Builders Plan to Escalate Assault on Environment
Builders Taunt: “See You in September”
Environmentalists: “Send Lawyers, Guns, and Money”
Bulldozers destroy Highlands forests for more single lot McMansion sprawlWith Governor Corzine about to hand the NJ Builders Association a major legislative and political victory in the War on the Environment (TM), the development lobby is laying plans for an even larger assault come September.
Corzine is expected to sign “The Permit Extension Act“, following lopsided votes of support in both Houses of the Legislature – see: A2867[2R]/S1919[2R]) http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/S2000/1919_R2.PDF
DEP Commisioner Jackson and Governor Corzine consult at NJEF conference in Newark back in April 2008.It appears that DEP Commissioner Jackson’s influence on Corzine is waning, as pro-economic development factions gain momentum
Environmentalists vigorously opposed the bill and now are asking Corzine for a Conditional Veto. Good luck with that, as Corzine obviously green lighted the initiative months ago, when he slammed the brakes on various DEP regulatory initiatives and when he refused to back DEP and rein in Joe Doria in an internal war with the Department of Community Affairs Commissioner. DCA is working closely (and secretly) with the Builders Association.
DEP Commissioner Jackson initially opposed the bill, a brave act we applauded. In hindsight, it looks like that applause was premature and undeserved, because Jackson managed to co-opt environmental opposition and negotiate what has been reported as a “compromise” (see:
http://blog.nj.com/njv_bill_wolfe/2008/06/testicular_fortitude_versus_go.html#comments
“The votes in the Senate and Assembly send the bill to Gov. Jon Corzine, who is expected to support it after his environmental protection commissioner helped shape a compromise between developers and environmentalists last week.”
Both houses clear compromise that grants extensions for permits
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-10/1214283320179390.xml&coll=1
“Last Thursday, builders and environmentalists reached a compromise that resulted in the two measures that passed Monday.” http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080624/NEWS0301/806240415/1007/NEWS03
The War on the Environment (TM) was publicly kicked off on May 1, 2008, when Builders swarmed to attack new DEP clean water and toxic site cleanup regulations (See: Builders Gone Wild
http://blog.nj.com/njv_bill_wolfe/2008/05/builders_gone_wild.html#comments
Builders attack DEP clean water and toxic cleanup regulations before Senate Legislative Oversight Committee on May 1, 2008.Prior to that public battle, the Builders achieved a series of behind the scenes major victories in winning loopholes in DEP clean water and toxic site cleanup regulations, creation of a DEP “Permit Efficiency Taskforce”, and with control over DCA.
Combined with the huge victory on Permit Extension Act, they now have the wind strongly behind their back.
Attempting to capitalize on that momentum, the Builders are now planning another major assault in September that will make Permit Extension Act seem like a minor skirmish. Most recently, the Builders boldly announced the upcoming battle:
“The Permit Extension Act is the first of a dozen bills of a legislative package put together by the business advocacy group, the Smart Growth Economic Development Coalition, aimed at making New Jersey more “business-friendly.” Nearly two years in the making, that package was rolled out publicly in early June.
“It’s now time to turn our attention to the incentives bills in our package,” Zangari says. “We want to be ready to hit the ground running in early September.”
http://www.globest.com/news/1186_1186/newjersey/171844-1.html
Environmentalists have described the Builders radical agenda as an all out assault on local land use planning and environmental protection. The “Dirty Dozen” elements of the Builders Assault are summarized in an Op-Ed here: http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080611/999999999/806110484
With both sides gearing up for a major battle and little support for the environment in a pro-business legislature, the only brake and obvious critical question becomes:
which side are you on, Governor Corzine? – which photo is NJ’s future?
Well, the fight has just begun. Bring it on. Nice blogging, Bill. `
Are there any surprises here? Corzine-Goldman Sachs MO is G-R-O-W-T-H!!!!! He has brought to this administration a pro-growth team that has infected all state agencies with a common theme/virus of growth uber alles, When in doubt pump it up especially in a recession when there is are demands for stimulus packages. We should have known better that Corzine is first and always a BANKER and bankers don’t want to hear slow down/conserve/preserve. Their message is always build bigger faster and do it now! New Nuclear Power Plants are another good example of their preference for big capital investments.
Thank you, Bill, for framing this in a way that we can all understand. Guess that if your idea of communing with nature is a pocket park with two street trees, the paving over of New Jersey isn’t an issue.
We are going to have to gear up for the fight of our lives.
which side are you on, Governor Corzine?
That’s an easy one to answer! The builders & developers are big supporters of Corzine, & his administration returns the favors.
The Democrats “sold” the Governorship to Jon Corzine. Now they must pay the Piper for their venality and their disrespect of the citizens of NJ. Our futures have been damaged by the last two Democratic Governors. The Republicans have not done much better with Whitman and her financial peccadilloes with the Pension Fund. Where can we find an “Independent” who can bring some fresh ideas to Trenton? Impossible? Would the conflicted Legislature frustrate any attempt to bring real reform to NJ? Forget Dobbs and his TV persona which is as deep as his political philosophy, “I hate immigrants.” The system is so putrefied that the rehab process will probably take decades> BUT THERE MUST BE A START!
Hurray for Growth!
I have a Job and a house to live in.
Finally a politician who supports the New Jersey Economy. We need more like this.
betternj: Maybe you should move to Queens then. Or at least visit and see what it’s like to live somewhere paved over with very few trees, noise, smog, people packed like sardines. That’ is where this is headed. The politicians, Corzine included, are not interested in the economy. They are interested in their own careers. Corzine is selling out “small town” NJ because of his ambition, not to get you a job. Jobs can be had without endless subdivisions and strip malls. Ever visit Florida? They tear down strip malls there to build another one because there aren’t any customers. Who is going to shop in all these shops? Who is going to have enough money to support them all? It’s insane.