McKEON CALLS ON CITIZENS TO VOTE YES FOR OPEN SPACE FOR FOURTEENTH CONSECUTIVE TIME AT 'KEEP IT GREEN' AWARENESS CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF Assembly Environment Chairman Says Nation's Most Densely Populated State Cannot Afford to Lose Limited Supplies of Fresh Water, Valuable Tracts of Land (TRENTON) - Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee chairman John F. McKeon today called on New Jersey citizens to vote Yes for open space for the fourteenth consecutive time on Nov. 3. He was speaking at the kick-off of a voter awareness campaign by the 135-member NJ Keep It Green Coalition at the South River Walk Park in Trenton.McKeon (D-Essex) is the prime Assembly sponsor of an open space ballot measure (A-3901\S1858) that empowers voters on Nov. 3 to approve a $400 million bond referendum to replenish the Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT) that funds open space. "New Jersey voters realize the high stakes in funding open space," McKeon said. "Once the facts are put before them, I am confident they will continue to act as responsible stewards of the environment. That is why the Coalition's voter awareness campaign is key to citizens making an informed decision on Nov. 3." By voting in favor of the open space ballot measure, citizens of New Jersey, who have approved 13 consecutive open space ballot questions since 1961, would prevent a break in funding of one of the nation's most successful land preservation programs. The measure's importance to New Jersey was demonstrated in its bi-partisan push in the Legislature. It passed overwhelmingly in the Assembly in a 66-9-2 vote and in a 26-7-7 vote in the Senate on June 25. "We are in a race against time to protect and preserve our natural resources including our pristine watersheds, valuable farmland, historic sites and flood-prone areas. The loss of land is permanent and irreversible and there are a finite number of undeveloped acres in our state, the most densely populated in the nation." McKeon added.He concluded that investing in open space is crucial to the economic vitality and quality of life of the people of New Jersey. Senate Environment Committee chairman Bob Smith, prime Senate sponsor of the open space ballot measure, Senate Minority Leader Thomas H. Kean Jr., also a sponsor, addressed the gathering on the importance of the passage of the ballot measure. Other speakers and attendees included Tom Gilbert, Chairman, NJ Keep It Green coalition, Kelly Mooij, Coordinator of the coalition, Ryck Suydam, 2nd Vice President of the NJ Farm Bureau, John Hatch, President of Preservation New Jersey and Hunterdon County Freeholder Ron Sworen.###Contact: Gita Bajaj(973) 224-4851 cellular