A victory for New Jersey's environment

New Jersey's environment was a big winner on Nov. 7, as voters approved a measure to prevent lawmakers from diverting funds earmarked for cleanups of polluted sites.

Ballot Question 2, which was passed by nearly 69 percent of voters, amends the New Jersey Constitution to make sure the state Legislature and future governors use pollution settlement funds only for their intended purposes.

Two-to-one is a huge margin, and it tells us that people understand that money from Natural Resources Damages should be spent only for that purpose. It shows that the environment is very important in the minds of the people of New Jersey.

According to the ballot question, any funds paid by a polluter "would have to be used to repair, restore, replace, or preserve the State's natural resources. The moneys may also be used to pay legal or other costs incurred by the state in pursuing its claims."

The question was placed on the ballot in response to Gov. Chris Christie's plans to divert most revenues from large pollution settlements to the general state budget instead of using them specifically for environmental cleanups. Of an estimated $580 million received by the state from multiple large pollution cases, including one against Exxon Mobil, Christie proposed to spend only $103 million for restoration of contaminated sites.

Area residents may be interested to know that the constitutional amendment will affect a local case in which rock dust sludge from a concrete quarry in Glen Gardner was pumped into the Spruce Run creek in August, killing fish, amphibians and other aquatic life and damaging wildlife habitat.

The polluters will be fined. And because of the passage of the Ballot Question 2, Natural Resource Damages money will be used locally - in our watershed - for stream restoration and land preservation.

This is great news for the future health of New Jersey's water supplies. It's also welcome news for Raritan Headwaters, which has been working since 1959 to make sure that residents have access to safe, clean water that is swimmable, fishable and, above all, drinkable.

Thank you to New Jersey voters for putting our environment first!

Bill Kibler of Califon is policy director of Raritan Headwaters in Bedminster

In defense of open government

Raritan Township's resolution opposing enhanced open government inadvertently shines the spotlight on itself.

Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-37th), champion for open government, with bipartisan co-sponsors, crafted S1045/A2699 to expand open/transparent government. These increase public participation rights earlier, specifically in committee meetings now exempt.

The Raritan Township committee cited mendacious excuses: "unnecessary, unpopular, burdensome to staff, time-consuming, expensive" etc.

Employee assignments/work load, expenses, etc. are to serve the public ... not be cited as an obstruction to it.

Sunshine Law N.J.S.A. 10:4-7 is needed for the public's effectiveness in fulfilling its role in a democratic society. Shrouded government restricts knowledge/interest/concerns/participation. Elected officials are cognizant that this minimizes citizen interference and facilitates government control.

Previously, Senator Weinberg introduced legislation to restrict officials' exploitation of new technologies/wireless/virtual communications that compromise the letter and spirit of Sunshine Laws. Disingenuously, the League of Municipalities (LOM) constructed a generic resolution in opposition. The LOM's pattern is to lessen citizens rights and increase government control. As LOM membership fees are funded by taxpayers, we are actually paying for our own disenfranchisement! This must be addressed further.

Early participation is necessary to prevent corruption; here is a common ploy. Officials create an appearance of open mindedness. A facade of diverse residents are empaneled for research/advice. Unbeknownst to others, all panelists share the officials' intended outcome. Biased research is presented and recommendations adopted, often at the same open meeting. Constituents could not know the committee was formed around a pre-determined agenda.

Shame on Raritan Township and other municipalities that vote to impede open, transparent, honest and forthcoming government. Municipalities that are genuinely open should voluntarily expand its transparency beyond the minimum required by law.

Remember when voting; these officials are not acting to represent their constituents - but to further empower themselves. Please visit TheCitizensCampaign.org.

Janet Piszar, Chatham