[Previous] [Main Index] [Next]

"WE’RE PART OF THE SOLUTION, June 20, 2002, David Cowell, Trenton, NJ"

WE’RE PART OF THE SOLUTION, June 20, 2002, Trenton, NJ
A speech by David Cowell, President of Advocates for New Jersey History, at a Trenton Rally to restore budget cuts that will harm Historic Preservation in the state.

Why are we here today?

We are not here to attack Governor McGreevey. He says he is a friend of
the arts and history, and we should take him at his word.

We are not here to down play the budget crisis. The shortfall in revenue
is real, it does cause havoc with the state's finances, and it should not
be minimized. It is true, the proposed budget does actually increase expenditures, but not for the arts, history, or heritage tourism industries.

We are not here to pit the legislature against the governor, nor the
parties against one another.

We are here to state that we are part of the solution!

And we can reasonably and responsibly request restoration of state funding for the contributions we will make toward solving the budgetary revenue problem.

The travel and tourism industry is New Jersey's second largest industry; we generate over $30 billion dollars in revenue each year and provide over 750,000 jobs.

The national tourism organization figures show that every dollar invested
in tourism advertising generates 28 times that amount in revenues for the economy of the state, and those revenue result in greater sales tax
revenues, income tax revenues, and reduced welfare, social services and
unemployment costs for the state.

Today, while driving down to Trenton for north Jersey, I heard
advertisements for New York, Philadelphia, Connecticut, Massachusetts,
Pennsylvania, Delaware and Virginia. All of them advertising in our
market, but not one for New Jersey.

Ironically, we are what is New in New Jersey. A short ten years ago there
was not a growing and contributing heritage tourism industry to support the state's revenues. But last year alone, 800,000 people visited our state owned interpreted historic sites, and every year for the past five years visitors have increased by 4.7% annually. (DEP figures).

And what has been cut from the budget? The operating grant programs—the very programs that make heritage tourism possible for the private sector of the industry. 2 Million in cuts for 2 years is 2 much for New Jersey.

$970,000 in administrative funds from the Historic Trust which has, right
now, $11 million dollars to invest in this economy this tax year alone but
not the professional grant reviewers to make it possible!

$6.5 million dollars cut from the state-owned historic sites this year and
last year, the very funds from the DEP Parks and Recreation Capital Account that make the sites available, interpreted and restored for the paying public to see, not to mention to pay the building and trades workers and union members who will do the jobs.

Reasonably and responsibly, we can and we must tell the legislature this is
not the way.

Reasonably and responsibly, they need to hear that we are part of the
solution to the revenue shortfall, and that every dollar invested--yes,
invested--in the arts, history and tourism industry will contribute mightily to solving the budget crisis.

And they need to hear it now!

Thank you, Dave Cowell, President, The Advocates for New Jersey History