News
From Simulations to Cityscapes: Designing Smarter Cities
“As I got older, I became increasingly aware of the social and environmental challenges tied to urban design. All of my experiences led me to a major where I could combine creativity, problem-solving, and a vision for better cities into something tangible. Rutgers has given me the chance to blend the technical side of planning with creative design. Urban planning is a multidisciplinary field, and the ability to collaborate with people from different backgrounds, such as engineers, architects, environmental scientists, and policy experts, will enrich your learning and the solutions you develop.”
Exploring the World, Improving Healthcare Systems
“Growing up in a business-focused household, I developed a strong foundation in business. Health administration is the perfect blend of that background in business and my passion for healthcare. In my internship, I had the opportunity to utilize Lean and Six Sigma tools and methodologies to assess and improve current state processes. It solidified my interest in healthcare consulting and performance improvement.”
Weaving Policy, Purpose, and Possibility
“I can’t remember exactly what caused it, but I can remember feeling incredibly connected to defending my environment. The stubborn nihilism and anger I had when I was young became critical and curious about the practicality of a clean energy transition or protecting forests. I fell in love with navigating stakeholders and impacts—and the art of compelling someone to choose the right decision. Public Policy is the most practical major for those considering work in a state/federal agency or legislative body. The professors are incredibly passionate about making policy changes and are filled with expertise—go to their office hours!”
GOP Candidate Nick Cuozzo (MPP’14) wins Primary for Somerset County Commissioner
“I am looking forward to building on the momentum and great enthusiasm our campaign generated this past year,” Cuozzo said. “I will continue to make the case for a more affordable Somerset County, to fight overdevelopment that harms our communities and our environment, and to prioritize public safety and security for all residents.”
Heldrich Center Releases New Work Trends Brief and Website
A new research brief, Exploring 2024 and 2020 Election-Year Longitudinal Trends in Support for Minimum Wage, College Loan Forgiveness, and Paid Leave Among U.S. Workers: Republicans Appear More Supportive of Policies for Some Americans Over Time, features findings from a December 2024 survey of U.S. workers about policy proposals related to the economy, education, and work.
Meshing Creativity and Community with Placemaking and Equity
“My strong foundation in writing and critical thinking, paired with my interest in community engagement and social justice, launched my Planning and Public Policy career at Rutgers. As much as I love picnicking in the green space of Hoboken’s waterfront Pier A Park or strolling along the walkway of the Brooklyn Bridge, I am most passionate about ensuring that all communities have access to vibrant, sustainable, and equitable cities. So be open to trying everything—even if you may not initially be interested in a specific class or internship, give it a chance.”
Public Health with Purpose: An Athlete-to-Advocate Journey
“I always wanted to be in a career where I felt like I was genuinely helping others. After my sophomore year, I realized that I wanted to be involved in the healthcare sphere but I didn’t necessarily want to practice medicine. I switched my major to public health, picked up a minor in business administration, and learned about the seemingly hundreds of career paths outside of medicine that I had never considered before. Eventually I hope to combine my background in public health with a law degree and work in healthcare administration.”
Rooted in Resilience, Building a Path to Health Equity
“I want to use my education to help humanize healthcare and advocate for communities that are often overlooked or underserved. As a first-generation Latino student, my journey has been guided by my family’s strength, my community’s resilience, and a deep desire to create change. I realized that Bloustein wasn’t just a school—it was a community full of students and faculty who cared deeply about making real, lasting change. My goal is to become a healthcare consultant, working with hospitals and health systems to improve operations, increase access, and ensure quality care for all—especially for underrepresented communities.”
Advocacy and Action Through Public Health
“There is so much you can do with Public Health. The major opens so many doors to different opportunities to find out what you are passionate about. I realized how overall health and wellbeing connects so many aspects of the world around us that we often overlook. I wanted to understand the environment through a health lens, and how its effects differ across communities. Learning how global and local access to healthcare is inconsistent across certain communities showed me the importance of advocacy and action through a public health lens.”
How much can I deduct for my local taxes? Congress just decided
“What Trump and Congress did at that point was dramatically increase the standard deduction but decrease the amount you could deduct for state and local taxes,” said Marc Pfeiffer, a senior policy fellow at Rutgers University’s Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, who studies local government in New Jersey.
NJSPL Report: Analyzing the Use and Equity of ARPA Funds
The study’s findings have two key implications for future federal aid programs. First, many local governments allocated ARPA funds in alignment with the policy’s primary goals—responding to the economic and health crises. This suggests that maintaining flexibility in future federal aid programs would enable local governments to tailor spending to their unique needs. Second, ARPA funds were allocated to more distressed local governments, demonstrating a potential model for future federal aid programs to ensure resources reach areas with the greatest need.
Why are New Jersey housing costs continuing to rise — and who should pay for affordable housing?
Hughes said if federal immigrant deportations continue, home construction costs could soon rise even higher in the Garden State.
“The builders are heavily dependent on immigrant labor, particularly roofing, so they’re facing significant labor shortages,” he said.
He said tariffs could also cause housing price increases, depending on how they ultimately wind up.
“We import a lot of lumber, we import a lot of drywall, a lot of washing machines, appliances and the like,” Hughes said.