We know that the aftermath of COVID-19 will present greater social, environmental, and economic challenges than most of us have ever faced. Some of these challenges are new, while others existed long before the pandemic and have since been exacerbated.
From the recovery of our downtowns, to critical infrastructure improvements, to addressing the geography of equity and inclusion, New Jersey Future is already working tirelessly to make our communities healthier, more resilient, and stronger for everyone.
We invite you to read the
op-ed
we had published last week on NJ.com that contains our vision of a true recovery for New Jersey. Please join us in making this vision a reality.
In hope,
Peter Kasabach
Executive Director
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New Jersey Future board members Jose Lozano, Gil Medina, and Executive Director Pete Kasabach are part of Governor Phil Murphy's Restart & Recovery Advisory Council. New Jersey Future is honored to be part of Gov. Murphy's efforts to open a New Jersey that is stronger and fairer than before the pandemic.
Read more.
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New Jersey Future has spent many years working with downtown leaders to understand how to create vibrant, walkable, equitable downtowns and have provided resources, guidance, and direct services to many of these places. With this experience, we have made several recommendations to improve the impact of the small business program.
Read more.
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Deadline for CSO plans extended, JWW report assess plans
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New Jersey's 21 communities with combined sewer overflows (CSOs) now have until October 1 to submit their Long Term Control Plans detailing the measures that will be taken to prevent future overflows. The 90-day extension, a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, gives communities more time to develop plans and collect community feedback.
In addition to developing plans to reduce overflows, these Long Term Control Plans should evaluate the use of green infrastructure as an important tool to absorb stormwater that could otherwise overwhelm combined sewer systems. The Jersey Water Works Combined Sewer Overflow Committee developed a report,
Assessing Public Input and Consideration of Green Infrastructure in NJ CSO Reports
, in which 25 CSO Development and Evaluation of Alternatives Reports were analyzed for how public input and green infrastructure were evaluated. The report provides a helpful overview of how these key components were considered in the reports as well as how they can be better featured in the final Long Term Control Plans.
Read the report
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Join the Call for More Funding for Transit
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New Jersey Future joined over 160 organizations across the nation in a call for support of transit. The campaign, organized by
Transportation for America
, urged Congress to authorize an additional $32 billion for transit.
The stay-at-home orders issued by governors across the country have been an essential tool to reducing the spread of COVID-19 but have also exacerbated transit funding shortfalls. Access to transit is vital for many Americans, and especially for essential workers, during this pandemic. Without increased funding, an equitable recovery will be difficult to achieve. Join the call for more funding for transit by signing
this letter
.
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Remembering the Legacy of Candace Ashmun and Dorothy Bowers
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Today we mark the passing of two pioneering women who helped advance state and regional planning and environmental protection in New Jersey. Their leadership helped pave the way for the next generation of leaders.
Candace Ashmun, a former member of the State Planning Commission, founding commissioner of the Pinelands Commission, and founding director of ANJEC, among many of her roles, was a principled, persistent advocate for better land use and a healthy environment. Over the 33-year history of New Jersey Future, Candy worked closely with our staff and board members.
Dorothy Bowers, a former New Jersey Future board member, spent decades working in Merck & Co.’s environmental department, eventually becoming the department’s vice president. Bowers was a member of New Jersey’s Pollution Prevention Advisory Board under Governor. Jim Florio, and chaired the EPA's National Advisory Council on Environmental Policy and Technology under the Christine Todd Whitman Administration.
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- New Jersey Future Executive Director Peter Kasabach released the following statement on the New Jersey Economic Development Authority's small businesses COVID-19 grant program expansion. Read the statement.
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New Jersey Future is hiring for two open positions. Come work with us!
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- Jersey Water Works Program Manager. New Jersey Future is looking for a skilled, highly organized, motivated individual to manage the day- to-day operations of Jersey Water Works, a large and growing collaborative focused on transforming New Jersey’s inadequate water infrastructure. Full job description.
- Policy and Program Coordinator. New Jersey Future is looking for a highly organized, motivated individual to manage the day-to-day operations of New Jersey Future’s Mainstreaming Green Infrastructure Program. Full job description.
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Visit us and subscribe to our YouTube channel, where you can find videos about our Smart Growth Award winners, some of our media appearances, and various aspects of our work.
Visit our channel
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Founded in 1987, New Jersey Future is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that promotes sensible growth, redevelopment and infrastructure investments to foster vibrant cities and towns, protect natural lands and waterways, enhance transportation choices, provide access to safe, affordable and aging-friendly neighborhoods and fuel a strong economy. New Jersey Future does this through original research, innovative policy development, coalition-building, advocacy, and hands-on strategic assistance. Embracing differences and advancing fairness is central to New Jersey Future’s mission and operations. To effectively advance its mission, New Jersey Future is firmly committed to pursue a culture of greater justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion through its programs, internal operations and external communications.
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