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As we close out 2024, I want to take a moment to reflect on the collective strides we’ve made together to create a more equitable and sustainable New Jersey.
This final quarter allowed us to showcase the power of collaboration, innovation, and shared vision. At the Great Homes and Neighborhoods for All gathering, we brought together community leaders and housing advocates to discuss actionable strategies to ensure everyone in New Jersey has access to a safe, affordable place to call home. The conversations sparked new partnerships and reaffirmed the urgency of our mission.
The Jersey Water Works Conference was another highlight, gathering experts and advocates dedicated to improving water infrastructure, which silently affects every one of us. From addressing lead in drinking water to managing stormwater, this conference underscored the importance of clean water for public health, economic development, and environmental resilience.
Finally, we were proud to support the preliminary New Jersey State Plan update, a long-awaited effort to guide smart growth and sustainable development. By advocating for policies that prioritize inclusive economic opportunities, walkable communities, and climate resilience, we’re helping shape a future where every community thrives.
As we look ahead to 2025, I am energized by the progress we’ve made and the work still to come. Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Your commitment fuels our ability to drive change and inspire solutions.
Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season and a bright New Year.
Peter Kasabach
Executive Director
P.S. Today’s challenges demand bold vision and collective action and with your support, New Jersey Future will continue to be at the forefront of creating a state where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. Thank you!
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NJ State Plan Preliminary Update Announced | |
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Earlier this month, with strong support from Governor Phil Murphy, the State Planning Commission unveiled the long-anticipated preliminary update to the New Jersey State Development and Redevelopment Plan (State Plan). The updated State Plan provides a roadmap to address critical challenges, including climate change, equity, housing affordability, infrastructure modernization, and economic development. Developed by numerous stakeholders, the Plan allows for smoother coordination and planning among state agencies and different levels of government.
New Jersey Future has been a key advocate for the State Plan since its founding in 1987, championing smart growth policies to improve communities and safeguard natural resources. NJF remains committed to helping advance the State Plan and ensuring its success across the Garden State, but we can’t do it alone. Follow along with us to learn more and find out about opportunities for community feedback.
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Great Homes and Neighborhoods for All | |
Too many people cannot find an affordable, stable home in a neighborhood that meets their needs. That’s why last month, New Jersey Future and its partners held the Great Homes and Neighborhoods for All (GHGN) Forum. This event represented a milestone for a growing, diverse group that began working a year ago to reverse the state’s housing and neighborhood crisis. Attendees rolled up their sleeves to shape state and local-level solutions for zoning, housing supply, displacement, local land use planning, and advocacy campaigns. They also signed up to endorse guiding principles that are the basis for future action steps that will lead to comprehensive, systemic change. Check out and share the reel for an insider’s view of the event and the evolving initiative. | |
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NJF’s Policy Director for Land Use Chris Sturm, along with GHNA’s steering committee members, Peter T. Rosario and Baye Adofo-Wilson, co-authored an Op-Ed in NJ Spotlight News which illustrated the shared vision that everyone in New Jersey deserves an affordable place to live in a safe, inclusive and vibrant community — a community with schools, healthy food, jobs, parks and green spaces conveniently within reach.
New Jersey Future’s Great Homes and Neighborhoods webpage allows visitors to sign up for updates and get involved in an issue that lays the foundation for a healthy state.
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New Jersey – along with many other parts of the country – is experiencing a housing shortage, driving up rents and home prices and prompting many households to leave the state in search of cheaper housing elsewhere. The rising costs of housing in New Jersey are affecting everyone, especially individuals and households at the lower end of the income spectrum. This new snapshot report, by New Jersey Future Director of Research Tim Evans, illustrates the current state of New Jersey's housing supply; shows how lack of housing options affects affordability and contributes to racial and economic segregation; assesses the effectiveness of New Jersey’s unique Mount Laurel doctrine; and points to solutions. Learn more. | |
Jersey Water Works Conference | |
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Cheers to ten years! Last week was the Tenth Annual Jersey Water Works Conference. New Jersey Future is proud to be a member of Jersey Water Works and serve as the backbone staff. The Conference brought together over 200 water professionals, community advocates, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss and advance collaborative solutions for New Jersey’s most pressing water challenges.
Participants engaged in a constructive dialogue and exchanged insights regarding evolving regulations, water quality, and the various confronting challenges to ensure clean affordable water and a healthy environment. New Jersey Future staff presented on Lead Service Line Replacement, Combined Sewer Overflow solutions, NJ PACT REAL updates, and more. Thank you to all who attended and to the sponsors that helped make this event affordable for all! Discover more highlights and key takeaways from the event here.
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Over the next 20 years, the United States must spend $625 billion to fix, maintain, and improve water infrastructure. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, New Jersey alone will need to spend at least $12,252,800,000 on drinking water infrastructure and $19,352,000,000 on clean water infrastructure over the next 20 years to make all necessary improvements and repairs. Read more. | |
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2025 NJ Planning & Redevelopment Conference Call for Sessions | |
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New Jersey Future and the New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association are partnering once again to host the 2025 New Jersey Planning & Redevelopment Conference. This three-day conference will be held June 11-12 virtually and June 13 in person at the Hyatt Regency New Brunswick. Join us in making this event a success by submitting a session proposal. Guidelines and requirements are available as a downloadable document. Please read this first, as it explains the submission process in detail. Then proceed to the submission portal. All session proposals must be submitted by Friday, February 7, 2025.
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2025 Smart Growth Award Call for Nominations | |
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New Jersey Future’s Smart Growth Awards, hosted in the fall, honor projects, plans, and policies across the state that demonstrate smart growth principles in action that positively impacts the broader community. The awards shine a spotlight on organizations, businesses, and individuals with the vision to encourage smart growth values and designs. Nominations for 2025 are open now. If you have any questions on filling out the nomination form (that takes some time and required background information), please reach out to Susan O’Connor, soconnor@njfuture.org, with any preliminary questions you may have on your eligibility. All nominations and supporting materials must be submitted by Monday, March 31, 2025.
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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. | |
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As 2024 draws to a close, New Jersey Future reflects on the diverse team that drives our mission forward. This year, in our daily newsletter, What We’re Reading, we introduced a special series called 'NJF Staff Speaks.' Through this series, our staff members who represent various Heritage Months shared their unique insights and personal stories, highlighting how their backgrounds enrich the work they do. Below are a few words from them.
Women’s History Month:
“I grew up in a household surrounded by union leaders; the daughter of a prominent labor professor and a community organizer leader in Latinx communities. I was, as some would call it, a ‘movement child.’ I am frequently reminded of a quote from Clarissa Pinkola Estés, that ‘ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach.’”
Alesha Vega-Levy, Program Associate
“As a woman working on lead issues, when I found out that lead mimics calcium and can cross the placenta during pregnancy, I was alarmed and realized the importance of the work I do, not just for the present generation, but for generations to come. ”
Deandrah Cameron, Policy Manager
Black History Month:
"As an adult, I never thought of myself much as an 'environmentalist' but more as a 'conservationist.' It wasn’t until I entered my profession as an organizer that I realized how much of a privilege my access to nature was… If I can inspire even one person who looks like me to get involved in advocacy, I’ve done my part.”
Lee Clark, Program Manager, Funding Navigator
Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Month:
“One of the core values taught to me through the actions of my titas and titos was 'Pakikipagkapwa,' which translates to fellowship and is the belief that one’s well-being is interconnected with the well-being of others.”... I carry that knowledge with me as the program coordinator for Jersey Water Works…We will not solve our problems in isolation.”
Andrea Jovie Sapal, Program Coordinator
"Environmental issues impact communities full of people like me, children of immigrants. Often, we stand at the frontline, aiding our parents in navigating a foreign world. Asian American Pacific Islanders make up 6% of nonprofit employees nationwide. I know how important it is for the work we do to be accessible to everyone, and as part of that 6% in the communications field, I can do just that.”
Sneha Patel, Communications Specialist
& What We’re Reading Curator
We look forward to hearing more of our staff speak in 2025!
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New Jersey Future in the News | | |
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Guide to Local Climate Change Adaptation Planning
Working with the NJDEP, Sustainable Jersey, and statewide partners, NJF led development of the Guide to Local Climate Change Adaptation Planning, providing a model Climate Change-Related Hazard Vulnerability Assessment (CCRHVA) and planning process for New Jersey Municipalities that satisfies the requirements of the 2021 MLUL amendment.
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This periodic primer from the JWW Lead in Drinking Water Task Force provides key information on how lead pipes can be replaced quickly, cost-effectively, and with community support.
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New Jersey Stormwater Retrofit Best Management Practices Guide
NJF partnered with Princeton Hydro to create a New Jersey Stormwater Retrofit Best Management Practices Guide. This guide provides municipalities, counties, nonprofit organizations, developers, and property owners the tools to identify opportunities to retrofit existing stormwater BMPs and install new stormwater BMPs in built-out environments.
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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.
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Social Media Spotlight
Affording a Home in New Jersey!
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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. | | | | |
