During the Gubernatorial campaign, there were few people who were more outspoken (and hyperbolic) against Governor Corzine than the Sierra Club's Jeff Tittel. He ignored the fact that then-candidate Chris Christie vowed to "gut" the NJ Department of Environmental Protection. He pretended that Christie's views which left no doubt about how low of a priority initiatives such as green energy, clean air and water as well as protecting our natural resources were didn't exist. He minimized Corzine's efforts that made New Jersey consistently in the top 2 or 3 states in the entire nation when it came to the very issues that his Sierra Club held dear.
Whether it was naiveté or a personal grudge or an honest belief that Chris Daggett could win - we won't know. What we do know is that his outspoken and shortsighted (not to mention oftentimes flat wrong) criticism was going to come back and hurt the very organization that he is supposed to be looking out for was as obvious as Christie not being able to keep many of his campaign promises.
While Tittle may very well be precisely on point, this should come as no surprise. Whether Tittel likes it or not, much of this blame falls squarely on his shoulders. He was the one who was reckless in his "strategy" during the campaign - trying to settle some political score instead of looking out for the longer term and the bigger picture. Unfortunately for the rest of New Jerseyans, our air and water very well may be more toxic and less safe due to Tittel's shortsighted and petty behavior a few months ago.
Jeff Tittel, the executive director of the NJ Sierra Club who cares more about his ego than the environment, famously blasted Jon Corzine for his environmental record.
Yet more and more good environmental news keeps coming out, suggesting that the board members of the Sierra Club might want to consider whether Mr. Tittel is the right person for the job.
Companies around the state released millions fewer pounds of pollution in 2008 than the year before, but the ConocoPhillips Bayway refinery in Linden generated 11 percent more pollution, according to new numbers from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Collectively, the state's top two pollution generators, the Linden refinery and a DuPont facility in Deepwater, created more than half of the pollution, by the pound, reported in the state--about 9 million pounds out of 15.6 million pounds overall.
Jeff Tittel famous called the Corzine administration the "worst environmental administration in history." Yet repeatedly we read things like this report putting NJ at the top of the environmental heap.
A new report on state renewable energy regulations gives California, Colorado, New Jersey and Oregon top marks and failing grades for Georgia, Idaho and Texas.
Jeff Tittel, the Executive Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, has forgotten the basic tenet of environmentalism: protect and heal the environment.
Tittel has turned from caring for the environment to caring about his ego, spinning perceived slights to his person into huge attacks on the natural world. The most egregious of these examples was attacking Jon Corzine for running the "worst environmental administration in state history" and endorsing Chris Daggett for Governor. Tittel's incredible blindness caused him to attend the Chris Christie victory celebration.
Tittel conveniently ignored the incredible record on renewable energy Corzine built up, the added money for open space, the promotion of DEP Director Lisa Jackson to head the Obama administration's EPA, the toughest global warming law in the country, the lawsuits to gain tighter fuel and emissions standards, etc., etc., etc.
Corzine didn't have a perfect record on the environment, but he was surely not the worst Governor ever on the issue. But Tittel didn't get what he wanted, to have his ego stroked and his pet projects given top priority during a massive economic, political and ethical crisis in the state.
Talking to some friends after the election I wondered how long it would take for Tittel to eat his words (hint: it'll never happen, because he cares more about being seen than being right). Were Tittel honestly supportive of the environment, that day would be today as he asked every one of us who cares about these issues for forgiveness.
The state's Council on Affordable Housing "has to be gutted" and the state Department of Environmental Protection transformed into a "more effective, efficient, consumer-friendly agency," Gov.-elect Chris Christie said Friday.
Consumers don't really spend as lot of time with the DEP, Jeff. The people who want faster (and you can bet looser) permitting are construction companies, polluters, massive corporations, etc. Christie wants to help these people get quicker permission to build on our dwindling open space, environmentally sensitive areas and wildlife areas.
In short, they want to fuck the environment in order to make money.
And you, Jeff, helped make this happen.
Members of the Sierra Club should start thinking twice about Jeff Tittel and his public statements. They should complain to the board of directors when he goes off the rails, and refuse to give anything beyond basic dues until he starts putting the environment first and his ego somewhere way down the list.
The easiest way to check Tittel is to watch Christie gut the DEP, push for more building and stop focusing on renewable energy and see if Tittel remarks on it.
Promoted by Jason Springer: A very candid take from Senator Weinberg on the race that was. Thank you for the shout out and for running.
Let's get the negatives out of the way first: We lost! Property taxes, unemployment, property taxes, property taxes. That was it in a nutshell.
To some of my colleagues whose egos might be a little out of control: Ray, was it really necessary to trash the Governor within 24 hours? Perhaps if you had joined us just once on one of those 18 hour days on the campaign trail, we might have gotten a couple of more votes out of your home base. Dick, did you have to share that White House anecdote? We could have saved that one for "the book". How about the party officials who couldn't join us for a very graceful concession. And how about that Jeff Tittel? He seemed to go out of his way to be mean and condescending. The Sierra Club endorsement is one thing - your meaness of spirit another altogether. Jeff, it's not ALWAYS about you!
Now to some of the more positive recollections: Our stars who were always there in full force. Thank you to Assemblywomen Annette Quihano, Linda Stender, Grace Spencer, Milla Jassey, and Nellie Pou, Senators Theresa Ruiz, Nia Gill, and Mayor-elect of Camden Dana Redd and to Mayor Colleen Mahr of Fanwood, Mayor Wilda Diaz of Perth Amboy, Mayor-Elect Toni Ricigliano of Edison (who must be related to half her constituents), the "WeDo" women of Passaic County, the Demo women's groups of Bergen County and of Essex County and so many more. To our Congressmen Frank Pallone, Steve Rothman, Donald Payne and Bill Pascrell who joined us many times on the campaign trail. Another "shout out" to our two Senators Lautenberg and Menendez.
Of course, our President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton gave us so much of their time and insight. I'll tell you in my next posting what he suggested to me to follow up. Congresswomen Debbie Wasserman Shultz and Loretta Sanchez joined us on the campaign trail and made women elected officials very proud. Fran Adubato runs a great progam in Newark. The labor community could not have done any more to help us. Charlie Wowkanich, Laurel Brennan, Ray Pocini and the building trades and my personal favorite, Buzz Dressel, were fully involved. The labor
bus with "the painter and insulator guys" was not a bad way to get around.
The campaign was energizing and I thank the Governor for giving me a wonderful opportunity to travel the great state of New Jersey, to meet many terrific NJ citizens, and for giving me a statewide voice to talk about the family values we share. I wouldn't change a moment of it.....oh yes, except the losing part!
I have so many anecdotes to share and hope to do that over the next few weeks. Jason Springer and Jay Lassiter along with those brave breast cancer survivors met me at the street fair rain and all. So we used pink umbrellas and carried the hand-colored pink Corzine/Weinberg signs right up the street.
The various Garden State Equality headquarters were always filled to the rafters and their members worked tirelessly. DFA came through for the Governor and me with a resounding endorsement. Rosi sent emails of encouragement. That picnic in Willingboro where I met 92 year old Miss Lizzie who is still actively engaged in civic life and their wonderful Mayor Jackie Jenkins. All those unairconditioned headquarters where folks worked in the heat of summer and never gave up. THANK YOU.
My friend and colleague, Rocco Mazza, put more than 12,000 miles on his trusty car. Rocco, the GPS and I traveled together for three months sometimes 14 or 18 hours a day. The only thing I got tired of was the voice in the GPS! My own campaign protectors Tory Singleton and Cecelia Fassano, made me feel comfortable every step of the way. Sometimes, there was a little too much "hovering" from the staff, but hey - it was great being part of an effort which had common goals.
Would I change anything? Perhaps better communication on the really good things Jon Corzine did these last four years. Perhaps one or two positive ads spelling these out a little more clearly. But that's all hindsight. I thank Governor Jon Corzine from all of us for working his heart out for New Jersey's residents.
Let's now join together with a newly installed Assembly, a newly organized Senate and figure out what the voices of our party should sound like; how we address the people's mistrust of their elected officials; how we make sure we have together taken a strong stand against corrupting influences in our body politic; and how we work with a Republican Governor on the things necessary to improve the lives of New Jersey residents.
In a fit of hyperbole, Jeff Tittel, political director of the NJ Sierra Club, recently called Governor Corzine the worst environmental governor in New Jersey history. It's clear that Tittel has completely ignored the Corzine administration's work on green energy, and the game Tittel is playing just got more dangerous, with the RGA using his words to run attack ads in support of Chris Christie.
The facts are clear: under Governor Corzine, the state became one of the first in the nation to develop a comprehensive energy master plan to encourage, incentivize and develop green energy in our state.
Not long ago, the AP reported that New Jersey would more than double its capacity for solar, solidifying New Jersey's place as the second-biggest solar state after only California.
But I guess these accomplishments, nor any of dozens of other Corzine initiatives, has, you know, any environmental impact in Tittel's view. Perhaps if Tittel had written the headline to that story, it would have read "Corzine Only Doubles Solar Generation; Presides Over Epic Failure On NJ Solar Power."
Tittel's penchant for hyperbole isn't news, but he has certainly changed his tune in recent days. It was only a few months ago that Tittel was beside himself with praise for Corzine administration DEP commissioner Lisa Jackson, widely known as a champion of science and environmental protection. While she was DEP commissioner, Lisa Jackson was dubbed "one of the best DEP commissioners" in state history by Tittel. When she was nominated, then confirmed, as President Obama's new EPA administrator, Tittel again heaped praise upon Jackson and her record.
That raises a question: how can Governor Corzine have been the worst Governor in New Jersey history on environmental issues while simultaneously appointing one of the best DEP commissioners in state history to develop and execute his policies? There's a simple answer: Tittel's laughable hyperbole has descended into flat out lies.
We already know that this year, we're playing the Governor's race for keeps. Chris Christie has already repeatedly stated his intention to slash the budget and capabilities of the state Department of Environmental Protection to the bone. On the other side is Governor Corzine's strong, while certainly not perfect, record on the environment and green energy. The contrast couldn't be clearer.
Tittel is playing right into the hands of those who would give developers free reign, reduce water quality standards, seek to drill for oil offshore, and otherwise tarnish New Jersey's environment. It's time for Sierra Club members and funders to reign in Tittel, before he helps deliver the very outcomes for New Jersey he is supposedly working to prevent.
I watched this video put out by the Governor's office after sitting in the traffic heading south on the turnpike over the weekend, where they talk about what is being done to widen the Turnpike and Parkway:Here's more about the Turnpike section of the project:
State officials broke ground Thursday in East Windsor on a $2.7 billion project that will widen the New Jersey Turnpike, one of the nation's busiest highways.
The project will increase the number of lanes from 6 and 10 to 12 and keep the lanes divided along a 25-mile stretch of the roadway between Cranbury and the Pennsylvania Turnpike interchange near Mansfield. Another 10 miles of roadway will be expanded from 10 lanes to 12 between Cranbury and East Brunswick.
Presently, traffic frequently backs up along the stretch that will be widened as 12 lanes are reduced to 10 and than 6. The turnpike carries an average 680,000 vehicles daily and is a major East Coast link between New York and Boston in the north and Philadelphia and Washington in the south.
The project will add 170 miles of new roadway. Construction is expected cause traffic delays until the widening is completed in 2014 but actual work will not begin until August.
That would be where I enjoyed virtually parking momentarily. But the Sierra club came out with what has become a regular release criticizing the Turnpike widening:
"This project in its current form is the opposite of smart growth; it is dumb growth and a huge waste of money," NJ Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel said.
"All we're doing is turning the Parkway into a bigger, more expensive parking lot," NJ Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel said. "This project will create two 50 mile long ribbons of asphalt, which will pave over the Pinelands and environmentally sensitive coastal areas, will make sprawl and traffic worse and take money away from the areas that actually need it."
As much as I'd like to take a train sometimes, it's just not possible from where I am. I've said before, I can't get a direct train to New York from South Jersey. I couldn't even get to the Hudson Tunnel line they're building (which the Sierra Club opposed) without driving north first. So while people debate the merits of the projects and until there is expanded train service or widened roads, you can learn about where the traffic is because the state operates the 511 service and you can see live video on the web.
U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on Tuesday awarded five leases to four companies who want to develop windmills along the Outer Continental Shelf. The leases allow the companies to build meteorological towers to gather information about the wind six to 18 miles offshore.
[snip]
The exploratory leases, the first of their kind ever issued by the federal government, went to Bluewater Wind New Jersey Energy; Fishermen's Energy of New Jersey; Deepwater Wind, which is doing two projects; and Bluewater Wind Delaware.
"New Jersey's Outer Continental Shelf is a resource that holds great promise for our energy independence and should be considered a haven for the clean, renewable and environmentally friendly energy that wind power provides," Gov. Jon Corzine said.
And Jeff Tittel didn't miss the opportuinty to deliver a one liner:
"We see this as a positive change from the Bush administration's energy plan," said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. "We are moving from drill baby, drill, to wind baby, wind."
Here's video from the press conference announcing the leases:The article says they hope to have the first meteorological tower up and running off the coast next summer. We may want to get Secretary Salazar a place to stay with all his visits to the state.
Senator Bob Smith yesterday amended previous legislation that would have put a ballot question to the voters in November to provide for $300 million in bonding. The amended bill will now total $600 million to be split over 3 years. His Senate Environment committee took up the bill yesterday and passed it by a 4-1 vote:
"We're broke. And you have a historic opportunity. Land prices in New Jersey are at historic lows," Smith said. "Of course, at the same time you have an economic tsunami that is very difficult for our citizens in this state."
Smith said the borrowing would permit the state to spend $200 million a year for three years buying open space and preserving farms and historic sites. There isn't a dedicated stream of revenue identified to repay the bonds.
Governor Corzine has said there will be an open space ballot quesiton, but has not committed to a funding amount as of yet. The original version of the bill was bi-partisan with two members of each party sponsoring. Senator Bateman tried to reduce the amount back to $300 million, but still supported the amended version. Senator Phil Haines pulled his support:
Sen. Phil Haines, R-Burlington, withdrew as a prime sponsor of the bill, which he said ignores taxpayers' unease and would be the second-largest borrowing plan ever put before New Jersey voters.
"A bond issuance of this size, in these perilous economic times, will almost certainly fail at the ballot box. Failure will cause irreparable harm to the cause of preserving open space and farmland," Haines said.
And there were many others voicing concern and opposition as well:
That prospect of rejection in November was cited by the advocacy groups - Environment New Jersey, New Jersey Environmental Federation, New Jersey Environmental Lobby and the Sierra Club - now opposing the bill.
"Given the economic climate and state's reckless borrow-and-spend history, we're not confident a majority will support this question despite the popularity of open space, and a failed question would do more damage to the state's open space program than no question," said Mike Pisauro of the Environmental Lobby.
The last question on the ballot regarding open space funding passed in 2007, but by a smaller margin than past questions. Some environmental supporters would prefer to see a dedicated revenue source rather than a ballot question because they worry the public won't continue to the funding at necessary levels. This concern is enhanced when you look at our long term devt issues. But many of the programs with dedicated funding are now worried about facing the budget ax however. Assemblyman McKeon says the Assembly environmental committee will consider the legislation this monday. How would you prefer to see us fund Open Space and do you think the voters can stomach the $600 million number?
Adler, and environmentalist Jeff Tittel of the Sierra Club, questioned how the state could achieve the twin goals of generating 20 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020 and producing 1,000 megawatts of electricity through wind power _ when it has not been able to get the 350-megawatt pilot project in motion.
"If you don't take the first step, you're not going to get there," said Tittel.
The executive order was signed by Governor Codey in 2005 for the first wind farm. Now the earliest the BPU thinks they can get the project up and running in Atlantic City is 2012. Why don't we just keep studying this energy source until the next one comes along that we can begin to overstudy while it passes us by. In the search for the perfect solution, we are left with no action once again.
The Sierra Club today endorsed Senator John Adler in his campaign for New Jersey's third Congressional district.
"There is no stronger advocate for the environment in the New Jersey legislature than John Adler," said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. "Not only has he been a leader and a champion of environmental causes, he also knows how to get things done. We believe that he will be a great asset in Washington and will take his proven legislative experience and environmental leadership to the Congress of the United States."
Governor Corzine is considering building an offshore wind farm in South Jersey of up to 80 turbines capable of producing as much as 350MW of power - more than half of the power produced at the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant. Some opponents of the plan argue it will spoil the view, but Jeff Tittel of the Sierra Club sets them straight:
"Aesthetically, if you want the turbines to blend in with Seaside Heights, you'll have to put neon lights on them. If you want them to blend in with Atlantic City, you'll have to put giant roulette wheels on them."
Having wind turbines miles offshore won't spoil the view any more than boats, buoys, jet skis, parasailers, planes with giant banners and inappropriately-clad tourists already do.
Jeff Tittel, director of NJ's Sierra Club chapter, commenting on waterfront development in Weehawken on and around chromium-contaminated sites:
“We have finally created social equity in New Jersey,” Mr. Tittel said, “because we have people in $3 million condos living on top of toxic sites, not just working and poor people.”
