NJ stormwater utilities face stigma of 'rain tax' — but other flooding solutions are in play

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Hurricanes Irene, Sandy and Ida caused major NJ flooding, and experts say the risk is getting worse because of climate change and development. The Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University partnered with NJ media to assess response.

funds collaboratives throughout the country and was interested in supporting one in New Jersey. So we gathered together some journalists to talk about topics, and we kind of narrowed it down to water being really important, environment being important. And then we talked to a bunch of nonprofits that are working on the issue, and they're the ones who said, “You know, we've been working to get this law passed, to implement stormwater utilities.

One of the things that he found is really, it seems like the stormwater utility problem is really a PR issue. It's being framed as a “rain tax,” and opponents are saying, “Oh, it’s yet another tax that a municipality is going to assess.” And the communication about what the benefits are hasn't been there.

, and he found there was a solution about citizens monitoring water quality in different kinds of lakes.and found all sorts of solutions nonprofits are advocating and implementing, like green infrastructure, water testing, programs around protecting the rivers and doing things like planting native grasses.

But of course they all impact each other, and it's really important to look at things holistically. And I think when you go out into the more suburban and rural areas, the nonprofits are working on things, looking at it from an ecosystem point of view. So you've got the Highlands Coalition that's looking at the New Jersey Highlands, which of course encompasses many municipalities.

 

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