Poll shows open space investment a priority for voters

RELEASE: May 15, 2009 – Volume XLI, No. 20

As the past 50 years of voting history shows, New Jerseyans have always recognized the value of investing in open space preservation. But in this time of economic uncertainty, it’s fair to ask whether voters STILL feel that way today.

The question is more than academic. Despite the economic and environmental achievements that make it a model for conservation financing, New Jersey’s Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT) is out of money. For the first time in decades, residents face the prospect of having no state funds for preserving the parks, forests, farmland, and historic landmarks most important to them.

Key subcommittees of state Senate and Assembly recently approved a referendum asking voters if they favor allocating $600 million to fund the GSPT for another three years. If the full Legislature agrees, the question will appear on your ballot in this November’s general election.

But would a spending question like this stand a good chance of winning voter approval in today’s economic climate? A brand new poll released this past week indicates the answer is a resounding ‘Yes!’

The poll was commissioned by the Trust for Public for Land and The Nature Conservancy and conducted by Fairbanks, Maslin, Maullin & Associates this past April. Six-hundred likely Garden State voters were asked if they would support a $600 million bond measure if it appeared on the ballot this November, to continue funding for open space, farmland and historic preservation. Voters backed the question by a wide margin: 59 percent in favor to 33 percent against.

And when provided with additional information about what the funds would be used for - and told the annual cost to the average household would be only $16 - support increased to 67 percent! In addition, 80 percent of those polled said they want their legislators to vote in favor of putting the measure on the ballot to let voters decide.

Its encouraging to note that support cut across almost all demographic splits. A majority of women (61 percent), men (57 percent), Democrats (66 percent), Republicans (52 percent), independents (56 percent), people under age 50 (60 percent), people over age 50 (60 percent), college graduates (60 percent), those without college degrees (58 percent), whites (57 percent) and people of color (67 percent) all said they would vote yes.

Voters polled certainly didn’t have their heads in the sand about economic troubles. When asked how concerned they were over the current state of the economy and unemployment, almost 90 percent rated it an “extremely” or “very” serious problem. Despite their concerns, however, they firmly support continued investment in conservation.

Considering the “eco-services” that preserved lands provide – flood control, clean air and pure drinking water - saving New Jersey’s open lands is a bargain at $16 a year per household! That’s not to mention the jobs created through historic preservation and park improvement projects, the positive impact of eco-tourism and agri-tourism on the economy, and the health benefits of having nearby parks and hiking trails where we can exercise.

Please contact your legislators and ask them to put the open space question on the ballot by supporting bills A3901 and S1858. Find your local legislators at the state’s website at www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/legsearch.asp.

I hope you will consult New Jersey Conservation Foundation’s website at www.njconservation.org or contact me at info@njconservation.org, if you would like more information about conserving New Jersey’s precious land and natural resources.

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