Nearly six decades ago, Morris Pesin and his family left their Jersey City home to visit the Statue of Liberty, not realizing the ordeal that lay ahead of them. <\/p>\n
They spent 21\/2 hours stuck in heavy tunnel traffic and waiting in a long line for the Battery Park ferry before arriving at the statue. <\/p>\n
There, Pesin realized how much closer Jersey City was to the statue than New York and how ugly his hometown's neglected waterfront appeared, with its decaying piers and abandoned railroad yards. <\/p>\n
He launched a crusade to transform the land into a family park with ferry service, and, with other advocates, fought for their goal, finally achieved in time for the nation's bicentennial in 1976. <\/p>\n
Today, his son, Sam Pesin, president of the Friends of Liberty State Park, is fighting with others - environmental, preservation, community, and parks advocacy groups - to keep the site from being \"developed inappropriately.\" <\/p>\n
They believe a last-minute addition to a bill the New Jersey Legislature passed shortly before Christmas may open the door to privatization and commercialization of the park. <\/p>\n
The 80-page measure - the Hackensack Meadowlands Agency Consolidation Act - is awaiting the signature of Gov. Christie, who has until early February to act. Christie has a policy of not commenting on legislation before him. <\/p>\n
\"My dad called this sacred public land,\" said Sam Pesin, a preschool teacher in Jersey City whose nonprofit friends group advocates for the waterfront attraction. \"It's scarce open urban space near the Statue of Liberty. <\/p>\n
\"If the governor signs this bill,\" he said, \"it will dishonor the Statue of Liberty, the spirit of America, and the democratic process.\" <\/p>\n
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Groups wanting to protect Liberty Park seek change in bill<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Nearly six decades ago, Morris Pesin and his family left their Jersey City home to visit the Statue of Liberty, not realizing the ordeal that lay ahead of them. Continue reading