News
Jersey City Is Growing Fast. So Why Is It in Such a Financial Mess?
The glassy towers along the waterfront here are a reminder that this city of 302,000 is a rarity among its Northeast peers: It is a postindustrial town on a serious growth streak. Yet Jersey City is in trouble. Moody’s downgraded New Jersey’s second-largest city to a...
‘Go Get Your Kicks’: The Europeans Obsessed With a U.S. Highway
Every year, thousands of travelers cross America on Historic Route 66, a 2,500-mile stretch that was once the country’s most famous roadway. About a third of these road warriors are from overseas, and they’re often searching for a glimpse of a lost era filled with motels, neon signs and hokey roadside attractions. This summer, New York Times writer Ken Belson followed a dozen German and Swiss bikers on Harleys to to experience America through their eyes. The article references a 2011 Rutgers University study on the economic impact of Route 66.
Bob Gordon Featured in CIANJ’s Commerce Magazine as a Solar Recycling Pioneer
As a former New Jersey legislator and BPU Commissioner, Stuart Shapiro asks Senior Policy Fellow Bob Gordon about his path to public service. Bob talks about his early days as a policy analyst and how he discovered he wanted to be less behind the scenes and move into the policymaking side.
B.S. in Health Administration Achieves AUPHA Certification
The Bloustein School’s Bachelor of Science in Health Administration recently achieved the status as a Full Certified Undergraduate Program with the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA). AUPHA certification is the national standard of...
Trump administration stalled a survey of PFAS in wastewater, former EPA officials say
“This is sufficiently unusual and a very long period of time that it is worth asking the question: Is OMB just sitting on it?” said Stuart Shapiro, a former OMB staffer and dean at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University-New Brunswick in New Jersey. He said reviews typically take around 60 days.
Atlantic City’s Planning Director Brian Kempf (MCRP ’17) Reflects on Jersey Shore’s Future
“I would spend summers digging elaborate trenches and walls to keep our beach chairs safe from the incoming tide,” Kempf said. “I lost that battle many times.” Now, as Atlantic City’s planner, Kempf still builds seawalls, now to hold increasing tides and rising sea-levels at bay while protecting 40,000 residents and scores more tourists.
Congress Delays OMB Grantmaking Rule with Stopgap Funding Bill
Based on the wording in the funding bill, it seems that OMB staff could still work on finalizing the rule and drafting their response to comments, said Stuart Shapiro.
Afterschool Program Access: Unresolved Issues in a Changed World
Despite the demand, approximately 80% of New Jersey children remain shut out of access to afterschool programs, largely due to cost and logistical hurdles, according to an October 2025 report from the Afterschool Alliance.
Nurturing a Passion to Create Resilient Communities
“When deciding to apply to graduate school, it was important that I started with the end in mind.I knew what my goal was, so I had to figure out what path would get me there. I was delighted to learn that my alma mater offered the very program that I needed to achieve my goals, with one of the best urban planning programs in this region. I chose the urban planning/public informatics track at Rutgers’ Bloustein School because it bridges the ideas and plans for what can be done with the technical skills needed to put them into action. With every class that I take, I immediately see the practical application and feel more equipped to step out into the workforce.”
University Graduate Shifts From Student Leader to Civic Educator
“I am so excited to see Rida continue to create spaces for young people to be change agents in this new role,” said Longo, noting how Kadri’s role as a civic educator builds on her studies and engagement as a student at Rutgers.
Leadership Change at Heldrich Center
Andrea Hetling, Ph.D., has been appointed director of the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, effective September 1, 2026. She succeeds Carl Van Horn, Ph.D., who founded the Heldrich Center in 1998.
Bloustein Graduate Studio Report Wins 2026 NJPO Achievement in Planning Award
A Bloustein School spring 2026 graduate studio report, Advancing Climate Resilience Through Municipal Land Use Planning, is the recipient of a 2026 New Jersey Planning Officials Achievement in Planning Award.