New Jersey Closes Office Of State Planning

Every professional staff member and most of the supporting staff were terminated through state budget cuts, effectively eliminating the state agency that helps counties, municipalities, and private interests use the New Jersey State Development and Redevelopment Plan: "The 5 percent cut in state operations will require 600 layoffs, McGreevey said. That is in addition to 600 employees in patronage positions who were asked to submit resignation letters.Layoff notices went out yesterday. The administration provided no details on the cuts, but New Jersey Future, an alliance of environmental groups, said the cuts would "effectively eliminate the Office of State Planning." Barbara Lawrence, executive director of the group, said members were "disheartened and disappointed" with the decision, which she described as contrary to McGreevey's campaign promise to control sprawl, reduce traffic and preserve open space."