NJ okays $157 million for Green Acres  

The Christie administration is distributing the first half of the Green Acres funding from the $400 million bond act passed by the voters in 2009. The list of projects approved includes land conservation and recreation projects in all 21 New Jersey counties. 

At a time when New Jersey and many other states are facing budget deficits, and some states are cutting back spending on environmental programs, the fact that the Christie administration recognizes the value of these investments is encouraging news. The NJ Keep It Green coalition, some 150 organizations working to secure funding for clean water, farmland, natural areas, parks and historic sites in the state, applauded the governor and DEP commissioner Bob Martin for moving forward with the funding from the 2009 bond act.  

"We Love NY" campaign prevails on environment funding  

After deep and disproportionate cuts to the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) last year, the New York State Legislature approved Gov. Cuomo's budget proposal to maintain level funding to EPF and avoid any sweeps. The budget for the coming year eliminates a $10 billion deficit while maintaining $134 million for the state's major source of funding for land conservation and other environmental programs. And, significantly, legislators did not plug budget gaps with unspent EPF funds. In recent years, $500 million in already appropriated EPF funds have been "borrowed" for other purposes. The "We Love New York" Campaign, sponsored by the Conservation Campaign, organized a grassroots advocacy, lobbying and ad campaign to prevent further cuts and raids on the fund, and will continue to work to restore EPF and environmental agency funding as the state's finances improve.   

Momentum in Massachusetts on conservation funding

Committee hearing moves CPA bill forward

Braving driving rain, municipal officials, legislators and representatives of organizations around the state turned out at an April 13 committee hearing to testify in favor of a bill to strengthen the Community Preservation Act (CPA). The Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business also received written testimony on the bill from close to 200 CPA advocates across the state. With the early hearing, momentum is building to pass the legislation this session. Last year, the bill advanced but failed to make it to the finish line.

The CPA allows towns and cities to raise funds for open space preservation, outdoor recreation, historic preservation and affordable housing. Communities participating in the CPA receive annual distributions from the state's Community Preservation Trust Fund based on the amount of funds raised locally, to be used towards local CPA projects. S. 1841/H.765, "An Act to Sustain Community Preservation," would raise the minimum annual guaranteed distribution from the state trust fund to 75 percent of locally raised revenues, and make other changes to broaden participation. To find out more, go to the website of the Community Preservation Coalition. 

Another town to vote on CPA

Pelham residents will be deciding on May 7 whether to adopt the Community Preservation Act (CPA) to help protect the small town's forestland, watershed, and historic structures. So far, 147 municipalities in the state have adopted the CPA, including many neighboring towns in the Connecticut River's Pioneer Valley.  

Voters say "yes" to Forest Preserve bond in Illinois