2/11/15 "The Jersey Journal" by
Summer Dawn Hortillosa
"Cleanup" bill to protect Liberty State Park doesn't go far enough, park
group says
2/10/15 "The Record" by
Dustin Racioppi and Scott Fallon
Proposed N.J. bill seeks to clarify oversight of the Meadowlands and LSP
(Friends' quote is "new bill is totally contradictory to what (the
sponsors) said in their statement.")
New Assembly Bill 4196 Language on Liberty State Park
2/7/15 Friends' vigilance
summary statement to LSP supporters on Gov signing bill & new bill
(statement based on bill sponsor's quickly abandoned promised of Commission
only reviewing LSP plans)
2/5/15 Friends'
press release on Gov signing bill & new law
(statement based on bill sponsor's quickly abandoned promise of Commission
only reviewing LSP plans)
2/5/15 Governor Chris Christie's Press Release
1/6/15 New Jersey
Public TV (NJTV) story
and text of story by Brenda Flannigan
New Law Raises Concern Over Liberty State Park
2/5/15 "Star-Ledger" by
S.P. Sullivan
Christie signs controversial Meadowlands bill but says bill will be revised
2/6/15 "The
Philadelphia Inquirer" by
Edward Colimore
NJ lawmakers to revise law affecting Liberty State Park
2/5/15 "The Jersey
Journal" by Sudip
Bhattacharya
Hudson County officials react to Christie signing controversial bill
affecting Meadowlands
Urgent to Please call by Feb. 5th - Governor to keep LSP's final decision on any plan under the control of the NJDEP with full public participation. Please call 609-292-6000 and urge Governor to Conditionally Veto "Assembly Bill 3969 - the Hackensack Meadowlands Agency Consolidation Act until the LSP language is removed - as the bill put LSP under planning control of this new autonomous Meadowlands development commission (as bill says that this Commission "shall evaluate, approve, and implement any plan for LSP !
The Jersey City Parks Coalition's
Sign-On letter for organizations - with almost 60 groups so far.
For organizations to sign on, please click here.
1/2/15 "Star-Ledger" by
editorial board:
Christie's agenda threatens
Liberty State Park, editorial
1/6/15 "The New York
Times" by Jason Grant
(version is also in 1/7 print edition)
Fans of Liberty State Park Leery of Proposed Agency (Friends
note: "LSP language must
be removed from bill")
1/12/15 by Colin Egan,
Friends of the Loews
Why Liberty State Park Matters
1/10/15 "The
Jersey Journal" by Sudip
Bhattachary
Environmental groups urge Christie to veto bill they say is threat to
Liberty State Park
1/11/15 "The
Jersey City Reporter" by
Al Sullivan
The Battle for Liberty State Park
1/11/15 "Jersey
Journal" by Sudip
Bhattacharya
2 Hudson County legislators say they'd approve revision of controversial
"Meadowlands Hackensack" bill
http://www.njtvonline.org/news/video/liberty-state-park-could-get-a-new-commission-under-bill/
Friends Press Release pesinliberty@earthlink.net 201-792-1993
Assembly bill 3969 (page 26)
includes Liberty State Park in Meadlowlands Act!
“Hackensack Meadowlands Agency Consolidation Act”
throws Liberty State Park(LSP) decision-making under the control of the
autonomous “Meadowlands
Regional Commission”. (MRC). The Act folded the NJ Meadowlands
Commission into the NJ Sports and Exposition Authority. MRC
should have zero control over LSP!
The ACT GIVES FINAL SAY IN ALL PLANNING AND DECISION-MAKING for LSP
TO AUTONOMOUS MRC AND
TAKES AWAY THE FINAL SAY FROM THE DEP’T OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROECTION AND ITS
DIVISION OF PARKS AND FORESTRY AND FROM THE PUBLIC AS
THERE IS ZERO MENTION OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, PUBLIC HEARINGS OR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
We urge the
Governor to give a conditional veto of this Act until LSP is taken out of it to
protect LSP by leaving its decisions to the DEP and its Division of Parks
and Forestry and the public and to prevent a new
LSP era with constant negative, wasteful battles –
as the park was a sacred battleground from the time it opened in 1976 when a
theme park was pushed until 2003 when the LSP Development Corporation was
ended after 20 years of causing statewide battles against a golf course,
waterpark, etc.
Governor, please stand up for LSP and tell the legislature to take LSP out of the Act.
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page 26
The Commission Shall
19.m.
36. Evaluate, approve, and implement any plan or plans for the
37 further preservation, development, enhancement, or improvement of
38 Liberty State Park and the buildings, structures, properties, and
39 appurtenances related thereto, or incidental to, necessary for, or
40 complimentary to the park. The commission may avail itself of any
41 plans under review by the Department of Environmental Protection
42 from any source that may promote expanded and diverse
43 recreational, cultural, and educational opportunities for visitors to
44 Liberty State Park and provide greater access to park facilities. Any
45 approved plans shall constitute a project of the commission, and
46 shall be adopted as part of the master plan;