Becker's War

Henry Becker fought the law and the law won ... but the law is wrong. North Scottsdale resident Henry Becker has been at odds with some in Scottsdale in recent years over his undeveloped tract on land that bears colorful outdoor displays.

The city and a number of people call Becker’s outdoor displays blight, debris, or junk. Becker calls them art.

Recently, a Maricopa County judge shot down Becker’s appeal to stop the city’s court‑ordered abatement action to remove the outdoor displays.

Becker, a wealthy retired stockbroker, has vowed to keep fighting.

And well he should. The court’s ruling sets a dangerous precedent that, if unchecked, could be start of yet another attempt to undermine private property rights, one  private property owner at a time.

Already last year the U.S. Supreme Court dealt a devastating blow to private property rights when it ruled local governments can use eminent  domain to take private land for commercial development.

A number of states in response passed stringent private property protection laws. We applaud those state lawmakers for taking a principled stand.

Becker has said the crux of his fight with the city is the right of law‑abiding, tax‑paying Americans to do what they wish with their private property.

He’s right. The judge and Scottsdale are wrong.