Topic Category: General

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Vaccine Doses: 14,493,935
Fully Vaccinated People: 6,916,913
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

$12 Billion

First, some good budget news: New Jersey has a whopping $12 billion (!!!) surplus over the next two years thanks to stronger than expected revenue collections. As NJPP’s Sheila Reynertson told News 12, this provides lawmakers with a historic opportunity — and obligation — to direct relief to low- and middle-income families, not profitable corporations and special interests. And there’s no need to reinvent the wheel; lawmakers can support those who need the most help by strengthening and expanding programs that we know work. For starters, lawmakers can increase cash assistance in WorkFirst NJ, expand the Earned Income Tax Credit, and establish a state-level Child Tax Credit for families with young children based on the widely successful federal Child Tax Credit expansion. [News 12 / Alex Zdan]

$375 Million

Now for some not-so-good budget news: State lawmakers are poised to use a good chunk of the state’s surplus on a business tax cut worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The proposals, which sailed through committee earlier this week, would use the state’s surplus to shore up the state’s unemployment insurance fund so businesses wouldn’t have to (note that workers will continue to pair their fair share into the fund). The total cost? $375 million to pay off federal unemployment loans, plus $170 million in tax credits. At the committee hearing, which was packed with business lobbyists, NJPP’s Sheila Reynertson asked: “With the state economy already on firmer footing, why are businesses asking for yet another tax cut when we know that there are immediate needs of others who experienced substantially more severe impact from the pandemic?” [NJ Monitor / Nikita Biryukov]

Insurance

Social and consumer advocates were at the State House earlier this week in support of a bill that would ban auto insurance companies from using non-driving factors — like a person’s job, education level, and credit score — to determine their insurance rate. The practice has a discriminatory effect, resulting in people of color and low-wage drivers paying more for insurance than drivers who are white and wealthier. “The predatory practice of charging Black and brown drivers higher rates based on factors having nothing to do with their driving records is unjustifiable,” said incoming NJPP President Nicole Rodriguez. Watch TV coverage of the press conference here, courtesy of NJ Spotlight News. [Gothamist / Karen Yi]

Amazon

State lawmakers held a hearing on the sky-high injury rate at Amazon warehouses earlier this week in response to a recent report by NJPP and Rutgers labor professor Carmen Martino. In testimony given to the committee, NJPP’s Nicole Rodriguez outlined three ways lawmakers can better protect workers in the Garden State: Allow employees to form health and safety committees at each worksite; rein in dangerous productivity quotas and give workers permission to opt out of unsafe work; and establish stronger penalties and enforcement mechanisms to promote compliance. [NJPP / Nicole Rodriguez]

Cannabis

Revenue from legal cannabis sales is required to go toward communities harmed most by the War on Drugs. The state, however, has yet to outline how or where these funds will be spent. That’s what brought advocates for racial justice and drug policy reform to the State House earlier this week, demanding that these funds be spent in communities harmed by the drug war, with input from members of those communities. The rally’s speakers included NJPP’s Marleina Ubel, Ami Kachalia of the ACLU-NJ, Rev. Dr. Charles Boyer of Salvation and Social Justice, as well as other members of the Abolish The Drug War coalition. [NJ Spotlight News / Raven Santana]

ICYMI

I hope you didn’t miss this one: NJPP has a new President! Earlier this week, Research Director Nicole Rodriguez was named the next President of NJPP, succeeding Brandon McKoy, who left in the fall to join the leadership team of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Click the link to learn more about Nicole and to watch her introductory video. [NJPP]

Pets of NJPP

Now that know Nicole better, you can get to know her cat, Bernie! Bernie is a little cat with a big voice. He loves to meow for pets, treats, and his mama’s attention. He also loves his big dog sister, Cherry, but not if she gets more pets than her. 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.

Vaccine Doses: 14,471,264
Fully Vaccinated People: 6,888,357
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

Access

Earlier this week, Governor Murphy announced his support for new legislation to expand access to abortion care in response to the leaked Supreme Court decision striking down Roe v. Wade. The proposals mirror the provisions left out of the Reproductive Freedom Act last year. Together, they would mandate that insurance plans cover abortion with no out-of-pocket costs and create a new fund to train more clinicians to provide abortion care, provide security for abortion clinics, and expand reproductive health services for those who are under- and uninsured. “A person’s ability to access abortion care should not depend on how much money they make,” said Governor Murphy. We couldn’t agree more. [NJ.com / Susan Livio and Brent Johnson]

$500 Million

A 2020 audit of 1 percent of New Jersey businesses found that the state lost nearly half a billion dollars in tax revenue — and workers lost tens of millions of dollars in wages — due to employee misclassification. Here’s how it works: When businesses designate workers as independent contractors instead of employees, it allows them to avoid paying into the state’s unemployment, family leave, and disability funds. It also means that employees are not covered by the state’s minimum wage and overtime laws. “We’re not exactly a strong worker rights country to begin with, so this just further carves out employees, many of whom are lower-income earners, from the protections they deserve,” said NJPP’s Peter Chen. [NorthJersey.com / Katie Sobko]

$300 Million

Speaking of businesses not paying their fair share in taxes, corporate lobbyists are yet again calling on state lawmakers to use federal pandemic relief to prop up the state’s unemployment insurance fund so they don’t have to pay into it. There are two problems here. The first is that federal funds were meant to assist families and communities harmed most by the pandemic — and there are still a lot of people in New Jersey living in poverty and struggling to make ends meet. The second is that this is a fund that businesses are required to pay into, so having the state cover the costs would amount to little more than a $300 million tax break for profitable businesses that don’t need it. [NJ Spotlight News / John Reitmeyer]

Amazon

Unions are having a moment right now, giving workers across the country the best chance they’ve had in decades to fight for better pay, benefits, and workplace protections. In addition to the high-profile unionization campaigns at Starbucks stores and Amazon warehouses across the nation, labor and community groups here in New Jersey are fighting back against a proposed Amazon air cargo hub at Newark Liberty International Airport, citing concerns with Amazon’s poor labor practices and the environmental dangers of additional truck traffic in Newark and Elizabeth. In a statement given to The New York Times, a spokesperson for Governor Murphy indicated that Amazon may have to negotiate with labor groups before a deal moves forward, saying “The governor encourages anyone doing business in our state to work collaboratively with labor partners in good faith.” [The New York Times / Noam Scheiber]

ICYMI

In a new op-ed in The Star-Ledger, Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. (D-Essex) calls on Amazon and the Port Authority to consult with community members — and stop fighting unionization efforts — before opening a new air cargo hub at Newark Airport. “If Amazon wants to come to Newark, I believe they should pledge not to fight union organizers at their facilities and make a commitment to labor peace,” said Rep. Payne. [NJ.com / Rep. Donald Payne, Jr.]

Pets of NJPP

Meet Franklin, co-working pup of Lily Reynolds! Franklin, also known as Frankie, is a scientist, enjoys exploring Philly rooftops, and is *not* a fan of meow-ajuana (also known as cat nip). 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.

Vaccine Doses: 14,469,233
Fully Vaccinated People: 6,883,026
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

Roe v. Wade

Abortion rights are under attack — again — after the Supreme Court voted to strike down Roe v. Wade, according to a draft court opinion that leaked Monday night. While New Jersey codified abortion rights earlier this year, rights alone are not enough, as financial barriers keep far too many patients from accessing this time-sensitive care. NJPP is joining Planned Parenthood and other advocates in calling on state lawmakers to enact measures cut from the Reproductive Freedom Act that would expand access to abortion to those who may not have the means to afford it. As Planned Parenthood’s Kaitlyn Wojtowicz told NJ Spotlight News, “Rights without access are meaningless.” [NJ Spotlight News / Lilo Stainton]

Student Loans

Higher education is meant to help students become financially secure and build wealth, but it’s actually doing the opposite, especially for students of color who take out student loans at higher rates than their white counterparts. That’s why canceling student loan debt, as President Biden promised to do on the campaign trail, is not only good economic policy but a necessary part of closing the racial wealth gap. “[Student loan debt] puts an anchor around the neck of Black and Hispanic students that are coming from backgrounds that generally have less wealth to begin with,” said NJPP’s Peter Chen. Read the article for a master class from Peter (no tuition or student debt required) on how student loan debt cancellation is an issue of racial justice. [NJ Spotlight News / Taylor Jung]

38 Percent

Speaking of racial justice, a new report by the Institute for Social Justice shows that, because homeownership is the biggest driver of wealth in New Jersey, homeownership inequity is a primary driver of the state’s racial wealth gap. Today, a mere 38 percent of Black households in New Jersey own their homes, compared to a whopping 76 percent of white households. To advance equity and promote Black homeownership, the report recommends state lawmakers create a first-generation homebuyers’ program, provide greater down-payment assistance, help homeowners avoid foreclosure, and much more. Read the full report by clicking the link. [New Jersey Institute for Social Justice / Nichole Nelson]

Inflation

Are rising prices from inflation good or bad? Seems like a simple question, but it really depends on who you ask. According to executives of the nation’s largest publicly traded corporations, inflation is great for business. Why? Because corporations can use inflation as an excuse to raise prices and exploit consumers. If you don’t believe me, maybe you’ll believe the head of research for Barclay’s: “The longer inflation lasts and the more widespread it is, the more air cover it gives companies to raise prices.” The CEO of Hostess made a similar point on a recent earnings call, saying, “When all prices go up, it helps.” Bookmark this for the next time someone tells you it’s supply shortages or workers’ wages that are driving price increases. [​​The New York Times / Lindsay Owens]

ICYMI

On May Day, NJPP Research Director Nicole Rodriguez released new data outlining the growing CEO-to-worker pay gap in New Jersey. With nearly four in ten workers across the state struggling to make ends meet, the CEOs at New Jersey’s largest corporations are making nearly 500 times more than their average employee. If this sounds messed up, it’s because it is. And, as Nicole highlights, this level of pay inequity is not normal, but a recent phenomenon. [NJPP / Nicole Rodriguez]

Pets of NJPP

Meet Gertie, Nicole’s brother’s pup! Gertie started out as a foster dog, but her foster parents fell in love with her and decided to keep her. She loves to annoy her big brother, Iggy Pup, hog all of the dog beds, and eat poop — but her family loves her anyway. Woof!

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.

Vaccine Doses: 14,446,915
Fully Vaccinated People: 6,869,227
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

Eye-Opening

Bad employer alert: Injuries at Amazon facilities accounted for 55 percent of all serious workplace injuries in New Jersey, according to a new report by Rutgers University professor Carmen Martino and NJPP Research Director Nicole Rodriguez. The report also found that Amazon warehouse workers suffered injuries at nearly twice the rate of other warehouse workers in the state. Port Authority Board President Kevin O’Toole called the report findings “eye-opening,” and Rep. Donald Norcross is calling on OSHA to hold Amazon accountable. [NorthJersey.com / Daniel Munoz]

1 in 6

Earlier this week, lawmakers unveiled a new bill to revise and expand WorkFirst NJ, the state’s premier anti-poverty program. Why the need for expansion? As currently set up, the program reaches less than 1 in 6 residents living in poverty — and even for those who receive benefits, they are not enough to escape the cycle of poverty. “In one of the wealthiest states in the wealthiest nation on earth, poverty is a policy choice, and we can and must do better,” said NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Brittany Holom-Trundy. Big shout out to bill sponsors Senator Teresa Ruiz and Assemblywomen Angela McKnight and Britnee Timberlake!  [NJ Monitor / Dana DiFilippo]

73 Percent

Nearly 3 in 4 of New Jersey lowest-income residents — 73 percent — spend more than half of their income on housing, according to a new report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition. The report also found that there are only three affordable homes available for every ten low-income renters in New Jersey. To alleviate the housing shortage, advocates are urging Governor Murphy to invest nearly $1 billion in federal pandemic relief in housing programs. [NJ Spotlight News / Raven Santana]

$10 Million

Earlier today, Governor Murphy announced that the state will spend $10 million in federal pandemic relief funds on new license plate recognition technology to reduce car thefts. This is the second time this month that the Murphy administration has appropriated American Rescue Plan funds — meant to advance equity and help families and communities harmed most by the pandemic — on police. “Any kind of police access to surveillance technology and databases where they can then store that information shouldn’t be done at all, or with great discretion, because we know we have a culture of policing in this state that has resulted in New Jersey having the number one black-white disparity in incarceration in the nation,” said NJPP Policy Analyst Marleina Ubel. [NJ Monitor / Dana DiFilipo]

ICYMI

A new op-ed signed by all of New Jersey’s United Way organizations makes a strong case for expanding the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a “little-known” tax credit that is one of the most effective poverty-fighting tools. “Since EITC is already a part of New Jersey’s budget, expanding it would have a minimal impact while making a measurable difference in the lives of low-income working families, many of whom are essential workers facing hardships due to the public health emergency.” We couldn’t agree more! [NJ.com / Catherine Wilson]

Pets of NJPP

Meet Tori, Kiki Jamieson’s coworking pup! Tori likes people, and she also likes dogs. When she’s not working, she likes to hike in the woods, walk through mud, wade in streams, and sleep. Her favorite springtime tradition is eating dandelion flowers she plucks from the neighbor’s lawn. Woof!

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.

Vaccine Doses: 14,430,203
Fully Vaccinated People: 6,856,047
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

The People’s Hearing

Since lawmakers are done holding hearings on how to spend the state’s remaining $3 billion in federal pandemic relief funds, we held our own! At The People’s Hearing earlier this week, essential workers, advocates, and policy experts urged state lawmakers to use federal pandemic assistance to provide direct relief and support to low-income residents who were hurt most by the pandemic — not on more tax breaks for profitable businesses. “They may think that they are done listening, but we are not done making noise,” said Amy Torres, Executive Director of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice and moderator of the virtual hearing. [NJ Spotlight News / John Reitmeyer]

Half

So … if New Jersey received $6.2 billion in federal pandemic assistance and has roughly $3 billion left, what happened to the other half? Well, we’re glad you asked! New research by NJPP’s Sheila Reynertson breaks down how state lawmakers have allocated federal funds so far and finds that a good chunk of the funding went toward helping renters, public hospitals, small businesses, child care providers, and others in need. The bad news? While roughly half of the funds have been allocated, less than 5 percent have actually gotten into the hands of the designated recipients. [NJPP / Sheila Reynertson]

$4 Million

Federal relief funds are supposed to be used to advance equity by targeting aid to families and communities hard hit by the pandemic. But without an overarching strategy on how to spend federal assistance — and without opportunities for the public to weigh in — lawmakers are using the funds for lots of different programs, including some that run counter to the equity goals outlined in the American Rescue Plan. One example: Earlier this week, the Murphy administration announced that $4 million of federal funds would go toward hiring additional state police. [NJ 101.5 / Michael Symons]

12

On Thursday, New Jersey became the latest state to launch a legal cannabis market when 12 dispensaries began selling recreational weed. Lines wrapped around dispensaries as customers waited in line to take part in the historic day. “Today is the start of an entirely new industry for our state,” Gov. Phil Murphy tweeted Thursday morning, “and a historic moment in our work to advance social and economic justice.” [NorthJersey.com / Joe Malinconico, Kristie Cattafi and Mike Davis]

ICYMI

Last night, NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Peter Chen joined NJ 101.5 for a town hall on the future of work to discuss the state’s improving labor market, what it means for workers, and ways state lawmakers can boost wages and make New Jersey affordable for all. Big shout out to NJ 101.5’s Eric Scott for moderating a great conversation! [NJ 101.5]

Pets of NJPP

We have another pet from Erik Cruz-Morales! Meet Frida, a.k.a Scrappy-Doo. She enjoys cuddles, bird watching, mandarins — and bowties, apparently. Woof!

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.

Vaccine Doses: 14,405,003
Fully Vaccinated People: 6,840,819
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

41 Percent

More than four in ten children in New Jersey live in households struggling to meet everyday costs, according to the latest ALICE report by United Way of Northern New Jersey. For those unfamiliar with the annual study, ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed, meaning individuals and families who are working but still cannot afford basic necessities like housing, food, child care, and transportation. The new report — and the real people beyond the numbers, like Alicia Quetel who is featured in Tom Moran’s latest column — underscore the need for state lawmakers to do more to support low- and moderate-income families. Our recommendations? Expand and boost the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), raise benefits in WorkFirst NJ, and create a state-level child tax credit. [The Star-Ledger / Tom Moran]

4.1 Million

With Tax Day around the corner (April 18, don’t forget!), families with children are claiming the second half of their expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC) for 2021. The success of and broad support for this policy have yet to persuade members of Congress to renew the CTC’s expansion, however, and millions more children will live in poverty as a result. According to a new analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 4.1 million children will be pushed into poverty if the expanded CTC is not renewed, with Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and Asian children facing higher poverty rates than white children. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities / Chuck Marr]

$600 Million

Speaking of Tax Day, community leaders and undocumented residents rallied in Paterson earlier this week in support of $1 billion in state aid for workers and families excluded from federal pandemic relief. Citing recent NJPP reports, members of Make the Road New Jersey highlighted how undocumented residents in New Jersey pay roughly $600 million in state and local taxes every year — and that undocumented residents paid more than $1 billion into the state’s unemployment fund over the last decade despite being ineligible for unemployment insurance benefits. If that doesn’t sound fair, it’s because it’s not. [NJ Monitor / Sophie Nieto-Munoz]

13

It’s happening! Legal cannabis sales will start next week after the Cannabis Regulatory Commission gave 13 medical marijuana dispensaries the green light to sell to recreational customers. Concerns remain, however, that the state’s alternative treatment centers may not have enough supply to meet pent-up demand, especially for the state’s 130,000 medical marijuana patients. There are also real concerns about equity in the new legal marketplace given that the state’s medical dispensaries are mostly run by white-owned, multi-state corporations. [NJ Monitor / Sophie Nieto-Munoz]

$5 Billion

Some good budget news: Revenue collections from the income, sales, and corporate business taxes continue to come in above projections. In total, state revenues are up by $5 billion from where they were last year. Treasury officials are urging lawmakers to be cautious as collections could flatten, but this is good news nonetheless as it means the state could have more resources to provide direct support to families struggling to make ends meet. [NJ Spotlight News / John Reitmeyer]

ICYMI: The People’s Hearing

Since state lawmakers aren’t planning on holding additional hearings on how to spend federal pandemic relief, we’re holding our own! Join the For The Many NJ coalition this upcoming Tuesday at 10:00 am for a virtual hearing on how state lawmakers should spend the remaining $3 billion in American Rescue Plan funds. This is a historic opportunity to provide direct relief to low-paid working families and those hardest hit by the pandemic, so register now to have your voice heard! We ask that everyone who testifies keep their remarks to three minutes. [For The Many NJ / Facebook Live]

Pets of NJPP

Meet Benny and Timbo, coworking pups of Erik Cruz-Morales! Benny is a very loyal dog who enjoys a good game of tag or fetch. Timbo loves puddles, walking trails, and eating all of the peanut butter. Look out for a picture of Erik’s third dog, Friday, next week. Woof!

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.

Vaccine Doses: 14,424,212
Fully Vaccinated People: ​​6,838,034
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

16.5

Legislative leaders are calling for hearings on the “delayed” start to legal cannabis sales after voters approved legalization on the November 2019 ballot 17 months ago. But is the roll-out of the legal cannabis industry actually that behind? Not really, considering other states that legalized cannabis took an average of 16 and a half months to set up a legal market — and that enabling legislation wasn’t signed into law by Governor Murphy until February 2021, a mere 13 months ago. Members of the Cannabis Regulatory Commission, advocates, and industry representatives alike have defended the delays given the lack of cannabis supply and concerns that a quicker launch would allow multi-state corporations to corner the market. [NJ Monitor / Nikita Biryukov]

Multi-Year

Some exciting budget news (at least for all the budget nerds out there): Senate Budget Chairman Paul Sarlo announced this week that he would like the state to take a multi-year approach to budgeting — a best practice long-recommended by NJPP. In a statement released on Monday, NJPP’s Sheila Reyertson explained why this is the right move: “Multi-year budgeting would move the state away from short-sighted, politically convenient decisions and encourage lawmakers to plan for the future. Looking at revenue collections and spending beyond the current year is the only way for lawmakers to see the full impact of tax and budget decisions and what’s needed to sustainably fund programs that families and communities rely on.” [NJPP / Sheila Reynertson]

15

New Jersey is one of the most diverse states in the nation with one in four households speaking a language other than English at home, yet many important state documents and forms are only required to be printed in one language — English. That may change, however, thanks to a new bill by Senator Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex) that would increase that number to 15 languages. “When people are in need, and especially in crisis, they should be able to connect to the resources available to them,” said Senator Ruiz. “Nothing highlighted this more than these past two years where we saw various obstacles preventing individuals from accessing routine government services.” [NJ Monitor / Sophie Nieto-Munoz]

25 Percent

With control of Congress up for grabs this November, Black women in New Jersey are feeling “politically disconnected and discouraged about their economic prospects,” according to a new poll commissioned by Project Ready New Jersey. Nearly 40 percent of those polled said racial discrimination was the most significant barrier they faced, while one-third said a lack of educational opportunities was an obstacle. “We need our white men and white women to be partners. They hold the wealth and they hold plenty of power,” said Newark Board of Education Member Asia Norton. “We need those from other communities to pour in. They need to say, what do you need?” [NJ.com / Susan Livio]

ICYMI

Harm reduction has been a hot topic in New Jersey over the last year, but the concept is still new to many — both in the state’s halls of power and across the state. Fortunately, HBO’s John Oliver used the latest episode of Last Week Tonight to explain what harm reduction is and why it’s necessary to reduce overdose deaths and support people who use drugs. [The Guardian]

ICYMI 2

Join us in welcoming Hera Mir to the NJPP communications team! As Movement Communications Strategist, Hera will work closely with partners from across the state to develop a people-centered communications strategy for our racial justice policy priorities. [NJPP]

Pets of NJPP

Meet Henry, a big dog with a big heart! He loves pets, his armchair, and stealing tennis balls. Henry also likes to think of himself as a local celebrity and has many fans around his neighborhood. Woof!

Have a fact or figure for us? Tweet it to @NJPolicy.