Date : Tue, 10 Mar 2015 17:22:39 -0400
For Immediate Release
March 10, 2015
Contact Jeff Tittel 609-558-9100
Protect the Pinelands Bus Tour and Rally Tomorrow
A coalition of New Jersey environmental groups and volunteers will tour state Senator legislative offices to urge them to block Robert Barr's nomination to the Pinelands Commission tomorrow, Wednesday March 11th. Legislative offices of Senators Singer, Connors, Whelan, Cruz-Perez, and Barnes will be visited because they are considered important swing votes.
"Tomorrow we are hitting the road for a grassroots campaign to protect the Pinelands. We are trying to garner support by traveling the state and urge state senators to vote no on Robert Barr's nomination," said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.
"With Robert Barr's nomination the future of the Pinelands are at stake, the Pinelands are a UN biosphere reserve and one of the largest sources of fresh drinking water on the east coast. His appointment will undo 40 of protections for the Pinelands . Barr is a dangerous threat to the Pinelands and he is part of the Christie Administration's plan undermine and weaken Pinelands' protections," said Tittel.
"Former New Jersey Governors, Brendan Byrne, Thomas Kean, Christine Whitman and James Florio, in bi-partisan fashion urged all 40 Senators to block Robert Barr's nomination. It is very rare for governors to take stance on a proposal in front of the commission, but these governors realize the future of the Pinelands is at stake. The four former governors have stood up for the independence and integrity of the Pinelands Commission and warn the nomination could undo the Comprehensive Management Plan and open up the Pinelands for inappropriate development," said Tittel.
"Robert Barr during his first testimony in 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. This appointment is about politics, not protecting the Pinelands. When Mr. Barr was interviewed during Committee he said he has no opinion of the pipeline, but he is part of the political operation that is pushing for the pipeline. Either way it makes him unqualified," said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.
The bus tour and rally will start at 9:00AM and end at 5:00PM at Senator Singer's office in Lakewood (see full itinerary below). The Bus for Progress will be generously taking volunteers across the state and leading the caravan of more people concerned about the nomination. The tour and rally symbolizes the momentum started by hundreds of New Jersey residents who've called and e-mailed their senators to vote No on Barr's nomination.
Bus Tour and Rally Itinerary:
Stop #1 (9-9:45 am): Senator Singer, 30th District (Ocean/Burlington)
1771 Madison Ave., Suite 202, Lakewood, NJ 08701. Phone: (732) 987-5669
Leave cars in the parking lot and return (if riding on the bus) and return to location at end of day. 30 minute drive
Stop #2 (10:30-11:15 am) : Senator Connors, 9th District (Ocean)
620 West Lacey Rd., Forked River, NJ 08731. Phone: (609) 693-6700
Stop #3 (12:15-1 pm) : Senator Whelan, 2nd District (Atlantic)
507 Tilton Rd., Northfield, NJ 08225. Phone: (609) 383-1388
Stop #4 (2-2:45 pm): Senator Cruz-Perez, 5th District (Camden)
130 E Black Horse Pike #3, Audubon, NJ 08106. (856) 547-4800
Stop #5 (4:15-5 pm): Senator Barnes, 18th District (Middlesex)
3 Stephenville Pkwy., Suite 2D, Edison, NJ 08820. (732) 548-1406
Drive back to Singer's office from here (about a 50 min. drive) or if you're in your own car, you can drive home.