Senate Environment and Energy Committee to hold first hearing on implementation of Public Ballot Question 2
If you read my November 2nd post, Protect our parks, open space, and clean water: Vote ‘NO’ on New Jersey Ballot Question 2, you know that with passage of Question 2 came serious financial impact on our State Parks and Historic Sites, severely limiting their ability to fund capital projects, such as building or repairing restrooms, roads, and bridges. With a $400 million backlog of repairs, new construction and improvements to existing facilities in state parks and historic sites, dedicated funding has been virtually eliminated.
What? You say you don’t believe this, because ‘Keep It Green’ (KIG) coalition groups told you otherwise during their misinformation campaign this fall? Fine, don’t take my word for it then, read this and this and this and this. Then look at how my friend Bill Wolfe details the issues further in an entry entitled Flying Blind on Open Space – And Lying About It on his WolfeNotes blog.
Even Director of State Park Service Mark Texel wrote about the issue in a comment on the ‘KIG’ Facebook page November 5:
As the Director of the NJ State Park Service now coping with the reality that our entire Parks capital budget will be completely eliminated beginning July 1, 2015 as a result of the YES vote I can say this is the darkest day I have faced in my professional career. Worse than Superstorm Sandy. 440,000+ acres of preserved open space, 52 historic sites, 39 parks — used by 8 million visitors each year — all managed by my agency and now with no funding plan in place for stewardship beginning in just 7 months. This is not a bad reality TV show. This is New Jersey’s Inconvenient Truth hidden from voters throughout this campaign.
So Monday, December 8, 2014 you get your first chance to fight for restoration of budgets for Park capital when the Senate Environment and Energy Committee hold the first (hopefully of many) hearing on implementation of Ballot Question 2:
NEW JERSEY STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY COMMITTEE
STATE HOUSE ANNEX
PO BOX 068
TRENTON NJ 08625-0068C O M M I T T E E N O T I C E
TO: MEMBERS OF THE SENATE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY COMMITTEE
FROM: SENATOR BOB SMITH, CHAIRMAN
SUBJECT: COMMITTEE MEETING – DECEMBER 8, 2014
The public may address comments and questions to Judith L. Horowitz or Michael R. Molimock, Committee Aides, or make bill status and scheduling inquiries to Pamela Petrone, Secretary, at (609) 847-3855, fax (609) 292-0561, or e-mail: OLSAideSEN@njleg.org. Written and electronic comments, questions and testimony submitted to the committee by the public, as well as recordings and transcripts, if any, of oral testimony, are government records and will be available to the public upon request.
The Senate Environment and Energy Committee will meet on Monday, December 8, 2014 at 10:00 AM in Committee Room 10, 3rd Floor, State House Annex, Trenton, New Jersey.
The committee will hear testimony from the public on the implementation of Public Question 2. Those wishing to testify may contact the committee aide at (609) 847-3855 for a list of issues the committee would like to focus on.
Bill Wolfe again nails it with his latest blog post, NJ Open Space Voters Did Not Support Slashing Funds for State Parks and Clean Water Programs, and I suggest you take a look at his very valid points if you are testifying at the hearing, or sending your comments to the committee for their consideration. (See above, written comments can be submitted to the committee via email to OLSAideSEN@njleg.org.)
Here are some other points for you to consider:
- To make adequate repairs and restore usable condition to State Parks facilities used by the public, Green Acres distribution must, at minimum, remain at the 2014 level of $16 million as was promised in ACR 195. Additionally, a means of prioritizing needs for major repairs must be developed so that these funds can be allocated appropriately to the State Parks in need.
- Already existing State Park facilities are in dire need of ongoing stewardship, and funding for the continued care of these facilities and historic buildings for the public must to be addressed. These sites are already being held in the public trust, and must not be forgotten. Again, the other $16 million that was promised to State Parks in ACR195 must be continued, so that their stewardship may continue.
- Speaking of stewardship, while lands purchased by non-profits or land trusts may indeed require funds for stewardship, Green Acres money should not be used for lands being held by these groups without an approved stewardship plan and budget, and should only be a portion of the total stewardship costs relative to the Green Acres funds portion of the total purchase price. Nor should Green Acres funds be allowed to accrue to these non-profits to fulfill their own administrative costs.
- Finally, Green Acres funds must be used to promote acquisition and rehabilitation of urban parks, forests and programs that promote better urban health.
This is your chance, people. Speak up!