Data to be Used for State Planning Purposes Kept Secret
Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman (R-Somerset) continued to call on Governor Jon Corzine today to release the results of a Rutgers study provided to the State Planning Commission that projects future population, employment and housing numbers in New Jersey. The numbers from the Rutgers Study apparently indicate that job growth for the period encompassing the years 2008 to 2028 will only amount to 6,550 annually, compared with the administration’s previous projection of 54,000 over the same period.
“These numbers are extremely important and will have a significant impact on the future development of New Jersey,” Bateman stated. “I can not understand why the Corzine Administration wants to withhold this study. We are talking about jobs, open space preservation, affordable housing and a whole host of other important issues that will impact the everyday lives of New Jersey’s residents.”
On September 21, 2009, the State Planning Commission denied an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request to release the Rutgers report. The assessment contains demographic and infrastructure data that will be used to compose a new state plan. The denial is currently under appeal to the Government Records Council.
“The State Planning Commission and the State Plan are absolutely critical to the future of New Jersey,” Bateman continued. “If the Rutgers study is correct, than it is possible we do not need, nor can we afford to build as many as the 116,000 COAH units the administration has planned to build over the next ten years. This is just one example the impact these numbers will have and why the Corzine administration should be open and honest with the people of this state.”
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