Jeff Grayzel's Blatant Hypocrisy-Part 5

Committeeman Grayzel was absent from the September 11, 2025 Environmental Committee meeting. Even more concerning, the meeting itself was moved into closed session and held in a conference room accessible only via Zoom. So much for transparency and open government from our one-party municipal leaders.

Grayzel often points to Ordinance 31-19 as one of his signature accomplishments. That measure, which took effect on October 1, 2020—at the height of the pandemic—banned retail establishments from providing customers with single-use paper or plastic bags. In reality, only a handful of small convenience stores and delis in the Township were still distributing such bags in meaningful numbers. Yet at a time when businesses were fighting to survive, Township leaders chose to impose another burden with little practical environmental benefit. It was a symbolic gesture that punished small business owners without solving any real problem.

This is exactly the kind of issue that should not be decided at the municipal level. Meanwhile, the concerns that should fall to local government—such as the effects of rampant overdevelopment—are consistently neglected in Morris Township.

One of the most damaging consequences of unchecked development is the steady loss of tree cover. During Grayzel’s tenure on the Township Committee, tree canopy data tell a troubling story. Comparing U.S. Forest Service maps from 2013 and 2023 reveals a significant decline: Morris Township has lost approximately 250 acres of tree canopy in just a decade, or about 2.5% of its total coverage. The areas shown in red on the heat map indicate zones where up to 20% of our trees have been lost.

The losses are most visible in heavily developed areas such as the Honeywell Red Bulls, and Columbia Turnpike projects. But tree decline is not confined to new construction zones. Disease and climate change are also playing a role. Whatever the cause, the result is the same: less shade, poorer air quality, and diminished environmental resilience for our community.

Instead of addressing these urgent challenges, Grayzel continues to champion symbolic legislation that does little for residents and nothing for our environment. While he touts a plastic bag ban, Morris Township’s tree canopy is disappearing before our very eyes.