News List
Sagging revenue, looming costs could sink big senior citizen tax cut plan
Sagging revenue and a bevy of looming funding needs in the coming fiscal year threaten to pull New Jersey’s $8.1 billion surplus below a threshold that would pause the nascent StayNJ property tax relief program before it sends out a single payment.
PhD candidate Adam Scavette selected as finalist for 2024 WRSA Tiebout Prize
The annual award honors the best graduate student paper at the Western Regional Science Association (WRSA) Conference. HIs paper submission studies the impact of Atlantic City’s casino monopoly on its metropolitan economy.
NJ unemployment rate up? But job growth is strong? Making sense of 2024 New Jersey economy
The strong job growth in December helped New Jersey end 2023 with a net gain of 69,600 jobs. By comparison, the state lost 303,600 jobs in 2020; added 265,600 jobs in 2021; and added 129,700 jobs in 2022; Rutgers University economist James W. Hughes said.
DRIVE TIME: The struggle to find housing in New Jersey
Dean Emeritus James W. Hughes talks about the rising cost of housing in NJ and what the future will bring.
NJSPL – Partnerships, Targeted Goals, and Impacts: A Revised Implementation Strategy for the Great American Outdoors Act
Established in 2020, the Great American Outdoors Act promised the investment in national parks that the U.S. desperately needed by providing permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund & creating a national parks & lands restoration program.
Jersey Shore workers struggle to find middle-class homes
“We know there is a shortage, a significant shortage of affordable housing in New Jersey, but the middle class is getting squeezed as well,” said Will Irving. “And it’s getting harder and harder for young families to afford to buy a house.”
Cantor Calls Camden Coalition’s Work a Success
“It’s a qualified success,” said Joel Cantor, director of the Rutgers Center for State Health Policy, which provided data for the review. “Life is more than just not getting hospitalized.”
New Research on Healthcare Protocol Adherence during COVID-19 from Grafova
This study aimed to describe registered nurses’ (RNs) perceptions on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their ability to adhere to patient safety protocols using Donabedian’s Health Care Quality model.
NAIOP New Jersey to host annual meeting, commercial real estate outlook on Jan. 25
Will Irving will present on the panel of industry experts discussing the connection between local economic trends and the state’s commercial real estate sector.
Hughes expects NJ to be Waiting for the ‘Immaculate Disinflation’
Dean Emeritus James W. Hughes said a key question now is whether the Fed’s interest rate hikes will create a soft landing with a slow-growth economy, or a hard landing that will “crash” the economy.
How Murphy says he plans to protect NJ residents from crushing medical debt
“The Governor’s proposal would certainly give relief to many in need, but ultimately governmental subsidies to those in debt are not likely to be a long-term solution,”
Dean Stuart Shapiro: For the Biden administration’s 2024 regulations, timing is crucial
The American economy added over 330,000 jobs in September, but the role of government regulation in the economic equation is conspicuously absent from discussions. This article examines the impact of regulations on the macroeconomy and why they may be less significant than previously claimed, shedding light on a complex economic reality.
New Research on Pre-Pandemic Physical Distancing and Travel Behavior led by Prof. Thakuriah
This study analyzed physical distancing in people’s daily lives and its association with travel behavior and the use of transportation modes before the COVID-19 outbreak.
NJSPL – Fostering Emotional Resilience: Virtual Schwartz Rounds for Nurses
In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, the critical role of nurses cannot be overstated. Nurses are the heartbeat of healthcare, navigating complex situations while providing compassionate care to all New Jerseyans. However, the demanding nature of the nursing profession can take a toll on their emotional well-being.
For Female Fashion Models, Job Security and Sexual Harassment Are Often Intertwined
The “party life,” or informal types of social networking, increases the risk of sexual harassment for women in an industry dominated by powerful men, according to a Rutgers study
‘Swapping homes like stocks’: Wall Street-backed firm buys 264 valley homes in a day
“As these companies settled in as landlords, they’ve also made bulk deals with competitor firms to grow or shed their presence in particular markets. They are essentially trading with each other to enhance the performance of their overall inventory.”
Senior Policy Fellow Brandon McKoy, MCRP ’13 Chosen to Lead The Fund for New Jersey
Bloustein School alumnus and Senior Policy Fellow Brandon McKoy MCRP ’13 has been selected as the new president of The Fund for New Jersey. Since embarking on his professional career, McKoy has emerged as a leading policymaker and social justice advocate.
West New York police earn high salaries, even more than Jersey City cops
Helped by federal funds and private investment, a major push for passenger rail
New Jersey’s rising unemployment makes economic future uncertain
Bloustein Graduate Planning Studio Presents Recommendations to Dunellen Mayor and Borough Council
In mid-December, a Bloustein School graduate redevelopment studio hosted public presentations in Dunellen, NJ for the mayor and borough council, and for the redevelopment community meeting.
Let’s Keep Focus on “The Line” in NJ Politics
If you’re not in-the-know, The Line is where you want to be on the ballot if you’re running for office in New Jersey. Candidates granted The Line by NJ’s political gatekeepers are almost assured of victory, especially in a primary election. That’s why NJ’s powerful political machines invest so much time and treasure into determining who gets the line and (perhaps more importantly) who doesn’t.
Reimagining Circulation in Somerset County, NJ
This Studio Class has worked with the Somerset County Office of Planning, Policy and Economic Development to explore strategies that would complement and leverage the new vision for public transportation in Somerset County.
New Research on Racial Discrimination and Mental Health Co-Authored by Chen, Williams and Cantor
The present study examines the differential associations of racial discrimination and mental health based on an individual’s race, ethnicity, foreign-born status, and educational attainment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Senate Candidate Accused of Nepotism Has Another Edge: The Ballot
No New Jersey legislative incumbent chosen to run on the county line in all of the counties he or she represented has lost a primary election since 2009, according to a recent study by a Rutgers University professor, Julia Sass Rubin.
NJSPL – New Jersey Population Growth Recovers
This month, the U.S. Census Bureau released its annual state population estimates, revealing that New Jersey is resuming population growth after experiencing a decline of nearly 30,000 residents since the 2020 Decennial Census. The increase of just over 30,000 residents (0.3%) in 2023 as of the Bureau’s July 1 estimate brings the state population to slightly above the April 1 2020 decennial base.
NJCCRC to Host Webinar 1/23/24 to Introduce Newest Data-Visualization and Mapping Tools
New Jersey residents and planners alike have a new set of decision-support tools to help prepare their communities for climate change, thanks to a suite of data-visualization and mapping tools developed at Rutgers University’s New Jersey Climate Change Resource Center.
Bar part-time officials from full-time perks, incoming N.J. lawmaker says
“That doesn’t excuse individuals who have consciously abused the system,” said Pfeiffer, now a professor at Rutgers University. “But there are probably any number of cases where elected officials can spend 30, 35 hours a week in their job as an unpaid or low-paid elected official.
EJB Talks–Navigating a Politically Turbulent 2023 and the Ominous Prelude to 2024
We’re closing EJB Talks for the year with a discussion of the tumultuous political events of 2023, including the chaotic dynamics within the Republican Party, the potential ramifications of Kevin McCarthy’s replacement as Speaker of the House, the ongoing challenges in passing crucial legislation, and more.
Stamato Commentary: Two billion spaces, and counting. How much parking do we need?
Faculty Fellow Linda Stamato explores the pervasive impact of parking space mandates on urban planning, criticizing the prioritization of parking over people in cities and towns.
Wells Fargo Joins $5.5M Settlement With Oregon Over Inflated Tax Break
New Orleans-based Enhanced Capital, which was acquired by P10 in 2020, is one of the nation’s three big CDEs that have played a dominant role in the state programs, according to Rutgers University public policy professor Julia Sass Rubin.
Hamza Choudhry Public Health ’24 is Recipient of Rutgers Impact Award
“Join organizations on or off campus that align with your interests, and if you are unable to find any, start your own. Getting involved early on is one of the best things you can do to jumpstart your career and make a difference in your community. Make the most of your resources at the Bloustein School to get closer to your goals by talking to the advisors, attending events, and utilizing student services.”
NJSPL – Enabling Aging in Place: A Vital Strategy for Residents of Subsidized Senior Housing
The concept of “aging in place” appeals to many people as they strive to maintain their residence and independence despite evolving needs for supportive services during the natural course of aging. However, challenges persist, particularly for older adults residing in publicly subsidized senior housing.
Parking Fight: Unveiling the Divisive Impact on Society, Housing, and Urban Development
Henry Grabar explored the emotional attachment people have to parking spaces, citing anecdotes and the importance placed on those spaces, even to the point of deadly disputes, at the 2023 Meck Memorial Lecture.
US Senate candidates urged to help end NJ’s ‘party line’ ballot
Nearly every state legislative incumbent who faced a challenge over the last two decades and had the party line in every county won reelection, according to a study by Rutgers University professor Julia Sass Rubin.
The Story of Freedom: An Op-ed from Mark Paul
Meaningful freedom will only be won through embracing an emancipatory vision of freedom that guarantees people political rights, civil rights, reproductive rights, and crucially, economic rights. Together these rights provide people with meaningful choices to be, and do, what they have reason to value.
Progressives want every Senate candidate from NJ to back a change to state’s ballot designs
Research by Julia Sass Rubin of the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University shows that placement on the county line gives candidates an average of 38% more votes than their competitors, and no state legislative incumbent has lost a primary since 2009 when they’ve been put on the county line.
Significant Progress on Taming Inflation, Historically Low Unemployment Rates Have Not Resonated With Most American Workers
Two in three U.S. workers are very or somewhat concerned about the job market for job seekers as 2024 approaches, according to a national probability-based survey by the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development.
Podcast: Jim Samuel Discusses Rise and Risks of AI with Scholars Strategy Network
Professor Jim Samuel explains what generative AI is, how it functions, and its ethical concerns.
NJSPL – Is There Cause for Concern in New Jersey’s Latest Unemployment Numbers?
New Jersey’s post-pandemic economic recovery has seen steady payroll employment growth, but concerns arise as the state experiences a notable increase in its unemployment rate, rising from 3.0% in August 2022 to 4.6% in October.
While most towns have gone back to in-person meetings, Lakewood remains virtual
Pfeiffer said holding meetings online also risks technical problems, as well as online infiltration: “You should carefully consider the risks of meeting disruptions and make sure you balance the interests of people.”
The Weird Gimmick That May Decide New Jersey’s Next Senator
Rubin—who is neutral in the race—told The Daily Beast it’s possible that candidates can overcome the county line, citing a 2020 example when a county-backed political science professor lost in the primary to Amy Kennedy, the wife of former Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-NJ).
Rutgers GSHL Holds Toy Drive to Benefit Central Jersey Family Health Consortium
Almost 400 toys were donated on behalf of the Central Jersey Family Health Consortium.
How big an advantage does winning the party line really deliver?
“You can see the impact that the county line has on both parties in recent legislative races. Over the last few years, three incumbent female legislators lost their primaries after losing the county line in all or some of the counties in their districts.”
EJB Talks–The Bloustein Undergraduate Experience: Rutgers Summer Service DC Internships
Three Bloustein School undergraduates who participated in the Rutgers Summer Service Washington DC (RSS DC) internships discuss their reasons for participating, including its impact on academic and professional growth and the impact the experience has had on their future.
Tammy Murphy’s senate runs raises concerns over New Jersey ballot practices : NPR
No incumbent on the county line has lost a primary election since 2009, according to the researcher, Julia Sass Rubin, a professor at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University.
Understanding the party line in NJ
“You can see the impact that the county line has on both parties in recent legislative races. Over the last few years, three incumbent female legislators lost their primaries after losing the county line in all or some of the counties in their districts.”
Wardlaw+Hartridge School Global Scholars Visit Bloustein School
Students from the Wardlaw+Hartridge School’s Global Scholars Program visited the Bloustein School on November 28 to begin a collaboration with graduate students and to learn about their various areas of study and work.
NJSPL – Rethinking Complete Streets
In January 2023, Governor Phil Murphy directed the NJ DOT to update its Complete Streets policy to include design practices for neurodivergent people, including those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or intellectual and development disabilities.
Video: Prof. Julia Sass Rubin on Reporters Roundtable – Party line’s impact on U.S. Senate race
On Reporters Roundtable, David Cruz talks Julia Sass Rubin, an associate professor with Rutgers University’s Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning Public Policy, about the power of the party line, how it could affect NJ’s U.S. Senate race and efforts to abolish it.
Video: Prof. Julia Sass Rubin explains how NJ primary ballots with “county lines” lead to unfair advantages
“It’s not just that you have a good ballot position, which you do on the county line,” said Julia Sass Rubin, the Rutgers report’s chief author. “It’s also that everyone else has a pretty bad ballot position… And there’s no other states that do things this way.”
Prof. Eric Seymour co-authors The Metropolitan and Neighborhood Geographies of REIT- and Private Equity-Owned Single-Family Rentals.
Consistent with prior research, the authors find that large publicly traded entities purchased homes in growing Sunbelt metros, yet some specific firms target weaker-market metros.
EJB Talks–Exploring the Intersection of Architecture, Urban Design, and Technology in Urban Planning with Professor Juan Ayala
Juan Ayala talks about the distinctions between architecture and urban design, emphasizing the historical separation of individual building design and broader urban landscape planning. He also highlights the crucial role of urban designers as bridges between architects and planners.
Andy Kim must outflank Tammy Murphy — and the NJ ballot ‘line.’ Can he succeed?
Julia Sass Rubin found the line county line blessing, on average, bestowed a 38 percentage point advantage to candidates. “In every one of those 45 races, the county line was completely deterministic,’’ she said.
Empowering Opportunity through Disability Advocacy and Education
Growing up as a child with a disability, Professor Cynthia Simon experienced what is now called bullying. From political science to law to advocacy, she is teaching students that much of what disables people are not impairments, but attitudes and societally created barriers.
You Need a Heat Pump. Soon You’ll Have More American-Made Options
The green transition is going to generate upwards of 25 million new jobs [in the US] in the next 15 years—this is just going to be a tremendous transformation of the US workforce,” Mark Paul, an environmental economist at Rutgers University, told WIRED earlier this year. “You can’t outsource the installation of heat pumps or solar panels on somebody’s roof to China or Bangladesh.”
Intelligent Informatics @ Bloustein: Open Data & Artificial Intelligence
NJSPL Report Release: Who Experienced the Greatest Financial Burden from Inflation in NJ?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, New Jersey experienced decades-long high levels of inflation, but that inflation is not expected to affect all New Jerseyans equally. Researchers Jocelyn Fischer and Yana van der Muelen Rodgers examined gender and racial/ethnic inequality in the financial effects of inflation for this report.
Tammy Murphy, N.J.’s First Lady, Enters Crowded Race for Menendez’s Seat
“It’s a rigged game,” said Julia Sass Rubin, an associate dean of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University who has researched the influence of the county line in federal and legislative races.
Mark Paul Makes the Case for Nationalizing the Fossil Fuel Industry
An article Mark Paul co-authored with Carla Skandier and Rory Renzy: “The Case for Nationalizing the Fossil Fuel Industry“, sparked this conversation with Len Beyea for Talk of the Bay from KSQD.
North Las Vegas homes have a Wall Street problem
Housing experts, including Rutgers University’s Eric Seymour, highlight the impact of corporate landlords in Las Vegas, who often outbid individual homebuyers and contribute to the unattainability of homeownership for many.
What will fill empty NJ office space? See the creative ideas at the Jersey Shore
R/ECON Forecast for November 2023 shows slow or stagnant growth for near future
R/ECON’s economic forecast for New Jersey as of November 2023 shows slow or stagnant growth over the next five to six quarters, with GDP recovering to a steady but tepid rate of increase in 2025. This largely mirrors the U.S. trajectory, though at lower growth levels than the national outlook.
First ARM Dignity Summit Moderated by Prof. Julia Sass Rubin
The co-founder and director of Archangel Raphael’s Mission (ARM) is assembling the leaders of other organizations who are using hospitality as a way to dispense dignity among the most vulnerable in our midst to swap notes, dispel myths and, perhaps most importantly, sound a clarion call for help.
EJB Talks–Fostering a Better Understanding of the Disability Community
Growing up as a child with a disability, Professor Cynthia Simon shares how her early studies eventually led to teaching disability studies and talks about the importance of including people with disabilities in the discussions of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
NJSPL – Aging New Jersey: Long-Term Care Challenges and Quality Ratings in Nursing Homes
A new project from the NJSPL, led by Miyeon Song and her team at Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration, intends to better understand New Jersey’s Nursing Home Compare (NHC) rating system, and how nursing homes in the state respond to their facilities’ ratings.
2023 Meck Memorial Lecture: Parking Fight! to be held Wednesday, December 6
NJDHS, DEP Tour Recreational Area in Pinelands to Spotlight Making Nature Accessible to All
The Daily Targum Interviews Dr. Jocelyn Elise Crowley on Her Research on Sexual Harassment in the Fashion Industry
Regarding the implications of her research, Crowley said that individuals must be aware that sexual harassment can happen in places other than on the actual job site. Networking is a significant part of working in the fashion industry, which means that there must be awareness of what happens outside of actual job sites.
In race to replace NJ’s Sen. Menendez, first lady Tammy Murphy would have advantages few women share
“She would be a strong candidate because of factors that would be at work in other states as well, name recognition and such, but also because of our very unique and very broken system of endorsements, which essentially guarantee the win to those candidates that are selected by the county party chairs,” said Sass Rubin, the Rutgers professor.
NJSPL – Examining Low-Income Community Solar Program and Energy Justice in New Jersey: An AI-based Crowdsourcing Study
To examine the effectiveness of NJ’s low-income community solar program, the research team will use an AI-based crowdsourcing tool to engage residents from Newark’s under-resourced communities in an online open discussion to better assess their understanding of such energy justice programs.
Samuel, Thakuriah Weigh In on Gov. Murphy’s New AI Task Force
Samuel said AI can be a powerful tool in amplifying the voices of U.S. citizens and promoting civic engagement. He said AI can help the government rapidly collect thoughts and feedback from individuals when penning legislation. Thakuriah emphasized the impact on transportation.
Dean Stuart Shapiro: Federal regulations don’t really affect economic growth
The American economy added over 330,000 jobs in September, but the role of government regulation in the economic equation is conspicuously absent from discussions. This article examines the impact of regulations on the macroeconomy and why they may be less significant than previously claimed, shedding light on a complex economic reality.
Could a record-high minimum wage mean a rise in prices and unemployment? Experts weigh in
Giving Day
NJSPL – Digital Technologies Might Not Necessarily Reduce Cognitive Bias and Inequality
Human decision-making is complex and shaped by a variety of factors and influenced by the individual’s experiences. Researchers have made significant progress in documenting factors that systematically bias decision-making, but there is still much to understand regarding how to correct these biases.
EJB Talks–From Journalist to Health Administration: Reporting on Hospitals and Running Them
Professor Ceu Cirne-Neves talks about her journey from journalism to healthcare administration, her extensive career in hospital administration, and the significant changes in the healthcare industry that she has experienced over the years.
Marc Pfeiffer Uses Claude AI to Help Write Article: AI in Local Government, Helpful or Harmful?
For local governments, chatbots create exciting opportunities to improve customer service, automate tasks and cut costs. Marc Pfeiffer, Assistant Director of Bloustein Local, Center for Urban Policy Research, uses Claude AI to help write two articles on how to best incorporate this new technology.
Is the Wall school board the worst job in New Jersey? Here’s why no one is running for BOE
Governor Murphy Discusses County Line Research in Podcast
Dr. Jocelyn Elise Crowley – The life of the party: Entrepreneurial labor, sexual harassment, and the fashion industry
Dr. Crowley’s study uses qualitative content analysis to map out how the party life leads to incidents of sexual harassment with both personal and professional consequences for fashion models using 20 distinct narratives.
NJSPL – Walking Together Over Uncertain Terrain: The Role of Professional Associations During Times of Policy Change
Researchers found that citizens who feel that the e-government services they utilize are effective have a more positive perception and trust in the government as a whole, and that higher levels of citizens’ digital literacy strengthen the relationship between satisfaction with e-government services and trust in the government.
Americans Increasingly Concerned About Losing Jobs Amid Housing Crisis
New Jersey public schools are losing students. Why? And where are they going?
ROI.NJ – Rutgers launches climate and energy institute with wide-reaching goals
New Heldrich Report Measures NJ Workers’ Awareness and Opinions of the State’s Sick Leave Law and Family Leave Insurance Program
The study, conducted with support from WorkRise at the Urban Institute, captures the perceptions and experiences of racial and ethnic discrimination at work with a nationally representative survey sample of 3,277 full- and part-time U.S. workers.
NJSPL – The Relationship Between New Jerseyans’ Digital Literacy, Perceptions of E-Government, & Trust in the State Government
Researchers found that citizens who feel that the e-government services they utilize are effective have a more positive perception and trust in the government as a whole, and that higher levels of citizens’ digital literacy strengthen the relationship between satisfaction with e-government services and trust in the government.
Rutgers Launches Climate and Energy Institute With Wide-Reaching Goals
Americans Quitting Jobs Even as Savings Dry Up, Debt Grows
US Supreme Court won’t consider challenge to New Jersey’s ballot rigging
NJSPL – New Jersey Ranks First in Income, but Housing Costs Take a Hefty Share Especially for those with Lower Incomes
Jeanne Herb selected by NSF and the Kaleta A. Doolin Foundation to serve as NSF-KADF Ocean Decade Champion
TECH UPDATES: What Municipal CAOs Need to Know, Part 1: Tech Fitness and Cyber Hygiene
Four Bloustein Students Chosen as 2024 Eagleton Graduate Fellows
NJSPL – Data Brief Release: Inflation Hurts Everyone but Some More than Others in New Jersey
NJSPL released two new data briefs in collaboration with the Center for Women and Work examining the gender and racial/ethnic disparities in households’ inflation experiences in the greater Philadelphia and New York City areas.
Pfeiffer – Lakewood schools borrowed millions from New Jersey and still can’t pay its bills
Kedar Nagarajan Named ANHD/Morgan Stanley Community Development Graduate Fellow
Kedar Nagarajan (MCRP ’23) was one of nine graduate students selected as a 2023-24 Morgan Stanley Community Development Graduate Fellow. He has five years of professional experience across three of India’s largest cities Bangalore, Bombay and New Delhi and worked with Professor DeFilippis on an ethnographic research project.