Vote YES to preserve Middletown’s declining open
spaces
Support a 1 cent increase in Middletown’s present 2 cent
(per $100 assessed value) dedicated open space tax for acquisitions and
improvements of open space and parkland.
The total $3+ million annual contribution to the open space fund is
combined with state, county, or foundation money (when available) to head off
land development and improve Middletown’s quality of life.
In the last 4 years, Middletown has issued permits for 587
new housing units. Current average
annual new housing units is a whopping 250% greater than the average annual new
housing units in the first 6 years of this decade[1] Completion of the Taylor Lane and Village 35
developments will further increase the current upward trend in housing units.
To head off a future onslaught, Middletown’s 50% increase
in dedicated open space funding is in line with the nationwide Sierra Club
30X30 Conservation Agenda to preserve 30% of the nation’s land by 2030. [2] A Climate Crisis AND Extinction Crisis is
occurring at the same time around the world.
By preserving wild spaces, we can protect more of nature. Through smart
conservation and management, we could offset 21% of U.S. Green House Gas
emissions. [3]
Middletown’s goal is also consistent with the June 30, 2020,
report by the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis: “Protect at least
30% of all U.S. lands and ocean areas by 2030, prioritizing areas with high
ecological, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration value” and “Protect and
restore ocean and wetland ecosystems, forests, and grasslands to sequester
carbon and improve nature’s resilience to climate impacts, including wildfire
and coastal flooding” [4]
New Jersey, the most densely populated state in the U.S.,
could be built out by the middle of this century [5] This
is in the wrong direction from the proposed national long-term goal to conserve 50%
of the planet by 2050. The criticality
is recognized by at least 236 NJ communities which have also implemented open
space taxes (2017 data [6] )
Additional reasons to
support open space initiatives: [7]
·
Open
space preservation plays an important role in bolstering the township’s quality
of life and benefiting the environment but incurs only minimal costs for upkeep.
·
Open
space preservation is one of the most cost-effective and efficient means of
environmental protection.
·
Open
space provides a variety of environmental and economic benefits including
protection of water resources, preservation of biodiversity and wildlife
habitats, creation of greenways, enhancement of urban centers, and support of
recreational opportunities.
·
Open
space, park, and recreation projects are important to successful urban
redevelopment initiatives.
·
The
amount of open space necessary to perform vital functions, such as replenishing
aquifers, protecting wildlife habitats and satisfying recreational demand,
increases as the population of Middletown continues to grow.
·
Additional
reasons are found at https://www.nj.gov/dep/dsr/trends/Open%20Space.pdf
In this 2020 election, it is important to vote YES for
Middletown open space.
Steve Miller
Climate Chair, Sierra Club NJ Shore Group
Co-Founder “Middletown for Clean Energy”
Trained as Climate Leader, by the Climate Reality Project