Liberty State Park Dirty Deal -Approved!  Warehouse in the People’s Park !

Public Outrage Grows Over Approval of Rushed Plan to Industrialize Liberty State Park

State Moves to Approves 60-Year Warehouse Lease for Luxury Yacht Storage in Final Days of Murphy Administration

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Environmental advocates and community members are sounding the alarm as the Murphy Administration approved an industrial warehouse project inside Liberty State Park, one of New Jersey’s most iconic public spaces.

"This is the Biggest Betrayal of Public lands In NJ History" said Jeff Tittel -"The Statue of Liberty doesn't say Give us your tired your poor and millionaires yachts"

In the final days of the administration, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) got  State House Commission approval for a 60-year lease that would allow Suntex Marina Investors to build a 75-foot-high industrial warehouse for storing 500 luxury yachts on three acres of parkland, while continuing private control over ten additional acres of public land.

“This is a dirty deal being rushed through in the dark and in violation of the public trust "said Jeff Tittel, longtime environmental advocate. “Liberty State Park is the gateway to America —it belongs to us not an industrial yacht warehouse for millionaires’.”

Advocates say the proposal reflects a broader crisis of governance in New Jersey, marked by backroom deals, weakened public oversight, and the privatization of public land for corporate profit.

The process itself has raised serious concerns. The project is being fast-tracked without a separate public hearing by the State House Commission, a departure from normal practice. The vote is waconducted remotely, limiting public participation, and is scheduled on Inauguration Day for Jersey City Mayor James Solomon, a vocal opponent of the project — a move critics say is designed to suppress public engagement.

“This is Shameful and complete Sell Out of Liberty State Park .This is tje people park not a warehouse for million dollar yachts "Tittel said. “This is parkland, not industrial real estate.”

Industrial land in Jersey City sells for approximately $12.8 million per acre, placing the value of the land sought by Suntex at more than $165 million. If privately owned, the property would generate over $3.7 million annually in local taxes. Instead, the state is preparing to lease it for far less — while permanently degrading public open space.

Suntex has attempted to justify the project by offering $30 million for marina bulkhead improvements, which critics argue should be required maintenance rather than a bargaining chip. The company is also holding onto ten acres of public lawn that were improperly included in its original 1987 lease and should have been returned to the public years ago.

"NJ has always stood behind The Statue of Liberty and Today's the Murphy Administration stabbed her in the Back "Jeff Tittel

Environmental groups also criticized DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette for backing the proposal.

“The DEP is supposed to be the steward of our public lands, not a broker for private corporations,” Tittel said. “Pushing this deal through during lame-duck is a betrayal of the people of NJ .”

Liberty State Park welcomes more than five million visitors each year and serves as a gateway to the United States, adjacent to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

“This land belongs to the people,” Tittel said. “Once parkland is lost to industrial development, it’s gone forever. We must sue to stop this disgusting deal .”

Advocates are urging the Governor Elecr Sherill  to speak out and tell Murphy to veto the minutes

"Liberty State park is National Treasure and it belongs to the people.It is our Yellowstone and Yosemite  not Sun Tex's !

We have just begun to fight the horrendous project and we will stop it" "Jeff Tittel Environmental Advocate