(Wall Township, NJ ) The owner of the Monmouth Executive Airport, who waged a 16-month long battle against county government officials - who attempted to seize his property, today applauded the decision by the Trump Administration to step in to save a 21-acre farm in Cranbury Township from a similar eminent domain claim by the municipality.

Alan Antaki, who endured an arduous condemnation battle with the Monmouth County Commissioners, who targeted his 340-acre private airport and the adjacent 400 acres he owns in Wall Township, said he, more than most, can appreciate the anguish that Christopher and Andy Henry are going through to keep their 21 acre farm out of the hands of the local government, which plans to allow a developer to build high density housing on the site.

“Like the Henry brothers I have a deep, emotional attachment to my business and the surrounding property,” said Antaki. “I understand their anguish and shock when one day, out of the blue, you are notified that the government is going to take your property and your livelihood – and destroy the legacy you planned for your family.”

Antaki said that when he read a news report that the U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins posted a social media comment that the U.S. Department of Agriculture was in contact with the Henrys and would support them in their legal fight against eminent domain: “ I was very happy for them and I felt I had to speak out to support the Henrys and to help shine a spotlight on the abuse of property rights that exists in New Jersey today.”

“I applaud President Trump and his Agriculture Secretary for having the courage to defend private property rights,” added Antaki, who spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to defend his right to own and operate the airport.

Cranbury officials say they want the Henry property that has been in the family since 1850, to help satisfy the state’s affordable housing mandate on the town. Antaki says the government taking precious open space in an already overdeveloped state to create more development defies common sense and the will of the people.

“The government’s plan to sacrifice scarce farmland in New Jersey so a politically connected developer can make millions building more high-density housing is – in my view – an incredible abuse of government power with no real public purpose,” said Antaki.

“Property use should be determined by the owner, not by an abusive government entity working with hand-picked developers,” said Antaki.