News Releases

• New Data From the New Jersey Department of Health Show Work Is Needed to Protect Children From Lead Exposure

  Trenton, March 31, 2021—The coronavirus pandemic has kept New Jersey’s children at home since March 2020, creating more time for potential contact with the neurotoxin lead. New Jersey’s children are being tested for lead exposure at a lower rate than in 2019, but the percentage of children with elevated blood lead levels has increased by 29% since that year, according to data released by the New Jersey Department of Health.

• New Stormwater Rules Require New Developments to Include Green Infrastructure

  Trenton, March 2, 2021—New public and private sector developments in New Jersey must now include the use of green infrastructure as a stormwater management technique starting today as a result of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s (NJDEP) newly amended Stormwater Management Rules (NJAC 7:8). 

• New Jersey Future Statement on Governor Murphy's FY2022 Budget Address

  TRENTON, February 23, 2021 —New Jersey Future Executive Director Peter Kasabach released the following statement in response to Governor Murphy’s FY2022 Budget Address.

• New Jersey Future statement on the creation of the Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy

  TRENTON, February 16, 2021 —New Jersey Future Executive Director Peter Kasabach released the following statement on the creation of the Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy.

• New Jersey Future statement on the enactment of key resilience planning law

  TRENTON, February 4, 2021 —New Jersey Future Executive Director Peter Kasabach released the following statement on the enactment of S2607.

• New Jersey Future statement on Governor Murphy's State of the State Address

  TRENTON, January 12, 2021 —New Jersey Future Executive Director Peter Kasabach released the following statements on Governor Murphy’s State of the State Address.

• New Jersey Future statement on the New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020

  TRENTON, December 21 —New Jersey Future Executive Director Peter Kasabach released the following statement on the New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020.

• New Jersey Future Announces Winners of 2020 Smart Growth Awards and Cary Edwards Leadership Award

  TRENTON, October 21 — New Jersey Future today announced the six winners of the 2020 Smart Growth Awards and the winner of the Cary Edwards Leadership Award. The Smart Growth Awards honor smart planning and development that promote economic opportunity, environmental health, community vitality, and equity in New Jersey.

• New Jersey Future statement on Historic Environmental Justice Legislation

  TRENTON, September 18 — New Jersey Future Executive Director Peter Kasabach released the following statement on the enactment of S232, which would protect overburdened communities from pollutants.

• New Jersey Future statement on the expansion of small business COVID-19 loans

  TRENTON, May 22 — New Jersey Future Executive Director Peter Kasabach released the following statement on the New Jersey Economic Development Authority's small businesses COVID-19 grant program expansion.

• New Jersey Future Welcomes Four New Trustees

  TRENTON, May 6 -- New Jersey Future’s Board of Trustees welcomed four new members.

• New Jersey Future Statement on the RGGI Strategic Funding Plan

  TRENTON, April 17 -- New Jersey Future Executive Director Peter Kasabach released the following statement on the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Strategic Funding Plan.

• New Jersey Future Statement on Governor Murphy's Budget Address

  TRENTON, February 25 -- New Jersey Future Executive Director Peter Kasabach released the following statement on Governor Murphy’s FY 2021 Budget Address.

• New Jersey Future Statement on State Planning Commission Members

  TRENTON, February 5 -- New Jersey Future Executive Director Peter Kasabach released the following statement on the new State Planning Commission members.

• New Jersey Future Statement on NJ PACT and the Energy Master Plan

  TRENTON, January 27 -- New Jersey Future Executive Director Peter Kasabach released the following statement on the NJ PACT rules and Energy Master Plan.

• New Jersey Future Statement on Governor Murphy's 2020 State of the State Address

  TRENTON, January 14 -- New Jersey Future Executive Director Peter Kasabach released the following statement on Governor Murphy’s 2020 State of the State Address.

• New Jersey Future Statement on Harmful Algae Blooms

  TRENTON, Nov. 18 -- New Jersey Future Managing Director of Policy and Water Chris Sturm released the following statement on new funding to address harmful algal blooms.

• New Jersey Future Statement on Executive Order 89

  TRENTON, October 29 -- New Jersey Future Executive Director Peter Kasabach released the following statement on Governor Murphy’s Executive Order 89, establishing a Statewide Climate Change Resilience Strategy and to create the Climate and Flood Resilience Program and an Interagency Council on Climate Resilience.

• New Jersey Future Releases Map of Lead Service Lines in New Jersey

  TRENTON, October 3 -- Lead service lines, the primary source of lead in drinking water, have been reported in 104 water systems as of August 2019, potentially exposing some portion of over 5 million residents who live in these service areas.

• Statement on Lead in Newark's Water

  TRENTON, August 26 -- New Jersey Future released the following statement on the Essex County bond program to replace all lead service lines in Newark.

• Statement on Draft Energy Master Plan

  TRENTON, June 10 -- New Jersey Executive Director Peter Kasabach released the following statement regarding the release of the draft Energy Master Plan.

• Governor Murphy’s FY20 NJ Transit Operating Budget Proposal Shortchanges NJ Transit

  TRENTON, May 9 --A diverse group of transportation, environment and equity advocates gathered at the State House to voice their concerns regarding the continued underfunding of NJ Transit.

• Wendy Neu To Receive New Jersey Future's Cary Edwards Leadership Award

  TRENTON, April 9 --New Jersey Future today announced that Wendy Kelman Neu, the chairwoman and chief executive officer of the Hugo Neu Corporation, will be honored with the organization's 2019 W. Cary Edwards Leadership Award.

• Statement on Assemblyman Peters's Call for Local Anti-Stormwater Utilities Resolutions

  TRENTON, April 4 -- New Jersey Future's statement opposing Asm. Peters' call for local resolutions against establishment of stormwater utilities.

• New Jersey Future Announces Winners of 2019 Smart Growth Awards

  TRENTON, March 26 -- New Jersey Future today announced the seven project winners of its 2019 Smart Growth Awards. The winners include four adaptive-reuse projects, a new youth center, a multi-municipal walking and cycling trail, and a master plan update that focuses on accommodating future growth and sustainability.

• Statement on Enactment of Stormwater Utilities Law

  TRENTON, March 18 -- New Jersey Future Managing Director of Policy and Water Chris Sturm's statement on enactment of the stormwater utilities law.

• Statement on Governor Murphy's 2019 Budget Address

  TRENTON, March 5 -- New Jersey Future Executive Director Peter Kasabach's statement in response to Governor Murphy's 2019 budget address.

• Statement on Passage of A2694/S1073, the Clean Stormwater, Flood Reduction Act

  TRENTON, Jan. 31 -- New Jersey Future statement on the passage of A2694/S1073, the Clean Stormwater, Flood Reduction Act.

• Statement on Release of Stormwater Utility Bill from Assembly Appropriations Committee

  TRENTON, Jan. 28 -- New Jersey Future's statement on the release of the Flood Defense Act from the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

• New Jersey Becoming Less Dangerous for Pedestrians, but Still Work To Do

  TRENTON, Jan. 23 -- Smart Growth America today released its 2019 Dangerous By Design report, and overall, the news is good for New Jersey. Measures of pedestrian safety have improved, but the state is still near the top in terms of the pedestrian fatality rate.

• Statement on Governor Murphy’s State of the State Address

  TRENTON, Jan. 15 -- New Jersey Future released the following statements on Governor Murphy’s State of the State Address.

• New Jersey Future’s David Kutner To Receive Statewide Planning Award

  TRENTON, Jan. 14 -- New Jersey Future Planning Manager David Kutner, who directed the organization's post-Hurricane Sandy recovery planning work, will receive APA NJ's award for outstanding professional planning.

• New Jersey Future Welcomes Three New Trustees

  TRENTON, Jan. 10 -- At its recent annual meeting, New Jersey Future’s Board of Trustees welcomed to the board New Jersey Resources’ Amy Cradic, Newark Alliance’s Aisha Glover, and RWJBarnabas Health’s Jen Velez.

• Getting Sewage Off Our Streets and Out of Our Rivers

  TRENTON, Dec. 18 -- A statewide coalition today unveiled Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers, a coordinated campaign across New Jersey communities with combined sewer systems that overflow raw sewage during heavy rainfalls.

• Opportunity Zone ‘One-Stop Shop’ Will Help Cities and Towns Attract, Maximize Redevelopment Investment

  TRENTON, Nov. 14 -- The state’s recently released Opportunity Zone website is a good example of bringing relevant information into the public realm

• New Toolkit From New Jersey Future Helps Municipal Leaders Fight Pollution and Flooding

  TRENTON, Nov. 5 -- New Jersey Future today released the Green Infrastructure Municipal Toolkit: a one-stop online resource useful to any community in New Jersey.

• Office of Transit-Oriented Development Will Help Meet Growing Demand for Growth Near Train Stations

  TRENTON, Nov. 1 -- New Jersey Future is excited to see Governor Murphy embracing smart, compact growth around transit centers through the signing of this bill.

• New Plan for Trenton Transit Center Neighborhood Offers Roadmap for Revitalization

  TRENTON, Oct. 23 -- New Jersey Future today released the Trenton Transit Center Strategic Action Plan, calling for the transformation of the neighborhood around the transit center into a vibrant and dynamic district.

• Economic Development Strategic Plan Underscores Importance of Smart Growth to State’s Economy

  TRENTON, Oct. 1 -- The new Economic Development Strategic Plan unveiled today by Gov. Murphy is, at its core, a blueprint for how smart growth can drive economic growth.

• Yes, Millennials are fleeing New Jersey. The data (and recent report) say so.

  TRENTON, Sept. 12 -- Contrary to some of the latest headlines, the recently released report commissioned by New Jersey Policy Perspective does in fact show that there is currently a net out-migration of Millennials from New Jersey, corroborating New Jersey Future’s 2017 report.  The fact that Millennials are leaving the state is not a myth.

• New Report Highlights Green Infrastructure Financing Opportunities

  TRENTON, July 19 -- New Jersey Future today released an analysis of the New Jersey Water Bank's green infrastructure financing program.

• Statement on Passage of Bill Establishing TOD Office at NJ Transit

  TRENTON, June 22, 2018 -- New Jersey Future applauds the June 21 passage of a bill that establishes an office of real estate transit-oriented development within NJ Transit, which will unlock the economic potential of NJ Transit-owned properties near train stations.

• Statement on Senate Passage of Stormwater Utility Bill

  TRENTON, June 21, 2018 -- New Jersey Future welcomes the state Senate's passage of a bill that will give local governments an important new tool to address the problems of stormwater flooding and polluted runoff.

• Statement on New State Transportation Infrastructure Bank

  TRENTON, June 8, 2018 -- New Jersey Future welcomes the establishment of the state's Transportation Infrastructure Bank, a new source for low-cost financing for local transportation projects.

• Statement on Confirmation of DEP Commissioner McCabe and DOT Commissioner Gutierrez-Scaccetti

  TRENTON, June 8, 2018 --New Jersey Future applauds the confirmation of both Catherine McCabe as commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection and Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti as commissioner of the Department of Transportation.

• New Jersey Future Celebrates Signing of Urban Enterprise Zone Legislation

  TRENTON, May 31, 2018 -- New Jersey Future applauded the sponsorship and passage of S846/A3549, reinstating Urban Enterprise Zones in five cities and requiring a comprehensive review the Urban Enterprise Zone program.

• New Jersey Future Supports A1093

  TRENTON, May 17, 2018 -- New Jersey Future supports Assembly bill A1093, which would require the Department of Environmental Protection to update the New Jersey Shore Protection Master Plan.

• New Jersey Future, Association of Environmental Authorities Support S1073

  TRENTON, May 10, 2018 -- New Jersey Future supports Senate Bill 1073, which would allow municipalities, counties, and certain utilities to create stormwater utilities.

• Hon. James J. Florio To Receive Leadership Award

  TRENTON, April 12, 2018 -- New Jersey Future announced today that James J. Florio, the 49th governor of New Jersey, will be presented with the organization's Cary Edwards Leadership Award as part of its Smart Growth Awards celebration.

• New Jersey Future Praises Governor Murphy's Commitment to Neighborhood, Downtown Revitalization

  TRENTON, April 12, 2018 -- New Jersey Future Executive Director Peter Kasabach today applauded Governor Murphy's call to reinstate Main Street New Jersey and the Neighborhood Preservation Program.

• New Jersey Future Praises Quick Selection of Opportunity Zones

  TRENTON, April 10, 2018 -- New Jersey Future is pleased to see that the selection and approval, announced April 9, of 169 Census Tracts in the state as designated Opportunity Zones was finalized quickly.

• New Jersey Future Hires Missy Rebovich To Lead Government, Public Affairs

  TRENTON, April 4, 2018 -- New Jersey Future is pleased to announce and welcome Missy Rebovich as its director of government and public affairs.

• New Jersey Future Announces 2018 Smart Growth Award Winners

  TRENTON, April 3, 2018 -- Adaptive reuse projects, resiliency and circulation initiatives, a vertical farm, a circulation improvement plan and implementation of a smart-growth revitalization plan are honored.

• Survey: New Jersey Residents Name Clean Drinking Water as Top Environmental Priority

  TRENTON, March 28, 2018 -- A survey indicates that New Jersey residents believe securing clean, safe drinking water should be the top environmental priority for the new governor and Legislature.

• Census Bureau County Population Estimates Show Return to the Urban Core Continuing

  TRENTON, March 26, 2018 -- Exurban counties continue to lose residents, while Hudson County hits a milestone.

• New Jersey Future Praises Gov. Murphy's Budget Priorities

  TRENTON, March 13, 2018 -- New Jersey Future released a statement on Gov. Murphy's proposed budget priorities.

• New Jersey Future Praises Gov. Murphy's Choice To Rebuild NJ Transit

  TRENTON, Jan. 30 -- Executive Director Peter Kasabach applauded Governor Murphy's choice of Kevin Corbett to lead NJ Transit as part of the governor's campaign promise to remake the agency.

• New Jersey Future Praises Urban and Regional Growth Transition Report

  TRENTON, Jan. 26 -- Governor Murphy's policy office today released the reports from the gubernatorial transition committees.

• New Jersey Future Praises Governor Murphy for Audit of State's Economic Incentive Programs

  TRENTON, Jan. 16 -- New Jersey Future Executive Director Peter Kasabach praised Gov. Murphy for his executive order calling for an audit of the state's economic incentives.

• New Jersey Future praises Gov. Murphy speech for emphasis on smart, equitable economic growth

  TRENTON, Jan. 16 -- New Jersey Future congratulates Phil Murphy on his inauguration as New Jersey's 56th governor.

• New Jersey Future Praises Legislators for Recommending Significant Investment in State's Water Infrastructure

  TRENTON, Jan. 3 -- New Jersey Future today applauded the Joint Legislative Task Force on Drinking Water Infrastructure for its forthcoming report, which, according to a press statement issued today, will provide a comprehensive set of recommendations for upgrading New Jersey's deteriorating water systems, including how to generate the significant investment needed for the upgrade.

• New Report Outlines Coastal Resilience Strategies

  TRENTON, Dec. 13, 2017 -- New Jersey Future today released a report outlining strategies coastal communities can take to respond to the impacts of rising seas and increased flooding.

• Experts Release Proposed Clean Water Agenda for Incoming Governor Murphy's First Year

  TRENTON, Nov. 30 -- Representatives from 34 public-sector, private-sector and nonprofit organizations today together released a proposed Year One Clean Water Agenda for incoming Governor Phil Murphy, encouraging him to make investment in clean water a priority during the first year of his administration.