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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$1 Billion

New Jersey is projected to collect $1 billion less revenue through the end of the next fiscal year than the Murphy administration is forecasting, according to the non-partisan Office of Legislative Services. These projections mirror those in other states showing strong revenue collections from the last few years were temporary, highlighting the need for states to be strengthening their tax bases — not cutting taxes for big, multinational corporations as Governor Murphy proposed in his budget. This $1 billion drop in revenue is also the same amount of revenue New Jersey would lose every year by cutting the corporate tax rate — go figure! [NJ Spotlight News / John Reitmeyer]

$10 Trillion

On the federal level, a new report finds that tax cuts for wealthy individuals and profitable corporations — not spending increases — are primarily responsible for federal debt. Since 2001, the Bush tax cuts and Trump tax cuts added $10 trillion to the federal debt, and without these tax cuts, revenues would be on track to keep pace with spending indefinitely. Remember this the next time business lobbyists (or the “think tanks” they fund) say that cutting taxes for corporations will lead to more tax revenue. [Center for American Progress / Bobby Kogan]

3

Earlier this week, lawmakers in both chambers passed legislation to increase caps on campaign donations, limit investigations of campaigns, and gut local pay-to-play ordinances — a bill ironically named the Election Transparency Act. In response to the bill’s passing, all three commissioners of the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) resigned in protest, saying the legislation would take away the agency’s independence and remove its ability to enforce campaign finance laws. “If this bill passes, the biggest donors, the biggest business interests are going to have even more control over what is going on in our daily lives,” said Arati Kreibich, Director of Democracy Organizing at the New Jersey Working Families Alliance. [NJ Monitor / Nikita Biryukov]

225,000

New Jersey is short 225,000 affordable housing units, according to a new report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition. The report found that for every 100 extremely low-income renters in the state, there are only 31 affordable apartments available to them. This problem is exacerbated by skyrocketing rent prices, which have increased more than 20 percent in most counties since the start of the pandemic. “There’s been more investment than ever before to create the affordable homes our state needs,” said Staci Berger, president and CEO of the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey. “Now is not the time to take our foot off the gas pedal.” [NJ.com / Camille Furst]

ICYMI

In a new op-ed in The Star-Ledger, a Bergen County teacher highlights how the mass exodus of teachers — not ChatGPT and AI — is one of the biggest threats to public education. Citing an NJPP report on the state’s teacher shortage, Ahlam Yassin highlights how the number of teacher candidates graduating from New Jersey colleges is less than half of what it was a few years ago. [NJ.com / Ahlam Yassin]

Pets of NJPP

Sorry, no pet picture this week! Want your pet featured? Shoot me an email with a photo and some fun facts: dipaolo@njpp.org.

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.

55 Percent

Paterson police disproportionately use force against Black people, according to a new analysis of statewide data by NJ Spotlight News. Between October 2020 and February of this year, 55 percent of reported use of force — including takedowns, kicks and punches, and use of pepper spray and firearms — involved a Black person, even though a mere 23 percent of city residents are Black. Since 2015, Paterson police have shot and killed more people than any other police force in the state other than Newark. In the wake of the tragic police killing of Najee Seabrooks, community groups and social justice advocates have called for a federal investigation of the Paterson police department. [NJ Spotlight News / Colleen O’Dea]

1

North Jersey is the most competitive rental market in the country, according to a new analysis released last week. The study found that the North Jersey region — including 145 municipalities across Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Passaic Counties — has an occupancy rate of nearly 97 percent, with an estimated 72 percent of renters renewing their leases. Remember this the next time someone cites a random moving company as “proof” that people are fleeing the state. This isn’t all good news, however, as the lack of housing supply has driven up rent prices, stretching budgets thin. [NorthJersey.com / Daniel Munoz]

Working Moms

State lawmakers should prioritize policies that benefit working families, like expanding the Child Tax Credit, instead of giving a $1 billion tax cut to corporations like Amazon and Walmart, writes Mariela Silva, a member of Make the Road New Jersey and working mom who benefitted from the new state-level credit passed last year. While Governor Murphy’s budget proposal would double the existing credit for children under six, it does not expand eligibility to children up to 11 years old, as proposed earlier this year by Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson. Legislators can still choose to expand eligibility in their budget proposal, but that will be difficult if they also choose to blow a billion-dollar hole in the budget by cutting the corporate tax rate. [Insider NJ / Mariela Silva]

1,000

New Jersey has more than 1,000 miles of freight rail lines where trains carry hazardous and volatile materials past homes, schools, parks, and Main Streets across the state. Want to know what they’re carrying? Good luck — it’s a secret, and this lack of transparency leaves local governments, first responders, and residents unprepared for rail catastrophes like the recent derailment in East Palestine. And it’s not a matter of if a derailment will happen, but when: New Jersey has averaged four train accidents per month over the last four years. [NJ Monitor / Dana DiFilippo]

ICYMI

Earlier this week, lawmakers quietly introduced a bill that would radically transform New Jersey’s corporate business tax code and give another big tax cut to multi-national corporations. Specifically, the bill would open up new loopholes that will make it much easier for corporations to off-shore their profits to international tax havens. We’re working on an analysis breaking this all down, but in the meantime check out this thread for more info. [Twitter / Louis Di Paolo]

Pets of NJPP

Here’s a picture of my cat, Mau, trying to break into a box of treats. Could you imagine if cats had thumbs? 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.

911

On Thursday, the Office of the Attorney General released body camera footage from the police killing of Najee Seabrooks, a violence intervention specialist in Paterson who called 911 for help while experiencing a mental health emergency. The chilling video clips show heavily armed officers negotiating with Najee, trying to lure him outside of the bathroom he locked himself in, with their guns drawn and pointed at him. Minutes after officers told Najee that they weren’t going to shoot him, they opened fire and shot him dead. In response to the footage, advocates and policy experts across the state have called for an overhaul of how mental health crises are handled — highlighting how this tragedy is a symptom of a bigger, systemic policy failure. “What outcome should we expect when someone in crisis is met with police armed for war with their guns drawn?” said NJPP President Nicole Rodriguez. “Our system failed Najee, just as it continues to fail our Black and brown neighbors who put their lives in jeopardy when they call 911 for help.” [WHYY / Tennyson Donyea]

1,700

In an op-ed published Wednesday, Zellie Thomas of Black Lives Matter Paterson called on state lawmakers to divert mental health crisis calls away from police and toward trained mental health professionals. The evidence that the police killing of Najee isn’t an isolated incident? Since 2016, more than 1,700 people were killed by police while experiencing a mental health emergency, according to a Washington Post database. In successful alternative response programs across the country — including the Paterson Healing Collective that Najee was a member of — trained professionals and EMTs provide immediate assistance to people experiencing mental health crises and other non-emergency situations, significantly reducing the number of arrests and hospitalizations. By removing police from mental health crisis responses, New Jersey can save lives and connect people to the care and support they need. [NJ Monitor / Zellie Thomas]

Fees

There is one area where New Jersey is leading the way in criminal justice reform: Eliminating public defender fees. Governor Murphy’s new budget proposal includes funding for the Office of the Public Defender that would eliminate public defender fees and make sure the constitutional right to legal counsel is no longer behind a paywall. Currently, New Jersey residents can be charged thousands of dollars for a public defender — even if they establish they cannot afford an attorney — which can influence how they navigate the legal system. Fully funding public defenders comes at a minuscule cost (less than one one-hundredth of 1 percent of the state budget, to be exact!) while going a long way toward advancing equity in and out of the justice system. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities / Mike Mitchell]

11.4 Percent

Grocery prices rose by 11.4 percent last year, the highest yearly percent change since 1974, according to new data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Companies are publicly blaming rising prices on inflation, wages, and supply chain issues — but their balance sheets say otherwise. “Corporate profits have hit their highest level ever, and corporate profit margins — how much they’re making on each unit that they’re selling — have hit the highest level in 70 years,” said Chris Becker, Senior Economist at the Groundwork Collaborative. It’s worth noting that these mega-corporations raking in record profits by price-gouging consumers are the same ones that would benefit from the $1 billion corporate tax cut in Governor Murphy’s proposed budget. [Vox / Whizy Kim]

Temporary

Most states, including New Jersey, collected way more tax revenue than expected over the last two years, but new fiscal data shows that this surge in revenue is likely temporary. Even so, lawmakers in many states, including New Jersey, are proposing large tax cuts that they may not be able to afford. If tax collections dip over the next year, states may have to use their reserves — if they have any — or cut public services and programs to balance their budgets. This is all the more reason for New Jersey to keep its Corporate Business Tax surcharge, and for lawmakers to build up a healthy surplus in next year’s budget. [Tax Policy Center / Lucy Dadayan]

ICYMI

Earlier today, the ACLU of New Jersey raised concerns with the Office of the Attorney General’s statement describing the body cam footage of Najee Seabrooks: “Using words like ‘lunge’ to describe Mr. Seabrooks’ last movements undermine the purpose of the [independent prosecutor] law by swaying the narrative, undercut the role of grand juries, and diminish the public confidence in the independence of the process,” said ACLU-NJ Legal Director Jeanne LoCicero. [ACLU of New Jersey]

Pets of NJPP

Meet Julie Borst’s 8-month-old Retriever-Hound mix, Rosie! She’s got lots of puppy curiosity and loves her new “big brother” Max. She’s still learning to walk on a leash and slowly adjusting to life in the suburbs after being fostered on a farm. She’s super sweet and loves a good belly rub and a cuddle. 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.

Najee Seabrooks

Last Friday, Najee Seabrooks, a violence intervention specialist with the Paterson Healing Collective, was shot and killed by Paterson police after he called for help while experiencing a mental health crisis. Najee’s tragic death exemplifies how police are unfit to handle many of the crises they’re tasked with responding to. And his death was entirely preventable: Najee’s colleagues from the Paterson Healing Collective arrived on the scene and attempted to de-escalate the situation, but police did not allow them to intervene. New Jersey is currently piloting programs, like ARRIVE Together, that pair police with mental health professionals for calls like this, but this does not go far enough in removing police from crises that do not need an armed response. It’s not a question of whether alternatives to policing exist, but whether state and local policymakers have the courage to support and expand them. [NJ Spotlight News / Taylor Jung and Bobby Brier] 

Public Hearings

With Governor Murphy’s address behind us, budget season is officially underway — and public hearings are right around the corner. The first hearing: this upcoming Tuesday, March 14, at Ramapo College of New Jersey. The hearings kick off the budget review process where advocates, policy experts, and members of the public can share their priorities with the Legislature to help dictate the final budget. Historically, communities have been shut out of a less-than-transparent budget process, so every opportunity for residents to share their thoughts is valuable — especially since that’s part of how the state-level Child Tax Credit came to fruition just last year. Want to testify? Sign up on the Legislature’s website (bonus points if you urge lawmakers to oppose corporate tax cuts in next year’s budget). [NJ Spotlight News / John Reitmeyer]

10

Speaking of corporate tax cuts… Remember when New Jersey gave Subaru a $118 million corporate tax credit to move their headquarters to Camden? Well, new data from Camden show that Subaru employs just 10 Camden residents out of its 786 employees in the city. This is yet another glaring example of how trickle-down tax cuts and tax breaks only benefit the corporations receiving them. If you want the broader public to benefit from corporate profits, we have a system for that — it’s called the tax code. Big shout out to New Jersey Working Families and local activists in the Camden We Choose coalition who petitioned the city for this information. [Gothamist / Nancy Solomon]

9

In climate news, advocates warned the state’s Department of Environmental Protection that New Jersey may miss its targets for reducing carbon emissions unless the agency acts fast on promoting electric vehicles and stopping new fossil-fuel power plants from opening. In a public hearing earlier this week, environmentalists pointed to nine other states that have banned the sale of gasoline-powered cars starting in 2035, asking why New Jersey has yet to implement its own rules requiring electric vehicles. “We need to move with appropriate haste to get CCII (California Car II) in place,” said Pam Frank, CEO of ChargEVC-NJ. “The Governor needs to match his rhetoric with action. We are behind and late on this for no reason we can understand.’’ [NJ Spotlight News / Tom Johnson]

3

More climate news: The state Board of Public Utilities opened the application window for three more offshore wind projects on top of the three already approved. More offshore wind is necessary for New Jersey to meet its clean energy goals — but that hasn’t stopped NIMBYs from criticizing proposed wind turbines, falsely tying them to recent whale deaths off the Jersey shore (there is zero evidence that any of the whale deaths were caused by offshore wind, while multiple whales were proven to be struck by ships). “The opposition to clean energy is incredibly transparent, led by bad-faith actors funded by the fossil fuel industry,” said NJPP’s Alex Ambrose. “It is obvious their goals are not to make New Jersey cleaner, safer, or more prepared for the climate crisis; their goals are only to protect an antiquated and dangerous source of energy.” [Fortune / Wayne Parry]

ICYMI

Congrats to NJPP President Nicole Rodriguez for being named to ROI-NJ’s ROI Influencers: Women in Business 2023! And a congratulations to the other heavy-hitting women recognized on the list. [ROI-NJ]

Pets of NJPP

Meet Bella, Sue Altman’s 9-year-old rescue puppy. Bella enjoys swimming in the Delaware River, hunting squirrels, glaring at corrupt politicians, and taking long naps on the couch. Bella recently attended a rally on hospital transparency and is a firm believer in high-quality and affordable health care for everyone. 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.

$53 Billion

This past week marked the start of budget season in New Jersey! On Tuesday, Governor Murphy unveiled his proposal for next year’s budget, including increased funding for pre-K-12 schools, another year of the ANCHOR property tax relief program, doubling the Child Tax Credit (though not expanding eligibility), and much more. The $53 billion proposal also includes another full pension payment and a $10 billion surplus, two fiscally responsible moves that should improve the state’s credit rating and protect against the next economic downturn. However, the budget continues to underfund some key areas, and it rests on a shaky foundation as it calls for eliminating the Corporate Business Tax surcharge, robbing the state of critical revenue now and in the future. More on that below. [Politico / Dustin Racioppi]

$1 Billion

Remember last week when we thought that eliminating the Corporate Business Tax surcharge would cost the state $664 million in revenue per year? Now, according to Governor Murphy’s new budget proposal, state officials estimate the tax cut will cost the state much more: a whopping $1 billion in revenue every year. As a reminder, this tax cut would only benefit the wealthiest top 2 percent of businesses in the state — including mega-corporations that are not headquartered in New Jersey like Amazon, Walmart, and Bank of America — meaning that 98 percent of businesses here will see no benefit. [NJ Monitor / Nikita Biryukov]

Price Gouging

The proposed $1 billion corporate tax cut comes at a time of record-breaking corporate profits which — according to new business data presented to the European Central Bank last week — are driven by companies price gouging consumers and using inflation as cover. Still, Governor Murphy defended the tax cut in his budget address, saying that companies will use the proceeds of the tax cut to create new jobs. However, we have 50 years of data that show corporate tax cuts do not trickle down, and we know that promises by corporations to create new jobs often ring hollow, as exemplified by Amazon’s recent move to pause construction at its second headquarters in Virginia despite $750 million in tax credits. [Reuters / Francesco Canepa]

Raids

So why does New Jersey need revenue from the corporate business tax? Because there are so many unmet needs across the state that are desperate for funding. Example A: The governor’s proposed budget continues to raid the state’s Clean Energy Fund, which pays for investments in renewable energy infrastructure and financial assistance for residents and businesses when purchasing clean energy appliances. Example B: The budget proposal once again underfunds NJ Transit, balancing its budget by raiding capital funds to cover operating expenses. The list of underfunded areas goes on, but these two moves, in particular, will threaten New Jersey’s air quality and ability to reach its clean energy goals, as former Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg and Ed Potosnak of the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters outlined in an op-ed published this past Monday. [NJ.com / Steven Rodas]

$1,000

Now for some good budget news: Governor Murphy’s budget proposal calls for eliminating fees for public defenders! Currently, those who need a public defender in New Jersey face state-mandated fees and can pay over $1,000 for legal representation — even if they prove they can’t afford an attorney. These fees, which can influence how clients navigate the justice system and plead in their cases, were exposed in a report by NJPP Policy Analyst Marleina Ubel back in October. “This is a constitutional right that is behind a paywall for some people. I would call on the Legislature to follow through with this,” said NJPP’s Marleina Ubel. [NJ Monitor / Dana DiFilippo]

ICYMI

On Monday, NJPP joined workers and advocates outside the State House to urge lawmakers to oppose cuts to New Jersey’s corporate tax rate. And on Friday, NJPP’s Sheila Reynertson joined Chat Box with David Cruz to break down why lawmakers should make the Corporate Business Tax surcharge permanent. Talk about a busy week! [NJ Spotlight News / David Cruz]

Pets of NJPP

We have a good one this week — and on theme! Meet Violet, Michelle Ancil’s 10-month old kitty who occasionally interns for the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice. Violet’s favorite snack is a mango slice, and when she’s not napping on top of the fridge, she loves hanging out with her sister Ruby. 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.

$5 Million

Eliminating the Corporate Business Tax (CBT) surcharge would cost the state at least $664 million in annual revenue, according to a report from NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Sheila Reynertson released earlier this week. The report finds that corporations with more than $100 million in annual profit would receive a $5 million tax cut, on average, while 98 percent of businesses in the state would receive nothing. The report also outlines how the surcharge is paid by businesses operating in New Jersey, including multi-national corporations that aren’t headquartered here like Amazon, Walmart, and Bank of America. Giving the biggest and most profitable corporations on the planet a huge tax cut right as federal pandemic relief funds are set to expire should make it difficult to balance future budgets and maintain investments in areas like education and transit infrastructure. Not good! [NJ Spotlight News / Rhonda Shaffler]

$1,000

Now for some good news: Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D-Trenton) introduced legislation on Monday that would expand New Jersey’s Child Tax Credit. The bill would double the maximum tax credit for children under 6 years old to $1,000 and expand eligibility for the program to include kids up to 11 years old. The bill is similar to one that NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Peter Chen proposed in a report last month where he calculated that an expanded Child Tax Credit would help 441,000 families — and 713,000 children — across the state. “This bill would provide much-needed relief for families by expanding the Child Tax Credit with larger benefits and so more children qualify,” said bill sponsor Verlina Reynolds-Jackson. “When families have the resources they need, it sets their kids up for success now and later in life.” [NorthJersey.com / Katie Sobko]

$1.9 Billion

Private prison giant CoreCivic generated a whopping $1.9 billion in profit in 2021, the same year that New Jersey’s ban on immigration detention went into effect. Now, in 2023, the world’s largest private prison corporation filed a legal challenge to the landmark law, claiming that not being able to renew their ICE contract at the Elizabeth Detention Center would hurt their profits. The New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice criticized the lawsuit, comparing it to other attempts by mega-corporations to profit off the exploitation of immigrants. “Immigrant communities and New Jersey — we are not going to be threatened by greedy, for-profit corporations,” said Amy Torres, Executive Director of the Alliance. [Documented / Giulia McDonnell Nieto del Rio]

50,000

Despite Governor Murphy announcing his new Energy Master Plan, a proposal for a new power plant still has a chance to move forward in the Ironbound neighborhood of Newark, which is home to 50,000 residents and one of several places the state classifies as an “environmentally overburdened community” (EOC). While New Jersey also finalizes rules for an environmental justice law enacted in 2020, a potential loophole would allow the proposed facility to open if it brings significant economic value to a community. NJPP Policy Analyst Alex Ambrose recommends that Governor Murphy end the Clean Energy Fund raids to more easily reach climate goals. “Murphy made a promise that he would immediately end the raids on the Clean Energy Fund. And he has not fulfilled that promise yet. So in two weeks is his budget address and we will see if he finally fulfills that promise because that source of funding will help reach a lot of his [climate goals,]” she said. [WHYY / Tennyson Donyéa]

ICYMI

In our latest TikTok, Alex Ambrose breaks down how state lawmakers have raided $2 billion from the Clean Energy Fund since 2010. Check out the math on how those funds could have been spent, from electric buses to bagels by clicking the link. [NJPP / TikTok]

Pets of NJPP

Meet Astro, the newest member of the Mir household. His guardian shares that his name should have been Velcro as he’s attached to their hip. He likes to run, chase, and play with his sister cat, Aria, who is not his biggest fan. 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.

8

It was a busy Monday at the State House for NJPP Policy Analyst Marleina Ubel, who testified in opposition to numerous proposals that would roll back bail reform and upgrade criminal penalties for a variety of criminal offenses. Marleina joined dozens of policy experts, civil rights leaders, and residents harmed by the criminal justice system in opposing the “tough on crime” bills, telling lawmakers that they would be better served by investing in diversion programs, local violence intervention initiatives, harm reduction services, housing, and mental health services. In total, eight crime bills advanced through the committee despite mounting evidence showing that increased criminal penalties do not result in safer communities or less crime. “We all want safe communities. These bills might actually make it worse,” said NJPP’s Marleina Ubel. [NJ Monitor / Sophie Nieto-Muñoz]

50

Two of the “tough on crime” bills passed out of committee on Monday would increase criminal penalties for fentanyl possession even though direct service providers on the front lines of the overdose crisis warned lawmakers that these proposals would result in more deaths and a more toxic drug supply. “[Demand] has not gone away in the 50-plus years of harsher and harsher drug war enforcement. What these bills will do is destroy any faith that people who use drugs and people who live in neighborhoods targeted by the drug war once had in calling 9-1-1 to respond to an overdose and help someone,” said Caitlin O’Neill, co-director of the New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition. [WHYY / Tennyson Donyéa]

Mass Transit

As we rapidly approach budget season here in New Jersey, climate and transit advocates are urging lawmakers to sustainably fund NJ Transit and stop raiding the Clean Energy Fund. Over the last 13 years, state lawmakers have raided $2 billion from the Clean Energy Fund to pay for things unrelated to clean energy like mass transit, as reported by NJPP Policy Analyst Alex Ambrose last month. Now, all eyes are on the Governor to see if he keeps his promise of ceasing the raids on the Clean Energy Fund during his budget address in just a few short weeks. [NJ Spotlight News / John Reitmeyer]

3

Speaking of NJ Transit, New Jersey residents are fighting three proposed gas-fired backup power plants — including one to power NJ Transit in Kearny. Black and brown communities often bear the brunt of pollution, and the proposed areas for the new plants are no exception. With Governor Murphy’s latest clean energy proposal only a few days old, community members and local leaders like Newark Mayor Ras Baraka are urging lawmakers to turn to cleaner sources of energy and advance climate justice. [ABC News / Wayne Perry]

100 Percent

More clean energy news: Governor Murphy announced a new executive order on Wednesday setting 2035 as a target date for New Jersey to be a 100 percent clean energy state. New Jersey consistently ranks among states with the worst air quality in the nation, which shouldn’t be a surprise given that 95 percent of energy consumed and 90 percent of energy produced in the state come from nonrenewable sources. The governor also announced that, by 2035, all new vehicles sold will be electric, helping remedy decades of air pollution from gas- and diesel-powered vehicles. [NJ.com / Steven Rodas]

Pets of NJPP

No pet this week (sorry!). If you have a pet you’d like featured, send a hi-resolution picture and some fun facts to dipaolo@njpp.org.

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.

Act Now!

There are nine (!!!) bills up in committee on Monday that would roll back bail reform and upgrade criminal penalties for a variety of crimes. Make no mistake, these bills will not make us safer, but they will result in longer prison sentences and exacerbate racial disparities in the criminal justice system. Take action now and tell your lawmakers that we can’t go back on bail reform. [ACLU of New Jersey]

Hollow

Lawmakers have shared their “thoughts and prayers” for victims of police violence, but they have done little to back up those sentiments with criminal justice reform policies. While several bills aimed at promoting police accountability and transparency have stalled in the Legislature, lawmakers are instead advancing “tough on crime” bills that will harm Black and brown residents. “Nationwide, we had lots of expressions of condolences and sympathy, right?” said Yannick Wood, Director of the Criminal Justice Reform Program at New Jersey Institute for Social Justice. “But there has to be a shift in policy, there has to be movements on either directives or legislation to meet those words, otherwise, those words ring hollow.” [NJ Spotlight News / Taylor Jung]

Signed

Okay, now for some good news: Earlier this week, Governor Murphy signed the Temp Workers’ Bill of Rights into law — a huge win for workers across the state. The new law — which includes wage guarantees, workplace protections, and enforcement provisions — would not have been possible without the tireless advocacy of Make the Road New Jersey, New Labor, and various other labor and immigrants rights organizations. “This bill didn’t happen in a vacuum. It happened because a whole lot of people saw the wrong and wanted the right. I really want to thank them,” said bill sponsor Senator Joe Cryan. [NJ Monitor / Nikita Biryukov]

Bold

More exciting news: The Star-Ledger Editorial Board endorsed an expansion to the New Jersey Child Tax Credit (CTC), calling on lawmakers to “go bold” and expand the program in next year’s budget. The editorial points to the CTC as a proven way to reduce child poverty and support hard-working families, citing NJPP’s recent report proposing a two-fold expansion to the CTC so more families are eligible and for higher credit amounts. Here’s a snippet from the editorial: “It’s one of the best investments that government can make because it pays back in dividends … The original effort passed with bipartisan support last year. Now, let’s go bold and expand it.” [The Star-Ledger / Editorial Board]

Feb. 28

The deadline to apply for ANCHOR property tax relief benefits is right around the corner! Eligible homeowners *and* renters have until the end of the month to apply. More information about the ANCHOR program and the application is available online or by calling 1-888-238-1233. [NJ Spotlight News / John Reitmeyer]

ICYMI

Shout out to NJPP President Nicole Rodriguez for being named to ROI-NJ’s 2023 Power List! We appreciate the apt write up: “Yes, the opinion comes from the left — but it also comes with facts and figures.” We also want to extend a big congratulations to all of the other advocates and labor leaders recognized here! [ROI-NJ]

Pets of NJPP

Meet Tuna, a Jersey City cat who just turned nine years old! Tuna enjoys waking up early, basking in the sun, and working from home with her cat-parent Rachael O’Brien.

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.

127,000

Big news out of the State House from Thursday: The Senate narrowly passed the Temp Workers’ Bill of Rights, sending the legislation to Governor Murphy’s desk (finally!). Make no mistake, this is a historic win that will guarantee New Jersey’s 127,000-plus temp workers the strongest workplace protections in the country. The bill — which requires equal compensation for temp workers, eliminates excessive agency fees, and bolsters anti-retaliation protections — faced strong opposition from the temp agency lobby. “This is just the start of us getting accountability for the workers who have really suffered from abuses, whether they be OSHA violations, minimum wage, overtime, unlawful transportation deductions,” said Joseph Niver, an attorney with Make the Road New Jersey. Sí se pudo! [NJ Monitor / Dana DeFilippo]

$227 Billion

More good news, but this time from across the river: New York Governor Kathy Hochul unveiled her $227 billion state budget earlier this week, which calls for an extension of the state’s corporate business tax surcharge. Similar to New Jersey, New York also has a surcharge on the state’s most profitable corporations that is set to expire at the end of the calendar year. With the revenue, Governor Hochul proposed increased funding for things like public education, health care, and emergency shelters. And to protect against a potential economic downturn, the governor also proposed depositing billions of dollars into the state’s rainy day fund, something New Jersey lawmakers have been reluctant to do in recent years. [The New York Times / Luis Ferré-Sadurní]

5

As if New Jersey lawmakers pushing for a trickle-down corporate tax cut wasn’t bad enough, they’re also advancing new “tough on crime” policies that will do little more than exacerbate racial disparities in the criminal justice system (what year is it again?). On Monday, the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee was scheduled to vote on a bill to establish a five-year mandatory minimum sentence for “assaulting law enforcement with bodily fluids” (read: spitting on a police officer). The bill was ultimately held, but not because mandatory minimums are misguided policy proven not to work at deterring crime, but “in sensitivity to the case of … [Tyre Nichols]” (watch the awkward explanation from Senator Greenstein here). Here’s what NJPP’s Peter Chen had to say about the bill: “If you think the bill is so bad that you can’t pass it because it would make you look terrible in the wake of a horrible tragedy instituted by violent police conduct, then perhaps you shouldn’t pass the bill at all.” [NJ Globe / Joey Fox]

$122 Billion

The child care crisis comes at an enormous financial cost to working families and the broader economy, according to a new report by the Council for a Strong America. The study finds that, in 2022, the lack of affordable child care cost $122 billion across the country in lost wages, productivity, and tax revenue. The study also found that nearly one in four parents reported being fired from their jobs due to a lack of affordable and reliable child care. More than half of U.S. residents live in a child care desert, and far more struggle paying for child care, which often costs more than college tuition. Fixing this will require big investments in child care infrastructure and in direct relief to low-income families at the state and national levels — two things that will require stable funding. “That’s where it comes to a head: If you’re not going to put the money in, then you can’t make policy changes that are needed,” said Julie Kashen, Director for Women’s Economic Justice at the Century Foundation. [The 19th / Chabeli Carrazana]

ICYMI

Speaking of the high costs of raising kids, NJPP released a new report earlier this week outlining ways to expand New Jersey’s Child Tax Credit so more kids and families qualify — and for a higher maximum benefit. If enacted, the proposal would benefit nearly half a million families, including more than 700,000 children. [NJ Spotlight News / John Reitmeyer]

Pets of NJPP

Meet Angus, from Absecon, who was featured on CBS Philadelphia earlier this week in his Eagles scarf. When he’s not watching football, Angus enjoys long walks and hanging out with his cat sibling, Pizza. Thank you, Debbie and George, for sending us this photo!

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37,000

A coalition of unions and advocates sent an open letter to Governor Murphy and legislative leadership last Friday urging them to extend the Corporate Business Tax surcharge to fund public services and programs that residents rely on. Instead of giving a tax cut to big businesses like Amazon and Walmart, the state could use revenue from this tax to expand pre-K to 37,000 kids, build 5,000 affordable homes, or purchase 1,500 electric school buses. Click the link to see NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Sheila Reynertson on NJ Spotlight News where she makes clear that giving a big tax cut to the most profitable corporations in the world sends the wrong message to families struggling to get by. [NJ Spotlight News / Rhonda Schaeffler]

Full

The Murphy administration told state pension officials to expect another full payment into the pension fund in next month’s budget address. This is great news for the retirement security of the state’s 800,000 current and retired government workers; it’s also great news for the state’s financial health after two decades of lawmakers skipping payments. However, with a potential economic downturn on the horizon — and lawmakers ready to give a big tax cut to the most profitable businesses operating in the state — it may be harder for lawmakers to make full pension payments in future years. [NJ Spotlight News / John Reitmeyer]

Naloxone

Earlier this week, lawmakers backed a new bill requiring colleges and universities in New Jersey to carry naloxone. This proposal is the latest step in bolstering the state’s harm reduction efforts and follows Governor Murphy’s recent announcement that naloxone will now be available for free at pharmacies across the state. The bill also includes some coercive measures that run counter to harm reduction best practices, however, including a requirement that anyone who overdoses is transported to an emergency room after naloxone is administered, even if the person’s symptoms have resolved. “[Naloxone] should absolutely be made widely available on college campuses to staff and students alike to be prepared to respond to an opioid overdose,” said Jenna Mellor, Executive Director of the New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition. [NJ Spotlight News / Bobby Brier]

352,000

Up to 352,000 New Jerseyans are at risk of losing health coverage under NJ FamilyCare after President Biden signed an end to the federal public health emergency last month. While it’s unclear exactly how many residents will be moved off Medicaid plans, the Department of Human Services is sending redetermination documents to enrollees who will have to respond to remain insured. To prevent residents from losing access to health care, advocates and community groups are joining the state in outreach efforts to assist those who were disenrolled in obtaining new health coverage through the state marketplace. [NJ Monitor / Nikita Biryukov]

9

Later today, the Memphis Police are scheduled to release body cam footage showing the brutal beating of Tyre Nichols. While the coverage of Tyre Nichols’ murder will be particularly painful because of its brutality, the uninterrupted trend of police violence should surprise no one. In the entirety of 2022, there were only 9 days when police did not kill people in the United States. According to Mapping Police Violence, killings by police averaged nearly 100 people per month. Click the link from the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice for resources on knowing your rights while protesting and how to create space for yourself to grieve and process the news. [New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice]

ICYMI

Big congratulations to NJPP President Nicole Rodriguez for being named to Senator Loretta Weinberg’s 2023 Women’s Power List! There are lots of friendly faces on the list, so make sure to check it out by clicking the link. [Insider NJ / Loretta Weinberg]

Pets of NJPP

Say hello to Triscuit, one of Alex Ambrose’s many cats. Triscuit enjoys torturing her cat siblings and eating their treats (seen here). We also have our first Pets of NJPP correction: Last week’s dog, Bella, belongs to Roxanne Sutocky of The Women’s Centers, not to Jasmine (sorry, Roxanne!). Meow!

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