For Immediate Release
October 9, 2012 Contact Jeff Tittel, 609-558-9100
New Jersey Sierra Clubs Statement on Mercks Move
Statement by Director Jeff Tittel Today the New Jersey Sierra Club applauds the move by Merck to a site in Summit from their headquarters in Whitehouse Station. The Sierra Club was very critical when Merck moved from Rahway out to a rural farm area in the Highlands near Round Valley Reservoir. At the time did a sprawl report that labeled the move one of the worst sprawl projects it being a symbol of what was wrong with New Jerseys land use policies. We are glad Merck decided to move to an area that not only is already developed, livable community, but has a good rail system and is transportation friendly. Now people who work for Merck will have their commute time cut down saving them money and reducing pollution. Moving will also help to make other people who commute on 78 lives better now that Merck is moving. It is good to see New Jersey companies like Merck having common sense unlike Governor Christie who is promoting sprawl and over development. The Governor is weakening land use protections and promoting sprawl through roll backs in the Water Quality Management Plan and attacks in the Highlands and Pinelands. He has been promoting sprawl projects with funding from public money and is opening environmentally sensitive areas up to development with the State Strategic Plan. We see both companies and people moving into already developed areas because they like the lifestyle of being in real communities not being in the middle of nowhere. Back in the 90s companies kept moving further west into rural areas now we see more people and business moving to places like Jersey City and Hoboken or Summit and Morristown. This is a positive trend moving away from sprawl. Now we just need a Governor who gets it to help spear development to the right places like Merck is doing.
-- Nicole Dallara, Outreach Coordinator New Jersey Sierra Club 145 W. Hanover Street Trenton, NJ 08618 609-656-7612 -- Nicole Dallara, Outreach Coordinator New Jersey Sierra Club 145 W. Hanover Street Trenton, NJ 08618 609-656-7612Received on 2012-10-19 07:02:30