New Jersey

Population Flight in New York Metro Region and Decline in New York State
New data from the U.S. Census and Empire Center shows that for the first time in a decade, the Empire State lost population. Furthermore, last year only two upstate counties had more residents arrive from other states than leave.

Bridgegate Winding Down
N.J. Gov. Chris Christie was never charged in the scandal that shut down access to the nation's busiest bridge for three days in September 2013 for political retribution. His aide and an appointment to the Port Authority were sentenced to prison.

Study: Housing Costs, TOD Trigger Displacement in New York Metropolitan Area
The report recommends making displacement prevention a more central component of land-use policy.
New Jersey Town Rejects Mosque, Claims Zoning Issues
Bayonne, New Jersey doesn't currently have a mosque, after a heated six-hour zoning meeting officials have rejected an application to build one.

Gov. Cuomo's Ethics Reform Proposal Has Many Critics
Governor Andrew Cuomo, continuing a spree of infrastructure related initiatives, has proposed legislation that would expand his oversight of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Blue Lines on Streets to Honor Police Run Afoul of Federal Regulators
The Federal Highway Administration (FHA) has prohibited local municipalities from painting a blue line down the middle of streets near police stations. State and local governments are pushing back, saying the prohibition "defies common sense."

HUD Announces $132 Million in New Choice Neighborhood Grants
The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced another round of Choice Neighborhood grants in December, awarding five communities a total of $132 million in grant funding.

How Rising Seas Threaten the NYC Metro Area
A report from the Regional Plan Association maps out what might happen under 1, 3, and 6 feet of sea level rise. In the worst cases, several dense and populated regions are affected.

More Bad News About the State of New Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit system, with an operating budget reduced to 10 percent of its 2009 total, has become more of a vessel for nepotism than a provider of safe transit service, according to a recent editorial.

Tokens Finally a Thing of the Past for Philly's Transit Riders
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA) are expecting to roll out the final components of the new SEPTA Key system, allowing all riders to pay the fare with something other than tokens.

New Jersey Taking Steps to Takeover Atlantic City
The state of New Jersey rejected a financial plan for Atlantic City, clearing the stage for a new, larger battle over control of the city.

How *Not* To Do Economic Development
It's clear that New Jersey’s economic development planners didn't spend much time thinking about opportunity costs when they approved $1.1 billion in tax incentives under the Grow NJ program.

Uber's Bid for the Suburbs
The train ride from Summit, New Jersey to Penn Station takes 45 minutes. The real problem: getting to the train. By subsidizing Uber rides to and from the local station, the town hopes to avoid building another expensive parking lot.

The Recent Decline of New Jersey Transit's Commuter Rail Operations
The New York Times looks into the decline of New Jersey Transit commuter railroad, rated as outstanding only nine years ago. Much of the decline can be traced to decisions by the Christie administration beginning in 2010.

Bridgegate Probe Widens to Include Gov. Chris Christie
While the U.S. District Attorney has stated that he would not target Christie, that hasn't stopped other courts from probing. The Bergen County Municipal Court has issued a summons for Christie relating to the closure of GW Bridge access lanes.
New Jersey's 23-Cent Gas Tax Increase Clears Legislature
The historic gas hike agreement was unexpectedly rejected in its first attempt to pass the legislature. It was approved on Oct. 7 because only a majority vote was needed. Republican Gov. Chris Chris is expected to sign the legislation.

New Jersey Town's Digital Billboard Ban Found Unconstitutional
Overruling an earlier appeals court decision, the New Jersey Supreme Court has found one township's prohibition on digital billboards to be unconstitutional.
Black Box Showed What, but Not Why, for the New Jersey Transit Crash
The National Transportation Safety Board has determined that the minute before the Sept. 29 crash, the engineer suddenly accelerated, hurling the train into the wall of Hoboken Terminal, killing one person. They will work to find out why.

Bridgegate Implications for New Jersey and Beyond
In The New York Times Sunday Review, Matt Katz, a political reporter for WNYC and New Jersey Public Radio, gives an update on the federal trial for 'Bridgegate' and also paints a bleak picture for New Jersey, and maybe the United States.
Landmark Agreement Reached to Increase New Jersey Gas Tax by 23 Cents
A day after a fatal NJ Transit train crash at the Hoboken Terminal, Republican Gov. Chris Christie and Democratic leaders of the legislature announced the agreement to raise the tax by 159 percent; the first increase to the *14.5-cent tax since 1990.
Pagination
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