“If you think that his being part of the firm has no impact on the fact that they’re getting this business, then I guess it doesn’t matter,” said Julia Sass Rubin, a professor at Rutgers’ Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. “That seems a little unlikely.”
Topic
In the News
Rubin Op Ed: What Must Be Done to Turn New Jersey into a Real Democracy?
“First and foremost, candidate order matters. There is a rich literature around what is known as the primacy effect that indicates being first on the ballot is helpful. To counter this effect, many states randomize the order of candidate names by voting district. This is easily done by computer and the process of ballot creation is quick, inexpensive, and fair.”
The End of the Line: New Jersey ballots change for the better
We should recognize just how low the bar is right now, and how dysfunctional democracy in New Jersey—and in the United States more generally—is likely to remain for the foreseeable future. – Matt Mazewski
NJ residents want transparency in government. That much is clear
“I do think that there is an opening for real reforms,” Rubin said. “I’m not naïve. I don’t think it’s like a switch is going to go off.”
Stamato Commentary: Freedom to read is freedom to think. It’s time for NJ lawmakers to protect both
“Across the nation, folks are using the power of the state to limit access to books, pressuring libraries to take books out of circulation. And school boards are considering demands to remove certain books from classroom reading and discussion. Taking a long historical perspective, it’s really nothing new. But it’s no less dangerous.”
Rubin Opinion: Making New Jersey a real democracy
Taken together, these five reforms would help vanquish the powerful grip that political machines have long had on our state.
Marc Pfeiffer Weighs in on Essex County COVID-19 Funding Issues
“Not enough resources were spent to manage those contracts to ensure that controls were in place and there was monitoring done to prevent that type of a circumstance from happening,” Pfeiffer said.
Despite big changes, those who make N.J.’s laws still don’t reflect the state’s diversity
New Jersey is widely considered one of the most diverse states in the nation — but even after an election last year that brought big changes, most of the county leaders who make decisions are white men, notes Julia Sass Rubin.
University programs evolving to train tomorrow’s senior living leaders
Susan Krum, AuD, executive director of health administration at Rutgers University, says the biggest challenge is creating awareness for students on what it means to enter a career in aging services.
Bob Kopp named 2024 Guggenheim Fellow
Bob Kopp is an associated faculty member with the Bloustein School. He is a climate and sea-level scientist, a climate policy scholar, and a distinguished professor in the Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences. He won the 2024 Fellowship in the Geography & Environmental Studies category.
Upcoming Events
Rutgers Day
Rutgers UniversityRutgers Day is set for Saturday, April 27, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. on the Busch Campus in Piscataway and the College Avenue and Cook/Douglass campuses in New Brunswick. Get […]
Career Virtual Drop-ins
VirtualBloustein Career Development Specialists Cheryl Egan and Andrea Garrido will be in a Zoom Room on Monday's beginning January 22, 2024 (excluding holidays and spring break) to answer questions, provide […]
Bloustein Research Seminar Series: Community benefits: Developers, negotiations, and accountability
Bloustein School, Civic Square Building 33 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ, United StatesPresented by Jovanna Rosen, Assistant Professor of Public Policy, Rutgers-University Camden. This venue will enable our faculty to share research, build community, and extend our networks. Pizza will be served. […]
Bloustein Honors Research Program Oral Thesis Defense
Bloustein School, Civic Square Building 33 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ, United StatesThe members of the 2023-24 Bloustein Honors Research Program cohort will be presenting their individual research projects in two formats.
Rutgers University–New Brunswick and Rutgers Health Commencement 2024
SHI StadiumJoin us for the 258th Anniversary Commencement at Rutgers University–New Brunswick and Rutgers Health on Sunday, May 12, 2024, at SHI Stadium, starting at 10 a.m. President Jonathan Holloway will preside over […]