Like roads and utilities, the collection and analysis of data have become vital tools that enable municipalities to tailor services to their residents. But what does this mean for you and your community? This guide will help you understand how to use information to serve your community better.
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In the News
Banking giant Barclays cutting 78 jobs in Whippany after earlier layoffs
James Hughes, an economist at Rutgers University, told NorthJersey.com that white-collar jobs in banking and finance have become saturated after a two-year hiring spree that followed the COVID-19 pandemic.
Population is Growing, but College Enrollment is Stalling
“We’re facing the cliff, because those born in ’08 … they’re just entering their high school graduation years,” said James Hughes, Dean Emeritus
The unexpected way this N.J. hospital network is helping patients
“We know that the more often you go to the doctor, the more often you’re able to take care of things as they arise in a timely fashion, the better off your health is,” said Michael Smart, a professor at Rutgers Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. “Transit is a real lifesaver, a literal lifesaver.”
Pay-to-play
“What it means is that contracts are being awarded not on the basis of who is the most qualified, but on the basis potentially of who has given the largest sums of money to those decision makers,” Rubin said.
New $1.7B NJ Turnpike contract to operate E-ZPass program is awash in controversy
Companies winning contracts with state agencies are required to provide disclosure forms showing ownership structures for those with a 10% stake or higher, said Marc Pfeiffer, a senior policy fellow and faculty researcher at Rutgers University’s Center for Urban Policy Research.
‘Extremely concerning’: Recession fears could upend New Jersey’s next state budget
Pfeiffer also pointed out this is something that every state has to deal with and should be “very cautious in the assumptions they make about new revenues and cautious with the assumptions they make on what they do with federally funded programs.”
New Jersey has contributed more than $800M in funding to Atlantic City for budgets since 2016
“In New Jersey, we have a single way of raising money, which is property taxes,” Pfeiffer said of municipal budgets. “Atlantic City has always been an exception to that because you have the hotels and then the casinos. You’ve always had a policy of state engagement to support Atlantic City’s municipal budget in particular.”
Stamato Commentary: In the Crosshairs: The Nation’s Civil Service
By Linda Stamato While President Trump’s efforts to force out tens of thousands of civilian federal workers and to dismantle entire agencies have hit legal challenges, and generating some resistance from agency heads, those efforts remain front and center on the Trump...
Stamato Commentary: A functioning democracy requires knowledge
By Linda Stamato The question arises frequently enough as to what constitutes local news that I thought I’d address it. Sometimes, it’s abundantly clear what is local—mayoral elections, housing and parking authorities. But other times, it’s less obvious. What is...