Walking along the streets of downtown Trenton and the banks of the Delaware River last week, our staff was reminded yet again of all the beautiful scenes on display in our state’s capital and across New Jersey. We were reminded that when moments like these come by, we must be sure to enjoy them together as colleagues, teammates, friends, and fellow New Jerseyans. It is through our collective and diligent work that these moments are possible.
It’s an exciting time in New Jersey—one marked by new public health milestones as cities like Newark pursue clean, affordable water for all. The influx of federal funding into our state paves the way for further infrastructure investments that are not only cost-effective but equitable—investments that will protect all New Jerseyans, regardless of their zip code or mode of transportation. As we consider how to best capitalize on these historic opportunities, we remain committed to producing impactful research and analysis that you can trust.
Throughout our efforts during Black History Month—and every month—we reflect on the often unsung contributions of those who came before us, Black planners and environmentalists whose work we honor and study as we promote equitable growth and development in New Jersey. We invite our readers to check out this month’s Equity Spotlight, which highlights the legacies of Black visionaries that have made our work possible today.
Peter Kasabach
Executive Director
|
|
The full value of Newark’s lead service line replacement program lies not in its completion, but in what it suggests about what can be accomplished in communities across the state. Following the completion of Newark’s nationally acclaimed program, the conversation across the state—and across the country—has pivoted from what happened in Newark to what should happen next.
|
|
|
NJ is receiving $1 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Governor Murphy and the state legislature have an opportunity to expand funding by leveraging an additional $1.2 billion from its share of American Rescue Plan funding. The additional funding would help make NJ a national model for clean water, healthy families, affordability, good jobs, and improved infrastructure.
|
|
|
By designing local streets as if the primary goal is to maximize the volume of vehicles passing through a place rather than optimizing access to the destinations within that place, transportation professionals are prizing mobility over accessibility and forgetting what streets are ultimately for.
|
|
|
The Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University, in partnership with the NJ Climate Change Alliance, the NJ Climate Change Resource Center, and the Energy Foundation, is inviting NJ residents to attend a virtual workshop as part of an ongoing project designed to bring about a healthier, more just, resilient, and carbon-neutral mobility landscape for all. Four workshops are planned for March, and each will have a geographic focus on two of eight case-study counties. Register here.
|
|
A green street is a stormwater management approach that incorporates vegetation and engineered systems to slow, filter, and cleanse stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces. Green streets can remove pollutants, replenish groundwater supplies, absorb carbon, improve air quality and neighborhood aesthetics, and provide green connections between parks and open
|
|
Haven't started preparing your Smart Growth Awards submission yet? Don't wait! Our awards process is highly competitive, and only complete and thoughtfully crafted submissions will be accepted. Submissions are due March 15. |
|
|
|
Keep a close eye on your inbox—the 2022 NJ Planning and Redevelopment Conference website will launch in early March. The event will be held virtually on June 14-15 and in person on June 16 at the Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick. |
|
-
NJF Executive Director Peter Kasabach will be a panelist at the “Warehouse Growth in New Jersey: Impacts and Opportunities” virtual roundtable hosted by NJ Spotlight News on March 2 (4:00 - 5:15pm). Register here.
-
NJF Policy Director Diane Schrauth will be speaking at the New Jersey Future and Sustainable Jersey webinar focused on green infrastructure for towns. The webinar will be held on March 22 (5:30 - 7:00pm). Register here.
-
NJF Managing Director of Policy and Water Chris Sturm will be discussing lead service line replacement at WaterNow Alliance’s Tap Into Resilience Summit on April 14 (10:30am - 12:00pm). Register here.
|
|
Smart Growth for Everyone |
|
Smart Growth is equitable growth. It is also restorative, as smart growth and redevelopment can help correct systemic racial and economic disparities. As New Jersey Future drives land use decision-making toward more equitable outcomes, we will be sharing useful resources and lessons in this monthly spotlight. Please give us your feedback and share with us any particularly insightful articles, talks, events, or videos that you come across.
Throughout Black History Month, New Jersey Future staff have continued to study and learn from the contributions of Black individuals in the planning and environmental justice fields. Too often in the U.S., disproportionate attention is devoted to the work of white planners, while the legacies of Black planners often go overlooked. Check out these lists of Black urbanists and environmentalists every smart growth professional should know, curated by the American Planning Association and Urban Green Lab, respectively.
|
|
-
Office Administrator/Bookkeeper- New Jersey Future is seeking an individual to administer the office and perform basic bookkeeping functions on a full-time or near full-time basis. This centralized and critical role serves as an important hub and support to our organization.
-
Communications Specialist- New Jersey Future is seeking an experienced communications professional who is a skilled, organized, and motivated writer and editor to support the organization’s expanding communications and marketing activities.
-
Community Planning Associate- New Jersey Future is seeking a highly organized, motivated individual to join our planning team as we expand our strategic assistance program to foster vibrant downtowns and livable communities for everyone.
-
Lead-Free NJ Community Organizer- New Jersey Future seeks a community organizer to facilitate local engagement, collaborate with community hubs in cities across the state, and ensure that the Lead-Free NJ collaborative is centered on the needs and perspectives of communities directly affected by lead exposure. This is a part-time position.
|
|
New Jersey Future in the News |
|
|
|
A new report issued by Jersey Water Works provides a blueprint for how to improve water testing, child care staff training, remediation, and outreach to parents, as well as a rationale for state assistance.
|
|
|
|
We are proud to partner with New Jersey's leading environmental and social justice organizations to promote this Green in '21 policy guide.
|
|
|
|
New Jersey Future has prepared Creating Great Places To Age: A Community Guide to Implementing Aging-Friendly Land Use Decisions to provide communities with a step-by-step process to make designing for the needs of older residents easier.
|
|
|
|
The New Jersey Stormwater Utility Resource Center is a one-stop shop housing technical, legal, and financial information, case studies, and helpful guidance on stormwater solutions, community process, and public engagement.
|
|
|
|
The Developers Green Infrastructure Guide 2.0 breaks down New Jersey’s Stormwater Rule amendments and helps developers and decision-makers more clearly understand green infrastructure options and advantages, compare alternatives, and evaluate costs and benefits.
|
|
Founded in 1987, New Jersey Future is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that promotes sensible and equitable growth, redevelopment, and infrastructure investments to foster healthy, strong, resilient communities; protect natural lands and waterways; increase transportation choices beyond cars; provide access to safe, affordable, and aging-friendly neighborhoods; and fuel a strong economy for everyone. New Jersey Future does this through original research, innovative policy development, coalition-building, advocacy, and hands-on strategic assistance. Embracing differences and advancing fairness is central to New Jersey Future’s mission and operations. New Jersey Future is firmly committed to pursuing greater justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion through its programs, internal operations, and external communications. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
