Date : Fri, Jan 23, 2015 at 11:18 AM
January 23, 2015
Contact Jeff Tittel, 609-558-9100
We Need to Bar Barr from the Pinelands
On Monday the Senate Judiciary Committee, for the second time, will be considering Robert Barr to be placed on the Pinelands Commission. Jeff Tittel, Director of the NJ Sierra Club issued the following statement:
"Robert Barr's nomination to the Pinelands Commission is just plain wrong. Robert Barr is not qualified and has been nominated to do the dirty work for the people who want to push through the South Jersey Gas Pipeline. Robert Barr is a dangerous threat to the Pinelands and he is part of the Christie Administration's plan undermine and weaken Pineland's protections and push through the pipeline. This is really about playing politics with the Pinelands at the expense of the environment. His only qualification is he is part of the political machine and he will do their dirty work. Nominating Robert Barr again shows just how desperate the Christie administration is to stack the Pinelands Commission. This is the Christie-Norcross-Sweeney takeover of what was an independent board that was set up to protect the Pinelands, not special interests. Robert Barr is the President of the Ocean City Democratic Club, Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Cape May County Democratic Committee and a close ally of Senator Jeff Van Drew."
"Robert Barr during his testimony at the Judiciary Committee knew nothing about the Pinelands or science of the Pinelands. He still knows nothing about the Pinelands. All he knows is political science and has political connections, since this nomination is about politics not protecting the Pinelands. This appointment jeopardizes the Pinelands and is a sellout of our environment. His nomination is a real threat to the Pinelands and 40 years of protection."
"The Governor is trying to get rid of all the Commissioners who opposed the pipeline and this is part of that purge. Governor Christie is pushing Robert Barr because it may be tougher for Democrats on the Committee who support the Pinelands to vote against just a lone democrat. This is a tactical move by Governor Christie to try to take over the Pinelands Commission. What is even more shameful is that there are Democrats that are willing to do his dirty work."
"Four former Governors opposed the project and Gov. Chrisite is trying to dismantle Pinelands protections with these appointments. The Commissioners who are being replaced did their jobs and the Governor would rather play politics with the Pinelands then protect the region. This is part of retribution against the Commission with vetoing the minutes from the March 14th Pinelands Commission meeting, blocking staff from getting a 5% raise. It was the first time ever a Governor vetoed the minutes from a Pinelands Commission meeting.
"With this nomination the future of the Pinelands is at stake. Pinelands are a UN biosphere reserve and one of the largest sources of fresh drinking water on the east coast. This appointment could undo all of those protections that we are fighting for. We need to save the Pinlenads all over again by stopping this appointment. It is not just about the pipeline, these appointments could dismantle 40 years of Pinelands protections. We have stopped Robert Barr from being nominated and we will stop this nomination again. We are going to Bar him from the Commission," said Jeff Tittel, Director of The New Jersey Sierra Club.
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