is the least we can do to stop this abuse.
We encourage you to contact your legislator and write to New Jersey newspapers. Tell them to defend Cindy Gallenthin’s property rights while her husband George defends our country and rights.
