While Governor Christie has spared no effort to take his rightful place as NJ's foremost elected buffoon during the past 35 years, his misuse of the state's open space fund assets is hardly original. If the voters ever paid attention to any of the special 'feel-good' funding they overwhelming vote to support on the state, county and local levels of government in every election, they would quickly realize the only open space in NJ is between their ears.

In my opinion, the reason why Whitman had all this $$ left over in the budget is because she wanted these vast areas of land to go to builders because she was reaping the profits! Just take a look at the jersey shore (for example LBI) during her era.

A lack of understanding of the importance of open space preservation can be seen first hand at the municipal level in Barnegat Township. Barnegat’s voters approved a one penny open space tax in 2003. This was an important and forward thinking move on the part of our citizenry. Since that time $1,919,493 has been collected. Unfortunately, the Republican lead township committee in Barnegat has been using our open space moneys as a slush fund. The township committee spent our fund down to a deficit earlier this year. Barnegat’s administration has used the open space fund to purchase picnic tables and picnic benches, bleachers, shovels, rakes, screws, carpet, “Township of Barnegat” banners, gutters for the recreation center building, rent barges for fireworks and rent lights for athletic fields. This is just a partial list of how the funds have been squandered. It is a disgrace. Below is a link to a letter published on The Patch including a printout of how Barnegat’s open space fund has been, in my opinion, misused by our township committee and administrator.
http://barnegat-manahawkin.patch.com/articles/a-fleecing-in-barnegat

How much of it was wasted on the Lower Shore Road field?

I hope this is true. If it is then it is the best news. A government money slush fund at the tax payers expense.

Nice to see that the Chief Thief is still on the job even while he's waddling all over the country (at NJ taxpayer expense) campaigning for R(money). I guess that means ALL NJ taxpayers are indirectly donating to Fatso's candidate.

wait till you see how many billions of dollars it will cost nj taxpayers because gov crisco let his developer buddies develop protected areas that dont even have a sewer system in place. wait till you see the price tag on what new water treatment plants will cost.

I used to support these bonds but no more. Too much abuse from both parties. A former mayor of Manalapan just receive $1,000,000 to preserve his "farm".

Corzine and twinkle toes McGreevey raped this state of it's coffers.

Christie is doing a great job bringing this state back.

It will take years considering the money mooching liberals have picked everything clean.

NJ loves Christie and Christie loves NJ.

4 more years!!!!!!

Why doesn't Christie just open some space by getting out of Jersey and politics for the good of us all? He obviously has nothing good planned for NJ's future. He's a cheap copy of Boss Hog. Why any citizen would want to put so much power in the hands of such egomaniacs/politicians is beyond me. He can veto anything our state assemblies want. it's ridiculous. He has more power as Jersey governor then any other governor in the states. It's sad we haven't evolved a better or truer system of government in 2000 years. At least we get to through our "vote" away on this broken system. Real freedom and for the people by the people. It's more like for 4 people and buy the people.

anybody up for an American spring this spring? it would seem apparent that taking to the streets in massive protests and/or semi-violent revolution is probably the only way to save or really restore our "democracy". Join the 99% or something? cause this blogging isn't doing it.

The Sierra Club took in $91 million nationally in one year from donations and grants. Perhaps instead of spending that huge sum of money paying off politicians to provide taxpayer money to buy the land...why not just buy the land with that money and leave the taxpayers alone.

Don't be indignant when the money you beg for isn't automatically just given over. I know you are used to politicans giving in when you pay them off, but it isn't a law that they have to.

The reason is all of these liberal do gooder groups only exist to further the interest of the people that work there and run them. They are just another mechanism for people to do nothing and get paid. They don't care about the environment or they would take an honest salary of the national average worker and spend all of the organizations resources on hugging trees.

http://www.telofski.com/blog/tag/ceo-compensation/

At least they arent pretending to be green or some kind of saint and asking others to sacrifice like algore and the rest of the hypocrites.

They are doing no more or less than you are. Everyone wants to save the environment until it comes to the gas in their cars or homes.

The cynical I give up approach is ridiculous. While individuals can only change so much, the changes do need to come from the top down. Do you have some sort of constructive criticism and not a knee-jerk reaction. The idea that politicians are doing no more or less than individuals are is a ridiculous statement. They are the ones using the slush fund and setting policy that impact the use of public lands, zoning, etc. Don't be ridiculous.

I will vote to make my point clear. I also call out my local and state politicians, by contacting them, and registering my disagreement with their votes. I do recycle as much as I can. I reuse, and I work locally, so I don't pollute. So, Luca, would you suggest we just all decide to trash the environment and not have some sort of logical and honest discussion of the problem---on a local, state, national and international level? Or, are you in the shrinking minority of people who think that everything's just fine as it is?

yeah barney christie is taking new jersey back. back to the 1960s before the epa or the clean water act were created and companies and developers could rip up areas and dump whatever waste they want into the waterways our kids swim, fish and boat in. under christie jersey is turning into a cess pool while republicans whine about corzine who last time i checked hasnt been gov for years. funny thing about the hypocrisy of republicans you mention the mess nj jersey is in and the republicans go on ad nauseum about corzine but mention the mess this country was left in from 2001 to 2009 and all you hear them say is "yeah right blame bush" . you cant have it both ways.and luca who thinks the enviorment all comes down to the gas in our cars. no one must have sent you the memo that recycling saves our towns big money in tipping fees for the landfill.

"There is now no more money available from the 2009 Bond Act. "
"
There is $8 million in funding for the Highlands region, which under previous administrations received an average of $60 million a year. If the Governor wanted to protect the water supply for 5.4 million state residents we would be dedicating money to buy open space in the region and make land owners whole. "

"The Governor is only devoting $3 million to acquisitions around the Barnegat Bay, which will do little to help the Bay. Sprawl and overdevelopment are the biggest threats to the Bay’s health. Open space funding would help limit this inappropriate growth and protect the most sensitive areas in the watershed."

Um, I thought there was no more money..........

Do I hear someone whispering "RAISE TAXES"??????

Shouldn't all those natural resources belong to all the people like the tide lands do?

I think all obese people should pay more taxes and fees for eating all the food and using more greenhouse gases.

http://autos.aol.com/article/can-obesity-and-fuel-efficiency-cancel-each-other-out/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmaing6%7Cdl40%7Csec3_lnk1%26pLid%3D220038

10% Unemployment rate in NJ & Christie shows his face & goes out campaigning with Kyrillos without any criticism? Has he intimidated the NJ Public & Press Corps?

I am curious. Why don't the municipalities raise their own funds (bond or taxes) to make open space purchases? Why does it have to fall on all taxpayers throughout the State to purchase a parcel of land in a particular area? Seems to me that has been one of many problems we the people have been plagued with for years. I am all for preserving land and the environment in my backyard, but I don't necessarily care about an area in northwest NJ (just an example - not trying to offend northwestern NJ), and I'm sure the feeling is mutual by taxpayers there. I guess my point is that these open space purchases should be left at the municipal level and voted on by taxpayers of that area. Then those areas purchased should be managed by the municipalities for the good of the taxpayers of that town. I don't beleive this should be a county/state issue, unless county or state officials decide there is a real need to make such a purchase for the good of the entire county or state, as appropriate. I support not maintaining such funds, but I want to see my taxes decrease for it (and no, I don't care if it is only 10 cents I want it back). If not, my vote may be affected.

There is NO MORE MONEY for this or anything else people. Does open space money grow on trees? Get it???? Look at how much the counties have in their funds. Why have warchests if there is so much to do? I agree the state shouldn't be in this business any longer. There is no open space to acquire in Camden. There is plenty of boarded up, crime ridden vacant space but no open space

It can all be plowed over and we can build a prison there for terrorists that dont get blow up by drones.

You need a Stable source of Funding? Try where ever Christie gets his Groceries!The only time that Fat Bastard ever put his life on the line is when he picks up his fork!Yet he has the nerve to take away retired police and firemen's benefits,after it was them who bailed out the State with some 30 Billion Dollars from their Pension System(which has never been retured).