McKEON STATEMENT ON PASSAGE OF OPEN SPACE FUNDING(TRENTON) - Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee chairman John F. McKeon on Wednesday welcomed voter approval of the $400 million bond issue to preserve open space throughout New Jersey.The public question passed with a margin of 174,172 votes, with 52 percent of the electorate voting in favor. McKeon was the prime Assembly sponsor of the legislation asking voters to approve replenishing the Garden State Preservation Trust which funds open space. McKeon (D-Essex) issued the following statement: "I am proud of New Jersey voters, who as responsible stewards of the environment, were wise enough to invest in replenishing one of the nation's most successful land preservation programs despite the difficult economic times. By so doing, they have helped assure the economic vitality and quality of life in our great state for generations to come."Yesterday's vote enables us to protect precious clean drinking water by preserving thousands of acres in the Highlands region and save hundreds of millions of dollars in filtration costs. It is a vote to limit urban sprawl in the nation's most densely populated state and a vote for jobs in tourism and farming."This ballot measure has moved forward on a bipartisan basis with lawmakers and environmental advocates led by the NJ 'Keep It Green' Coalition. We worked together to help the citizens of New Jersey make an informed decision. They deserve a great deal of the credit for its passage."                                         ###Contact: Gita Bajaj(973) 224-4851 cellular