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Legislative Fix To Protect Liberty State Park Must Block MRC Role in Financing Development

Open Space Ballot Dedicated DEP Park Revenues – MRC Was Needed to Finance

So, let’s put 2 plus 2 together:

(DEP “tourist destination” plans) +  (MRC bonding authority) = Major Capital Project

Assembly Speaker Prieto and Senator Sarlo – sponsors of the bill Gov. Christie signed into law yesterday that creates a new Meadowlands Regional Commission and threatens development of Liberty State Park – have been forced to respond to the huge public outrage over the Christie DEP plans to develop and commercialize Liberty State Park.

Yesterday, Prieto issued a press release promising to fix the problem:

“We also understand the concerns about the future of Liberty State Park. Liberty State Park and what it means to our heritage holds a special place, and – as has always been the case – we stand ready to protect the park. To that end, we will be introducing legislation to clarify that the Meadowlands Regional Commission may only review plans for Liberty State Park at the request of the Department of Environmental Protection, and that nothing in state law shall be construed to transfer ownership of any Liberty State Park property to the commission or anyone else.

This promise to “protect the park” does not go nearly far enough.

The Christie DEP is just as great a threat to development of LSP as the new MRC.

Any bill to undo the damage must prohibit the new MRC from any financial role at LSP. See my letter below which explains why.

Dear Speaker Prieto and Senator Sarlo:

I write to you as sponsors of proposed legislation to undo the damage regarding inclusion of Liberty State Park (LPS) in the controversial new Meadowlands Regional Commission law signed by Governor Christie yesterday.

In response to the public outcry in opposition to the Christie DEP plans to develop LSP, I understand that you plan on introducing legislation to restrict the role of the new Meadowlands Regional Commission with respect to LSP.

As you know, to implement Governor Christie’s “Sustainable Parks Strategy”,  the Christie DEP already has announced plans to increase revenues and to develop the LSP as a “tourist destination” and/or venue for commercial events. As such, regardless of ownership, planning, or regulatory oversight powers, the DEP is just as much a threat to LSP as the new MRC.

In crafting your bill, I strongly urge you to include a provision that prohibits the new Meadowlands Regional Commission (MRC) from any role in the finance of any development, lease, contract, or public-private partnership involving LSP.

As you know, the recent Constitutional Amendment to dedicate certain Corporate Business Tax (CBT) and other revenues to the new Open Space Fund included dedication of lease and concession revenues.

As such, in the event that DEP LSP park plans had anticipated financing park developments with lease or concession revenues, those plans are no longer viable.

Accordingly, the MRC could become the financing entity to developments in the Park – and I thing that that is the Christie DEP game plan.

That game plan became necessary as a result of the open space dedication of lease and concession revenue.

For example, if DEP were planning to build a restaurant and amphitheater for big outdoor concert events, the concession revenues from those operations now is dedicated to the open space Fund.

I’m sure that the DEP anticipated the revenues to pay the operating costs and debt service on the development – or public private partnership deal.

They can’t do that now.

That’s why they needed amendments to your bill to authorize the MRC to have a role – FINANCE.

Please include a provision to prohibit any MRC financial involvement with DEP and LSP.

Respectfully,