News List
The Return of the County Line?
“Clearly this is not what the court had in mind,” [Rubin] said, adding that if Camden County Democrats can pull this off, it could be a “slippery slope” for future primaries both there and in other counties.
Dallessio’s Plan4HealthNJ Studio Bridges Public Health and Comprehensive Planning
Sponsored by the American Planning Association-New Jersey Chapter (APA-NJ) with a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Plan4HealthNJ project is an ambitious multi-year project bridging together public health and comprehensive planning.
Research Day 2026 Recap: Winners and Videos
The Bloustein School’s 5th Annual Research Day took place on Friday, April 3rd. Watch Lightning Talks by various Bloustein professors and researchers and esteemed panelists
Rutgers teaches conversation skills to address political polarization | Opinion
In the entryway of the Eagleton Institute of Politics, the Rutgers Democracy Lab recently launched a “democracy wall” project that poses thought‑provoking questions and invites students to respond.
Ralph and White: Is Induced Travel Covered in Transportation Engineering Textbooks?
What are transportation engineering students learning about induced travel? According to new research by Kelcie Ralph and Ellen Oettinger White, not enough. Their review reveals significant gaps in how textbooks address this foundational concept and its implications for policy and practice.
Bhuyan Co-Authors Study on Persistent Financial Burdens for Cancer Survivors
Soumitra Bhuyan, Executive Director of Health Administration Programs and Associate Professor at Rutgers University-New Brunswick’s Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, is the co-author of a new article that evaluates the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on healthcare costs for cancer survivors.
2026 NJBIZ Health Care Power List includes Prof. Joel Cantor
The 2026 NJBIZ Health Care Power List includes Prof. Joel Cantor, the founding director of the Rutgers Center for State Health Policy and a longtime leader in health policy research.
NJSPL: How Demonstration Projects Strengthen Rapid Response Programs
Demonstration projects are short-term, low-cost installations that test street design changes. They have become a powerful tool for municipalities looking to improve safety, build public support, and accelerate long-term improvements.
Ahmer Qadeer (PhD ’23) as Director and Chief Pension Administrator for NYC Mayor Mamdani
Ahmer Qadeer (PhD ’23) will serve as Director and Chief Pension Administrator of the NYC Mayor Mamdani’s Office of Pensions and Investments. He brings experience in economic justice, labor policy and corporate governance, and worked with labor-affiliated pension and benefit funds.
Democracy Lab aims to be ‘model’ for overcoming polarisation
“They’re going to feel like this is a place where I can have a voice. This is a place where I can learn to listen to other people that I disagree with and find some common ground, ” said Longo
Big school chiefs’ salaries better deal for taxpayers. See their perks.
“Every parent wants class sizes as small as possible,” he said. “Most schools will not increase class sizes unless there’s a problem.
“There has to be a crisis for that to happen. So a lot of schools, if their enrollments were dropping, didn’t do anything,” Pfeiffer added.
Toney & Kelly: A History of Local Racial Housing Covenants and Federal Housing Policies
By analyzing subdivision land records, we identify property deeds containing racially or economically restrictive clauses that encompass nearly half of the total platted land area in El Paso, Texas, from 1900 to 1950.
Human review, responsibility should be the ‘core feature’ of AI solutions, official says
It can be tempting to incorporate an AI solution into parking enforcement, like an automated ticketing or fine system, but “everybody adopting any of these [artificial intelligence] technologies needs to address the risks … and develop appropriate risk reduction or mitigation strategies,” said Marc Pfeiffer
Dockside Learning at Port Newark/Elizabeth
Heldrich Staff Receive the 2026 Coleridge Data Champion of the Year Award
“We are grateful to Coleridge for the opportunities to network, collaborate, and learn and are inspired by the work of the other states and their partners. Finally, we hope our experience offers proof that our day-to-day efforts can have a real impact on the people we all serve.”
NJ Postsecondary Employment and Earnings Dashboard Now Available
Rutgers MHA ranked #26 in 2026 by U.S. News and World Report
The Rutgers Master of Health Administration program continues its upward trend by jumping to #28 in the annual U.S. News and World Report rankings of Best Graduate Health Care Management Programs.
Chen et al. Use Google Street View to Verify Cannabis Retailers
GSV virtual audit methods may be appropriate for visually verifying cannabis retailers contemporaneously, but are not appropriate for reconstructing historic retailer lists. Some states (e.g., California) may require the use of additional verification methods.
“Work Trends RU” Podcast with Steve Reynolds
Listen to the latest episode of the Heldrich Center’s Work Trends RU podcast, featuring featuring Aaron Fichtner, Ph.D., President of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges. Dr. Fichtner discusses the role New Jersey’s 18 community colleges play in expanding access to higher education, developing a skilled workforce, and meeting the evolving needs of students, employers, and local communities.
New college graduates face a tough job market. Here’s why unemployment hits them harder
Many college graduates have some time before they need to figure out their own health insurance coverage. Young adults can typically stay on a parent’s private plan until age 26, said Joel Cantor. Some states even allow dependents to stay on longer than that.
Newman and Cuite Lead RU Engaged Seminar & Spring Break Experience
“RU Engaged spring break was designed to help students understand that Rutgers and New Brunswick are deeply interconnected,” said Kathe Newman, professor at Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and director of the Ralph W. Voorhees Center for Civic Engagement. She developed the class with Cara Cuite, undergraduate program director and associate professor in the Department of Human Ecology at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences.
RWV Publishes Report on Affordable Housing on Faith Land
“These are really mission-driven projects which is what makes them a little different than other developments,” Mian said. “The congregation is motivated and inspired by faith to build affordable housing but also by financial concerns and supporting the congregation.”
EJB Talks: Small Wins, Big Impact: On the Front Lines of Local Public Health
In this episode of EJB Talks, Peter Tabbot ’91 MPH ‘97, longtime local health officer in Rockaway, NJ and a Bloustein School public health lecturer, shares his path into public health and what it means to lead at the community level. He explains the wide-ranging role of health officers, from managing essential services to working with governments and residents.
At Rutgers, Students Are Learning About Democracy in a Lab
Nicholas V. Longo, the inaugural director of the Rutgers Democracy Lab, insists democracy is something you learn by doing – not just in a classroom or at the ballot box, but in the everyday work of navigating challenges, listening to others and finding common ground.
Samuel, Thakuriah Lead Discussions at RAD Collaboratory
Professors Samuel and Thakuriah participated in the inaugural 𝐑𝐮𝐭𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 (𝐑𝐀𝐃) 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 symposium on 3/24/26 – an amazing event that has sparked much interest in collaborative research with AI as a matchmaking catalyst.
Bulger et al. Examine Food Security, Sovereignty as Climate Adaptation
This review highlights substantial heterogeneity in how alcohol and cannabis co-use is conceptualized and mea-sured. Few studies examined simultaneous use specifically or disentangle co-use from broader polysubstance patterns
Advancing Women’s Equity Through Policymaking: An NJSPL Panel
NJ growth cools as immigration slows nationally, Census finds
The Trump administration’s anti-immigrant rhetoric and crackdown clearly have had an impact, making it “much less attractive to come to the United States,” said Rutgers University Professor James Hughes, who studies the state’s demographic trends
Real-World Insights in Global Freight Movement
Residents furious as N.J. town manager racks up $813K in comp time working ‘crazy hours.’ Will he cash in?
“It didn’t turn the tap off,” Pfeiffer previously told NJ.com. “And so now we’re living with the decisions that were made years ago.”
Fines weren’t enough to keep Jersey City hospital open, so lawmakers aim to get tougher
“The idea was to monitor more closely,” Cantor said. “I don’t recall that we had discussions of imposing penalties, but just to have the state poised to be better positioned to predict when hospitals were getting into trouble.”
Trump’s Actions to Slash Red Tape Fall Short of Early Promises
“If it holds up in court, it will lead to specific deregulatory actions that will be very significant for the economy and the environment,” said Stuart Shapiro, pointing to the ending of fuel economy standards for cars and emissions rules for power plants…
Pfeiffer Demystifies Property Taxes on IssuesWatch Podcast
New Jersey is famous for many things, but its nation-leading property tax rates usually top the list of resident grievances. In this episode, we sit down with Marc Pfeiffer, senior policy fellow, to demystify the complex machinery behind property taxes.
MCRP candidate selected for prestigious Port Authority Leadership Fellow Program
Bloustein School MCRP candidates Bobby Johnson and Julia Kohn have been selected for the Port Authority Leadership Fellow Program. The Leadership Fellow Program is a two-year rotational program for leadership and public service in the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan region. It offers on-the-job experience in business functions, including planning, finance, security, facility operations, human resources, and other areas. Leadership Fellows are involved in four rotational assignments designed to develop a strong foundation in business acumen, adaptability, and knowledge of Port Authority operations, to build future leaders within the organization. Upon completion, Leadership Fellows are often considered for key positions in the agency.
Noland and Fulton: Saving Oil in a Hurry, Again!
In 2005, researchers Bob Noland and Lewis Fulton worked with the International Energy Agency to release analysis and policy recommendations to address concerns over “peak oil” and rising oil prices. More than twenty years later, this work continues to be more relevant than ever as the world is experiencing the most severe oil supply disruption in modern history, triggered by the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran and the near-complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Dr. DeLia Explores the Future of Health Economics
This blog article by Derek DeLia examines the growing political interest in “consumer-driven” healthcare, which proposes giving individuals more direct control over healthcare spending through tools like high-deductible plans and health savings accounts.
How Penn Station could be renamed ‘Trump Station’
New York leaders could be making a calculated political decision by not putting up roadblocks to a renaming, said Michael Smart.
Community and Belonging Lecture: Health Justice in Action
Mian, RWV Launch Affordable Housing on Faith Land Database
Nadia Mian, Ph.D., Senior Program Director, Ralph W. Voorhees Center for Civic Engagement recently launched the Affordable Housing and Shelter on Faith Land Database and published an accompanying report.
Geisha Ester Appears on Latest Episode of Transit Unplugged
NTI’s Executive Director, Geisha Ester, recently appeared on the latest episode of Transit Unplugged. Host Paul Comfort sat down with Geisha to discuss why workforce development is the most important investment transit agencies can make right now and how agencies and public transit professionals can access NTI’s free training to support that work.
‘Frustrated by the extremes,’ lawmaker urges rent control talks
“The same thing is happening with rent control,” Paul said. “When we see states considering it, developers are saying ‘we’re going to leave’ but that really hasn’t played out.”
What’s driving the shrinking of North Jersey’s white collar job market
“Many probably were not at that time yet factoring in the full impact of a longer and broader conflict — so the expectation of moderate improvement over the next six months could prove optimistic,” Will Irving wrote in an email.
N.J.’s highest paid police chief got a $541K retirement payout
It’s “not the first time it’s happened in state laws where the Legislature has an idea, but the follow through execution is not well addressed,” said Marc Pfeiffer
Planning students selected for prestigious Port Authority Leadership Fellow Program
Bloustein School MCRP candidates Bobby Johnson and Julia Kohn have been selected for the Port Authority Leadership Fellow Program. The Leadership Fellow Program is a two-year rotational program for leadership and public service in the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan region. It offers on-the-job experience in business functions, including planning, finance, security, facility operations, human resources, and other areas. Leadership Fellows are involved in four rotational assignments designed to develop a strong foundation in business acumen, adaptability, and knowledge of Port Authority operations, to build future leaders within the organization. Upon completion, Leadership Fellows are often considered for key positions in the agency.
Sherrill keeps her promise to take action against N.J.’s soaring electric rates. But is it enough?
A shortage in capacity has translated into New Jersey utility customers “being hit with these crazy cost spikes,” Andrews said.
Risk Analysis Celebrates Distinguished Prof. Greenberg
One theme that ran consistently throughout our interview was Mike’s belief in the importance of collaboration with wide range of people, disciplines, and government policy-makers.
School Tax Vote Sparks Affordability Debate in Montclair
“When some property values go up they eventually affect everybody, and that can result in gentrification and the loss of middle income homeowners,” Pfeiffer said.
STEM Pathways are a Two-Way Street, Not a “Leaky Pipeline”
Bloustein School Associate Director updates property tax guide for NJ residents
“If you are a renter in downtown New Brunswick … somebody is paying property taxes in some way on the property you live,” Pfeiffer said. “Your rent is going to include some portion of the property tax bill so the homeowners can pay it.”
NJSPL: New Jersey’s New E-Bike Laws – What Comes Next?
On January 19, 2026, former Governor Phil Murphy signed S4834/A6235 into law, establishing a new regulatory framework for electric bicycles in the Garden State. This blog by Leigh Ann Von Hagen and Gabrielle Cain explains the next steps.
The State of Jersey Politics
Rutgers University professor Julia Sass Rubin said the county line’s demise has led to more candidates, an uptick in voter turnout, and 11% of the 57 Democrats in the Assembly winning their seats despite not getting a county party endorsement. “This feels like small steps, but they’re not. … Ending the county line opens up the possibility for real reform in our state,” Rubin said.
How Iran war and new jobs data paint a sour picture for NJ economy
New Jersey’s sluggish job growth in 2025 continued a downward trend over several years. The state added nearly 64,200 jobs in 2023, but only 39,800 in 2024, according to data compiled by the New Jersey Department of Labor.
“Things are definitely cooling,” Will Irving, a professor at the New Jersey State Policy Lab at Rutgers University, told NorthJersey.com in January.
Heldrich: Aligning NJ’s AI Policy with Small Business Needs
Researchers at the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, with funding from the New Jersey State Policy Lab, are currently engaged in a project to examine how New Jersey’s public Artificial Intelligence (AI) initiatives can better align with the evolving needs of small businesses in the state. Research Project Assistant Lily McFarland outlines early findings from the project in a new blog post.
New Jersey faces a multibillion-dollar deficit. Leaders say the state can become more affordable by taking specific steps
“There is no magical, painless way of making the state more affordable,” he said. “It took us decades and decades to get us into the position we’re in, and it’s going to take a long time to change things.”
Students’ At Rutgers- Newark Hosted Symposium Discussing Racial & Social Inequities in Black Hairstyles #RCROWNS
“They were trying really hard to be like the Beyoncés of the world, the Shakiras of the world,” she said. “They were willing to put in clip-ins and to the level where it damaged their scalp,” said Professor O’Brien-Richardson.
EJB Talks: Planning, Policy, Politics, and the Path to Office
This week on EJB talks, Dean Stuart Shapiro talks to Bloustein alumnus Katie Brennan MCRP ’12, now an Assemblywoman in New Jersey’s 32nd District. Katie reflects on how her early exposure to housing instability, volunteer work, and her undergraduate policy studies shaped her belief that “everything is a housing issue.”
Register Today for Bloustein Research Day 2026
It’s time to catch up on the wonderful research our faculty, staff, and student colleagues have performed over the past year. Bloustein School faculty and staff will present lightning talks followed by a poster session by graduate and undergraduate students.
Kopp Opinion: Trump Is Attacking Climate Science. Scientists Are Fighting Back.
Over the decades, NASA and NOAA have produced crucial records of changes in atmosphere, sea level, greenhouse gas emissions, and more. Among many other benefits, U.S. investments in climate research have helped cities design flood protection, farmers make cropping decisions, and communities prepare for hurricanes. Then came the second Trump administration.
Report Release: R/ECON Forecast Winter 2026
Like the broader U.S., New Jersey is likely to finish the year with notably stronger GDP growth than forecast earlier, though growth is projected to decline to 0.8% in 2026, before rebounding modestly to 1% the following year.
Report from Gov. Sherrill Transition Team Highlights Jobs, Economic Opportunity
New CUPR Report Examines Feasibility of Geothermal Heat Pump Systems for NJ
The Center for Urban Policy Research (CUPR) undertook this study on behalf of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) in alignment with legislation directing the NJBPU to conduct a study on the feasibility, marketability, benefits, and costs of implementing large-scale geothermal heat pump systems in the state (P.L. 2023, c.328).
Guide to NJ property taxes details where the money goes, and how to get some back
“Informed citizens make better decisions and ask better questions of their government,” said Pfeiffer.
London to Paris in 20 minutes? This futuristic rail project is trying to make it a reality
Critics are not convinced. “The capacity of moving people will be much lower;’ says Dr. Robert Noland, director of the Alan M Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University in the US. “Currently, the capsules are smaller than a train.”
Pfeiffer Authors Updated NJ Homeowner’s Property Tax Guide
“At a time when property taxes are a central concern for homeowners across the state, giving residents the tools to understand how their tax bills are calculated, what the money pays for and what rights they have as taxpayers is a meaningful contribution to civic literacy. Informed citizens make better decisions and ask better questions of their government,” said Pfeiffer.
U. professor takes on experiential learning at the Jersey Shore
“The whole idea of experiential learning is that it’s something you’re immersed in, and therefore, in a sense, you’re more likely to believe your own eyes instead of just what’s in the book,” Andrews said.
VTC Report: The Evolution of NJ TRANSIT Funding
“Work Trends RU” Podcast with Jimmy Green and Jackie Burke
Listen to the latest episode of the Heldrich Center’s Work Trends RU podcast, featuring featuring Aaron Fichtner, Ph.D., President of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges. Dr. Fichtner discusses the role New Jersey’s 18 community colleges play in expanding access to higher education, developing a skilled workforce, and meeting the evolving needs of students, employers, and local communities.
Grad Students Study AI’s Role in UNDP Work Processes
Rutgers graduate students presented their findings on “Effectiveness of AI-assisted report assessments: A case study of the United Nations Development Program,” at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual Meeting’s poster competition in Phoenix, AZ in mid-February.
Chen et al. Examine Alcohol, Cannabis, and HIV Risk
This review highlights substantial heterogeneity in how alcohol and cannabis co-use is conceptualized and mea-sured. Few studies examined simultaneous use specifically or disentangle co-use from broader polysubstance patterns
Route 66 Studies Authored by David Listokin Highlighted in New Report
“The Byways Report” highlights an array of technical resources that can help states, regions and towns leverage route-based tourism as part of their efforts to build rural prosperity. David Listokin’s Route 66 studies are referenced in the report.
Christiana Foglio, DC’84, BSPPP’86 Named RAA Loyal Daughter
The Rutgers Alumni Association’s Loyal Sons & Daughters Award is its highest recognition of service. Bloustein alumnus Christiana Foglio, DC’84, BSPPP’86 is one of six individuals selected this year.
Lindenfeld Investigates LFO Impacts on Health Outcomes
This article describes what is known in the literature around LFOs, presents a framework outlining hypothesized pathways linking LFOs to health outcomes, discusses gaps in research related to public health costs and outcomes, and highlights critical areas for future research.
George Street Playhouse 2026 Gala Benefit to Honor Roberto Muñiz
George Street Playhouse’s 2026 Gala Benefit will honor Roberto Muñiz, President and CEO of Parker Health Group, with the prestigious Thomas H. Kean Arts Advocacy Award. Tickets for the 2026 Gala Benefit, including dinner and cabaret performance, begin at $600.
Why this political deal between 2 governors matters for millions of New Jersey and New York commuters
“I think the governor is doing the right thing by having a deputy executive director who should be at the table,” Hughes said of Sherrill.
EJB Talks: Beyond “Does It Work?”
EJB Talks returns for Season 14 with Dean Stuart Shapiro speaking with new Public Policy professor Laura Peck. Laura discusses her journey from undergraduate activism to policy analysis, a PhD, tenure at Arizona State, and more than a decade at Abt Associates. She shares how that work shaped her focus on careful, policy-relevant research, specifically taking about her evaluation of the federal Health Profession Opportunity Grant (HPOG) program.
Heldrich Center: Motivational Texts and Unemployment
“This is a group that’s experiencing real life hardship — this period of unemployment, of having to receive unemployment insurance benefits, not knowing what their future looks like. I would love to see that qualitative component … Maybe it did make a little bit of difference in how they felt about their experience knowing that they had a little more motivation,” Walsh said.
Princeton Democrats Take a Close Look at 17 Candidates Hoping to Succeed Bonnie Watson Coleman – and the Winner Is . . .
Elections and ballet reform advocate Julia Sass Rubin, associate dean of Academic Programs at the Bloustein School, Rutgers University, noted that “tonight’s forum in terms of the health of democracy was very exciting. It is incredible that we have 17 candidates. We do not know yet if each candidate will get the number of petition signers to qualify for a position on the ballot, but still the interest is awesome,”
Accepting Applications for 2026-27 Voorhees Public Service Fellowship
Guest Speaker Lerrel Pinto: Robot Data is Not Enough Data
“There are a lot of people who are more than happy to use AI for entertainment,” Samuel said. “But when it comes to decision making, a lot of people go back to fundamental information based, fact-based decision making.”
Stamato Commentary: Black History Month and the battle over America’s story
Today, invisibility is failing. Powerful forces are restoring attention to stories long suppressed. Films, books, magazines, classrooms and museums finally are giving those histories their due. In Washington, D.C., the National Museum of African American History and Culture stands as a splendid example.
State Planning Commission Adopts NJ State Plan, Needs Assessments
The New Jersey State Planning Commission has adopted an updated State Plan, along with a new Impact Assessment and Infrastructure Needs Assessment, marking the first comprehensive update since 2001. The Plan will guide coordinated state and local decision-making on land use, transportation, housing, infrastructure, and climate adaptation.
Zhang et al. Assess Greenspace and CVD Risk Using Nurses
This study demonstrates that disaggregating greenspace is critical for understanding its cardiovascular effects. In a large, nationwide prospective cohort, higher exposure to street-view visible trees was associated with lower cardiovascular disease incidence, while grass and other low-lying greenspace were associated with higher risk.
Saks Fifth Avenue to close American Dream store. Here’s why
All three are in “strong affluent market areas,” said James Hughes, a professor of urban planning and policy development at Rutgers University in New Brunswick.
“So all locations have high market potential for repurposing — demonstrated strong consumer purchasing power,” Hughes wrote in an email.
Livingston Mall is dying. See how NJ malls are reinventing themselves
“The town — if it’s a redevelopment area — is in the driver’s seat,” said James Hughes, a professor of urban planning and policy development at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. “They could acquire the land and totally control it.”
Trump Decries a ‘Nation of Renters’ but His New Policy Promotes One
The author cites a recent report from the New Jersey State Policy Lab, Trends in Investor Acquisition of Residential Properties in New Jersey, which highlights that while investor activity impacts affordability and inventory, large investors are not the primary reason homes are expensive.
Temporality in Housing Markets: The Jersey Shore Case
Professor Clint Andrews takes his students on a field trip to the Jersey Shore for his class Temporality in Housing Markets: The Jersey Shore Case
Senior Health Fellow Muñiz Announces Retirement from Parker Health
Parker Health Group, Inc., a nationally recognized leader in aging services, recently announced that President and CEO Roberto Muñiz, a Senior Health Fellow and Instructor at the Bloustein School, will retire by the end of 2026 after nearly 28 years of visionary leadership.
The Best Tactics for Tackling Speeders
. A recent paper by Kelcie Ralph, a transportation researcher at Rutgers University, concluded that most people mistakenly see speeding as much less dangerous than driving drunk or distracted.
Grafova and Williams Examine Medical Debt in New Study
In this analytic sample, 4.4 % of households experienced the onset of low or medium medical debt, and 1.2 % experienced the onset of high medical debt between the 2019 and 2020 waves of the PSID.
Samuel Quoted in AI Lawsuit Against Student
It’s essential to avoid false accusations, said Jim Samuel, executive director of the Informatics Program at Rutgers University, where he does research on AI.
AI in Your Municipality: Implementation and Govenance
ICMA’s February 2026 Public Management magazine ran an AI-themed issue featuring Bloustein School senior policy fellow Marc Pfeiffer on the cover. Marc’s article, “AI in Your Municipality: Implementation and Governance”, was written with acknowledged assistance from an AI Chatbot.
A zombie mall is gasping in North Jersey, hit by a ‘perfect storm’
Urban centers like Newark and Jersey City, as well as downtowns like Ridgewood and Westfield, rebounded in the past decade and drew back dollars that had gone to malls, Hughes said.
By themselves, any one of those factors could have caused malls to struggle, other than the top-tier ones in New Jersey like Garden State Plaza and American Dream…
“Sort of the perfect storm hit,” Hughes said of Livingston Mall.
Peck, Co-Authors Evaluate Studies Designed to Detect Earnings Impact
This article reports empirical evidence to support the design of evaluations that estimate the impacts of programs that provide postsecondary credentials and/or job training on earnings.
New Jersey Target Zero Commission Adopts Action Plan
On Monday, December 15, 2025, the New Jersey Target Zero Commission officially adopted the first New Jersey Target Zero Action Plan, reaching a major milestone in the State’s goal to eliminate all roadway fatalities and serious injuries in the state by 2040. The New Jersey Target Zero Action Plan is now publicly accessible via the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s Target Zero Webpage.
Translation as Access: Meet Kenia Gonzalez
Little Rock Merchants Praise ‘road diet’ Revamps for Managing Traffic Flow
Road diets in Little Rock, Arkansas, have helped calm traffic, improve pedestrian and cyclist safety, and support neighborhood revitalization without causing major traffic problems. Robert Noland, Rutgers professor and director of the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center, explains that many of the four-lane roads previously built are high speed and very dangerous, and a road diet “means you can actually improve things by reducing the amount of pavement.”
President Trump’s Housing Proposals: What They Really Mean for New Jersey Homebuyers and Sellers
The author cites a recent report from the New Jersey State Policy Lab, Trends in Investor Acquisition of Residential Properties in New Jersey, which highlights that while investor activity impacts affordability and inventory, large investors are not the primary reason homes are expensive.
Kevin Dehmer to Serve as State’s Chief Technology Officer
Governor Mikie Sherrill announced Kevin Dehmer as her pick to be the state’s next Chief Technology Officer, overseeing the New Jersey Office of Information Technology. As Chief Technology Officer, Dehmer will advance the modernization of New Jersey’s digital infrastructure, improve the efficiency and transparency of the state permitting process, adopt technologies to clear licensure backlogs and reduce wait times, and strengthen our cybersecurity capabilities against AI-driven challenges to position New Jersey for long-term success.
Nicholas Longo Named Director, Rutgers Democracy Lab
Rutgers–New Brunswick Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Jason Geary announced that Dr. Nicholas V. Longo has been appointed the inaugural director of the Rutgers Democracy Lab, effective Feburary 1. He will also be a professor at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy.
Studio: A Framework for Community Benefits Agreements
The Fall 2025 Studio prepared frameworks for community engagement and Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs). Now, it is time to strategize how Dayton and the Airport City Newark Coalition can utilize CBAs in negotiations with future developers. By doing so, the ACNC can ensure that new projects deliver meaningful and equitable benefits to local residents.