News
How NJ’s top watchdog lost its bite amid conflicts and chaos
“There’s an expectation that when you have significant changes in a public organization, the public should be able to find out about it,” said Marc Pfeiffer, associate director of the Bloustein Local Center for Urban Policy Research at Rutgers University in New Brunswick.
Jared Aisenberg (MCRP ’23) Receives MTA Accessibility Award
Jared Aisenberg (MCRP ’23) said, “While I never thought my efforts in ensuring accessible alternatives for all passengers during planned service changes would land me this achievement, I’m humbled that I’ve been recognized.”
Pfeiffer: Why do property taxes vary so widely among NJ towns so close to each other
New Jersey’s property taxes are expensive — no doubt about it. New Jersey in 2023 had an effective tax rate of 1.77%, behind only Illinois, according to the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, a Washington-based think tank. The Tax Foundation defines this rate as “the average...
Heldrich: Two New Rutgers Child Care Research Collaborative Reports
The Rutgers Child Care Research Collaborative has released two new research reports by Heldrich Center researchers. The Rutgers Child Care Research Collaborative comprises the Heldrich Center, the Center for Women and Work, and the National Institute for Early...
Texas finds billions in funding to fight never-ending highway congestion
In his recently-released analysis of 22 U.S. cities, Robert Noland of Rutgers University detailed the environmental impact of urban sprawl, citing Houston in particular.
Mi Shih Recognized with GPEIG Best Journal Article Award
Mi Shih, Ph.D., Associate Professor and director of the Urban Planning and Policy Development Program, was recognized with the Global Planning Educators’ Interest Group’s (GPEIG) 2025 award for the best journal article. The award honors outstanding, peer-reviewed journal articles that make a significant contribution to global planning. GPEIG is part of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP), working to bring planning students and educators together to share, shape, and incorporate global perspectives in planning education and research.
Building Capacity to Support New Jersey Autism Professionals
The purpose of this report is to inform the organization’s advocacy efforts to maximize the capacity of services provided to individuals with autism in New Jersey. This research examines two professions within the autism professional workforce landscape – behavior analysts and psychiatrists – of New Jersey and two comparable states, selected by Autism New Jersey.
How would Ciattarelli, Sherrill handle NJ’s big economic hurdles as governor?
Some of those issues — like Trump’s tariffs and the rise of AI displacing portions of the labor market — “certainly pose challenges that would be hard to combat via state policy alone,” said Will Irving, a professor at the New Jersey State Policy Lab at Rutgers University.
Dr. Rushing Talks About AI for Sickle Cell and Beyond
Dr. Melinda Rushing recently appeared on the podcast Zora Talks. In this podcast, Dr. Rushing breaks down what sickle cell really is, why it disproportionately affects people of color, and how her team is developing a new approach called Clinically Guided AI to transform how doctors predict and manage care.
Heldrich Report: Stability, Shortages, and Shifts in NJ Teacher Workforce
New Jersey continues to face teacher shortages in critical subjects, while overall workforce levels remain steady, according to a new report released by the Heldrich Center. The report, New Jersey’s Teacher Workforce: 2025 Legislative Report, offers a decade-long perspective on teacher supply, exits, and workforce challenges, drawing on data from the New Jersey Statewide Data System.
Electricity prices surge to the forefront of NJ governor’s race
“Schuur said PJM, the regional grid operator that is responsible for providing electricity to about a dozen states including New Jersey, “really holds the reins when it comes to bringing on new supply.”
Julia Rubin: Who Should Be the Governor of New Jersey?
The New York Times Opinion convened a panel of 11 local leaders to assess the candidates for the Nov. 4 election, including Bloustein School professor Julia Sass Rubin. New Jersey voters face a critical choice on Nov. 4 when they choose between two very different...