Although New Jersey Senate Bill S2956 is only two paragraphs long, there is a tremendous amount at stake.
The 21.5-acre Caven Point Peninsula in Liberty State Park would be designated as a “natural habitat” and preserved indefinitely under the proposed legislation.
That implies that the ecologically delicate beach region, which also boasts a stunning view of Lady Liberty, would continue to serve as essential habitat for migratory birds, horseshoe crabs, and other species.
It would continue to be a location where schools could learn and where anyone could visit a park and truly connect with nature without having to leave the city.
Furthermore, it would be safe from the kind of land grab that has been threatened for years by the ultra-exclusive golf course and club next door, which would love to add three holes there and claims that the move is essential to luring major PGA events.
When will it occur? The bill, which was introduced last week by state senators Sandra Cunningham of Jersey City and Brian Stack of Union City, will now go through the Senate Environment and Energy Committee’s review process before being brought up for consideration by the full Senate.
That will most likely occur, at most, after Labor Day now that the state budget has been approved and implemented.
Despite having sponsors and a bill number, the companion measure in the Assembly has not yet been introduced.
In contrast, the fast-tracked Liberty State Park Conservation, Recreation, and Community Inclusion Act by Stack was presented in both the state Senate and Assembly, evaluated in committees, approved by the full Legislature, and signed into law by Governor Murphy all in the span of a few weeks.
Critics worry that the bill, which is now law, will make it easier to rush through large-scale commercialization projects that would contradict the park’s objective, cause traffic chaos in the neighbourhood, and ruin the chance to build new public parks with free, open spaces for active enjoyment.
The same opponents had pleaded with Stack, other lawmakers, and the governor to include language protecting the Caven Point Peninsula in the expedited legislation. An alternative measure was presented, one with a lengthier timeline. Why?
Never mind that the fast-tracked law ought to have included safeguards for the Caven Point Peninsula from the beginning.
It would have been difficult to make changes to the original measure in time for it to be voted on by June 30, according to Stack, who spoke with The Star-Ledger.
He is reported to have said, “But I am fully devoted to finishing this.” “I vouch for the cause and the people.
Nothing other than what is now in Caven Point’s natural habitat will be maintained, and I will fight day and night to see that this bill is passed.
We are nevertheless concerned that Stack and Cunningham initially introduced the Liberty State Park Protection Act, which would have addressed Caven Point Peninsula and the issue of extensive commercialization, only to allow it to languish for years once the golf club’s lobbyists started making noise about it.
(Of the Hudson delegation, only Jersey City Assemblyman Raj Mukherji remained steadfast in support of the Protection Act.)
We want this new two-paragraph Caven Point Peninsula protection to become law.
We expect it to happen fast. And we want assurances from Stack, Cunningham, and Governor Murphy that it will be done without making any deals that would protect the peninsula in return for giving in to those looking to make money off the park through privatization and commercialization in some other way.
These actions would be the first step in making sure that the park continues to be a public space that is free of charge.
Step 2 is the appointment of members to the new task group established by the expedited Liberty State Park Conservation, Recreation, and Community Inclusion Legislation by the plethora of lawmakers specified in the act.
Will it be filled with friends and those with a vested interest in commercialization? Or, will they emerge from the back room and select people who will only act in the interests of the general public?
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The task force’s recommendations and the DEP’s ultimate judgments will be made in Step 3 of the process.
We are not the only ones who believe that future conflicts over Liberty State Park and the areas around it will be numerous.
Stack, Cunningham, and Murphy currently have the opportunity to end one conflict and pass the Caven Point Peninsula safeguards through the Legislature without conditions and into the official record.
