News
From Fear to Freedom and Hope: Rafael Escalante (UG PP ’26)
“My goal was college,” said Escalante, who hopes to attend law school. “That was my dream in Venezuela, and my goal was to continue following on my dreams as much as I could.”
NJSPL: Mapping Corporate Landlords in New Jersey
Using parcel-level property tax data, we tracked changes in ownership from 2012 to 2022 to understand where corporate landlords are active, how they are acquiring properties, and what this might mean for housing access and stability.
Samuel and Colleagues Examine the Rise of AI Phobia
Contemporary public discourse surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) often exhibits a disproportionate level of fear and confusion relative to AI’s factually documented capabilities and implications. This study examines how the systematic use of alarmist and fear-inducing language by news media outlets contributes to negative public perceptions of AI.
Ralph, Johnson-Rodriguez Research ASE Perceptions
We found that many respondents did not believe that speeding was particularly dangerous, and that people with these beliefs were less likely to support automated speed enforcement. However, providing a message about the dangers of speeding was effective in increasing support for automated enforcement, especially among people who did not hold extreme beliefs about the (lack of) danger of speed.
Gov. Murphy Signs New Pedestrian/Cyclist Safety Bill in Maplewood
“This bill marks a crucial step in advancing awareness of New Jersey’s Safe Passing Law and, in particular, ensuring drivers fully understand their responsibility to protect pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vulnerable road users when they’re behind the wheel,” said Leigh Ann Von Hagen, AICP,PP, Executive Director, Voorhees Transportation Center.
Herb Op-Ed: Government funding for resilient infrastructure, warning systems is vital
“At a time when our country grieves for the loss of life in Texas, this tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of proactive disaster preparedness.”
Planning Alumni Take Part in Landmark Greenway Project
Julia Wong is the Special Projects Manager for NJ Department of Environmental Protection. Other alumni mentioned in the press release include Ayla Schermer (MCRP ’21), President of Bike Jersey City, and Sofia Barandiaran, New Jersey & New York Greenway Manager, East Coast Greenway Alliance.
NJSPL: Declining STEM Expertise in U.S. State Legislatures
Unfortunately, this latest update in data reflects a decline in the overall representation of scientific, engineering, and healthcare professionals in U.S. state legislatures. Out of the 7,523 total lawmakers currently serving, 231 were identified as having science-based backgrounds, representing 3.07% of total lawmakers. This marks a full percentage point drop from the 4.09% recorded in September 2024, and represents a 25% proportional decline in less than a year.
Dan Kennedy (MCRP ’07): CRE Roadmap for Next Governor
As New Jersey prepares to elect its next governor, NAIOP NJ, the commercial real estate development association, has published a comprehensive roadmap for economic revitalization and sustainable development for the consideration of both candidates for governor.
Stamato Commentary: Remembering Bill Moyers, an uncommon man guided by Common Sense
Moyers, who died last month at age 91, was a PBS icon, author, adviser to President Lyndon Johnson, deputy director of the Peace Corps, newspaper publisher, and an ordained minister who firmly believed in the separation of church and state.
Op-Ed by Justin Auciello (MCRP ’05): Why New Jersey must treat information as infrastructure
Let’s embed civic signal into our plans, our budgets and our collective sense of readiness. The next storm, outage or institutional failure isn’t a question of if, it’s when. And when it happens, civic signal is the thread that holds us together. Let’s plan like we know that.
“Work Trends RU” Podcast with WorkingNation’s Jane Oates
This week's guest on the Heldrich Center's Work Trends RU podcast is Jane Oates, Senior Policy Advisor at WorkingNation. She and Dr. Carl Van Horn discuss WorkingNation’s mission, objectives, and accomplishments; the power of digital storytelling; the challenges of...