Open Space Funding Update: Huge Win on State Parks Funding, Much More to Do on Urban Equity and Restoring DEP Cuts

Stewardship Funds Must Be Eliminated  – If you Can’t Define It, You Can’t Fund It

Private Non-Profit Funding Should Be Zeroed, Given Scarce Resources

The Senate Environment Committee met this morning to discuss the initial draft of Open Space funding implementation legislation (see my prior set up post for info: Public Strongly Supports Restoration of Parks and DEP Cuts).

Sean Sullivan of the Star Ledger/NJ.com wrote about the hearing here.

A copy of the draft bill, which will be introduced on Thursday, was distributed and Chairman Smith explained the policy objectives of the package.

Those with major objections must contact the Senate aide, Kevil Duhon before the bill is introduced: kduhon@njleg.org

Unfortunately, I was iced in by the storm and unable to attend  and don’t have the documents to review – but I did listen in on the OLS live feed.

I’m very pleased to report that Smith and members of the Committee listened to all those who were outraged by the Keep It Green Coalition move to divert State Parks funding.

State Parks capital funds have apparently been restored ($15 million) to their current level and the proposed diversion of lease and concession revenues has been blocked effectively. Haven’t read exactly how this was done yet.

That is a significant victory – thanks to all the parks supporters who weighed in!

But, it appears that other key issues were not addressed, so I’d ask that all those who supported restoration of parks funding weigh in to support the following:

[* Note: Parks get the current level of $15 million for backlogged maintenance – that’s full restoration for this year.

BUT, this year’s $15 million would have increased to $32 million next year, so they lost that $17 million for at least 3 years. 

Smith said the allocations will be revisited in 4 years when the 4% increases to 6%.- new legislation then.]

1) Urban equity –

There needs to be something explicit in the bill that will allocate funds towards urban and older suburban areas of NJ. For far too long, those areas have been neglected by open space programs that are biased towards rural areas of the state.

2) Urban and climate programs need to be authorized

The bill needs to target and earmark funding for urban parks, community gardens, urban forestry, and farmers markets and other programs to address “food desert” issues.

3) Restore DEP Water Resource and Site Remediation cuts

It appears that the bill did not address diversion of millions of dollars from core DEP water resource and land use programs, including water quality monitoring and the critical support science conducted by the NJ Geological Survey.

Additionally, the DEP oversight of toxic site cleanups was completely eliminated and must be restored. The program already has been privatized, so some DEP oversight to keep private contractors honest is essential.

4) Stewardship – not ready for prime time

The “stewardship” issue raises a hornet’s nest of controversial issues, including commercial logging on state lands.

As I understood the discussion by Chairman Smith, it seems that Smith remains concerned about the vague programmatic definition of stewardship and that stewardship has been combined with State lands development.

I need to read the bill, but urge folks to weigh in and just say no to stewardship money.

5) Non -profit funding

It was tough listening to the hearing, but it seems like non-profits will get a small portion of the green acres funds.

When state, county, and local government funds are being slashed, this is not the time to be funding elite private non-profits.

Senator Smith made it clear that this was a 4 year “experimental” program that would be reconsidered when the funding increases from current $71 million to $117 million 4 years from now, so that too is a positive.

Folks need to continue to tell Chairman Smith and members of the Committee that voters never intended to cut core DEP water resource and toxic site cleanup programs to fund open space.

[PS – those that have worked on this, especially those who defended State parks and Liberty State Park in particular, should be proud that your efforts defeated an elite backed $1 million KIG PR campaign! You rock!]