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.

Why has NJ spent $2 billion on "Green" Acres programs that include astro turf and asphalt?

LIVINGSTON, NJ – Just three days ago, Mayor/Assemblyman John McKeon was touting a Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey poll that showed a 23-point lead in favor of his $400 million bond measure to "preserve" open space. This is in direct contrast with today’s Eagleton-Rutgers poll that showed 43% opposed to 41% in support.  The earlier poll simply asked people if they support "bonding" for open space, without clarifying what "bonding" means.  The reason for the difference is when people are informed of the truth, they are more likely to make the right decision. When they are asked whether they want the State to borrow 400 million dollars for the purchase of open space, the support clearly erodes.

An Eagleton-Rutgers poll shows the state's $400 million bond referendum in a statistical dead heat among likely voters, with 43% opposed to passage and 41% prepared to vote yes.  These numbers are substantially different from a Monmouth University/Gannett poll released earlier this week showing support for the ballot initiative at 55%-32%.

"It is rare to see such significant differences in two polls taken at nearly the same time," said David Redlawsk, director of the Rutgers-Eagleton Poll.  In this case, however, the difference is in the way the question was asked. When voters are cued to the idea that a bond issue means borrowing money they are far less supportive than when simply told that bonds will be issued."

The Eagleton question: "Voters will decide whether New Jersey should borrow $400 million to preserve open space, farmland, and historic areas. Do you plan to vote for or against borrowing this money?" Other polls have asked voters simply if they support "bonding" for open space without specifying that bonding means borrowing money."

"There is no right or wrong way to ask this question," said Redlawsk. "Voters are clearly very sensitive to the idea of borrowing money in a recession. At the same time, New Jersey voters have generally been supportive efforts to protect open space. Placed against each other, these differing results show that the outcome will depend on how voters view the question when they enter the voting booth."

Voters in major urban areas support the bond issue, 48%-35%, while South Jersey and shore area voters oppose it 51%-35%.  Suburban and rural voters are split, 42%-40%.

"Perhaps not surprisingly, those who live in the most densely populated parts of the state are generally in favor of this referendum, while those in the least populated areas are clearly opposed, at least when they are reminded that bond issues require borrowing money," said Redlawsk.

McKEON: POLL RESULTS INDICATE BENEFITS OF OPEN SPACE
RESONATING WITH NJ VOTERS, ENVIRONMENT A WINNER

Assembly Environment Chairman Lauds 23 Percent Lead in Monmouth Univ.\Gannett NJ Poll for $400M Bond Issue

(TRENTON) - Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee chairman John F. McKeon today announced that the latest poll results showing a 23 percent lead for the $400 million bond issue to fund open space, send a clear message that the environment is a priority for New Jersey citizens.

Assemblyman John McKeon (D-West Orange) jumped on today’s Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey poll that showed the $400 million open space bond referendum with a 23 point lead in the polls.

"The poll results indicate that our message of the benefits of open space -  especially its economic advantages - is resonating with New Jersey citizens,” said McKeon, who chairs the Environment and Solid Waste Committee and is the ballot question's prime sponsor.

McKeon said that he is “confident an increasing number will support the open space ballot question on Nov. 3."

Voters in 2007 rejected two out of three ballot initiatives, even though polls showed them leading in late October.

For instance, an October 25, 2007 Eagleton poll found voters supporting a $450 million bond issue to finance stem cell research by a 57%-36% margin.  On election day, the measure was defeated.  Voters that year did approve a ballot measure to borrow $200 million to fund open space, however, and have voted to support open space ballot questions 13 times since 1961.

The contest for Governor of New Jersey might be the most visible but in the long term it might not be the most important. Long after our youngest children have forgotten the winner of this year's gubernatorial election they'll be aware of the pernicious loss of our quality of life in New Jersey.

The things that we value most in our quality of life are at issue. A quiet drive on a Sunday afternoon. A walk with family through falling autumn leaves. Having fresh produce for a summer picnic. They're all part of the struggle to preserve open space in New Jersey.

On November 3 voters will be asked to approve a $400 million bond issue to continue preserving our diminishing open space. It's the latest in a bipartisan effort over the last two decades to reverse the destruction of farms, fields, and forests that make New Jersey a wonderful place to live.

Our instincts in difficult economic times are probably to oppose the referendum. The last thing that our state government needs is more debt; and schools, tax relief, and health care are higher callings. A closer look might lead to a different conclusion.

McKEON: POLL RESULTS INDICATE BENEFITS OF OPEN SPACE RESONATING WITH VOTERS

Assembly Environment Chairman Hails Voter Support for $400M Bond Issue in Most Densely Populated State in Nation

(TRENTON) - Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee chairman John F. McKeon today welcomed poll results as an indication of the growing awareness of the benefits of open space and the increasing importance of the environment to the public.

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 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.

**** ADVISORY - TUESDAY ****

McKEON TO CALL ON CITIZENS TO VOTE YES FOR OPEN SPACE AT NJ 'KEEP IT GREEN COALITION' AWARENESS CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF 

(TRENTON) - Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee chairman John F. McKeon on Tuesday will call on New Jersey citizens to vote Yes for open space at the kick-off of a voter awareness campaign by the 135-member NJ Keep It Green Coalition.