For immediate release
March 4, 2022
Trenton, New Jersey – The Clean Water, Healthy Families and Good Jobs campaign announced the addition of over 50 endorsing organizations, individuals and elected officials. The organizations and individuals we support represent a diverse coalition including labor, business and community organizations.
“Clean water is critical to the economy, quality of life, and health of our families in New Jersey,” said State Senator Bob Smith (D-Piscataway), one of the campaign’s new supporters. rice field. “That’s why I’m proud to support the goals of the Clean Water, Healthy Families, Good Jobs campaign to call for the use of funds from America’s Relief Program to increase investment in clean water infrastructure.” he continued.
New Jersey faces a shortfall in clean water funding of approximately $6 billion over five years. Removal of lead pipes, upgrades to combined sewer systems, and other improvements to stormwater infrastructure can accommodate additional capacity. A lot of progress has been made, but without additional funding this year, New Jersey could fall further behind. The campaign calls on the Murphy administration and the New Jersey legislature to seize a once-in-a-generation opportunity to inject an additional $1.2 billion from remaining American Rescue Plan funds to bolster other funding sources. .
“The Murphy administration has acted appropriately on issues such as lead service line replacement, but the scale of the problem is significant,” said Christine Epstein, assistant director of the Trenton Water Authority. We need to balance the need to improve with affordability.Additional federal funding from New Jersey’s American Rescue Plan dollars will help make these absolutely essential upgrades while reducing costs to local governments and taxpayers. ,” Epstein continued.
New Jersey has about $3 billion left in the American Rescue Plan. The Biden administration is encouraging the use of these funds for water infrastructure projects.
“When hard-working families sit around the kitchen table, they’re often talking about affordability and good work,” said Anthony Abrantes of the Eastern Atlantic Carpenters Regional Council. “Increasing investment in clean water not only protects their health, it also creates high-paying jobs and promises a more affordable future for all New Jerseyans.”
New Jersey faces numerous water infrastructure challenges. In communities with combined sewer systems, increasingly extreme weather forces untreated sewage back up into homes and businesses, leaving major service lines outdated, endangering the health of children and families statewide. stretched stormwater infrastructure is causing even more devastating flooding. community.
“New Jersey has an opportunity to pave the way for an entire nation with clean water,” said Amy Goldsmith, director of Clean Water Action in New Jersey. “This is a solvable problem. If we do not act now, we will miss an opportunity that may never come again. “This is especially true for low-income and people-of-color communities who live in poverty.Clean water should be a right for everyone, not a privilege for the few,” she continued.
“If we do not take advantage of this opportunity, we will see a much more costly scenario in terms of direct funding, health impact and quality of life in the not too distant future,” said Mo Kinberg. co-chair said. Clean water, healthy families, good jobs. “That is why we have historically formed coalitions of individuals and organizations seeking the same. We are now investing more in water infrastructure.”
A list of approved members can be found here:
Amy Goldsmith, Clean Water Action
Mayor Andre Seigue, City of Paterson
Anthony Abrantes, Eastern Atlantic State Carpenters Regional Council
Bill Armbruster, Green Commissioner of the Journal Square Community Association
Bill Schultz, Raritan Riverkeeper
Bob Smith, New Jersey Senator
Brenda Sweeney, Garfield Avenue Block Association
Bruno Figueiredo
Caroline Koch, WaterNow Alliance
Crystal Wessel, New Jersey Tree Foundation
David Smith, Trenton Water Works
Diandra Cameron, New Jersey Future
Debra Italiano, Sustainable Jersey City
Elliott Luger, New Jersey Highlands Union
Steam Urban, Fallon Davis
Future City Co., Ltd.
Frances Harrison, Paterson Green Team
Gail Rottenstrich, Borough Council member, Borough of Fair Lawn
Greg Lemoux, NY/NJ Baykeeper
Heather Fenyk, Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership
Howard Levsion, South Orange Village Water Utility
James McGroarty, Clyde N. Lattimer & Son Construction Company, Inc.
Jamie Bruno, Urban Farmers Cooperative
Jane Kenny, Whitman Strategy Group
Jennifer Adkins, American Rivers
Jill Pustrino, Maurice Park Neighborhood Association
Jocelyn Patrick, Riverview Neighborhood Association
John Algera, Urban Wilderness Renewal
Jose Amarante, Perth Amboy
Joseph Maragiti
Klaus Buschan, friend of Weequahic Park
Christine Epstein, Trenton Water Works
Laurie Howard, Passaic River Coalition
Louis Presot, La Casa Don Pedro
Lucia Ruggiero, American Coastal Association
Martha Allencibia, Paterson Green Team
Michele Langa, Keeper of the Hackensack River
Missy Frankil
Moria Kinberg, Sewerless Streets and Rivers
NANCY GRIER, Neighborhood Support Office
Newark DIG (Doing Infrastructure Green)
newark green team
Noelle Thurlow, Resilience Adventures
Mount Pam, Terhune Orchard
Patricia Lindsay-Harvey, Willingboro Community Development Corporation
Richard Lawton, New Jersey Sustainable Business Council
Robert Mayberry, Mount Holly Municipal Public Utilities Department
Sabrina Ross, Integrated Weilsberg Services Organization
Shaquille Feeron
Sheila Baker Gujral, NJ Environmental Commission (ANJEC) Association
Steve Kehayes, Patterson Habitat for Humanity
Taylor Kennerson, Connecting U
Teresa Bocchino
Tim Dillingham, American Coastal Society
Tobias Fox, Newark Science and Sustainability Inc.
Troy Benavidez, American Standard/LIXIL
Vera Figueiredo, Solar One
William Kibler, Raritan Headwaters
Winnie Fred Victor Hines, WeakAhic Park Association
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