Good morning. I’m Peter Chen and am a Senior Policy Analyst at New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP).
New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) is a nonpartisan think tank that drives policy change to advance economic, social, and racial justice through evidence-based, independent research, analysis, and strategic communication.
As former coordinator of the 2020 Census non-profit outreach campaign for New Jersey, I am keenly aware of the importance of the redistricting process and have contacted a wide range of communities across the state. Each of these communities sought to ensure that their voices are heard by their elected representatives.
I testify today to raise three points for the Commission to consider as you deliberate on how to conduct redistricting in an equitable way. In particular, I’d like to focus on the changes in New Jersey’s ethnic and racial diversity that highlight the need to carefully consider how to ensure all communities get fair representation in the state legislature.
Overall increase in diversity
As the Commissioners are no doubt aware, New Jersey’s Hispanic/Latinx and Asian/Asian-American communities continued to grow dramatically since 2010. The combination of AAPI and Hispanic/Latinx growth of more than 650,000 residents actually exceeds New Jersey’s overall growth (497,000) during the past decade.
This is also reflected in the overall population not identifying as white. Roughly 48 percent of the state now identifies as a race or ethnic category other than white non-Hispanic. (Note that although this has been framed as a “decline” in white population, people may also be identifying their race differently than before.)
Based on current legislative district maps, the median legislative district is 57% non-Hispanic white, while the state as a whole is only 52% white.
The new map should ensure that districts broadly speaking reflect New Jersey’s diversity but also that racial or ethnic communities of interest are not unnecessarily split in ways that dilute their voice.
For example, current maps often carve pockets of minority racial-group populations into multiple districts. For example, the predominantly Asian-American municipalities of Plainsboro, West Windsor and South Brunswick are split among three different districts. Similarly, Edison, Piscataway, and Woodbridge each occupy three different districts.
Need for differentiation within categories
The racial and ethnic categories in the Census continue to be categories of convenience rather than accurate descriptions of community self-identification. For example, the continent of Asia contains more than half of the world’s population, including hundreds of languages and dozens of nations. Yet these groups are lumped together as “Asian or Asian-American.”
Although the decennial Census does not provide a deeper breakdown within these groups, the American Community Survey does. The following are based on the 2015 5-year detailed tables.
The largest national origin groups (alone or in combination) within Asian populations were:
Asian Indian (353,215)
Chinese (incl. Taiwan) (164,443)
Filipino (156,833)
Korean (104,696)
Pakistani (29,902)
Vietnamese (28,671)
Japanese (21,065)
One notable feature among Hispanic/Latinx national origins is the diversity of nativity (i.e., whether the person was born in the United States).
Population Groups
Total Population in NJ
U.S.-born
Foreign-born
Puerto Rican
471,035
463,993
7,042
South American
375,657
131,912
243,745
Dominican (Dominican Republic)
243,255
102,382
140,873
Mexican
231,902
108,697
123,205
Central American (excludes Mexican)
203,842
69,545
134,297
Diversity within and among groups of different national origin is extremely important in considering how communities identify. Digging deeper than surface-level racial and ethnic categories is critical to ensuring just representation.
As just one example, the Ecuadorian population of New Jersey made up approximately 123,000 residents in 2015. If this community were its own municipality, it would be the state’s 6th largest, larger than Edison, Woodbridge or Toms River. The state’s Peruvian population (82,000) is greater than the total population of Camden or Cherry Hill. The state’s Salvadoran population (67,000) is as large as Middletown or Old Bridge.
“Some Other Race” and “More than One Race”
New Jerseyans increasingly view their racial identity as more complex than preexisting categories. Yet these categories have historically been the only metrics of diversity: the previous shapefiles for New Jersey’s 2012 apportionment commission only included four demographic categories – white only, Black/African-American only, Asian/Asian-American only, and Hispanic.
In 2020, 11.2% of New Jerseyans identified as “Some Other Race alone”, while 9.7% identified as more than one race.
Hispanic/Latinx identity also intersected heavily with these two groups. Roughly 93% of “Some Other Race alone” respondents also identified as Hispanic/Latinx, while 68% of those identifying as more than one race also identified as Hispanic/Latinx.
I encourage the Commission to look beyond the four historical categories to identify which communities are represented. At the very least, I encourage the Commission to look at individuals identifying as “race in all combinations” rather than one-race alone, particularly for non-White populations.
Friday Facts and Figures is a weekly newsletter with data points, analysis, and commentary on the biggest policy debates in New Jersey and beyond. Sign up here.
The Excluded New Jerseyans Fund — intended to provide pandemic relief to undocumented immigrant families — was cut by $34 million earlier this month after the Murphy administration reallocated the funds toward other state expenses. The $50 million program, funded by federal pandemic aid that was set to expire at the end of 2021, has only reached a fraction of the state’s undocumented residents due to a complicated and onerous application process. Immigrant workers and advocates are calling on the state to fully fund the program and make it easier for qualifying workers to apply. [NorthJersey.com / Mary Ann Koruth]
Affordability
Doesn’t matter who you ask — Democrats, Republicans, the Legislature, Governor Murphy — affordability is the single biggest issue elected officials hope to tackle in 2022. The problem? There’s no shared understanding of who these policies should target, and many lawmakers are already using affordability framing to push for proposals that would benefit wealthier residents and big corporations at the expense of low- and moderate-income families. As lawmakers explore ways to make New Jersey more affordable, it’s critical that these policies support those who need help the most. [WBGO / Tennyson Donyear]
650
Did you have trouble keeping track of all the bills that moved during lame duck? Us too, and for good reason. Lawmakers introduced more than 650 new bills during the post-election legislative session and acted on more than 700 bills and resolutions in total, according to a new analysis by NJ Spotlight News. Legislating in a hurry means there’s little time for public input, deliberations — or even time for lawmakers to read the bills they’re voting on. “We passed 100 bills the other day,” said enate President Nick Scutari (D-Union). “It’s pretty hard to read them all and understand every aspect of what you’re voting on.” [NJ Spotlight News / Colleen O’Dea]
Reform
Good news for criminal justice reform: The Legislative Black Caucus is resuming its push to allow towns to create civilian complaint review boards to investigate allegations of police misconduct. This step would create transparency and accountability in New Jersey’s policing, but faces some sticking points, primarily in whether the boards would have subpoena power. While police unions argue that subpoena power could be abused, bill sponsors and advocates see it as a necessary tool in police accountability. [New Jersey Monitor / Nikita Biryukov]
76 Percent
A whopping 76 percent of low-income renters do not receive federal rental assistance, according to new research by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. While more than 1.5 million households nationwide have received emergency rental assistance between January and September 2021, more work still needs to be done to address housing insecurity and a history of racist housing policies. Passing the Build Back Better Act and establishing a universal Housing Choice Voucher program would be a good first step in meeting an urgent need to provide safe, stable places to live for the nation’s most marginalized communities. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities / Ann Oliva]
ICYMI
A must-read editorial by The Star-Ledger highlights how the biggest threat to abortion care in New Jersey — money — was left unaddressed by the Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act passed by the Legislature earlier this month. Until new legislation lifts financial barriers to this time-sensitive care, the best way to help those in need is to donate to the New Jersey Abortion Access Fund, which provides financial assistance to those seeking abortion care. [The Star-Ledger / Editorial Board]
Pets of NJPP
Meet Rocket and Groot! During the summer, Rocket enjoys swimming in the kiddie pool and long walks on her leash, and during the winter prefers to hang out by the fireplace. Groot, who had life-saving surgery as a baby, prefers to spend his time playing with toys for hours on end and sprinting full speed through the house making battle cries (especially between 12 am and 4 am). Meow!
Have a fact or figure for us? Tweet it to@NJPolicy.
Friday Facts and Figures is a weekly newsletter with data points, analysis, and commentary on the biggest policy debates in New Jersey and beyond. Sign up here.
On Tuesday, Governor Murphy gave his fourth State of the State address, where he reflected on his first term, detailed the state’s ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and laid out priorities for his second term. While taxes, the economy, and public health were big themes, missing from the speech was any discourse on race, racial equity, and New Jersey’s excluded immigrant workers. And, of course, NJPP has takes on all of it. Read our Rapid Reaction by clicking the link. [NJPP]
70 Percent
The new year brings a new legislative session — and a slightly more diverse state Legislature. The number of Asian American lawmakers doubled after the new Legislature was sworn in on Tuesday, and New Jersey gained its first two Muslim American legislators, Assemblywomen Sadar Jaffer (D-Somerset) and Shama Haider (D-Bergen). But even with these gains, the Legislature still fails to represent the true diversity of the state, and men still hold 70 percent of the state’s legislative seats. [NJ Monitor / Sophie Nieto-Munoz]
49
With the U.S. Supreme Court expected to roll back or even overturn the 49-year-old Roe v. Wade decision later this year, Governor Murphy signed legislation to codify abortion rights into New Jersey law. The bill does not go as far as the original Reproductive Freedom Act, however, as it does not include provisions to require insurance companies to reduce costs by eliminating co-pays and deductibles. As Governor Murphy stated at the bill signing, “this is a victory, yes, but not necessarily a conclusion.” [NJ.com / Susan Livio and Brent Johnson]
21
A pleasant surprise from lame duck: The harm reduction expansion bill passed both houses on Monday and now heads to Governor Murphy’s desk! The bill, which removes the single biggest barrier to new syringe access programs opening — municipal approval — barely passed the Senate with exactly 21 “yes” votes. Described as a “game-changer” by Jenna Mellor of the New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition, the legislation should save the Oasis Drop-In Center in Atlantic City from closing after the council voted to shut down the program last summer. [Filter / Alex Norcia]
9 Percent
Governor Murphy made headlines when he released approximately 2,500 people from prison in late 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Since then, only 9 percent of those released have been re-incarcerated, showing states that decarceration works. The state still has a way to go in creating a more transparent and compassionate criminal legal system, however — another big theme of Governor Murphy’s State of the State address. [WNYC / Karen Yi]
ICYMI
In a new op-ed, NJPP Interim President Jon Shure details the exact moment he learned how powerful the Legislature can be — so powerful that they can literally make time stand still. Click the link for the fun story, and read until the end for ways lawmakers can use their power to advance equity and support working families in the new legislative session. [NJ Globe / Jon Shure]
Pets of NJPP
Meet Willow, a little dog with a big personality. She is a three-month-old husky mix who made her journey from Texas to New Jersey a few short weeks ago. She has been acclimating to her new family and home by learning the ropes from her older dog mentor, cuddling with her humans Renée and Brian, romping through the snow, convincing the resident cat that they are destined to be best friends and, of course, learning about the New Jersey policy landscape by catching up on all of the archived NJPP Friday Facts and Figures. Woof!
Have a fact or figure for us? Tweet it to@NJPolicy.
Welcome to NJPP’s State of the State 2022: Rapid Reaction, your source for commentary and data analysis on Governor Murphy’s recent address. The transcript below was taken from NJPP’s Zoom room and has been lightly edited.
Lou (Louis Di Paolo, Communications Director): On Tuesday, Governor Phil Murphy delivered his fourth annual State of the State address where he highlighted policies enacted under his first term, reflected on the state’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and laid out some priorities for 2022.
A big theme in his remarks: The past four years proved that state government does not have to sacrifice low- and moderate-income families at the expense of economic growth — because the two go hand in hand.
But, before we get into the speech, does anyone want to share their thoughts on the post-election legislative session that just wrapped up?
Peter (Peter Chen, Senior Policy Analyst): Although this lame duck session cleaned up a number of leftover measures to help families, such as the expanded child care tax credit, there were plenty of missed opportunities for progress.
Lame duck sessions are rarely opportunities for major legislation. But this one was also full of rushed giveaways to corporate special interests (casinos, Hollywood studios) and politically-connected folks, while leaving out priorities crucial to the wellbeing of communities of color and people struggling to make ends meet.
Marleina (Marleina Ubel, Policy Analyst): Yes, and on top of those issues, there was an unprecedented lack of access and transparency to the process. The public couldn’t enter the State House, and the last session, which included a historic vote on abortion access, had technical glitches in the livestream that went unresolved for over an hour.
Lou: All great points, especially on process and transparency. That was a big theme of last year’s address and it’s clear we haven’t made much progress on that front.
What about the Reproductive Freedom Act? That was the biggest issue of lame duck and dominated news coverage of the session. Sheila, for those who may have missed the last-minute negotiations around the bill that ultimately passed (the Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act), what should our readers know?
Sheila (Sheila Reynertson, Senior Policy Analyst): For starters, this was *not* the Reproductive Freedom Act. What made it across the finish line on the last day of voting was the protection of abortion rights and administrative plans to look into how high deductibles and co-pays may block access to this time-sensitive care. While the declaration of rights is quite strong, the legislation ultimately left behind New Jersey’s undocumented immigrant community. It did nothing to expand access or advance equity in health care. So more work is vital to ensure the well-being and economic security of everyone facing an unplanned pregnancy.
Lou: Thanks, Sheila. That’s really important context. But let’s get to the speech. What were your takeaways?
Brittany (Brittany Holom-Trundy, Senior Policy Analyst): The first theme that dominated the speech was, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic, and rightfully so. After nearly two years, some people might find discussion of the pandemic to be tiring, but with the continuing waves of cases and hospitalizations — and the health, schooling, and other long-term challenges facing New Jersey families — it’s critical we keep our focus on supporting all New Jersey residents and working toward an equitable recovery.
Lou: If only there was a group that had a blueprint of policies to secure an equitable pandemic recovery. Oh, wait …
Sheila: Governor Murphy did a great job demonstrating that a robust response to the pandemic is in line with his policy goals of strengthening New Jersey. The public investments that supported New Jersey families during a global pandemic are also the building blocks of a strong state economy: affordable health care, housing, child care, and higher education; support for small businesses, green jobs, and mass transit.
Brittany: And even when he stepped up and then stepped away from the podium, Governor Murphy made a point to wear his mask — which, as an example of healthy practices, is a nice contrast to some other leaders we see daily on television.
Peter: That goes hand-in-hand with the Governor’s broader vision of a New Jersey that works together and helps each other succeed. When we hear questions like “when will the economy recover?” or “when will schools go back to normal?” they’re really asking “how can we slow and manage the pandemic itself?” We all have to do our part to control and manage the pandemic, and the mask is a strong symbol of that shared responsibility.
The state of our state is resilient and ready to keep moving forward.
Together, will continue to build a stronger and fairer New Jersey that works for every family – while continuing down the path of recovery from the pandemic.#NJSOTSpic.twitter.com/gT3rxod7uN
Lou: Property taxes were another big theme — any thoughts on that?
Jon (Jon Shure, Interim President): It wouldn’t be a New Jersey State of the State speech without a governor pledging to work to reduce property taxes. I was involved in Governor Florio’s final State of the State and it was all about property taxes.
Governor Murphy accurately observed that school funding is property tax relief, for example. The real solution has to involve equitably increasing broad-based state taxes (sales, income) and using some of the money to pay for local services — and schools — for which New Jersey relies much more on local property taxes than do other states.
As NJPP pointed out a while back, the state would have made a lot of progress toward that better balance had Gov. Tom Kean not declared the final bipartisan recommendations of the amusingly named SLERP (State and Local Expenditure & Revenue Policy) Commission to be dead on arrival, four months before they came out.
Lou: Now that’s a throwback. Thanks for providing some important historical context there, Jon.
What was everyone’s favorite part of the speech? Or were there any topics you were especially glad to hear mentioned?
Peter: My favorite part was the no new tax pledge for the upcoming budget year.
Lou: Didn’t realize we had Grover Norquist here in the chat.
Peter: But seriously, I thought the Governor’s speech did a good job of outlining the positive role state government plays in the lives of New Jerseyans, especially in light of the pandemic. Too often, rhetoric around “government” and “taxes” obscures what government really is — schools, hospitals, transportation, infrastructure, child care. The institutions that undergird society and support thriving communities need cheerleading, and the Governor provided it.
But to go back to my snarky answer above, strong public services require public investments, and that requires revenue. Changes in the tax code are a key tool to ensure the wealthiest pay their fair share to support the services we all benefit from.
Lou: So true. And it’s worth mentioning that state lawmakers still haven’t reversed some Christie-era tax cuts that primarily benefitted New Jersey’s wealthiest residents (looking at you, estate tax).
Sheila: Amen, Peter. I appreciated the eloquent way the Governor presented progressive taxation.
“The price for having an unlimited upside cannot be an unlimited downside. New Jersey will never move forward if we cling to the outdated and selfish notion of, ‘I got mine and the rest be damned.'”
That theme was woven throughout the speech — from his position on the pandemic response to the political process. It’s such an important tactic at a time of deep divisions and harsh health and economic disparities.
Marleina: I was happy to hear about the growing cannabis industry! Wait. Never mind. We are still talking about how great the cannabis industry will be. You know, when it happens.
Lou: Speaking of drug policy, he also mentioned the importance of harm reduction in the state’s response to the ongoing overdose crisis. As the folks at the New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition pointed out on Twitter, this is probably the first time harm reduction was ever mentioned in a New Jersey State of the State.
Today @GovMurphy became the first New Jersey governor to mention harm reduction in the #NJSOTS address.
— NJ Harm Reduction Coalition (@NJHarmReduction) January 11, 2022
Brittany: Yes! I love that the Governor has embraced harm reduction. It shows that we are building a state where everyone deserves access to needed care, without stigma, discrimination, or barriers. I’m also pleased that the importance of health and health care affordability remains a priority. We’ve learned so many lessons through the pandemic, and one that I hope will be a permanent change is this recognition that health for all New Jersey residents is key for a thriving state, now and in the future.
Lou: Did anything in the speech surprise you?
Marleina: Can I share one thing that didn’t surprise me? That New Jersey is growing! Both in terms of population and new jobs. New Jersey is a desirable place to be!
Jon: I know. Listening to the Governor extol the state’s advantages, I was thinking that if I didn’t live in New Jersey, I’d move here.
Peter: OK, but I saw some moving trucks leaving my neighborhood, so how can that be true?
Jon: I like that he attacked that bogus survey from a moving company that people still use to “prove” people are fleeing New Jersey. Here’s an interesting fact — the 3 states people move to most from New Jersey every year are New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida — and the top 3 states people move here from are — wait for it — New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida. There’s a lot of churning.
Lou: What was missing from the speech?
Sheila: The racial wealth gap in New Jersey. Reparations. Mental health crisis. Essential workers. The undocumented immigrant community. Educational and behavioral harm of virtual learning.
Peter: For a speech that mentioned criminal legal reforms, school funding, COVID-19, tax fairness, and environmental justice, there was no mention of the word “race” or “racism.”
The Governor mentioned Census data showing New Jersey’s growth since 2010. But that growth has also included increased racial and ethnic diversity. Without considering and combating the racial disparities in each of these issues, we run the risk of another unequal recovery. Even a quick glance at unemployment numbers show continued gaps in the recovery for different racial and ethnic groups.
Given the Governor’s commitment to policies that address racial justice, it was a bit disappointing that he excluded them from his address.
Marleina: I couldn’t agree more. This felt like the most glaring omission for me, along with the Excluded New Jerseyans Fund. Frontline workers are disproportionately women, immigrants (another word that was not in the speech), and people of color. It feels like they were left out, as the folks at Make the Road NJ were quick to point out on Twitter.
Immigrant women from across NJ call on @GovMurphy to fully fund #ExcludedNJ with $1 Billion.
Brittany: Absolutely, Marleina. As I mentioned earlier, I was very happy to hear health and health care affordability prioritized, but a narrow focus on affordability leaves out the fact that many residents are ineligible for coverage, even the affordable options being improved each year through NJ FamilyCare and GetCovered NJ.
So, in addition to cost growth control and affordability, I would have loved to have heard more about implementation of Cover All Kids, plans for opening up options for undocumented adults, as well as a commitment to addressing barriers to care for reproductive health — particularly abortion — that was left out of the recently passed, pared-down reproductive health act as Sheila mentioned earlier.
Jon: All true. But this was just the first in a trifecta of speeches Governor Murphy will deliver over the next couple months, the others being his inaugural address and the speech outlining the budget he’ll purpose for the fiscal year that starts July 1. My fingers are crossed that he held back some good stuff for those occasions.
Lou: Sounds like a lot of unfinished business for the new legislative session and Governor Murphy’s second term. What’s everyone looking forward to accomplishing in term two? And yes, this is an opportunity to once again plug the policies in our Blueprint…
Marleina: I am looking forward to shrinking the number of people incarcerated in this state. The pandemic showed us that decarceration is possible and can happen quickly. I am excited to see that work continue.
Also, I hope to see real reform in criminal justice and policing. There is a lot of work to do and there are bills waiting to be signed that could really move us toward a more transparent and accountable system.
Peter: Given the Governor’s focus on affordability for working families, I’m hoping to see an ambitious agenda of tax credits and supports, such as a state-level child tax credit and a more expanded state earned income tax credit for New Jerseyans paid too little to get by, especially in this difficult time. To make life more affordable, as he promises, we’ll need strong public investment on behalf of New Jersey’s low- and moderate-income families.
Brittany: Agreed. Along those lines, I want to see significant TANF reforms so we can finally bring that program into the 21st century and move it away from its racist roots. And in addition to things I mentioned before, I’m looking forward to actions that will help all New Jerseyans get quality health care. So I’ll be following things the Governor’s mentioned in the State of the State like analyzing prescription drug costs, which could include creating the Prescription Drug Affordability Board. Passing and establishing an Easy Enrollment program (which he conditionally vetoed this legislative session) too would help get more New Jerseyans insured.
Availability, affordability, accessibility, quality — there are plenty of issues for the Gov’s team to pursue in term two!
Sheila: I appreciate the idea of tending to the policies of the first term to ensure their longevity. That being said, there is room in his second term for more tax reform, especially when it comes to taxation of inherited wealth. The amount of foregone revenue that is instead flowing into the pocketbooks of a few thousand very wealthy families every year is a policy failure, plain and simple. The Governor has made it clear that taxation based on ability to pay (unlike the local property tax) “open[s] opportunities for more New Jerseyans to gain the tools they need to have their own prosperous future.”
Lou: Amazing. Thanks, team! Any final thoughts?
Peter: Next time we do this we need more memes.
Lou: Noted. We’ll make that a priority next time we do this. Go, team!
Governor Phil Murphy today delivered his fourth annual State of the State address. In his remarks, the Governor reflected on policies enacted under his first term as well as the state’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to the address, New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) released the following statement.
Jon Shure, Interim President, NJPP:
“Governor Murphy gave an accurate description of the ‘state of the state’ and the need to do much more so prosperity is shared by all. The past four years proved that government need not sacrifice low- and moderate-income families at the expense of economic growth — because the two go hand in hand. Now, state government must remain as ‘boldly progressive’ as the Governor proclaimed it to be again today. Affordability for all is important — and New Jersey can’t afford to go backward.”
In the post-election Legislative session, New Jersey lawmakers’ activities included introducing and voting on a flurry of bills meant to benefit corporate interests and boost pension benefits for a select few politically-connected individuals — often without the text of legislation or an opportunity to testify at hearings being available to the public. In response to the lack of transparency during the lame duck session, New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) released the following statement.
Jon Shure, Interim President, NJPP:
“The legislative process often is messy, but this lame duck session too often disregarded standard legislative practices and transparency. When the process isn’t open, the public simply can’t be put first.
“Closed-door legislating inevitably favors the privileged few and shuts out those who don’t have lobbyists. Too often, the winners in lame duck were casinos, horse racing, Hollywood studios, and the like. The people for whom New Jersey really needs to be more affordable often came up empty.
“There will be lame duck sessions in the future, of course. And we look forward to working with advocates for openness and responsiveness to the public to make sure the public interest remains the top priority at all times.”
Friday Facts and Figures is a weekly newsletter with data points, analysis, and commentary on the biggest policy debates in New Jersey and beyond. Sign up here.
New year, new minimum wage! On January 1, many New Jersey minimum wage workers received a welcome increase in pay to $13 per hour. This increase, totaling about $2,000 a year for full-time minimum wage workers, will help families across New Jersey make ends meet, especially amid financial pressures from the pandemic. But as NJPP’s Research Director Nicole Rodriguez highlights here, more work remains before all workers can afford basic needs as the state’s minimum wage law does not treat all workers alike. [NJPP / Nicole Rodriguez]
Abortion
In bittersweet news, a scaled-down version of the Reproductive Freedom Act was voted out of committee on Thursday. The bill, which does not mention the word ‘abortion’ once, would codify the right to an abortion in state law. However, instead of an insurance mandate to reduce financial barriers to time-sensitive reproductive care, the bill commands the Department of Banking and Insurance to conduct an affordability study, a first step toward addressing policy change. In testimony delivered to the committees, NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Sheila Reynertson noted the bill “does absolutely nothing to make sure that everyone — regardless of income, ZIP code, insurance coverage, or immigration status — can make personal health care decisions with dignity.” [NJ.com / Susan Livio]
3
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) is still allowing businesses receiving corporate tax breaks to self-report job creation data without independent oversight or auditing, according to a new report by the state Comptroller’s office. How is this possible? The report highlights how the EDA has not acted on three of the comptroller’s 21 recommendations made in 2019 to reform tax incentive programs so companies only receive tax credits they qualify for. “Handing out corporate tax credits based on the promise of ‘job creation’ works only if the state routinely verifies that the jobs are actually created,” NJPP’s Sheila Reynertson said in a statement. “Unfortunately, no such verification system is in place.” [NJ Monitor / Dana DiFilippo]
Harm Reduction
Some good public health news: a proposal to make it easier for new syringe exchanges to open was voted out of committee on Thursday and now heads to the Senate and Assembly for a full vote on Monday. Harm reduction services and syringe access are the best tools we have for preventing overdose deaths — but only when these programs are able to open and operate. Current law makes it near-impossible for new programs to open (only seven exist in the entire state), and this legislation would fix that. [Insider NJ]
$1.6 Million
There’s renewed interest in how local governments award public contracts after an audit found the Pennsauken school district lost $1.6 million in savings because of flawed advice from their insurance broker. Despite calls for reform almost a decade ago, many towns and school districts still spend millions on insurance coverage without meaningful oversight or safeguards to suss out politically-connected, self-serving brokers. The lack of meaningful reform allows local officials to award contracts to their friends and donors. Making matters worse, a dearth of local news coverage means local governments face less scrutiny than ever before. [NJ Spotlight News / Jeff Pillets]
ICYMI
NJPP Research Director Nicole Rodriguez spoke with News 12 earlier this week to discuss the latest increase in the minimum wage and its impact on low-paid workers. “This is life-changing, every time we have a minimum wage increase,” Nicole said. Watch the clip here. [News 12 New Jersey]
Register Now!
Mark your Calendar! On Tuesday, January 11, Governor Murphy will deliver his annual State of the State address. Looking for a potent and on-point breakdown of his priorities and proposals? Join NJPP for a special, donors-only rapid response Zoom call on Thursday, January 13 from 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm. Want to join in? Email Jennifer Fekete-Donners, Development Director, to check your donor status and reserve your space today!
Pets of NJPP
In the spirit of the lame duck session, this week’s Pets of NJPP are of the bird variety. Meet NJPP Interim President Jon Shure’s zebra finches. No, they’re not ducks, but they keep great company and are industrious nest builders. Beep beep!
Have a fact or figure for us? Tweet it to@NJPolicy.
Friday Facts and Figures is a weekly newsletter with data points, analysis, and commentary on the biggest policy debates in New Jersey and beyond. Sign up here.
Here’s a lame duck special: Atlantic City casinos are primed to receive a tax cut worth more than $50 million per year thanks to a new bill that’s being fast-tracked through the Legislature. The bill would reduce the annual tax payments of casinos and exclude online sports betting from their revenue, artificially deflating how much money they’re making. Supporters of the bill claim that up to four casinos are in danger of closing, but newly released data from the State shows that the casinos have had a banner bounce-back year in 2021, earning roughly $4 billion in revenue and more than $530 million in profit. [AP News / Wayne Parry]
$10 Million
The Murphy administration has earmarked an additional $10 million to the state’s Excluded New Jerseyans Fund and extended the application deadline into the new year. Without these additional resources, the program would have expired on December 31 — the federal deadline to use relief funds from the CARES Act. This announcement follows a decision made last week by the Department of Human Services to double the fund’s maximum payment to $2,000 per person or $4,000 per household. However, this still falls far short of the need for relief: the fund would need nearly $1 billion to cover every eligible resident excluded from federal relief. [NJ Monitor / Sophie Nieto-Munoz]
350,000
The state moratorium on utility shut-offs will expire at the end of the year despite 350,000 residents still behind on their gas and electric bills. The Department of Community Affairs has notified residents who are behind on payments, encouraging them to apply for assistance before it’s too late. “With expanded income eligibility for some programs, you may be eligible for assistance even if you thought you were not,” said Governor Phil Murphy at a press briefing earlier this week. Click the link for more information on how to apply for assistance and for information on county-based organizations also offering help. [NJ.com / Deion Johnson]
First
Here’s some exciting news from the nation’s capital: The U.S. Treasury will finally begin to study the effects of federal tax policy by race. This will give lawmakers and the public a better idea of who benefits — and who is left behind — by changes to the tax code, and what policies are effective tools at closing the racial wealth gap. “Obtaining this information would counter the fallacy that our tax system affects everyone equally, regardless of race, or that only white Americans pay taxes,” said Dorothy Brown, an Emory University tax law professor and author of “The Whiteness of Wealth.” [Bloomberg / Laura Davison and Ben Steverman]
ICYMI
NJPP Board Trustee and Rutgers University professor Julia Sass Rubin breaks down New Jersey’s election results in this data-driven article for the London School of Economics. If you want an election recap free of spin, this is a must-read. [London School of Economics / Julia Sass Rubin]
Pets of NJPP
Meet Thor, one of the Chief Snack Officers at Mind Your Design, the design firm that helped us brand the NJPP Progress 2021 series! Thor helps the quality assurance team at MYD, but he truly excels at interrupting conference calls and trying to steal all the pens in the office. Woof!
Have a fact or figure for us? Tweet it to@NJPolicy.
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Expanded unemployment benefits established by the CARES Act will expire this month for a whopping 80,000 New Jersey residents who are currently out of work. While some pro-business groups suggest this will incentivize more people to return to work, there is no evidence that ending unemployment benefits has any impact on employment as it doesn’t address the biggest issues keeping people out of the workforce. “The end of extended unemployment benefits won’t stop the spread of the virus or generate child care availability,” NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Peter Chen told NJ BIZ. Instead, families will be left with less to spend on groceries, rent, and other household necessities. [NJ BIZ / Daniel Munoz]
400,000
New Jersey has made big investments in replacing lead pipes in schools and homes, but one set of buildings requires special attention: child care centers. While approximately 400,000 children spend time in child care centers every day in New Jersey, testing and mitigation for lead at these buildings is minimal. “Infants and toddlers, especially those who are fed with baby formula, are at heightened risk for lead exposure through water, at a critical moment when their brains are developing and expanding rapidly,” NJPP’s Peter Chen explained in a new op-ed. Fortunately, a new report by Jersey Water Works provides five recommendations to help end the threat of lead in drinking water at child care facilities. Read more about them here. [MyCentralJersey.com / Peter Chen]
Reparations
Advocates gathered in front of the State House last week to urge lawmakers to establish a New Jersey Reparations Task Force. The legislation, sponsored by members of the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus, would establish a new task force to research and develop reparations proposals to address the harms caused by New Jersey’s role in the slave trade. Advocates for racial justice are calling for the proposal to be passed during the lame duck session so the state can finally begin to close the widening racial wealth gap and repair the traumas caused by slavery. [NJ.com / Ande Richards]
27
Despite increasing calls for police reform, police fatalities are on the rise in New Jersey, with at least 27 deaths at the hands of law enforcement so far in 2021. And with no public, searchable database to review fatal police encounters, not every death is captured, hiding the severity of police brutality. “Transparency is the first step in accountability,” said NJPP Policy Analyst Marleina Ubel, who published a recent report detailing how our current police-centered approach to public safety disproportionately harms people of color. [New Jersey Monitor / Dana DiFilippo]
15
Some great public health news out of New York: The nation’s first supervised drug-injection sites opened in Manhattan last week — and they’re already saved 15 lives! For those unfamiliar, supervised consumption services are sites where people can use drugs (like heroin) under the safety and support of trained health staff. Common across Europe and in some Canadian and Australian cities, these sites are proven public health tools that prevent overdose deaths, prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, and help connect people to support. Shout out to New York City for leading the way on evidence-informed drug policy in the U.S.! [NJ Spotlight News / Melissa Rose Cooper]
ICYMI
Big congrats to NJPP Research DirectorNicole Rodriguez for being featured in Senator Loretta Weinberg’s 2021 Women’s Power List for her work leading NJPP’s majority-women research team! Read the full list here. [Insider NJ / Senator Loretta Weinberg]
Pets of NJPP
Meet M, Susan Druckenbrod’s ferocious feline. M enjoys snacks, naps, and keeping on eye on the neighborhood squirrels. Meow!
Have a fact or figure for us? Tweet it to@NJPolicy.
Good morning. I’m Peter Chen and am a Senior Policy Analyst at New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP). New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) is a nonpartisan think tank that drives policy change to advance economic, social, and racial justice through evidence-based, independent research, analysis, and strategic communication.
NJPP supports A4747, and encourages further work to increase child care availability for parents who need it.
New Jersey’s lack of supply for child care, especially for infants and toddlers is well-documented. Based on the most recent market-rate study, enrollment in licensed child-care centers is roughly 10,000 for infants and 17,500 for toddlers. Meanwhile, the population of children under 3 in the same time period was over 300,000.
The problem is widespread, with 46 percent of New Jersey residents living in a child care desert, where there are three times as many children as licensed child care slots, according to analysis by the Center for American Progress.
Although these deserts include urban, suburban, and rural areas, they disproportionately exist in lower-income neighborhoods.
New Jersey families and children can only achieve true freedom to live their lives to their full potential if they have accessible, affordable, quality child care. Improving access in these child-care deserts, whether through the use of incentive payments, contracted slots, expansion of Early Head Start, or other methods, will help ensure that child care is not a luxury, but a necessity.
