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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.
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.
Dr. Grafova Presented Posters from the VSR Research
“It was an honor to represent our amazing research team — Pamela de Cordova, Jennifer Polakowski, and Jessica Anderson. Huge thanks to the New Jersey State Policy Lab for funding this research and making this work possible.”
Heldrich Report: Analysis of NJ Life Sciences, Tech Sectors
The Heldrich Center, in conjunction with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), is pleased to share a new workforce analysis of the life sciences and technology sectors in New Jersey, with a particular emphasis on the sectors’ intersection with...
Norcross machine Democrats file suit against Cherry Hill progressives over their election loss
“The voters overwhelmingly chose the progressives,” said Julia Sass Rubin,
“That means the … CDCC-endorsed candidates lost. That’s how democratic elections work. There is no consolation prize.”
Restrepo-Mieth Researches Tree Inventories in Galápagos, Ecuador
Through a review of provincial and municipal plans and national policies, as well as interviews with key informants in Galápagos, Ecuador between 2023 and 2024, Dr. Andrea Restrepo-Mieth looks at what motivates urban governments to pursue a tree inventory.
Stamato Commentary: Preparing for a New Age: Artificial Intelligence, the American Workforce and the G.I. Bill
“Modern manufacturing requires high technology, requiring different skills from those needed in the 20th century. We can innovate in pharmaceuticals, clean-energy technology, robotics and semiconductors, but those innovations will require “infrastructure” to support its development, education and workforce training, and, frankly, cooperative alliances with global partners.”
A Progressive Perspective: New Jersey primary results reflect triumph of political party organizations
Professor Julia Sass Rubin, the acknowledged guru on the effects of the party line on New Jersey politics, thought the elimination of the county line would reduce the influence of party leaders and politics in New Jersey.
Who were the real losers in the 2025 NJ primary? County machines and bosses | Opinion
“If they can demonstrate that they still wield a lot of power, that will potentially ricochet to fewer candidates running in the future, and we’ll be back to largely where we were before,” Sass Rubin said.