The Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee
Announcements
To obtain a pre-written letter format you may click below on:
Letter to Govenor Corzine - Keep KVSP Open.
Letter to DEP Commissioner Jackson - Keep KVSP Open.
Letter to Govenor Corzine - Keep all parks open.
Letter to DEP Commissioner Jackson - Keep all parks open.
Add your name, address, date, signature, and quickly mail it to the appropriate individual.
FAST FACTS DEP Budget Cuts & the Impact on NJ Residents Cuts to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Ø The governor's proposed budget would cut the DEP's budget by 12.5% and eliminate 200-300 jobs at the agency. Ø In the 1990's under Governor Whitman the budget was cut by almost a third and a quarter of the staff was laid off, and the agency has not recovered from those losses. In the past five years, an additional 400 jobs have been lost due to hiring freezes. The DEP simply cannot sustain yet another cut and continue to effectively protect the state's environment. Ø The DEP's Division of Parks and Forestry has 40% fewer staff members than it did in 1994 and 40% more land to manage. Ø The DEP constitutes only 0.7% of the overall state budget. Because of fines, fees, permits, and federal grants, the department is 90% self-sustaining with only 10% of its budget coming from general state funds. Ø In fact, cutting DEP will cause the state to LOSE money. The state currently receives federal monies both in the form of matching funds, which will be lost if the state funding is not available. Cuts to DEP's Division of Parks & Forestry Ø DEP has announced that the proposed budget cuts would result in the closing of 9 state parks and portions of 3 other parks. These include Ø The closure of public parks will disproportionately affect low- and middle-income families who do not have access to private facilities. Ø 17 million people visit Ø The cuts in parks funding ignore the demonstrated will of the people, who have repeatedly voted to fund preservation programs. Cuts to DEP's Division of Fish & Wildlife Ø State budget cuts and staffing shortages will reduce recreational opportunities and harm the state's ability to care for wildlife species. Ø Many businesses across the state rely on wildlife recreation-related income. Legislators must ensure that these dollars continue to be spent in NJ and not be drawn elsewhere. Ø Saltwater fishing alone involves over a million people each year, adding $841 million to the state's economy and substantially impacting our tourism industry. Ø NJ is a haven for over 70 species of wildlife considered endangered or threatened. Allowing these species to decline to the point where they are required to be protected by law will result in more costly management. -More- Uncertain Future for NJ's Preservation Programs Ø The devastating impacts of the budget cuts to our quality of life and economy highlight the need for a longer-term solution. Ø The State Legislature and the Governor must pass legislation this spring to renewal and strengthen the Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT). Ø Since its creation in 1998, the GSPT programs have preserved over 432,000 acres of parks, open space and farmland. Ø Ø If additional funding is not secured, the GSPT will run out of money in twelve months causing preservation efforts throughout the state to come to a grinding halt. The New Jersey – Keep It Green Campaign is a coalition of 100 organizations from throughout the state working to restore funding for the Department of Environmental Protection’s Divisions of Fish and Wildlife and Parks and Forestry in this year’s budget and to strengthen and renew the Garden State Preservation Trust. For more information, please visit www.NJKeepItGreen.org. ### Please call the following phone number (1-800-843-6420) to comment about the park closures. These comments are being TALLIED by region/area/site .... In addition, Parks and Forestry web site has a specific email for people to send in their comments about park closures .... njparkscomments@dep.state.nj.us Many people have been calling legislators, commissioner, governor, etc, but not so many calling/emailing Parks and Forestry directly. Those that are, give general comments, eg "Don't close the parks" or "Don't close "X" park". The fear of many of us is that parks will be open, but without staff. The fear of many RISs is that programs for school groups and the general public, and proper management of the natural and historic resources, will fall below sanitation and security in priority. Therefore, if only some of the $$$is reinstated, programs (and program staff) will be the first to go ... SO PLEASE ... Send the following message to all your contacts (delete all of the above, please): Yesterday, at the budget hearings, Commissioner Jackson said that no parks would be completely closed. Many would be open for "passive recreation" This means parks open - but with NO STAFF! Please contact Parks and Forestry at 1-800-843-6420 and/ or njparkscomments@dep.state.nj.us and emphasize all/some of the following: * Parks and historic sites need people to staff them ... for safety and stewardship. * No open parks without staff! We need ALL our parks staff to stay ... Superintendents, maintenance, customer service reps, police AND interpreters! * We love the interpretive programs at parks and historic sites. Don't cut the interpretive staff! * Don't cut the school programs! * Don't cut the public programs! If you have time/feel so inclined, please also send those messages to the Commissioner, Governor and legislators (See list below) Thanks!!!!! WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SAVE YOUR STATE PARKS… URGENT! Hand-write a letter, email and/or call: Please politely express your feelings about the state park closings and the losses that will be experienced by millions of people. Request the parks funding be fully restored (No layoffs; they are already short-staffed). Request a stable source of dedicated funds for parks operations and programs so this fight doesn’t have to be fought every year. Don’t forget the naturalists and historians who look after the state’s treasures and teach our children all about them … These programs are very important. Can you imagine a National Park without its Ranger staff to inspire thousands of people with their wonderful programs? HOW TO CONTACT THESE PEOPLE … Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/committees/senate.asp (Click on their names on this web page to get their street and email addresses) Buono, Barbara – Chair Phone Number: (732) 205-1372 Sarlo, Paul A. - Vice-Chair Phone Number: (201) 804-8118 Bucco, Anthony R. Phone Number: (973) 627-9700 Cunningham, Sandra B. Phone Number: (201) 451-5100 Haines, Philip E. Phone Number: (856) 654-1498 O'Toole, Kevin J. Phone Number: (973) 237-1360 Ruiz, M. Teresa Phone Number: (973) 484-1000 Turner, Shirley K. Phone Number: (609) 530-3277 Assembly Budget Committee http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/committees/assembly.asp Greenwald, Louis D. - Chair Phone Number: (856) 435-1247 Schaer, Gary S. - Vice-Chair Phone Number: (973) 249-3665 Burzichelli, John J. Phone Number: (856) 251-9801 Cryan, Joseph Phone Number: (908) 624-0880 Karrow, Marcia A. Phone Number: (908) 782-5127 Malone, Joseph R. Phone Number: (609) 298-6250 McHose, Alison Littell Phone Number: (973) 300-0200 O'Scanlon, Declan J. Phone Number: (732) 933-1591 Pou, Nellie Phone Number: (973) 247-1555 Quigley, Joan M. Phone Number: (201) 217-4614 How to find your NJ Legislators ... Go to http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ Down the left column, click on "Find Your Legislator". On the next page, look on the yellow box on the right, you can search by your home town. This will take you to the number (eg District 11) click on that number once or twice and a list of your 2 Assemblymen and one Senator should appear - along with their phone numbers and addresses. Click on their names and you'll get to their web sites and email addresses. Lisa P. Jackson, Commissioner 7th Floor East Wing (609) 292-2885 Governor Jon S. Corzine Office of the Governor, (609) 292-6000 http://www.state.nj.us/governor/govmail.html For more information on what you can do to save your parks, go to and Don’t stop until we get back what is rightly ours! SOS Save Our State Parks!
Lance, Leonard Phone Number: (908) 788-6900
Oroho, Steven V. Phone Number: (973) 300-0200 (
Redd, Dana L. Phone Number: (856) 384-5862
Stack, Brian P. Phone Number: (201) 330-3233
Sweeney, Stephen M. Phone Number: (856) 251-9801 (Thorofare)
Vitale, Joseph F. Phone Number: (732) 855-7441
Johnson, Gordon M. Phone Number: (201) 541-1118
Vas, Joseph Phone Number: (732) 324-5955
