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| New Jersey votes to spend green to be green |
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NEWARK (AP) — When all was said and done, New Jerseyans again decided to spend more green to be more green.
Despite warnings that harsh economic realities would finally lead to a ’no’ vote on borrowing money to fund open space programs, Garden State voters approved the measure Tuesday, albeit by a smaller margin than in previous years. Sussex County voters went to the polls with their wallets in mind and voted against the measure, 27,709-21,202, or 57 percent to 43 percent.
With 98 percent of precincts reporting, 52 percent of voters said yes to the “Green Acres” ballot question that asked them to approve borrowing $400 million for open space initiatives. More than 1.5 million votes were cast.
The approval of the ballot question for open space funding shows that even in a down economy, people in New Jersey understand that it’s important to preserve open space. Buying open space is critical for maintaining clean drinking water, stopping sprawl, and providing recreational opportunities like parks where our children can play.
Jeff Tittell, executive director of the Sierra Club, called the victory an important one, given the public’s concern about the economy and debt. “Open space has had a ‘lucky 13’ victory. This is the13th time since 1961 that a statewide ballot question for open space has passed.”
“Although people are concerned about the state of the economy, they are still committed to preserving open space. While we’re very pleased that the ballot question passed, the Sierra Club strongly supports working to develop a stable, long-term source of open space funding,” he said.
In 11 previous votes dating back to 1961, New Jerseyans had backed some form of open-space funding, usually by a considerable margin. But a 2007 vote was closer, and a recent Rutgers-Eagleton Poll indicated voters were split over whether to approve the measure this time around.
“I’m so proud of the electorate for voting as they did, particularly in these extraordinarily difficult economic times,” said Assemblyman John McKeon, D-West Orange, an open space advocate. “It shows that New Jersey voters are responsible stewards of the environment.”
The money has been used over the last few decades to buy land for recreation and conservation, preserve farmland and pay for historic preservation projects. Opponents have said the state must stop borrowing money until it solves its current fiscal woes.
Tuesday’s question passed in 15 of New Jersey’s 21 counties, and met with the most resistance in the more rural counties of Sussex, Warren and Morris, all of which gave strong support to winning GOP gubernatorial candidate Christopher Christie.
According to McKeon, Christie was sympathetic to open space issues when he was a freeholder in Morris County, but it was impossible to tell whether that would inform his actions as governor.
Created: 11/3/2009 | Updated: 11/3/2009
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