With the passing of the recent elections and lame duck session in full swing, it is critical that we continue to pressure NJ’s current elected leaders to address the growing concern of warehouse development.
The election may be over, but warehouse development unfortunately is not. Between 2021 and 2024, 100+ warehouses totaling 26.5 million square feet were planned in NJ, according to the State Planning Commission. In just 14 counties alone, in which a majority make up the Delaware watershed, nearly 150 warehouses — totaling 88 million square feet (about the area of Philadelphia Airport) — are proposed or have been recently approved or built according to Delaware Currents.
Currently, there are 1,777 warehouses that lie within a half-mile from about 1.9 million residents. Living in close proximity to those warehouses is the reality of many BIPOC communities in NJ, who have historically borne the brunt of air-polluting facilities including warehouse and port operations.
In a previous blog, I mentioned my efforts in working with local residents like Sue Kozel of Upper Freehold Township, to stop a proposed warehouse project that is on a historic Revolutionary War site.
We have been working with Assemblyman Sauickie, who has been deeply concerned about addressing warehouse development in his district and has proposed a myriad of warehouse bills. Together, we made a Community Outreach Guide to Warehouse Package to get community members within Upper Freehold and beyond to reach out to key state legislators and urge them to pass A5677. A5677 would not only help reject the proposed warehouse project in Upper Freehold , but also preserve other historic Revolutionary sites threatened by warehouse development.
Take action today! Let’s get bill A5677 passed during lame duck - please reach out to legislative leaders here. Remember to review the Community Outreach Guide Guide to Warehouse Bill Packet which outlines other warehouse bills and who to contact to get them passed. Warehouse development not only threatens significant historic sites, but degrades water quality, causes more flooding and impact people’s health due to poor air quality and community life due to increased truck traffic. We have to continue to pressure public officials to act and hold them accountable to ensure that the Garden State does not become known as the Warehouse State. Take action today and please share with others.
