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Open Space, farmland and historic preservation efforts coming to an end!
Ask State Leaders to meet this summer and allow voters to replenish preservation funding in November. Sign the petition.
%adv-participants-summer_session_petition% people have already signed the petition online calling on Governor Corzine, Senate President Codey, and Speaker Roberts to move open space legislation forward. An additional 166 people have signed the petition in person.
Dear [ Decision Maker ] , Ask State Leaders to meet this summer and allow voters to replenish preservation funding in November. Sign the petition. Dear Governor Corzine, Senate President Codey and Assembly Speaker Roberts: Every day New Jersey loses 50 acres of valuable open space and countless historic sites to development. At the same time, the Garden State Preservation Trust, which funds the popular and successful Green Acres, Farmland Preservation and New Jersey Historic Trust programs, is running out of money, and the State Legislature has failed to take action to renew the Trust. I urge you to hold a special session this summer to pass legislation (ACR10 and SCR136) that would allow voters to replenish the Garden State Preservation Trust before it is too late. New Jersey voters deserve the opportunity to determine the future of open space, farmland and historic preservation across the state. Please respond lettering me know whether you will or will not be calling a special summer session to address this issue. Thank you.
Sincerely, |
Campaign Launched: |
| Background Information |
The Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT), New Jersey’s funding program to preserve open space, farms and historic sites, will run out of money this year, and funds for matching grants to local governments and nonprofits have already run out. In order to ensure the continuation of this vital program, the Legislature must pass legislation before the summer break that would place renewal of GSPT in front of voters this November.
GSPT, through its Green Acres, Farmland Preservation and New Jersey Historic Trust programs, has been very successful in preserving open space, farmland and historic sites across the state, but unfortunately the job is not done. According to Rutgers University, within just 25 years, all the state's remaining green spaces we do not preserve will be lost to development. In addition, while GSPT was in place, the state lost at least 50 acres a day to development. Without GSPT, this rate of loss can only increase, resulting in poor air and water quality, increased property taxes, more sprawl and an overall loss of quality of life in New Jersey's community.
Our organization has teamed up with the New Jersey - Keep It Green Campaign, a coalition of over 90 environmental, recreational, historic preservation and community development groups, to ensure the New Jersey Legislature renews funding for the Garden State Preservation Trust this year. The Legislature has yet to commit to funding the program this year, raising the possibility that the fund will run completely out of cash. For this reason, we are working to build support for legislation (ACR 10/SCR 136) that would ask the voters for approval to annually allocate $175 million of existing sales tax revenue to renew the Trust. In addition to funding the continuation of open space, farmland and historic site preservation, the legislation would also expand the program to include funding for the operation and maintenance of acquired lands as well as for “Blue Acres,” a voluntary program that would allow municipalities to protect areas frequently damaged by flooding.We need your help urging the Legislature to renew the Trust before it is too late. You can help by contacting your Assembly members today and asking them to support the passage of ACR10 before they leave for summer vacation.
For more information about the Keep It Green Campaign and how you can help, please visit http://www.OutdoorRecreationAlliance.org.
