Category: Friday Facts and Figures

Friday Facts and Figures is a weekly newsletter with data points, analysis, and commentary on the biggest policy debates in New Jersey and beyond​.
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Vaccine Doses: 11,457,302
Fully Vaccinated People: 5,750,280
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

362,000

Over the last two months, New Jersey courts have expunged a whopping 362,000 marijuana cases under the state’s new decriminalization law. This is a big win for social and racial justice — and for the advocates who made sure an automatic expungement process was included in the legalization bill package signed into law earlier this year. But the work isn’t over: according to the state Judiciary, there are up to 150,000 additional marijuana cases that may be expunged over the next few months. Charges eligible for automatic expungement include possession, selling less than one ounce, and related crimes like possession of paraphernalia and being under the influence.  [NJ.com / Amanda Hoover]

12 Million

New Census data dropped earlier this week. The good news? Federal pandemic relief helped millions of families stay afloat during the pandemic, further proving that bold public investments help reduce poverty and keep the economy going. Nearly 12 million people were lifted out of poverty by stimulus checks alone, with millions more helped by unemployment benefits, expanded tax credits, and other assistance. The bad news? Poverty remains far too high in New Jersey — approximately one in ten residents are living in poverty — and federal pandemic relief programs are winding down. [NJPP / Peter Chen]

4 Million

With federal pandemic relief programs expiring, the next couple of months will be pivotal for the nation’s economic recovery. Fortunately, two major proposals in Congress — the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the budget reconciliation bill — would ensure a strong and stable recovery, according to a new analysis of President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda by the Economic Policy Institute. Taken together, the two proposals would pump $4 trillion into the economy over the next decade and create 4 million jobs across the nation. [Economic Policy Institute / Adam Hersh]

$488.7 Million

Now for a budget update: New Jersey revenues are up $488.7 million over August 2020 levels, according to new figures from the state Treasury. Income tax collections are up by 26 percent and corporate business tax revenue is up 46 percent. This is certainly good news, but Treasury officials warn against reading too much into these numbers — they only account for the first two months of the fiscal year. [New Jersey Globe / David Wildstein]

Silenced

Remember when the Atlantic City Council voted on July 21 to close their life-saving syringe exchange? A newly released Zoom chat log from the meeting shows that the council silenced members of the public from testifying in support of the program before the vote occurred. The chat log, released after a public records request, makes clear that the public comment portion of the meeting was cut short before everyone was able to testify. It also shows that some supporters were kicked out of the virtual meeting altogether. [New Jersey Monitor / Terrence McDonald]

ICYMI

Did you miss this week’s Progress 2021 event? If so, you’re in luck — we have a recording of the virtual panel on the NJPP Facebook page. Click the link to hear from health care experts on all the ways health care has and will continue to change due to the pandemic. [NJPP / Progress 2021]

Pets of NJPP

Meet Lola (left) and Sasha (right), co-working pups of Tanuja Dehne. Born in South Carolina, Lola and Sasha joined the Dehne family after being adopted from the Home For Good Dogs Rescue in Union County. They love to chase critters out of the backyard, bark at their neighbor dogs, and snuggle up on the couch. Their favorite snacks are cucumbers and whatever lands on the floor. 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: 11,293,164
Fully Vaccinated People: 5,677,386
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

Uneven

We already knew that the pandemic disproportionately harmed people of color and low-paid workers; now, a new report by NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Vineeta Kapahi finds that the state’s recovery is leaving these same residents behind. The report notes that New Jersey’s labor market is still well below pre-pandemic levels: the state has only recovered 62 percent of the jobs lost at the onset of COVID-19, with Black and Latinx/Hispanic workers disproportionately represented among the state’s unemployment claims. Watch report author Vineeta Kapahi break down the report findings on New Jersey’s uneven recovery here on NJ Spotlight News. [NJ Spotlight News / Briana Vannozzi]

27

President Joe Biden visited Somerset County on Tuesday to assess Hurricane Ida’s damage and meet with families harmed by the storm. On the same day, the Biden administration requested $14 billion from Congress to help states recover from the extreme weather event. Ida has killed at least 27 people in New Jersey, more than in any other state, with several people still missing. “The nation and the world are in peril,” said President Biden on the threat of climate change. “And that’s not hyperbole. That is a fact.” [The New York Times / Katie Rogers, Juliet Macur, Anne Barnard, et al.]

January 1

Earlier this week, the state Division on Civil Rights published new rules prohibiting landlords from asking a tenant about their criminal background in applications for housing. This brings New Jersey one step closer to implementing the Fair Chance in Housing Act, a landmark housing law set to take effect on January 1. Building on the Fair Housing Act of 1968, this law will extend protections against discrimination to those with a criminal record. The state is accepting comments on the rules through November 6; click the link for more info on how to submit comments. [NJ Spotlight News / Colleen O’Dea]

1 Percent

New Jersey has a reputation for being a high-tax state, but is that conventional wisdom backed up by the data? According to NJ Spotlight News’ John Reitmeyer, it’s not so simple. Yes, lawmakers raised taxes during Governor Murphy’s first term, but those taxes were targeted at the top 1 percent of earners and big, profitable corporations — not middle- or working-class families. The high-tax narrative also ignores that the state has also cut taxes for far more residents, especially those with the lowest incomes. “When people describe a state as being ‘high tax,’ it’s always important to ask ‘high tax for whom?’” said Dylan Grundman O’Neill, a senior state-policy analyst with the Institute on Tax and Economic Policy. [NJ Spotlight News / John Reitmeyer]

#PassTheRFA

In a new op-ed, Governor Phil Murphy and Senator Loretta Weinberg call on state lawmakers to pass the Reproductive Freedom Act to protect access to abortion for all, regardless of income or immigration status. The bill, long-stalled in the Legislature, has yet to receive a single hearing or vote. “This legislation says plainly to all New Jerseyans: You have a right to make decisions with your doctors,” write Governor Murphy and Senator Weinberg. “You have a right to access lifesaving health care. You have a right to choose.” [NJ.com / Governor Phil Murphy and Senator Loretta Weinberg]

ICYMI

Join health experts from across the state for the final Progress 2021 event of the year: How COVID is Changing Health Care. Featuring Senator Joe Vitale, Shereef Elnahal of University Hospital, and Linda Schwimmer of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute, this conversation will cover how health care has — and will continue to — change in response to the pandemic. Click the link to register! [NJPP / Progress 2021]

Pets of NJPP

Some sad news: the NJPP extended family recently lost a furry friend. Lucky, co-working pup of Anne Songcayauon, loved hiking through the Palisades Interstate Park, sleeping in small hidden spaces, and howling alongside the neighborhood fire alarms. Sorry for your loss, Anne!

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: 11,180,881
Fully Vaccinated People: 5,621,039
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

25

At least 25 people in New Jersey have died as a result of Hurricane Ida, making the storm one of the deadliest on record in the state. Tragically, the death toll is expected to rise in the coming days as rescuers are still searching for six people reported missing. This should act as a reminder to take flood warnings seriously — all of the reported deaths were a result of flooding in cars or homes, according to Governor Murphy. And make no mistake, climate change is making storms like Ida more extreme. Yes, taking action on climate comes at a cost, but as this storm showed us, the cost of inaction is far, far greater. [NJ.com / Anthony Attrino]

1,626

On top of a deadly storm and the ongoing pandemic, New Jersey is also facing a rising overdose crisis. In the first six months of the year, 1,626 New Jersey residents died of a drug overdose, according to new data published by the state’s Attorney General. If this pace continues, New Jersey will experience a record-breaking number of overdose deaths in 2021. Fortunately, overdose deaths are often preventable — but only with the right policies in place. For New Jersey, that means divesting from the drug war and, instead, investing in harm reduction, which is one of the few proven ways to save lives. [NJ Spotlight News / Lilo Stainton]

6

Texas’s draconian six-week abortion ban went into effect earlier this week after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to block it. This represents the latest attack on reproductive health in what’s been the most hostile legislative year for abortion rights since Roe v. Wade was decided nearly 50 years ago. But even in progressive states like New Jersey, access to abortion care is often in name only, as persistent financial and procedural barriers remain. [NJ Spotlight News / Joanna Gagis]

3,300

New Jersey workers filed more than 3,300 health and safety complaints against their employers since November, according to data obtained by WNYC from the state Department of Labor. The complaints — ranging from a lack of PPE to companies allowing COVID-positive employees to continue working — highlight the tough choices workers have had to make during the pandemic. “We are all scared to go in, but if we don’t, we will be fired,” a worker at a mortgage firm in Shrewsbury wrote in a complaint. This underscores the need for stronger workplace protections and stronger labor law enforcement. [Gothamist / Karen Yi]

Redistricting

In August, New Jersey became the latest state to end prison gerrymandering, ensuring that people who are incarcerated will be counted as residents of their address prior to incarceration. Previously, people who are incarcerated were counted as residents of their facility, but this produced distortions in population and electoral representation, giving outsized influence to communities where prisons were built at the expense of communities disproportionately harmed by mass incarceration. Click the link to see NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Peter Chen’s latest report (with interactive maps!) showing which districts will be impacted the most by this new law. [NJPP / Peter Chen]

ICYMI

To commemorate Overdose Awareness Day this past Tuesday, NJPP President Brandon McKoy and Drug Policy Alliance Executive Director Kassandra Frederique called on federal lawmakers to end the failed War on Drugs. The joint op-ed in the New York Daily News makes the connection between the overdose crisis and our current criminal approach to drug use. “The truth is that the criminalization of drugs is driving the overdose crisis,” Brandon and Kassandra write. [New York Daily News / Brandon McKoy and Kassandra Frederique]

Pets of NJPP

No one sent me pet pics for today! Normally I’d be a little bit disappointed, but I’ll give you all a pass this week given the tornados and flooding. In lieu of a new pet, please enjoy this picture of my cat, Mau.

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: 11,005,193
Fully Vaccinated People: 5,526,890
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

5th

Big news from last week: New Jersey is now the fifth state in the nation to ban or limit jails from entering into new contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The new law, signed by Governor Murphy last Friday, does not impact existing contracts with ICE, but it forbids detention facilities, both public and private, from renewing or extending existing immigration detention agreements. This is a big step toward creating a fair and welcoming state for all residents, regardless of where they were born, and would not be possible without years of advocacy by immigrants’ rights groups. As NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Vineeta Kapahi reported earlier this year, New Jersey’s immigrant detention facilities are infamous for unsanitary conditions, medical neglect, and human rights violations. [NJ.com / Brent Johnson]

6th

New Jersey is the sixth most diverse state in the nation, according to the latest Census figures for 2020. The U.S. Census Bureau’s diversity index measures how likely two people chosen at random would be from different racial or ethnic groups. By this metric, Jersey City is the state’s most diverse city and Middlesex is the most diverse county, with Essex coming in a close second. Understanding this diversity should help inform policy decisions and implementation. “Language outreach, for example, is one area where programs need to improve, especially outside of English and Spanish,” NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Peter Chen told NJ Spotlight News. [NJ Spotlight News / Colleen O’Dea]

$42.5 Million

It’s a widely known fact that trickle-down tax cuts fail to benefit workers and their communities, but that hasn’t stopped state lawmakers from expanding corporate tax break programs here in New Jersey. A newly signed expansion of the Urban Enterprize Zone (UEZ) program, which exempts companies in low-income communities from paying some taxes and allows them to charge half of the state sales tax, will appropriate $42.5 million for development projects, business loans, and other programs. “[D]on’t expect these reforms to generate tangible benefits for families living in the targeted zones,” NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Sheila Reynerston said. “It’s a tax break for businesses, plain and simple.” [New Jersey Monitor / Nikita Biryukov]

8.3 Cents

Speaking of tax cuts, the gas tax will drop 8.3 cents per gallon starting October 1. This change is a result of legislation passed in 2016 which allowed the gas tax to automatically adjust to meet an annual revenue target of $2 billion. This is the first time the tax was automatically lowered under the 2016 law; this was made possible by more drivers on the road over the past year. And as a reminder, the 2016 gas tax law also cut the sales tax by a fraction of a penny and fully eliminated the estate tax — two tax cuts that continue to disproportionately benefit the wealthiest residents in the state. [New Jersey Monitor / Nikita Biryukov]

6

One of New Jersey’s only needle exchange programs, the Oasis Drop-In Center in Atlantic City, is set to close in six weeks after the city council voted to shut down the program earlier this summer. The council voted to close the program despite the city health director’s recommendation that it remain open — and despite decades of research showing how harm reduction services are the most powerful tools for preventing overdose deaths, the spread of HIV, and connecting people who use drugs to treatment. It’s now up to state lawmakers to #SaveOasis, expand harm reduction across the state, and take the politics out of public health decisions. [The Press of Atlantic City / Molly Shelly]

ICYMI

NJPP’s pivot to video is finally here! Click the link to watch NJPP’s Peter Chen break down his latest report on the Census and what it means for redistricting. We’re also on TikTok now, so please follow us there if you have an account, and please bear with us as we learn how to use the platform — including how to dance. [NJPP / Peter Chen]

Pets of NJPP

Meet Tiger, the co-working cat of Mark Weber, NJPP’s Special Analyst for Education Policy. Tiger is 17 years young and loves bird watching. A Florida native, Tiger is also more proof that tax flight is a myth (just teasing, obviously, because anecdotes — like surveys from moving companies — are not the same as data). 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: 10,842,254
Fully Vaccinated People: 5,453,696
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

Maps!

Calling all map nerds! In his first-ever report for NJPP, Senior Policy Analyst Peter Chen breaks down the latest Census figures — and what they mean for redistricting — with interactive maps at the county, congressional district, and state legislative district levels. All in all, New Jersey is growing, both in numbers and diversity, but that growth is not uniform across the state. Click the link to see where New Jersey is growing fastest and which districts will need to add and shed population. [NJPP / Peter Chen]

5 Percent

This week marks the 25th anniversary of welfare “reform,” which replaced the nation’s largest cash assistance program, Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). The new program came with new restrictions — namely onerous work requirements and a five year limit on receiving benefits — resulting in lower cash assistance levels and fewer families receiving help. And under TANF, states are not required to use the federal funds for cash assistance; in New Jersey, for example, only 5 percent of TANF funds went towards cash assistance to families living in poverty. [The Philadelphia Inquirer / Alfred Lubrano]

27 Percent

The Biden administration will boost food assistance benefits by 27 percent starting October 1, representing the biggest-ever increase in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This policy change will benefit 42 million people who currently receive SNAP, or approximately one out of eight residents across the nation. Before the pandemic, the average monthly SNAP benefit was $121; that will increase by $36 thanks to this change. [CBS News / Aimee Picchi]

$252 Million

Unemployment insurance benefits were a lifeline to millions of New Jersey workers who lost income during the pandemic — but the surge in jobless claims has depleted the state’s unemployment trust fund. Now, business and industry groups are calling on the state to use federal pandemic relief funds to replenish the fund, starting with $252 million this year, instead of paying for it through a small increase in the employer-paid unemployment insurance tax. As NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Sheila Reynertson told New Jersey Monitor, federal pandemic relief funds would be better spent helping individuals and families harmed by the pandemic. [New Jersey Monitor / Sophie Nieto-Munoz]

Safe Haven

New Jersey could be a safe haven for abortion access if Roe v. Wade is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court — but only if state lawmakers pass the Reproductive Freedom Act (RFA). The bill, which would not only codify Roe in state law but also expand access to abortion care, has languished in the state legislature without a vote despite broad public support. Click the link for a thorough breakdown on what the RFA would do and why it’s needed. [Rewire News / Nina Henry]

ICYMI

NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Brittany Holom-Trundy joined New Jersey Citizen Action for a virtual panel discussion on TANF, its racist history, and how New Jersey’s cash assistance program fails to reach all families in deep poverty as a result. [New Jersey Citizen Action / Facebook Live]

Pets of NJPP

We have two pets this week! Say hello to Bear (left) and Lucky (right), co-working pups of New Jersey Citizen Action’s Dena Mottola Jaborska. Bear and Lucky love to play fight and snuggle with one another. They also enjoy hanging out in Stacey Park in Trenton with the other neighborhood dogs. 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: 10,714,661
Fully Vaccinated People: 5,398,012
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

9.29 Million

It’s official: New Jersey is much bigger — and more diverse — than it was ten years ago! This is according to new Census data, released yesterday, outlining where New Jersey’s 9.29 residents live. The state’s urban areas and densest counties, namely Essex and Hudson, fueled most of the population growth while New Jersey’s rural and southern counties actually lost population. Taken as a whole, New Jersey continues to grow despite erroneous claims of residents “fleeing” the state. Look out for a deep dive in the new Census numbers, and what they mean for redistricting, next week by NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Peter Chen. [NJ Spotlight News / Colleen O’Dea]

Positive

Earlier this week, Fitch Ratings upgraded New Jersey’s credit outlook from “negative” to “positive” in response to the state’s improving finances and the full pension payment included in the latest state budget. This should serve as more proof that raising revenue through progressive tax policy is good for the state’s fiscal health. For context, New Jersey received 11 credit downgrades during the Christie administration — a record number of downgrades under any one governor in the nation’s history — as the state cut taxes and, as a result, fell behind on meeting the state’s pension payments. For the state to upgrade its credit rating, Fitch recommends that lawmakers continue to bolster New Jersey’s reserves in future budgets. [NJ.com / Samantha Marcus]

SALT

There’s a renewed push in Congress, led by Rep. Josh Gottheimer, to reinstate the full state and local tax (SALT) deduction, which was capped at $10,000 in 2017. The problem? The SALT deduction disproportionately benefits wealthy families, with the top one percent of earners receiving the largest tax break if the SALT cap is fully repealed. Instead, federal lawmakers should consider alternatives to a full repeal, such as raising the cap or limiting how much high-earners could deduct. “When it comes to the topic of SALT, the facts are really straightforward,” NJPP President Brandon McKoy told New Jersey Monitor. “Lawmakers can pursue repeal, just don’t say it’s progressive policy or advancing equity.” [New Jersey Monitor / Daniel Vock]

$4.2 Million

This week, Acting Governor Sheila Oliver signed into law a new two-year pilot program to help young people reintegrate into their communities after leaving juvenile detention. Camden, Newark, Paterson, and Trenton will receive a portion of the $4.2 million allocated under the new program to create support service hubs that will offer mentoring, substance abuse treatment, and employment services. This pilot program marks an important shift away from punishment and toward restorative justice. As it stands, New Jersey spends $53 million on juvenile detention centers compared to a mere $16 million on youth community programs. [WHYY / P. Kenneth Burns]

3,046

The nation’s criminal justice approach to substance use and addiction isn’t backed up by any hard science or evidence, writes Bridgeton Mayor Albert Kelly highlights in a new op-ed. This is reflected in the ongoing overdose crisis, which claimed the lives of 3,046 New Jersey residents in 2020. Current research is showing us that drug addiction has less to do with substances themselves, and more to do with addictive behavior, especially when compared to non-drug “addictions” — such as food, gambling, and social media. This insight can help dictate the next steps in fighting the overdose crisis by utilizing compassion-driven, trauma-informed care and a public health approach to drug use through harm reduction services and decriminalizing all drugs. [NJ.com / Albert B. Kelly]

ICYMI

Did you know the word “taxpayer” has racist roots? A mainstay in modern political debate, the term was originally used during Reconstruction to derail policies implemented by recently freed Black lawmakers in southern state legislatures as intrinsically corrupt. Today, the word remains coded for white people — especially homeowners and business owners — even though we all pay taxes. [In The Public Interest / Jeremy Mohler]

Pets of NJPP

No one sent me any pictures of their pets this week (don’t worry, I’m not mad, just disappointed), so here’s another photo of NJPP President Brandon McKoy’s dog, Scout. 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: 10,584,547
Fully Vaccinated People: 5,341,516
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

Masks

Governor Murphy is set to announce later today that students in grades K-12 will be required to wear masks at the start of the school year. This announcement follows new guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that everyone in K-12 schools wear masks to prevent the spread of the Delta variant. With cases once again on the rise, and children under the age of 12 not yet eligible for vaccines, masks should allow for schools to open in person this fall while keeping students and their families safe. [NJ.com / Matt Arco and Brent Johnson]

232,000

Big housing news — Governor Murphy signed landmark legislation earlier this week to extend the state’s eviction moratorium, increase legal protections for tenants, and provide relief to renters and landlords alike. There’s a lot in this bill package, but here are the highlights: For renters earning less than 120 percent of their county’s median income, missed rental payments through August 31, 2021 will be converted to civil debt and eviction cases will be dismissed in court. These same protections will last through the end of the year for renters earning less than 80 percent of their county’s median income. The new laws also allocate $500 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds toward missed rental payments, and $250 million to cover missed utility payments. These reforms, championed by housing advocates for more than a year, should go a long way toward helping the 232,000 residents currently behind on rent. [NorthJersey.com / Ashley Balcerzak]

7.5 Million

When millions of workers lost their jobs due to the pandemic, expanded federal unemployment benefits kept families afloat and out of poverty. Unless these programs are extended, approximately 7.5 million workers will lose all of their pandemic unemployment assistance on Labor Day, September 6, when the programs are set to expire. This figure includes an estimated 392,644 New Jerseyans. If this sounds really bad, that’s because it is. [The Century Foundation / Andrew Stettner]

20

August 3 marked Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, a day that highlights the amount of time it takes the average Black woman to earn the same amount a non-Hispanic white man made in 2020 — a staggering 20 months. Not only are Black women making less than their white male counterparts for comparable work in general, but Black women also saw lower wages for essential front-line work and higher rates of job loss during the pandemic. [Economic Policy Institute / Valerie Wilson]

Excluded

New research from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities shows that Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) consistently excluded Black women over the last 25 years. Although New Jersey stands at the higher end of the spectrum for TANF payments at $559 per month for a family of three, Black and Hispanic/Latinx families have been regularly cut off from receiving benefits due to arbitrary behavioral requirements such as drug tests. The report also outlines how states can remove restrictive requirements for Black families to receive assistance, as well as recalibrate policies to make assistance more equitable. [New Jersey Monitor / Ariana Figueroa]

ICYMI 1

The NJPP team keeps growing! If you’re an analyst looking for work at the intersection of transportation and environmental policy, our newest job posting may be for you! We’re also fast approaching the application deadline for our Movement Communications Strategist position for all you communications pros out there. [NJPP / Career Opportunities]

ICYMI 2

Big congratulations to NJPP President Brandon McKoy and NJPP Board Chair Marcia Marley for being named two of the state’s top policy minds by Insider NJ! This year’s Insider 100: Policymakers list also includes many of our partners, including some whose pets have been featured here, so make sure to give it a read! [Insider NJ]

Pets of NJPP

Meet Zoey, rescue cat of Margaret Illis of NJ7 Forward! Margaret told the rescue that she preferred cats “with personality” and Zoey certainly has that. She has never met a person she didn’t bite, and she regularly deposits headless presents on the doorstep. One time, she joined the Illis family during dinner on the patio with an enormous flapping bird in her mouth. She happily ate puzzle pieces during the pandemic, but now prefers harassing the Illis family’s pandemic pup. 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: 10,430,884
Fully Vaccinated People: 5,276,579
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

$4 Billion

How should New Jersey spend $4 billon in federal pandemic relief from the American Rescue Plan? That was the big question in Trenton this week as the Murphy administration hosted virtual hearings on how to use the state’s remaining federal relief funds. According to NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Sheila Reynertson, the state can make the most of this opportunity by using the funds to dismantle the racial, gender, and economic inequities laid bare by COVID-19. In practice, that means strengthening the social safety net, providing direct cash assistance to residents who need it most (including immigrant workers and their families), supporting low-paid essential workers with bonus pay, and investing in health care services in underserved areas. [NJPP / Sheila Reynertson]

$300

The 25 states that have taken away all or some of the expanded unemployment insurance benefits have not seen an increase in employment, according to a new study by economist Arindrajit Dube. This pokes a huge hole into the business-lobby talking point that the extra $300 weekly benefit is disincentivizing people from working. “Political and business leaders need to ditch their stale economic views and understand that relief programs and benefits are not a significant disincentive to work and do not hurt our economy,” NJPP President Brandon McKoy told ROI-NJ. [ROI-NJ / Tom Bergeron]

3

After years of advocacy by immigrants’ rights groups, driver’s license expansion took effect three months ago — but many undocumented immigrants are having trouble obtaining a license from the state Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC). In addition to limited appointment opportunities due to a backlog of MVC appointments, some potential new drivers have been turned away, denied translators, and asked to provide tax documents that aren’t required. According to Hera Mir of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, it all “feels like discriminatory behavior.” [New Jersey Monitor / Sophie Nieto-Munoz]

Unsatisfactory

The state is set to hire a new health benefits coordinator for NJ FamilyCare — a critical player in administering health programs for residents with low incomes, seniors, and people living with disabilities. One applicant for the position, MAXIMUS, should not be considered for the role given their long history of unsatisfactory performance as well as multiple labor law and wage theft violations. Read this op-ed from NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Brittany Holom-Trundy on all the reasons why MAXIMUS should be disqualified for receiving any state contract, let alone one this important. [NJ Spotlight News / Brittany Holom-Trundy]

26 Million

Since the Fight for $15 movement began almost nine years ago, 11 states and 45 localities have adopted $15 minimum wage legislation — including New Jersey! As a result, 26 million workers have experienced a boost in pay, totaling an additional $150 billion in income. Now it’s up to Congress to raise the federal minimum wage, which hasn’t budged from $7.25 since July 2009. [NELP / Yannet Lathrop, T. William Lester, and Matthew Wilson]

ICYMI

Last night, NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Peter Chen joined New Jersey 101.5 for a live town hall to discuss the state’s pandemic recovery and how businesses can attract workers. Click the link for a recording of the conversation, where Peter points out that many of the businesses having trouble finding workers are the same ones that pay the least and have the highest risk of COVID-19 exposure. [New Jersey 101.5] 

Pets of NJPP

Today’s pet comes from Cassie Davis of Texas Appleseed! Cassie’s co-working cat Finn is a 4-year-old brown tabby who loves progressive policy, whether it’s in New Jersey or the Lone Star State. He LOVES water and will stand in his water bowl or ask for the kitchen sink to be turned on so he can splash around. Finn also loves sun bathing and chatting with his friends outside (most of his friends are birds and squirrels). Finn was adopted right before the pandemic and has brought lots of joy to his family during this tough time. 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: 10,301,669
Fully Vaccinated People: 5,195,284
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

Shut Down

On Wednesday, the Atlantic City Council voted to shut down the Oasis Drop-In Center, the city’s only syringe exchange and one of only seven in the entire state. Run by the South Jersey AIDS Alliance, the syringe exchange provides lifesaving harm reduction services to prevent overdose deaths, stop the spread of HIV/AIDS, and connect people who use drugs to treatment when they’re ready for it. The council voted to shut down Oasis despite an outpouring of support by Atlantic City residents, harm reduction advocates, and public health and medical professionals who warned that people will die as a result of this. And, as Filter Magazine reports here, the council did not allow the CEO of Oasis to testify in what was a truly chaotic meeting. [The Press of Atlantic City / Molly Shelly]

Most Desired

This may come as a surprise to some (especially those who love to cite random moving van companies to “prove” people are “fleeing” the state), but it turns out progressive tax policy is good for the state’s finances. According to a new analysis by Bloomberg, New Jersey was one of the worst performers in the bond market over the last decade. Now, after Governor Murphy raised taxes on millionaires and big corporations, the state’s debt is “the nation’s most desired by investors since 2018.” New Jersey is one of only seven states with an improving economy over the last three-and-a-half years, and out of those states, New Jersey is the only one that’s a national leader in public education and health care. NJPP’s analysts would never say “I told you so,” but I have no problem saying it: We told you so. [Bloomberg / Matthew Winkler]

$500

Starting this month, families with children will receive up to $500 in property tax rebates from the state. Home owners and renters alike will receive the benefit as part of the deal Governor Murphy struck with legislative leaders last year to implement a millionaires’ tax. One big flaw with the checks: Only families who earn enough to pay income taxes qualify for them. “It’s really too bad that those who don’t file taxes are being left behind,” NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Sheila Reynertson told News 12. “We’re talking about people who make too little to owe any taxes, they are not getting any of this tax credit.” [News 12 / Alex Zdan]

18

Here’s a big policy win from this year’s budget that’s mostly flown under the radar: New Jersey has expanded its Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to workers between the ages of 18 and 20, and to workers over 65. These changes will make New Jersey’s program — which is already one of the best in the country — even stronger. The tax credit, meant to boost the income of low-paid workers, will also be supplemented by a new, temporary expansion to the federal tax credit under the American Rescue Plan. Some residents remain left behind by the program’s eligibility requirements, however, namely those who file taxes using an Independent Tax Identification Number (ITIN). [NJPP / Vineeta Kapahi]

10

New Jersey is now the first state in the nation with a plan — and dedicated source of funding — to replace all lead water pipes within the next 10 years. The landmark legislation, signed into law by Governor Murphy on Thursday, marks a shift away from piecemeal approaches towards more comprehensive solutions to lead poisoning. “The new laws recognize that lead is a problem across housing infrastructure, including both water infrastructure and paint,” said NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Peter Chen. “We are one step closer to ending lead’s toxic legacy in our state thanks to this legislation.” [NorthJersey.com / Dustin Racioppi]

ICYMI

The United States spends billions of public dollars in ways that threaten our shared futures when we could be funding education instead. NJPP’s Mark Weber contributed to this new, interactive tool to show what reallocating these funds can do for our students and communities. Check it out! [Fund Education Instead] 

Pets of NJPP

Meet Duke, a 6-year-old lab mix adopted by NJPP’s Sheila Reynertson just a few weeks ago. His file from the rescue describes him as “an active potato.” Basically, Duke loves his early morning walks as much as his afternoon naps. And he is a big talker! When you grab the leash for a walk, he makes deep heaving sounds and gets all wiggly. When Duke sees another dog, he lets out a really loud bark to greet his canine cousin. And his happy yelps show up when he meets new people. Woof!

 

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Vaccine Doses: 10,205,616
Fully Vaccinated People: 5,150,751
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

1.6 Million

This is a milestone week! On Thursday, the first payments of the expanded Child Tax Credit went out to families with children across the country. The monthly payments — up to $300 per child — were a key pillar of the American Rescue Plan and will help millions of families, including 1.6 million in New Jersey, cover the costs of raising kids. As NJPP’s Vineeta Kapahi notes here, the benefit will expire after one year, so it’s now up to Congress to make it permanent. And, as NJPP’s Peter Chen highlights here, up to 55,000 kids in New Jersey may miss out on the payment because the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may not have their information on file; that can and should be addressed with state-funded outreach campaigns. [NorthJersey.com / Ashley Balcerzak]

3 Million

How many New Jersey residents live in poverty? According to the Federal Poverty Line (FPL), the metric often used to determine eligibility for safety net programs: 800,000 New Jerseyans. This number, representing more than 9 percent of the population, is pretty high — but it is also severely undercounts the state’s true level of poverty. According to a new landmark report by Legal Services of New Jersey, nearly 3 million New Jersey residents live in poverty once you account for the state’s cost of living. Click the link for a summary of the report and why the one-size-fits-all FPL falls short of measuring true poverty. [NJ Spotlight News / Joanna Gagis]

Little-to-No

Last month, ProPublica released an explosive investigative report detailing how many of the nation’s wealthiest individuals pay little-to-no income tax each year. This happens because the federal tax code is outdated and no longer reflects how the nation’s richest people earn most of their money: capital gains, dividends, and “pass-through” income. To address these flaws in the tax code, a new report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities recommends federal lawmakers 1) make unrealized capital gains taxable each year, 2) reduce tax breaks tied to the income of the wealthiest households, and 3) bolster other taxes that fall heavily on wealthy households, like the corporate income and estate taxes. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities / Chuck Marr]

1 in 4

Nearly one in four adults across the country struggle with paying for the prescription medicine they need. To rein in the cost of prescription drugs, federal lawmakers — including Rep. Andy Kim (NJ-3) — are championing legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate lower prescription prices. NJPP’s Brittany Holom-Trundy joined Rep. Kim at a press conference earlier this week, where she made the point that, “When added on top of other inequities, [unaffordable prescription drugs] worsen disparities and further harm public health across the state.” [NJ Spotlight News / Melissa Rose Cooper]

88,000

More than 88,000 marijuana cases have been dismissed under New Jersey’s new marijuana legalization and decriminalization laws. This brings thousands of residents and their families one step closer to living their lives without a criminal record. According to the state judiciary, an additional 270,000 cases will be dismissed over the next few months. One important caveat: vacated and dismissed cases still need to be expunged, but the state will begin the expungement process in the next few months, according to the judiciary. [NJ.com / Susan Livio and Brent Johnson]

Job Alert!

The NJPP team is growing — want to be a part of it? We are currently looking for a Movement Communications Strategist to develop and execute a long-term communications plan for a new racial justice coalition that we’re a part of. Think you have the vision and skills to take this on? Click the link for info on the position (including salary range) and how to apply. [NJPP / Career Opportunities]

ICYMI

Big congrats to NJPP President Brandon McKoy! This week, Brandon was named to NJBIZ’s Next Generation of Leaders for 2021, as well as Insider NJ’s Insider 100: Cannabis Power List, which also featured Jenna Mellor, author of NJPP’s latest drug policy report. Congrats to Brandon, Jenna, and all of our friends and partners featured on both lists! [Insider NJ] [NJBIZ]

Pets of NJPP

Meet Maisie, Dan Goldman’s 2-year-old Great Pyrenees mix that his family adopted in February (Maisie’s “sister” Sandy is sleeping in the background.) She loves to play fetch and she’s very good at destroying “indestructible” chew toys. Now that the state is safely opening back up, Dan would like to plan a get-together for all of the “Pets of NJPP” so they can meet and play — and maybe set an agenda for a more pet-friendly New Jersey! #VetCare4All

 

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