News List
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.
Stamato & Jaffe Opinion: The U.S. Supreme Court, regulation and the ‘deep state’
Hughes – What if the road from Tuckerton to Atlantic City was built?
Wolff – We need to embrace restorative justice over retaliation, punishment
American Dream lawsuits are stacking up. Here’s why — and how they compare to other malls
Reconciling rising unemployment and strong job growth: NJ’s uncertain fiscal outlook
Big retirement payouts for top cops, fire chiefs and school brass cost $76M. Why can’t N.J. stop them?
New Report from Marc Pfeiffer – First, Do No Harm: Algorithms, AI, and Digital Product Liability
The potential for algorithmic harm(s) are commonly reported to be found in (but are not limited to) technologies such as generative artificial intelligence chatbots, social media, virtual reality, Internet of Things, surveillance tech, robots, etc. This new report provides a pathway to reduce algorithmic harms by incentivizing developers to first, do no harm as opposed to work fast and break things.
Dr. Patti O’Brien-Richardson Speaks at World Afro Day
Dr. Patti O’Brien-Richardson was a speaker at the 2023 World Afro Day – Workplace on September 15th in the UK. Dr. O’Brien-Richardson provided hair discrimination policy training for corporations and HR professionals, spoke on the need for policies in the workplace, and the physical and mental health impact of not having hair discrimination legal protection.
Nashia Basit Named ANHD/Morgan Stanley Community Development Graduate Fellow
Nashia is a dual MPP/MCRP candidate and is passionate about expanding opportunities for underserved communities through the implementation of new social safety net programs.
Want to join the American Climate Corps? Here’s what we know so far.
Want to join the American Climate Corps? Here’s what we know so far.
Are Men Left Behind? The Gender Gap at All NJ Colleges, Universities
A Conversation with New Jersey’s Flood Experts
NJSPL – After-School Programs and Students’ Academic Behavior in New Jersey: Current Situation and Future Development
NJSPL summer intern Xiao Liang (MPA-Camden ’24) found that although students’ test scores have increased across all racial/ethnic groups in the last few decades, access to equitable educational opportunities among different socioeconomic backgrounds has not led to improvement in overall educational outcomes.
E-scooters are girl-coded? Rutgers researchers examine gender differences in cycling, micromobility
Rutgers Fall Career & Internship Mega Fair: Sept. 19-22, 2023
Join us in person at our 4-day Career & Internship Mega Fair! Over 100+ employers (different employers each day) will be available to network with candidates to discuss full-time, part-time, and internship opportunities from various fields.
The New Jersey State Policy Lab Announces Ten New Research Projects
The NJSPL issued a call for proposals in the early summer, and received 28 proposals, including ones from all three Rutgers University campuses and four other universities in New Jersey. Ten projects were chosen that cover a wide array of policy issues, and employ varying research methodologies to evaluate very real problems that innovative policy solutions can address.
Rising unemployment doesn’t hit all parts of the labor force equally
It’s Time to Reclaim the Promise of Economic Rights in the U.S.
Spotlight: Soumitra Bhuyan
This past year, Professor Soumitra Bhuyan was a visiting professor at Princeton University’s Center for Health and Wellbeing at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. In the following interview, he discusses his work on chronic disease management, health information systems, and his overarching goal of improving population health.
Surface Transportation News: Reducing car travel, Maryland express lanes, and more
NJSPL – Barriers to Accessing Primary Care in New Jersey
NJSPL summer intern Taylor Hughes found that regular, reliable primary care is often considered a valuable resource and a critical gateway into the healthcare system, but not every person has the ability or access to a primary care physician or office.
Rutgers Report: Workplace Discrimination Still a Disturbing Reality
Rutgers launches disability studies minor
One in four adults in the United States has some type of disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This makes disability a natural and common part of the human experience. The new minor is an interdisciplinary effort designed to support an intrinsically collaborative approach to studying the lived experience of disability and the theoretical frameworks that surround that experience.
Stamato Opinion: Climate Change and the Insurance Industry
The politics of Rising Rents—Rent control verses the free market
NJSPL – Risk Perception of Cannabis Use in Young Adults
NJSPL summer intern Sofia Wernyj found research that suggests the younger a person begins using cannabis, the higher the likelihood of them developing a dependence on the drug. It is important for NJ state leaders and policymakers to be aware of possible public health and safety issues that could arise from increased access to the drug.
Dr. Crowley discusses the reasons behind divorce after the age of 50
Atlantic City Housing Authority spent nearly $500K on leadership consultants
NJSPL – Food Insecurity in New Jersey – Policy Solutions and Improvements
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority and the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs have identified fifty food desert communities across the state, and several programs have been enacted to address food insecurity through tax credits for grocery stores and increasing monthly SNAP benefit minimums.
Roberto Muniz
The US Is Mobilizing an Army to Fight the Climate Crisis
Discrimination persists in workplace, workers say
Rutgers launches disability studies minor to explore world of oft-ignored community
Bloustein Alumni Selected as William and Hannah Penn Fellows
Bloustein School alumni Qudry Adeyanju MPP ’23 and Jeffrey Young, MCRP ’23 were recently selected as William and Hannah Penn Fellows, a two-year program that enables recent graduates to serve in agencies in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and work on specific policy projects.
What State and Local Governments Should Do About Generative AI
NJSPL – Community-Based Partnerships and the Impact on Educational Outcomes for Black Students
Research on community-based partnerships is limited in scope; however, literature points to key benefits for Black students’ achievement when parents, schools, organizations, and other community stakeholders work together to invest in students’ educational experience.
Jessica Parineet is Recipient of NJ Wind Institute Fellowship
Jessica Parineet, a second-year Master of Public Policy concentrating in Climate and Energy Policy, is one of five recipients of a NJ Wind Institute Graduate Fellowship, sponsored by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. Assistant Professor Mark Paul will serve as Jessica’s faculty advisor.
CUPR staff and students meet with Senator Booker to discuss new EPA-funded air quality initiative
CUPR green building colleagues Jen Senick, Clint Andrews, and Gedi Mainelis are part of a new EPA-funded project in Elizabeth, NJ, to install air quality sensors near public housing. They met with US Senator Cory Booker and others to discuss how this project can improve local health and well-being.
What Will It Take to Eliminate Pedestrian and Bicycle Fatalities in NJ?
The New Jersey Department of Transportation adopted the Zero Deaths National Strategy with the vision of achieving zero fatalities on all public roads by the year 2050 by prioritizing safety for the most vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, bicyclists, and other users of wheeled and mobility transports. But how can this be accomplished?
How Transit Villages Are Reshaping New Jersey’s Urban Landscape
Marcelo Remond, a Rutgers engineering major, and Urban Planning and Design minor, examines the transit village initiative in the garden state in a piece published by Planetizen.
Physician assistant, nurse practitioner or doctor: What patients should know
NJ job market numbers are out: See where we’re headed
America’s richest 10% are responsible for 40% of its planet-heating pollution, new report finds
NJSPL – How Can Digital Credentialing in the Safety Net Meet the Needs of Domestic Violence Survivors?
Some administrative burdens in accessing Safety Net services could be resolved with a digital credentialing system (i.e., linking personal and financial info w/government benefit programs). However, this type of system may pose barriers and/or risks to Domestic Violence survivors.
Dean Stuart Shapiro: The dangerous demonization of public servants
Dean Shapiro’s latest article in The Hill reflects on the danger of dehumanizing rhetoric coming from presidential candidates.
Bloustein School welcomes Emily Parker to faculty
The Bloustein School is pleased to welcome Emily Parker to the teaching ranks in September 2023.
NJSPL The Future of Educator Performance Assessments in New Jersey
In June 2022, the State Assembly and Senate voted unanimously to pass a dramatic change to the existing legislation, which removed the State Board of Education edTPA requirement and furthermore outlined that educator preparation programs were prohibited from even considering a candidate’s performance-based assessment(s) when making teacher certification decisions.
Compare Electricity Rates in New Jersey
NJSPL Report Release: Analyzing Child-Care Provider Subsidies in New Jersey
A new report from Andrea Hetling, Gregory Porumbescu, and Henry Coleman examines public child-care subsidies. In 2020, New Jersey switched to an enrollment-based subsidy policy from the prior attendance-based system, both for public health purposes and to ensure a consistent stream of income to child-care providers during the pandemic.
Stamato Commentary: NJ is among few states to recognize value of civics education
Bloustein School’s Public Policy Programs Highlighted in New Jersey Business Magazine
The field of public administration has expanded in recent years, with greater opportunities for careers in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. New Jersey Business Magazine focused on three of the leading public policy programs in the state, including the Bloustein School.
A state watchdog forges ahead, in an era of endangered oversight
Report Release – Access to Nature for People with Disabilities: Barriers, Challenges, and Opportunities
In New Jersey, 24% of the population has a disability. With support from the NJSPL and the New Jersey Departments of Human Services and Environmental Protection, four public papers authored by the Access to Nature team, which includes Jeanne Herb, Karen Alexander, and graduate student Josephine O’Grady were released this week.
Rutgers Among Top Universities Offering Health Administration Bachelor’s Degree
With healthcare leaders exiting the industry at record rates, Becker’s notes that a degree in health administration from a top university can aid in one’s advancement in hospital operation leadership.
Some cities are pushing for rent control. They’re meeting resistance.
NJSPL – Forever Chemicals: A Hidden Health Hazard
PFA substances (PFAS) are a group of human-made chemicals that are ideal to use in consumer and commercial products due to their ability to fight off stains, grease, water, oil, and fire,. Researchers at the School of Public Health and the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute found that volunteer firefighters have higher blood levels of PFAS chemicals compared to the general population
NJSPL – Growing Cybersecurity Concerns for Telehealth Services
Healthcare organizations are increasingly vulnerable to cybersecurity breaches, which put patients’ safety, privacy, and financial stability at risk. Statistics have shown that from 2014 to 2022, 14,655 data breaches were reported in the United States, out of which the healthcare industry faced 4,959 breaches, the most by any industry.
Ditching your car may be great for the planet, but it can take a pick-axe to your income — try going ‘car-lite’ instead
Governor Murphy Celebrates Summer Interns Including Graduate Students Awn Rizvi and Nashia Basit
On July 27th, Governor Murphy’s office posted a video on X (Twitter) with the caption, “Happy National Intern Day to our incredible interns in the Governor’s Office! We are lucky to have such bright, talented students on board our team.” Two of the interns featured were Awn Rizvi ( MPP ’24), and Nashia Basit (MPP/MCRP ’24).
NJSPL – Validating the Impact of a Community-Engaged Approach on Persistence with Digital Technology Among Older Adults
The Office of University-Community Partnerships/Center for Health Equity and Community Engagement (OUCP/CHECE) and Advocates for Healthy Living Initiative (AHLI) hosted the Senior Connect Digital Divide Participant Recognition on Wednesday, June 28. Participants and community partners joined in honoring their efforts, sharing findings from the pilot phase, and collecting new data and information to shape the program going forward.
What state and local governments should do about generative AI
A surprising lawbreaker in mandated public reporting? New Jersey’s government
Dr. Andrea Hetling Travels to South Korea’s Seoul National University and Korea Development Institute
Dr. Andrea Hetling traveled to Korea this summer to present her research at two of the country’s leading universities. Her first stop was Seoul National University for an initiative designed to bring global scholars to campus to share new directions in research. She then visited the Korea Development Institute to present her research and meet with graduate students interested in studying at the Bloustein School.
New Jersey State Policy Lab Interns Visit NJ State House
the NJSPL summer interns visited the New Jersey State House in Trenton as part of their ongoing public policy research and curriculum. The students met with various public servants, including Bloustein alum Assemblyman Dan Benson who provided a behind-the-scenes tour of the Assembly floor. After the tour, the NJSPL held a luncheon at the New Jersey Conference of Mayors (NJCM) headquarters, where the students were able to connect with the mayors and learn how specific public policies are implemented on the municipal level.
Kathe Newman (Ralph W. Voorhees Center for Civic Engagement) and Prof. Seymour receive Rutgers Equity Alliance for Community Health (REACH) grants
The grant is among the first round of two-year, $4 million funding from REACH. The university wide presidential initiative aims to join community-based organizations, leaders and residents with university researchers, teachers and students to find ways to improve health and quality of life outcomes in three N.J. cities facing food insecurity, high unemployment, low high school graduation rates and low household incomes.
Maira Salim and classmates return with hands-on public health education from Thailand trip led by Professor Robson.
Mark Robson prefers taking his students out in the field, which happens to involve a two-week trip to Thailand. Maira Salim, an incoming senior pursuing a major in public health and a minor in biological sciences, said the trip to Thailand was an incredible experience. “It provided me with a unique opportunity to immerse myself in a different culture, gain valuable insights, and broaden my perspectives,” she said.
NJSPL – Many Paths, One Future: New Jersey’s Commitment to Higher Education Attainment
In 2016, the New Jersey Combined State Plan for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act proposed and committed to a goal that 65% of the state’s working-age adult population will complete some type of education beyond a high school diploma by the year 2025. On behalf of the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE), the New Jersey State Policy Lab and Dr. Garcia will be evaluating the state’s progress towards this objective.
Distracted Walking: A Critical Analysis of the Real Risks and Solutions
New Research from Rubin et al.: The state takeover of the Camden City District schools and students’ academic performance
In March 2013, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced a state takeover of the Camden City School District. Michael S. Hayes, Julia Sass Rubin & Pengju Zhang examined the changes in students’ standardized test scores before and after the state takeover. Their findings do not support the positive evaluations of the state takeover by NJ political leaders. They discuss what explains the discrepancy between perceptions of the takeover and its actual impact on Camden students.
Stamato Op-Ed: Grease from pork does not aid good governing
NJSPL – Satisfaction with Telehealth Among Adults with Chronic Disease
Chronic diseases are the leading causes of disability and death in the U.S., and often result in increased health burdens and high expenditures. With the increasing prevalence of chronic disease and its associated costs, it is important to understand how telehealth can alleviate barriers to care and improve outcomes for those with chronic illnesses.
Research says Dodd-Frank cuts interest costs
Paul on The Marc Steiner Show – America’s Lost Promise of Economic Rights
‘Not a perfect process’: How did the two versions of NJ’s budget differ?
NJSPL – New Jersey Snapshot: Rising Population Yet Declining School Enrollments
Schools in NJ experienced a 2% decrease in enrollment from Fall 2010 to Fall 2021, and an additional 7% drop is projected to occur between Fall 2021 and Fall 2031. And yet in roughly the same amount of time, state’s population has increased overall by 5.5%. Understanding these trends will require further research to take into account a greater multitude of demographic variables.
The impossible paradox of car ownership
Dr. Kelcie Ralph Interviewed on Freakonomics: Why Is the U.S. So Good at Killing Pedestrians?
Dr. Ralph was a guest on the podcast Freakonomics. The discussion centered around the fact that among the world’s high-income countries, the U.S. is particularly good at killing pedestrians — the death rate here is much higher than in places like northern and western Europe, Canada, and Japan. The question is, why?
NJSPL – Nearly Half of NJ Residents Struggled to Pay Household Expenses
According to a follow-up survey conducted by the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling, more New Jerseyans are finding it difficult to pay for typical household expenses. In July 2022, 42% of residents indicated they found it somewhat or very difficult to pay for household expenses such as food, mortgages, or medical expenses, and in the May 2023 poll, that number rose to 48%.
Alumnus Justin Hollander, FAICP PhD ’07 named co-editor of Journal of Planning Education
Dr. Hollander is a Professor of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning at Tufts University. His research examines how cities and regions manage physical change during periods of growth and decline and the cognitive, health, and social dimensions of community well-being.
Paul on America’s Other Freedom
Stamato Commentary: Equal opportunity, after the Supreme Court killed affirmative action
NJSPL – New Jersey’s Nursing Shortage: Burnout, Staffing, and More
About one-third of nurses have left clinical care at hospitals across NJ in the past three years. The registered nurse workforce will decrease by 5% from 2022 to 2025. That said, nursing schools are making efforts to increase their capacity—the Rutgers School of Nursing recently received a federal grant to expand its simulation program with the goal of providing more opportunities for hands-on clinical training for its students.
Radha Jagannathan Receives Fulbright Specialist Award to Finland at Tampere University
Dr. Jagannathan will complete a project at Tampere University in Finland that aims to exchange knowledge and establish partnerships benefiting participants, institutions, and communities both in the U.S. and overseas through a variety of educational and training activities within public administration.
NJSPL – Telehealth May Worsen Physician Burnout: How to Avoid It
While there are many potential benefits to be found with telehealth, the burden placed on the clinical workforce must be considered carefully. A Mayo Clinic study found that approximately 62.8% of physicians showed signs of at least one manifestation of burnout in 2021 compared to 38.2% in 2020. Written by Aakanksha Deoli and Esther Martinez.
4 Situations That Make You Tip More In a Restaurant
$3.25M in Grants Awarded to Create Inclusive Healthy Communities in NJ
In partnership with CUPR’s Environmental Analysis & Communications Group, led by Executive Director Jeanne Herb, the Inclusive Healthy Communities Initiative of the Division of Disability Services funds projects that promote the health and well-being of individuals with disabilities in the communities where they live.
Bloustein’s graduate program in urban planning remains the #3 planning program in the US
The 2023 edition of the Planetizen Guide to Graduate Urban Planning Programs has ranked the Bloustein School’s Program in Urban Planning and Policy Development 3rd among the Top 25 graduate urban planning programs. This was the same as our previous ranking.
NJSPL – Roadside Tree Removal: The Need for Collaborative Decision-Making
Written by Ellen Oettinger White (PhD ’23) and Bob Noland, this blog post focuses on highway design guidelines for tree zoning. However, the guidelines that specify this clear zone are more than 50 years old, and written at a time when occupant protections such as airbags were almost nonexistent.
‘Secretive’ N.J. governments would be even less transparent under proposed laws, some say
NJSPL – Telehealth for Cancer Care: Opportunities and Challenges
The use and reliance on telehealth as an alternative and/or supplement to traditional in-person health visits has increased significantly since the pandemic, with some patients indicating they benefited from the communication tool more than others.
150+ economists and experts call on Paris Summit leaders to redirect trillions from fossils, debt, and the 1%
Dean Stuart Shapiro: Biden breaks with precedent by giving up some authority
Dean Shapiro’s latest article in The Hill reflects on an unusual action taken by the Biden Administration to cede some decision-making authority to the Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service.
Dr. Patti O’Brien-Richardson reflects on Juneteenth history in PGCT Video
Dr. Patti O’Brien-Richardson reflects on the recent Juneteenth holiday, which was deemed a national holiday in 2021. She explains that the holiday is considered the longest running African-American holiday.
Marc Pfeiffer Participates in Eagleton Podcast on the Pros and Cons of Artificial Intelligence
Marc Pfeiffer, Assistant Director, Bloustein Local (CUPR), Doctor Lauren Goodlad, and Senator Andrew Zwicker discussed the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on democracy, government, and higher education in a podcast hosted by the Rutgers Eagleton Institute of Politics.