New Jersey is now home to one of the "most stringent" environmental justice laws in the country.
Claire Marie Porter provides analysis for Next City of a landmark bill, S 232, signed by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy this month. Of the significance of the bill, Porter writes: "The law will be one of the toughest of its kind on top polluters, and is one of the most stringent environmental justice laws in the country, said the Office of the Governor in a press release."
"The law will protect 'overburdened' communities from polluters by requiring any business or company that wants to build in that target area to submit a statement evaluating the potential effects on asthma, lead poisoning, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and developmental issues," adds Porter.
There's a lot to unpack here about how this new model of environmental justice will change planning and development approval processes in the state, including the responsibility of proposed projects to engagement with the public and how the definition of "overburdened" is set for communities.
Local publications have been tracking the progress of the bill across the finish line of the legislation process, also noting the significance of the new law. Scott Fallon broke the news first of Gov. Murphy signing the bill, noting that the new law applies to communities in more than half the state's municipalities. Fallon also provides a brief summary fo the long history of the bill, "in limbo for years as it met roadblocks in Trenton from legislators, lobbyists and even Murphy's administration," bur revived this summer "in the midst of large-scale Black Lives Matter demonstrations in New Jersey and around the U.S."
Michael Sol Warren provided coverage of the bill after it passed out of the New Jersey State Legislature in August. "The measure requires the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to consider how projects seeking state permits for facilities such as power plants, incinerators and landfills would affect environmental and public health in already overburdened communities," according to Warren's explanation at that point in the bill's history.
Other national outlets also picked up the news of thee legislature's decision to approve the bill, including the National Law Review and Politico.
FULL STORY: New Jersey’s Governor Signs Landmark Environmental Justice Bill into Law
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.