News
Nashia Basit (MPP/MCRP ’24) on Women’s Leadership
This week, alumna and current Governor’s Fellow Nashia Basit (MPP/MCRP ’24) discussed women’s leadership in state government and cultivating spaces for women to be successful with Allison Chris Myers, Esq., CEO of the New Jersey Civil Service Commission.
Heldrich Report: Generative AI’s Impact
A new report from the Heldrich Center offers an overview of the impact of GenAI on work in the United States, and how GenAI may affect workers and employers in the life sciences and technology sectors of the economy and in New Jersey.
Checking In on NJ’s Income and Housing Cost Rankings
While housing costs in New Jersey continue to be among the highest in the nation, the state growth rate of 4.8% for median owner costs for housing with a mortgage was among the slowest in the country (43rd) and well below the national rate of 7.2%.
New $1.7B NJ Turnpike contract to operate E-ZPass program is awash in controversy
Companies winning contracts with state agencies are required to provide disclosure forms showing ownership structures for those with a 10% stake or higher, said Marc Pfeiffer, a senior policy fellow and faculty researcher at Rutgers University’s Center for Urban Policy Research.
‘Extremely concerning’: Recession fears could upend New Jersey’s next state budget
Pfeiffer also pointed out this is something that every state has to deal with and should be “very cautious in the assumptions they make about new revenues and cautious with the assumptions they make on what they do with federally funded programs.”
New Jersey has contributed more than $800M in funding to Atlantic City for budgets since 2016
“In New Jersey, we have a single way of raising money, which is property taxes,” Pfeiffer said of municipal budgets. “Atlantic City has always been an exception to that because you have the hotels and then the casinos. You’ve always had a policy of state engagement to support Atlantic City’s municipal budget in particular.”
Stephanie Gomez-Vanegas (PPP minor ’25) in Rutgers Today
The 23-year-old, who is bolstering her major in social work with a minor in planning and public policy through the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, said her goal is to eventually pursue a career in macro social work so she can focus on large-scale issues and making systemic changes. But before getting into the field, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in social work at Rutgers.
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...