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Nj Gov't Shutdown.....

The Frantic Cachers

By The Frantic Cachers
in Northeast

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The Frantic Cachers

+The Frantic Cachers

Posted
Posted

So with the NJ gov't shutdown, the NJ DEP has stated that all parks are closed. Does that just mean the facilities or does that mean we are not allowed to access the lands? They claim they will be patrolling with the state park police, but is that to keep everyone out and for emergencies only? Hopefully this won't hinder my possible caching plans for the week. What a wonderful state we live in.... :huh:

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Teamcoz

+Teamcoz

Posted
Posted

The NJ State is indeed shut down with the exception of essential employees. Although I have not read anything about the accessibility of the parks. I live by Brendan Byrn State Forest and their are no gates to close off the entrances so I do not see why you would not be able to gain access.

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Team Rampant Lion

+Team Rampant Lion

Posted
Posted

The NJ State is indeed shut down with the exception of essential employees. Although I have not read anything about the accessibility of the parks. I live by Brendan Byrn State Forest and their are no gates to close off the entrances so I do not see why you would not be able to gain access.

 

Here is the quote I read yesterday:

 

State parks, beaches, campgrounds, historic sites and racetracks will be closed after the July 4 holiday; New Jersey's 12 Atlantic City casinos are awaiting a court decision on their petition to stay open during a shutdown. About 36,000 workers, including state police, corrections and children's services employees, are considered essential and working.

 

Here is the link to the full story:

 

Bloomberg NJ Shutdown Story

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Teamcoz

+Teamcoz

Posted
Posted

I read yesterday that it wasn't planned to go into effect until July 5th and that there is a session today (Monday, July 3rd) to try to resolve the situation so it won't happen at all. Haven't read anywhere exactly what closed means other than no people, no facilities.

 

Sorry, I misread your post, I thought you meant the shutdown hadn't taken effect. The State office in Trenton are closed, motor vehicle offices are closed, the lottery shut down on Saturday. The parks, casinos and other things as you said will not take effect until Wednesday morning.

 

Not sure it won't happen at all. Corzine is being a stickler, they met yesterday on the 2nd and didn't get it resolved then, I guess we will all wait and see.

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Teamcoz

+Teamcoz

Posted
Posted

It is supposed to take effect on Wednesday, but are we supposed to keep off the trails? Can they really stop us from parking in a roadside lot and accessing the trails?

 

My guess is that unless it is gated off you can still access it and the worst that would happen is if there is still a ranger on duty you would get warned.

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MapheadMike

MapheadMike

Posted
Posted

It is supposed to take effect on Wednesday, but are we supposed to keep off the trails? Can they really stop us from parking in a roadside lot and accessing the trails?

My guess is that unless it is gated off you can still access it and the worst that would happen is if there is still a ranger on duty you would get warned.

I can't speak for what's being planned in New Joisey, but when the Feds went through a shutdown, they posted a ranger at the gate (law enforcement = essential) who told us that anyone caught on park land would be prosecuted for criminal tresspassing.

 

I fear that the Jersey government is trying to make the closure as painful as possible on ordinary folks, and that would include zero tolerance in the state parks. I guess the theory is that the more suffering they can create, the more ordinary folks will call and demand some compromise. They've closed down the horse tracks and are trying to close the casinos. Why would they leave the parks accessible in this circumstance?

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Teamcoz

+Teamcoz

Posted
Posted

It is supposed to take effect on Wednesday, but are we supposed to keep off the trails? Can they really stop us from parking in a roadside lot and accessing the trails?

My guess is that unless it is gated off you can still access it and the worst that would happen is if there is still a ranger on duty you would get warned.

I can't speak for what's being planned in New Joisey, but when the Feds went through a shutdown, they posted a ranger at the gate (law enforcement = essential) who told us that anyone caught on park land would be prosecuted for criminal tresspassing.

 

I fear that the Jersey government is trying to make the closure as painful as possible on ordinary folks, and that would include zero tolerance in the state parks. I guess the theory is that the more suffering they can create, the more ordinary folks will call and demand some compromise. They've closed down the horse tracks and are trying to close the casinos. Why would they leave the parks accessible in this circumstance?

 

Well, I can let you know tomorrow, I live about 2 min. from the State Forest, I will check it out on my way to work.

 

As for the government trying to create suffering for the ordinary folks, I don't think that is the issue here, our Democratic Governor is fighting with the Democratic Senate, there isn't much you can demand when it is only the one side fighting with each other. The Republicans are in the minority and are just sitting back, shaking their heads and watching the fight.

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nikcap

+nikcap

Posted
Posted

I drove past Princeton Battlefield this morning. A Park Dept Pickup truck was parked across the entrance. A printed note stating that the park and historic house was closed until further notice. Kind of funny. I didn't notice any "road blocks" along the D&R canal.

What about the AT where is crossed through State lands?

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Teamcoz

+Teamcoz

Posted
Posted

Well I just drove through Brendan T. Byrne State Forest, all the roads and trails are accessible, you can't enter the parking area for Pakim Pond though. Otherwise if you wanted to go caching there this weekend, if things are not settled by then, it still looks like it would be ok.

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Team JSAM

+Team JSAM

Posted
Posted

I cant see how they are going to shut down the casinos, how could that be saving them money. I am pretty sure that the cost of the gaming agents is much less than the tax that is brought in, much less. There are some real smart people running that state, glad im far away.

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Teamcoz

+Teamcoz

Posted
Posted (edited)

I cant see how they are going to shut down the casinos, how could that be saving them money. I am pretty sure that the cost of the gaming agents is much less than the tax that is brought in, much less. There are some real smart people running that state, glad im far away.

 

It is not a matter of saving them money. The New Jersey Constitution does not allow that Goverment to spend any money without having an adopted budget in place. The state failed to pass there budget on June 30th, therefore they do not legally have the right to spend money. They could and probably do have billions of dollars at their disposal, by law they cannot spend it because of the constitution.

 

Common sense says that this is not helping the budget problem, but since when does common sense and the government run in the same circles.

Edited by Teamcoz
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briansnat

+briansnat

Posted
Posted (edited)
I drove past Princeton Battlefield this morning. A Park Dept Pickup truck was parked across the entrance.

 

Well I just drove through Brendan T. Byrne State Forest, all the roads and trails are accessible...

 

There is a difference between state forests and state parks. State forests don't charge admission or have staff (other than rangers who patrol from time to time) and facilities. State parks, for the most part, charge admission and have facilities like beaches, interperative centers, boat rentals, etc... and are staffed by full time, part time and seasonal workers.

 

I suspect all state parks will be closed and most parking lots will be off limits. I'm sure that you can access the trails though as long as you aren't using main entrances and parking lots.

Edited by briansnat
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chstress53

+chstress53

Posted
Posted (edited)

A small correction. State Forests do indeed have staff!!!! Not just Rangers. There is the Maintenance staff, seasonal maintence staff, the clean community staff ( who drive all those roads and pick up trash from May till sept on Primary roadsides) Byrne does indeed have and is staffed by full time, part time, and seasonal workers. ( Mostly college students)

My son was part of this staff at Byrne)along with office staff and Fire Fighting staff as well as Foresters. I know I worked at Byrne as the Seasonal Interpretive Naturalist. In total that is about 50 staff just for Byrne State Forest. Wharton Forest has twice as many affected staff. Contrary to what Brainsnat said; State Forests do indeed have more than Rangers.

That said I went caching in Wharton this evening, as the roads are always open. It is the parking areas that are gated off. There also are a few gates that are now locked at Byrne. ( But there are ways around the gates if you know the roads.)

Edited by chstress53
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