Keep It Green Campaign
Governor Signs Green Acres, Farmland, Blue Acres & Historic Preservation Act
31/07/07 14:55
PRESS
RELEASE
For Immediate Release Contact:
July 31, 2007 Joanna Wolaver, NJAS 609-712-3622
For Immediate Release Contact:
July 31, 2007 Joanna Wolaver, NJAS 609-712-3622
Governor Signs
Green Acres, Farmland, Blue Acres & Historic
Preservation Act
Voters Given
Opportunity this November to Fund Programs for One
Year
Princeton
– Today,
Governor Jon S. Corzine signed the Green Acres,
Farmland, Blue Acres and Historic Preservation Act of
2007. This
legislation places a question on the November 6, 2007
ballot that asks New Jersey voters to authorize the
state to issue $200 million in general obligation
bonds to fund the state’s widely popular and
successful Garden State Preservation Trust programs
for one year.
The Keep It Green Campaign, a coalition of over 90
groups from across the state, applauds the Governor
for signing this legislation. If approved by the
voters, the Act will provide one year of funding to
keep New Jersey’s current open space, farmland
and historic preservation programs afloat, as well
dedicate funds to begin the Blue Acres program, which
will purchase flood prone properties.
FINAL push, last chance to renew GSPT this year.
08/06/07 19:23
The
Legislature did not act on the bills that call for a
fall referendum on GSPT in time to complete the
process before the summer recess. So, the only chance
that GSPT can be renewed this year requires a special
summer session of the legislature.
The focus of the campaign for GSPT renewal, therefore, will be to urge the Governor, Speaker Roberts and Senate President Codey to call a special summer session to pass the GSPT renewal legislation.
Read More...
The focus of the campaign for GSPT renewal, therefore, will be to urge the Governor, Speaker Roberts and Senate President Codey to call a special summer session to pass the GSPT renewal legislation.
Read More...
A ‘Straddling’ Governor Worries Environmentalists
19/05/07 17:07
New
York Times
POLITICAL MEMO
By RONALD SMOTHERS
TRENTON, May 18 — As a United States senator, and as a governor, Jon S. Corzine has cultivated a reputation in New Jersey as an ally of environmentalists.
From clean water to open space, from regulatory authority to toxic cleanups, his positions have — despite some bumps along the way — struck a responsive chord with advocates for the environment and earned him their support. But this week, two developments left many wondering whether the green aura surrounding him was fading.
First, Mr. Corzine abandoned his support on Monday for a referendum in November on whether to borrow $1.75 billion over the next 30 years to refinance the Garden State Preservation Trust.
Governor Corzine said on Friday that this did not mean he did not support the trust and the state’s purchase of open space and farmland, the largest such effort by any state in the nation. He said it simply meant that he wanted to wait and try to replenish the nearly depleted fund in the next year by selling or leasing assets like the New Jersey Turnpike, other tolls roads or the lottery.
Read More...
POLITICAL MEMO
By RONALD SMOTHERS
TRENTON, May 18 — As a United States senator, and as a governor, Jon S. Corzine has cultivated a reputation in New Jersey as an ally of environmentalists.
From clean water to open space, from regulatory authority to toxic cleanups, his positions have — despite some bumps along the way — struck a responsive chord with advocates for the environment and earned him their support. But this week, two developments left many wondering whether the green aura surrounding him was fading.
First, Mr. Corzine abandoned his support on Monday for a referendum in November on whether to borrow $1.75 billion over the next 30 years to refinance the Garden State Preservation Trust.
Governor Corzine said on Friday that this did not mean he did not support the trust and the state’s purchase of open space and farmland, the largest such effort by any state in the nation. He said it simply meant that he wanted to wait and try to replenish the nearly depleted fund in the next year by selling or leasing assets like the New Jersey Turnpike, other tolls roads or the lottery.
Read More...
Need $$ for parks, pols say
19/05/07 12:48
By RONALD LEIR
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
Hudson County politicians yesterday called on state lawmakers and Gov. Jon Corzine to renew funding for the Garden State Preservation Trust, which provides cash for acquiring green space and developing it for recreational use.
Bayonne Mayor Joseph V. Doria Jr., who is also a Democratic state senator, was joined by Assemblyman Louis Manzo, D-Jersey City, Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise and NY/NJ Baykeeper representative Greg Remaud at Richard Rutkowski Park in Bayonne to press for the replenishment of the fund, which they characterized as "near empty."
Read More...
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
Hudson County politicians yesterday called on state lawmakers and Gov. Jon Corzine to renew funding for the Garden State Preservation Trust, which provides cash for acquiring green space and developing it for recreational use.
Bayonne Mayor Joseph V. Doria Jr., who is also a Democratic state senator, was joined by Assemblyman Louis Manzo, D-Jersey City, Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise and NY/NJ Baykeeper representative Greg Remaud at Richard Rutkowski Park in Bayonne to press for the replenishment of the fund, which they characterized as "near empty."
Read More...
OPEN SPACE PRESERVATION
18/05/07 17:12
Troubling questions
Gov. Jon S. Corzine has been pushing hard the idea of “asset monetization” — selling or leasing state assets, ranging from toll roads to air rights. Some of those proposals may make sense; others may not. It's hard to say, because no specific proposal has been made public yet.
But what's troubling is that the administration seems to be linking decisions on vital and popular programs to those future, less-popular plans.
Read More...
Burlco freeholders urge Assembly to consider open space bill
17/05/07 12:46
By CAROL COMEGNO, Courier Post Staff
Courier
Post
MOUNT HOLLY
The Burlington County Board of Freeholders urged the Legislature to take immediate action to save the farmland and open space preservation program statewide.
The board sent a letter urging the Assembly Appropriations Committee and Speaker Joe Roberts, D-Camden, and the Assembly Appropriations Committee to consider a bill today that would place renewal of the $175 million Garden State Preservation Trust Fund on the November ballot for voter consideration.
Read More...
MOUNT HOLLY
The Burlington County Board of Freeholders urged the Legislature to take immediate action to save the farmland and open space preservation program statewide.
The board sent a letter urging the Assembly Appropriations Committee and Speaker Joe Roberts, D-Camden, and the Assembly Appropriations Committee to consider a bill today that would place renewal of the $175 million Garden State Preservation Trust Fund on the November ballot for voter consideration.
Read More...
Freeholders: Let voters rule on preservation
17/05/07 12:45
Burlington County
Times
By: JOHN REITMEYER (Thu, May/17/2007)
MOUNT HOLLY — The Board of Freeholders is trying to pressure the state Legislature as it decides the fate of an expiring land-preservation fund that has pumped more than $66 million into Burlington County since 1999.
The freeholders discussed drafting a resolution during a public conference meeting yesterday that would urge the Legislature to let voters decide whether state sales tax revenue should be used to renew the Garden State Preservation Trust Fund.
The resolution is scheduled to be considered by the board during its public meeting next week. In the meantime, the board is sending a letter to legislators in support of a public referendum on the trust fund.
Read More...
By: JOHN REITMEYER (Thu, May/17/2007)
MOUNT HOLLY — The Board of Freeholders is trying to pressure the state Legislature as it decides the fate of an expiring land-preservation fund that has pumped more than $66 million into Burlington County since 1999.
The freeholders discussed drafting a resolution during a public conference meeting yesterday that would urge the Legislature to let voters decide whether state sales tax revenue should be used to renew the Garden State Preservation Trust Fund.
The resolution is scheduled to be considered by the board during its public meeting next week. In the meantime, the board is sending a letter to legislators in support of a public referendum on the trust fund.
Read More...
Budget Talks Continue Amid (Mostly) Good Vibes
16/05/07 12:49
The Democratic governor is smiling, but the Democratic Speaker of the Assembly is still itching for a fight over the proposed $33.3 billion state budget which is up for further debate in Trenton today and tomorrow.
| By - Carl Barbati Posted on NJpols |
And then there are the Jersey bobcats. They're not a sports team, they're an endangered species, and they have a stake in these budget talks, as well.
After yesterday's "good news" session in the Assembly budget hearing, the action shifts to the state Senate budget hearing today, where the positive vibes are expected to continue.
And why not? Democrats control both houses of the Legislature along with the governor's office.
Read More...
New Jersey maintains rapid rate of urban development and subsequent loss of open space
22/03/07 12:36
For Immediate Release
New Brunswick/Glassboro, NJ
New Jersey is still among the most rapidly urbanizing states in the nation. That trend is continuing according to researchers at the Rutgers University Center for Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis and Rowan University Department of Geography. The research team consisting Dr. Richard Lathrop and John Bognar (Rutgers) and Dr. John Hasse (Rowan) are evaluating newly-released data to assess urban development and loss of open space in New Jersey occurring during recent decades. The research, funded by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundations, utilizes a detailed digital map of land use in NJ created from high resolution aerial photographs taken in 2002 (please example below). The digital map, developed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, took 5 years to compile and is the third such map, providing an update to similar maps created for the years 1986 and 1995. The study compares land use changes and trends over these three dates.
Read More...
New Brunswick/Glassboro, NJ
New Jersey is still among the most rapidly urbanizing states in the nation. That trend is continuing according to researchers at the Rutgers University Center for Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis and Rowan University Department of Geography. The research team consisting Dr. Richard Lathrop and John Bognar (Rutgers) and Dr. John Hasse (Rowan) are evaluating newly-released data to assess urban development and loss of open space in New Jersey occurring during recent decades. The research, funded by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundations, utilizes a detailed digital map of land use in NJ created from high resolution aerial photographs taken in 2002 (please example below). The digital map, developed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, took 5 years to compile and is the third such map, providing an update to similar maps created for the years 1986 and 1995. The study compares land use changes and trends over these three dates.
Read More...
