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Welcome to our first newsletter of the new year! This February, New Jersey Future joins the nation in honoring Black History Month—a time to celebrate the Black leaders and changemakers who have shaped our communities and country.
We recognize the trailblazers who fought for fair housing, environmental justice, and community progress. Their legacy reinforces our commitment to ensuring all neighborhoods have access to safe, affordable housing, reliable transportation, and resilient infrastructure. Black history is American history, and advancing equity remains central to our work.
New Jersey Future continues to learn from history, conduct objective research, and use science to guide policy decisions. In support of this approach, I’m excited to share two new reports that support this mission:
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Aging & Climate Report – Examines the unique climate-related challenges faced by New Jersey’s senior population and highlights the need for more resilient, aging-friendly housing.
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Vehicle Miles Traveled Report – Analyzes state transportation patterns to help reduce emissions and improve mobility by promoting compact, connected, walkable communities that require less driving.
Thank you for your continued support as we work toward a more just and sustainable future.
Peter Kasabach
Executive Director
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As we celebrate Black History Month, it’s crucial to shed light on a critical health issue disproportionately affecting Black communities: lead poisoning. Lead is a neurotoxin that can enter the body through contaminated water, soil, dust, air, and certain consumer products. The effects of lead on pregnant or lactating persons, particularly Black persons, are alarming and urgent. While lead poisoning is entirely preventable, its devastating effects are permanent—demanding immediate intervention. Read more. | |
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Municipalities face a tricky balancing act when it comes to infrastructure improvements: they need to address large, costly projects but have limited resources to fund them. Historically, issuing debt has been the primary means that municipalities are left with to finance critical improvements. However, municipal leaders are reluctant to be the ones responsible for issuing debt, while utilities and public systems are often hesitant to raise rates to cover project costs. Read more. | |
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Nearly 1.7 million residents—about one-fifth of the state’s population—live in areas that are flood-prone, either now or within the century. Older adults, age 65+, face heightened risks from extreme weather and greater challenges adapting. This report, Weathering the Storms: Creating Aging-Friendly Communities Amid Climate Change, examines the 285,000 residents aged 65+ in flood-prone areas, assesses the difficulties confronting them whether they choose to remain in place or relocate, and outlines actions for state and local governments to expand climate-resilient, aging-friendly communities.
The state must act to protect its vulnerable 65+ population from climate threats while ensuring access to neighborhoods that support aging in place. By preparing now, areas with lower flood risk can welcome older residents seeking safer ground.
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Person-Trips (Millions) by Travel Mode | |
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New Jersey has set ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals: 50% by 2030 and 80% by 2050. While the state's 2019 Energy Master Plan primarily focuses on electric vehicle adoption to reduce transportation emissions, the US Department of Transportation and many other states advocate for a dual approach that combines fleet electrification with reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT).
This report, The Case for a Successful Vehicle Miles Traveled Reduction Effort in New Jersey, evaluates New Jersey's VMT reduction potential to inform the Board of Public Utilities' Energy Master Plan update. Through analysis of state travel patterns, land use characteristics, and successful approaches from other states, we identify promising strategies for VMT reduction in New Jersey.
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NJF remains committed to helping advance the State Plan and ensuring its success across the Garden State, but we can’t do it alone. You can help make the State Plan update a success by providing feedback on the draft Plan via email at stateplan.comments@sos.nj.gov or in person at one of a series of upcoming public meetings, one in each of New Jersey’s 21 counties. The Salem County meeting is tonight, February 19, at 5 p.m. and the NJ Highlands Council and Somerset County meetings are tomorrow, February 20. Find more information on these and your county meeting here.
Public comments can be submitted at any time during the Cross-Acceptance process, which culminates with the State Planning Commission meeting (anticipated to be in December of 2025) at which the vote will take place to adopt the final version of the Plan. To ensure adequate time for comments to be considered, however, the Office of Planning Advocacy recommends submitting by April 16, while the county public information meetings are still taking place. Read the latest blog from NJF Research Director, Tim Evans, for more details on the process and how to get involved.
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2025 NJ Planning & Redevelopment Conference - Over 900 Attendees Expected! | |
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New Jersey Future, along with the NJ Chapter of the American Planning Association, is proud to host again the New Jersey Planning & Redevelopment Conference. This three-day event is a must-attend for those who love the Garden State and care about our land use in a rapidly changing environment. Join us June 11-12 virtually and in person at the Hyatt Regency New Brunswick June 13.
Thanks to many of you for submitting session proposals. We received a large variety of innovative and informative options and our conference committee will now select about 30 sessions before registration opens in March. In the meantime, sponsorship opportunities are available and it’s the perfect time to partner with us as we prepare our website and promotional materials for the event. Sponsorships range in levels and come with comped registrations as well as many other benefits to showcase your business as a New Jersey champion.
Who attends? It's the perfect mix of decision makers from the private and public sectors including mayors and other elected officials and community leaders, local, regional and state planners, corporate and nonprofit professionals, contractors, developers, attorneys, bankers, environmental service providers, other influencers and emerging leaders.
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2025 Smart Growth Award Call for Nominations | |
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New Jersey Future’s Smart Growth Awards, hosted in the fall, honor projects, plans, and policies across the state that demonstrate smart growth principles in action that positively impacts the broader community. The awards shine a spotlight on organizations, businesses, and individuals with the vision to encourage smart growth values and designs. Nominations for 2025 are open now. If you have any questions on filling out the nomination form (that takes some time and required background information), please reach out to Susan O’Connor, soconnor@njfuture.org, with any preliminary questions you may have on your eligibility. All nominations and supporting materials must be submitted by Monday, March 31, 2025.
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“With one of the highest pedestrian fatality rates in the nation, New Jersey is confronting a heartbreaking safety crisis that affects families and communities across the state,” said Zeke Weston, New Jersey Future.
“New Jersey Future deeply appreciates Governor Murphy’s leadership in signing the Target Zero Commission Bill into law. This important step brings us closer to creating safer, more inclusive communities—where every New Jerseyan, including older adults and people with disabilities, can walk and bike through their neighborhoods with confidence, dignity, and peace of mind.”
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February 20-21: The annual NJ Watershed Conference will feature NJF Policy and Program Coordinator Chris Sotiro speaking about The Role of Stormwater Retrofits in a Changing Climate and NJF Program Manager Lee Clark speaking on Funding Opportunities for Resiliency and Restoration Work. Join their sessions to learn more!
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Smart Growth for Everyone | |
Smart Growth is equitable growth. It is also restorative, as smart growth and redevelopment can help correct systemic racial and economic disparities. As New Jersey Future drives land use decision-making toward more equitable outcomes, we will be sharing useful resources and lessons in this monthly spotlight. Please give us your feedback and share with us any particularly insightful articles, talks, events, or videos that you come across. | |
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This Black History Month: A Personal Reflection on Joining New Jersey Future by Valerie Merritt, Communications and Press Manager
When I walked through the doors of New Jersey Future on my first day, I carried with me more than just a new employee's typical nervous excitement. I knew I was stepping into an organization with a remarkable 37-year legacy of advocating for smart, equitable growth across our state. What I couldn't have known then was how deeply this mission would come to touch my heart, or how quickly I would see our work transform from abstract policy into real change in the communities we serve.
These first 100 days have opened my eyes to both the profound challenges our state faces and the inspiring possibilities for change. When I learned that 385,000 New Jersey properties could face flooding by 2050, I don't just see numbers – I see families worried about their homes, communities grappling with an uncertain future, and generations of memories at risk.
I think of our recent work in Newark, my home city and one that I adore, where partnerships with local organizations led to green infrastructure projects that will manage over 500,000 gallons of stormwater annually. Behind these numbers are children who will have new green spaces to play in, residents who will face fewer flooding concerns, and communities that feel heard and supported–the same way I felt growing up in New Jersey’s largest city.
As a communications professional, I've discovered that my role goes beyond mere messaging – I'm a bridge builder, helping to connect complex policy work with the very real hopes and concerns of New Jersey residents. Every story we tell, every report we share, and every media engagement we pursue carries with it the weight of responsibility to our communities and the potential for positive change.
This Black History Month, I feel both the urgency of our mission and the hope of what's possible. The future I envision for New Jersey isn't just sustainable and resilient – it's deeply human. It's one where every resident, regardless of their skin color or zip code, has access to safe, affordable housing, where communities are connected by reliable transit, where children can play in clean parks, and where families don't have to worry about flooding during every heavy rain.
My continued hope is that every community thrives, every voice is heard, and the promise of smart, sustainable, equitable growth becomes a reality for all. Because at its heart, this isn't just about policy or planning – it's about people and possibilities, and a bright future we all long for.
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New Jersey Future in the News | |
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Social Media Spotlight
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Guide to Local Climate Change Adaptation Planning
Working with the NJDEP, Sustainable Jersey, and statewide partners, NJF led development of the Guide to Local Climate Change Adaptation Planning, providing a model Climate Change-Related Hazard Vulnerability Assessment (CCRHVA) and planning process for New Jersey Municipalities that satisfies the requirements of the 2021 MLUL amendment.
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This periodic primer from the JWW Lead in Drinking Water Task Force provides key information on how lead pipes can be replaced quickly, cost-effectively, and with community support.
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New Jersey Stormwater Retrofit Best Management Practices Guide
NJF partnered with Princeton Hydro to create a New Jersey Stormwater Retrofit Best Management Practices Guide. This guide provides municipalities, counties, nonprofit organizations, developers, and property owners the tools to identify opportunities to retrofit existing stormwater BMPs and install new stormwater BMPs in built-out environments.
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The Developers Green Infrastructure Guide 2.0 breaks down New Jersey’s Stormwater Rule amendments and helps developers and decision-makers more clearly understand green infrastructure options and advantages, compare alternatives, and evaluate costs and benefits.
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Founded in 1987, New Jersey Future is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that promotes sensible and equitable growth, redevelopment, and infrastructure investments to foster healthy, strong, resilient communities; protect natural lands and waterways; increase transportation choices beyond cars; provide access to safe, affordable, and aging-friendly neighborhoods; and fuel a strong economy for everyone. New Jersey Future does this through original research, innovative policy development, coalition-building, advocacy, and hands-on strategic assistance. Embracing differences and advancing fairness is central to New Jersey Future’s mission and operations. New Jersey Future is firmly committed to pursuing greater justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion through its programs, internal operations, and external communications. | | | | |
