News
Stamato Commentary: In the Crosshairs: The Nation’s Civil Service
By Linda Stamato While President Trump’s efforts to force out tens of thousands of civilian federal workers and to dismantle entire agencies have hit legal challenges, and generating some resistance from agency heads, those efforts remain front and center on the Trump...
Stamato Commentary: A functioning democracy requires knowledge
By Linda Stamato The question arises frequently enough as to what constitutes local news that I thought I’d address it. Sometimes, it’s abundantly clear what is local—mayoral elections, housing and parking authorities. But other times, it’s less obvious. What is...
Leah Furey Bruder–Community Centered Urban Planning
This week on EJB Talks, Dean Stuart Shapiro speaks with Bloustein School alumna and Bloustein Advisory Board member, Leah Furey Bruder, MCRP ’06 about her journey into urban planning and her experiences working in municipal and redevelopment planning. Leah explains how her background in international studies shifted to local planning after working on community development in Camden, NJ. She discusses her work in Cherry Hill, her time as an in-house municipal planner in Evesham Township, and her decision to start her own firm to focus on impactful projects.
Announcing the Passing of Professor Lyna Wiggins
The Bloustein School is saddened to announce the passing of Lyna Wiggins, Associate Professor Emerita, on November 10, 2024. Lyna retired from teaching and research in May 2020 and was able to spend time working on her quilting projects and riding her horse, Marilyn Monroe, whom she loved dearly.
In NJ, Trump economic ally pushes idea of raising SALT deduction to $20K or higher
With negotiations fast tracked over a Republican plan to pass a $4.5 trillion tax cut, a top economic official in President Donald Trump’s orbit — former economic adviser Stephen Moore — doubled down Thursday on doubling or even tripling the current $10,000 cap...
New Jersey’s ballot design that gave party bosses big influence is officially dead
A study by Rutgers public policy professor Julia Sass Rubin, looked at ballots where voters either voted twice or didn’t vote for certain offices, likely because of the way the line creates confusing ballots.
Heldrich Report: Educational and Employment Outcomes
A new report from the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, Educational and Employment Outcomes for the New Jersey High School Classes of 2014 and 2015, utilizes the New Jersey Statewide Data System to analyze the trajectories of New Jersey high school graduates.
Jagannathan Receives Chancellor Award for Global Impact
Bloustein School Professor Radha Jagannathan was recently named the recipient of the Rutgers Chancellor Award for Global Impact.
The award honors a faculty member whose research, teaching, or service has catalyzed global partnerships or generated global impacts and exceptional public engagement.
Faculty Contribute to Wealth Disparity Task Force Report
Last week, in commemoration of Black History Month, Gov. Phil Murphy and Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way announced the release of the state’s Wealth Disparity Task Force report, “New Jersey – Building a State of Opportunity: A Report of the Wealth Disparity Task Force to Close Opportunity Gaps and Repair Structural Disparities.”
Announcing the Passing of Arlene Pashman, CUPR Senior Editor
Arlene Pashman, a long-time senior editor for the Center for Urban Policy Research (CUPR), passed away on March 1, 2025 after a brief illness. Arlene retired from the Bloustein School in May 2011.
Do Party Chairmen Still Hold Power in New Jersey Now That the Party Line Is Gone?
Political analyst Julia Sass Rubin, a professor at Rutgers University who has studied the county line’s effects, argues that while the change is a step toward fairness, party chairmen retain significant sway. “The line’s removal weakens their ability to directly control ballot placement, but these leaders still command loyalty, fundraising networks, and grassroots operations,” Rubin said. “They’ve lost a tool, not their toolbox.”
Watson: Lessons from a City Planner
Dr. Pipas discussed the importance of well-being and drivers of burnout for all health professionals. By applying evidence-based well-being strategies to advance personal health, she sought to help professionals create their own personal health improvement plan (PHIP) to sustain well-being over a lifetime.