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Dear Ferial Salahudeen,
There will be a very important referendum on the November 3rd ballot. It will ask all of us what kind of state we want to live in, and what kind of place we want for our children and grandchildren.
You can make a big difference, and this email tells you how.
By voting Yes on Public Question #1, we will continue our state's support for the Green Acres program, which helps protect our drinking water sources, preserve natural areas for wildlife and our enjoyment, and create new parks. If New Jersey's voters deny the renewal of these programs on November 3rd, state assisted land preservation will grind to a halt. Property containing valuable habitat around the state will be more likely to be sold to developers, without continued state preservation investments.
A Yes decision on Public Question #1 will provide $400 million to our preservation programs which will equate to only $10 annually per household. This investment is a taxpayer's best friend. Keeping water clean at the source costs a fraction of building advanced water filtration plants. Areas that preserve our clean water also preserve habitat for species, from bog turtles, to our many hundreds of migrating birds. Creating parks offers similar protections to wildlife, and enhances area property values, revitalizes inner cities, and provides documented health benefits that help counter the rising cost of care.
"Open space also helps stabilize taxes," said William Cogger, Mayor of Chester, NJ, at a recent conference. Towns often under-estimate the full cost of the services they provide to developed sites and the related obligations they incur -- costs that often exceed the tax ratables that towns receive from developed sites.
New Jersey Audubon Society and many of our members have worked hard to give citizens this referendum choice on November 3rd. But now it's crunch time, and we're asking for more help. Here are just three of the many things you can do:
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To volunteer for the Vote Yes campaign, simply "reply" to this email with your email address or phone number.
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Write or email a brief letter to your community newspaper, saying you support voting Yes on Public Question #1.
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Spread the "Vote Yes" message to your friends by forwarding this email! You may also become a "Fan" of our Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/NJKeepItGreen
We hope you take just a moment to support the Vote Yes campaign before November 3rd. Passing this referendum is one of the most important things we can each do to make New Jersey a better place for people and wildlife.
Kelly Mooij
Director of Government Relations
New Jersey Audubon Society | 
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