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: 13,867,873
Fully Vaccinated People: 6,240,843
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

Scientifically Unreliable

New reporting by The Star-Ledger highlights how New Jersey’s marijuana legalization law directs revenue from cannabis sales to local police departments to train officers to identify impaired drivers. The problem? The methods used by the Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) training are currently being challenged in court for being scientifically unreliable. “It misses one of the prime rationales for the legalization of cannabis in New Jersey, which is, this has been an overpoliced part of our society and the policing has been targeted at Black and brown communities,” said Alex Sholom, ACLU-NJ Director of Supreme Court Advocacy. “To think what we need to do is spend more money on policing marijuana is really baffling to me.” [NJ.com / Jelani Gibson]

3,200

With COVID-19 cases once again on the rise, another crisis is largely flying under the radar: New Jersey is on track to surpass 3,200 overdose deaths in 2021. This would represent the most overdose deaths ever recorded in the Garden State. Fortunately, there are two bills pending in the Legislature that would bolster harm reduction and syringe access programs, which are some of the few proven ways to actually prevent overdose deaths. Together, the bills would decriminalize syringe possession and lower barriers to new syringe access programs opening; right now there are only seven harm reduction centers operating in the state, with Atlantic City’s program at risk of closing. [NorthJersey.com / Dustin Racioppi]

Two Out of Three

In a step toward creating safer communities and lowering police violence, acting Attorney General Andrew Bruck has announced a new pilot program in Cumberland County that will pair state troopers with a mental health professional when responding to certain crises. This is big news because, as NJPP’s Marleina Ubel reported earlier this year, two out of three times that an officer uses force — and in over half of fatal police encounters — the civilian involved is either living with a mental illness or under the influence. By shifting away from law enforcement-based approaches to issues of mental health and substance abuse, New Jersey can achieve better outcomes for everyone. [NJ.com / Joe Atmonavage]

Unanimous 

Some good news from Thursday’s lame duck session: the Senate and Assembly both unanimously passed legislation expanding the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit! The proposal would both raise the income limit for the tax credit and make it refundable, meaning families with low incomes will qualify for the full credit even if that amount is higher than their taxable income. “Expanding the child and dependent care tax credit will put money back in the pockets of parents and caretakers who face staggering annual childcare costs, which are often as high as in-state college tuition,” said NJPP’s Peter Chen in a statement. “Although this is only a one-year change and a small part of addressing New Jersey’s child care crisis, the expanded credit is a critical lifeline for families struggling to care for the state’s youngest children — and a step toward making this a more just and equitable state that treats working people with dignity.” [NJ.com / Susan Livio]

406

Only 406 of 6,000 applications for pandemic relief have been approved since the New Jersey Excluded Workers Fund launched in late October. A complicated and confusing application process means the fund is presenting new hurdles to undocumented workers and those ineligible for COVID-19 relief — precisely the individuals the fund is meant to help. With the December 31 application deadline approaching, immigrants’ rights advocates worry the artificially low demand for the program may be used by lawmakers to justify letting the program expire without a second round of much-needed funding. [New Jersey Monitor / Sophie Nieto-Muñoz]

ICYMI 1

Congratulations to NJPP Policy Analyst Marleina Ubel for being selected to the New Leaders Council – New Jersey (NLC-NJ) 2022 class of fellows! NLC-NJ is the premier training and mentorship program for up-and-coming progressive leaders in New Jersey. Marleina will join an NLC-NJ family that includes NJPP’s Vineeta Kapahi (2021), David Nelson (2020), Peter Chen (2016), yours truly (2016), and former NJPP President Brandon McKoy (2013). [Insider NJ]

ICYMI 2

Sound the celebratory air horn, because NJPP just won two Graphies at the annual IMPACT Conference put on by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities! For those unfamiliar with the Graphies, it’s like the Oscars for state policy nerds. NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Peter Chen won Best Blog for his writing on New Jersey’s new law ending prison gerrymandering, and NJPP Drug Policy Consultant Jenna Mellor won Best Report for A War On Us, which documents how much the state spent over the last decade enforcing the drug war. Congratulations, Peter and Jenna! [NJPP]

Pets of NJPP

Meet Angus, an eight-month-old retriever mix from Kentucky! Recently adopted from the Atlantic City Humane Society by Debbie and George, Angus is loving his forever home in Absecon. He enjoys long walks to the bay, hanging out with Pizza the cat, and chewing on any toy (or chair) he can get his mouth on. 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: 13,207,553
Fully Vaccinated People: 6,143,092
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

$1.75 Trillion

Big news! Earlier today, the House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act (BBB), President Biden’s $1.85 trillion social and climate spending bill. As written, this bill would make historic investments to reduce poverty, expand affordable health coverage, reduce homelessness and housing instability, phase in universal pre-kindergarten, and promote clean energy. To pay for these investments, the legislation would make the federal tax code fairer by setting a 15 percent minimum tax rate for corporations, adding a surcharge on corporate stock buybacks, and adding an eight percent surtax for those making more than $25 million per year in income. [Vox/ Li Zhou]

74 Percent

New Jersey’s police departments are nowhere near representative of the diverse communities they are sworn to protect, according to a groundbreaking report on police diversity by NJ Advance Media. The report’s main finding: the collective police force in New Jersey — one of the most diverse states in the nation — is 74 percent white, despite white residents making up only 54 percent of the state’s population. At least 65 police departments do not have a single person of color on their police force, while 159 do not have any Black officers. Click the link to read more and explore police diversity in your town. [NJ.com / Payton Guion, Rodrigo Torrejón, and Riley Yates]

Public Safety

As state and local governments explore community-led alternatives to policing, the federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) presents an unprecedented opportunity to invest in programs that will increase public health and safety while decreasing the need for police intervention. According to a new report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the ARP offers flexible funds for state and local governments to invest in a more holistic approach to public safety, including mental health services, education, housing assistance, traffic safety, job training, and much more. [NJPP / Marleina Ubel]

2,800

Legislation to expand harm reduction services and decriminalize syringes advanced through committee on Monday, despite opposition from Republican lawmakers. Taken together, these bills would help New Jersey end the overdose and HIV crises. And the legislation couldn’t come at a better time: approximately 2,800 New Jersey residents have died from overdoses so far this year, on pace for a record high. As NJPP Policy Analyst Marleina Ubel told the committee, “Harm reduction programs reduce the risk of overdose as those who have access to these programs are five times more likely to start drug treatment programs and three times more likely to stop chaotic substance use.” [New Jersey Monitor / Dana DiFilippo]

$100 Million

State lawmakers are poised to expand New Jersey’s film and digital tax credit program — for the second time since restarting it in 2018 — by letting studios exceed the $100 million annual cap on tax credits. The problem? These sorts of tax credits are not a sustainable way to grow the economy. The jobs subsidized by these tax breaks are temporary positions due to the nature of the film industry and will leave once another state offers a more generous tax credit package. As Pat Garofalo from the American Economic Liberties Project says here, this is a hopeless race to the bottom that New Jersey should avoid. [Politico / Matt Friedman]

ICYMI

Public service announcement: tenants seeking rent relief have until December 15 to apply for assistance. Click the link for more info on eligibility criteria and how to apply. [New Jersey Monitor / Sophie Nieto-Munoz]

Pets of NJPP

Found on the streets of South Philly, now living in woodsy Absecon, this ten-month-old kitty was named Pizza by her rescue mom and dad. Adopted by her grandparents, Debbie and George, Pizza is thankful for her living room window as she views the falling leaves and busy squirrels. A greeter cat to the core, sweet Pizza is anxiously awaiting her first Thanksgiving dinner, but she insists her turkey is pâté style. No bits, pieces, or chunks for this growing Jersey girl. 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: 12,953,374
Fully Vaccinated People: 6,110,173
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

New Interim President!

Some big organizational news: Jon Shure, founding President of NJPP, has returned to the organization as Interim President! In this role, Jon will support the leadership transition following the departure of Brandon McKoy. “There are few, if any, people who know NJPP as intimately as Jon does,” said NJPP Board Chair Marcia Marley in an announcement that went out this morning. Read more about Jon’s return by clicking the link. [NJPP]

17 Percent

With open enrollment underway, a new report by NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Brittany Holom-Trundy, Ph.D. finds that far too many New Jerseyans remain uninsured. And, because health insurance is often tied to employment, those who face systemic barriers to good-paying jobs with benefits are the most likely to be uninsured. For instance, 17 percent of New Jersey’s Hispanic/Latinx residents are uninsured, compared to a mere 3.3 percent of white residents. New Jersey’s Black, low-paid, and young adults are also disproportionately uninsured compared to the rest of the population, the report finds. [NJ Spotlight News / Leah Mishkin]

28

Could a more transparent budget process be coming to Trenton? It could happen thanks to a new bill that passed through the Senate Budget Committee earlier this week! The legislation would create an advisory board to provide consensus revenue forecasts, a budgeting best practice already used by 28 other states and long recommended by budget policy experts (the current process requires both the legislative and executive branches to produce competing forecasts, unnecessarily politicizing the revenue forecasting process). The bill would also require the Governor to report multi-year forecasting of expected spending, more detailed monthly reporting, and an annual financial stress test. “Taken together, these reforms would break the cycle of politically easy maneuvers that have plagued New Jersey’s finances,” NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Sheila Reynertson told NJ Spotlight News. [NJ Spotlight News / John Reitmeyer]

$12.3 Billion

Infrastructure week is finally here! New Jersey will directly receive $12.3 billion to fund repairs and upgrades to roads and highways, transit, and bridges. This is good news for New Jersey’s drivers who drive over 502 “structurally deficient” overpasses every day (yikes!), and commuters who take public transit, as funds are specifically allocated to fund the Gateway Tunnel Project. [Pix 11 / Henry Rosoff]

SALT

Here’s an unpopular take: Repealing the $10,000 cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions would disproportionately benefit the wealthiest people — not only in New Jersey but across the nation. Don’t believe us? Then read this new editorial by the Star-Ledger packed with data and analysis from tax policy experts. [NJ.com / Star-Ledger Editorial Board]

ICYMI

A new Rutgers-Eagleton poll finds broad support for protecting and expanding access to abortion. According to the poll, more than two-thirds of New Jerseyans are “very” (41 percent) or “somewhat” (24 percent) concerned about the U.S. Supreme Court possibly overturning Roe v. Wade. [Rutgers University]

Pets of NJPP

Meet Goose, co-working pet of Liesl and Haley. Goose is a timeless gem. His ancient, wise spirit and earnest face bring endless joy to his two moms. Goose loves chicken. Goose hates baths. 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: 12,645,383
Fully Vaccinated People: 6,094,798
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

Election Results

Who else is exhausted? After a long week where votes slowly trickled in across the state, Governor Phil Murphy was declared the winner of New Jersey’s 2021 gubernatorial election. This broke with 40 years of history, as Governor Murphy became the first Democrat since 1977 to be reelected governor; it was also the first time since 1981 that the party that elected a new president the year prior won a gubernatorial election in either Virginia or New Jersey. Read our take on the results here (spoiler: these results present a historic opportunity to pass progressive policies), and read more about the slow vote count here. [NJ Spotlight News / Colleen O’Dea, Lilo Stainton, John Reitmeyer, and John McAlpin]

40

Before state lawmakers are sworn into their new seats in January, the Legislature will reconvene for a lame duck session where big-ticket items like police reform, abortion access, and expansions to the social safety net await committee hearings and floor votes. Governor Murphy will also have to act on more than 40 bills that were already passed by the Legislature. Watch this NJ Spotlight News clip, featuring Larry Hamm of the People’s Organization for Progress, on the unfinished business awaiting lawmakers in Trenton. [NJ Spotlight News / Melissa Rose Cooper]

43 Percent

And once lame duck comes to an end, all attention will shift to the next legislative session and new policy priorities. At the top of that list? Getting state leaders to invest in community-backed solutions to crisis response that do not center police. As Rev. Dr. Charles Boyer states in an op-ed announcing the launch of a new campaign to promote alternatives to policing, “[W]hen all you have is a hammer everything looks like a nail, and police departments have been hammering away at our communities for generations.” Rev. Boyer cites a recent report by NJPP Policy Analyst Marleina Ubel showing that, out of all drug arrests in New Jersey, 43 percent were of Black residents despite Black people making up 13 percent of the state’s population and using drugs at the same rate as their white peers. [NJ.com / Rev. Dr. Charles Boyer]

60 Percent

In a new op-ed, NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Peter Chen outlines how the child tax credit has proven to be a powerful anti-poverty tool during the COVID-19 pandemic. The policy is leaving some of the state’s lowest-income families behind, however, as only 60 percent of eligible households in New Jersey have successfully received their child tax credit payments. The issue? The Internal Revenue Service does not have the necessary data on file to send checks to families with low incomes who do not have to file federal taxes. It’s now up to state and local governments to ensure more families receive their child tax credit benefit and reduce child poverty by publicizing the GetCTC.org nonfiler tool, performing direct outreach, and enhancing free tax preparation for 2022. [NJ Spotlight News / Peter Chen]

November 12

In July, the Atlantic City Council voted against the advice of their own health director to close the Oasis Drop-In Center —but the fight isn’t over yet. While the court date for the South Jersey AIDS Alliance’s lawsuit to keep the syringe exchange open is rapidly approaching on November 12, lawmakers also have an opportunity to pass legislation that would remove barriers to harm reduction services like those offered at Oasis. This landmark bill would take the politics out of public health and help end the overdose and HIV/AIDS crises. [BuzzFeed News / Dan Vergano]

ICYMI

Don’t go on Twitter, or be faced with takes galore following the outcome of the election. One take you should definitely read? NJPP’s, of course! “[W]hat’s clear is that Governor Murphy ran — and won — on his record of passing laws that advance equity and build a strong economy for working and middle-class families,” writes yours truly in a statement released this week. [NJPP / Louis Di Paolo] 

Pets of NJPP

This is Matty Purrdock, a blind cat (Marvel Comics fans may get the reference) owned by our colleague Jeff Feldman from the National Association of Social Workers – New Jersey. Matty was rescued from the streets of Kuwait and was sent to an animal rescue in New Jersey where he united with the Feldman family. Matty had to have his eyes removed a few months after Jeff and his wife adopted him because of a nasty eye infection. He’s completely healthy now and gets around as well as any sighted cat! 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: 12,364,347
Fully Vaccinated People: 6,040,162
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

How to Vote Early
[Division of Elections]

The Best

It’s no secret that New Jersey has the best bagels and pizza, but a new article by Slate makes an even bolder (and equally true) claim: New Jersey is the best-run state in the nation. Pointing to the state’s pandemic response, relatively strong social safety net, and a slew of economic policies meant to boost the pay and well-being of low- and middle-class workers, Slate lifts up the Garden State as “a model of how to run a government that can respond to the United States’ myriad problems, old and new.” Specifically, the article lifts up policies like guaranteed paid sick days, raising the minimum wage, the millionaires’ tax, and legalizing marijuana as steps other states can take to build an economy that works for everyone. [Slate / Ben Mathis-Lilley]

Property Taxes

With state and local politics increasingly nationalized, property taxes remain one of the biggest issues here in New Jersey. But, as WNYC’s Nancy Solomon points out here, conventional wisdom about who or what policies actually lower property taxes aren’t always true. “There’s a public perception that former Governor Chris Christie lowered taxes and Murphy is a tax-and-spend liberal,” Solomon writes. “But the numbers tell a different story. Property taxes went up by 18% in Christie’s first term, compared to 4% during the Murphy Administration.” How could this be possible? Because policies that make the tax code fairer — looking at you, millionaires’ tax — provide substantial aid to local school districts, taking the burden off property taxpayers. [Gothamist / Nancy Solomon]

9 in 10

Open enrollment is right around the corner! Starting this upcoming Monday, residents across the state will be able to purchase health insurance through Get Covered New Jersey, the state-run market for buying health coverage through the Affordable Care Act. The good news: nine out of ten people who buy insurance on the state market will receive substantial subsidies from the state and federal government, and nearly half will be able to purchase “silver” level plans for $10 or less a month. All of this is to say the state marketplace remains a big success at keeping coverage affordable and easily accessible. [NorthJersey.com / Lindy Washburn]

320,000

Now for some not-so-great news: approximately 320,000 New Jersey residents are at risk of losing their Medicaid health coverage in 2022 if federal pandemic relief policies are allowed to expire. Fortunately, as NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Brittany Holom-Trundy notes here, state lawmakers can take action to protect low-income residents if Medicaid’s continuous coverage ends. Potential state policies include using a 12-month timeline for disenrollments, making the redetermination easier to navigate, and improving data sharing across departments so the state can efficiently auto-renew Medicaid applications. [NJPP / Brittany Holom-Trundy]

Democracy

As New Jersey’s population grows more diverse, its elected officials become less representative of the constituents they represent. And this is no accident, writes NJPP Research Director Nicole Rodriguez in a new blog that breaks down why New Jersey needs to expand democracy. To have state and local governments that truly represent “we the people,” New Jersey must extend voting rights to more residents, abolish “the line” on primary ballots, and create a fairer, more inclusive redistricting process. [NJPP / Nicole Rodriguez]

ICYMI

How do we recover from the pandemic and advance equity in the Garden State? NJPP’s Blueprint to Secure a Just Recovery provides a roadmap of 65 policies to do just that. Watch our new promo video explaining what the Blueprint is and what a fair and just pandemic recovery looks like. [NJPP / YouTube]

Pets of NJPP

We have a holiday-themed pet duo this week, courtesy of NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Brittany Holom-Trundy. As you can see, Mason the Dragon and Elvis the Shark are very excited to celebrate Howl-oween this weekend! Their favorite treats are anything with peanut butter. Their favorite trick is “give paw.” Elvis is very concerned about whether the deer are going to get their pup-kins before the big day, and Mason is ready to use his magical slobber power to protect them. Rawr!

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: 12,150,769
Fully Vaccinated People: 5,996,423
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

15

This upcoming election will be the first in New Jersey history with early voting — but there won’t be nearly as many early voting sites as lawmakers budgeted for in the state’s new early voting law. While the state will reimburse counties for the cost of early voting sites, 15 of the state’s 21 counties are planning on opening fewer polling places than the state is willing to pay for. Only one county, Mercer, is spending its own money to open an additional polling place. [New Jersey Monitor / Nikita Biryukov]

$200 Million

On Wednesday, Governor Murphy announced plans to allocate $200 million dollars toward parks, playgrounds, and other green spaces across the state. While COVID-19 has emphasized the need for public outdoor spaces, this announcement also comes on the heels of NJPP’s latest report, which recommends deeper investment in community care — including parks and green spaces — to promote public safety. When communities invest in parks and green spaces, they see a decrease in violent crime, improvement in health outcomes, and a sense of connectedness for residents. [NJ 101.5 / Michael Symons]

9 in 10

According to the latest U.S. Census Pulse Survey, nine in ten families with low incomes (less than $35,000) are using their monthly Child Tax Credit (CTC) payments for basic household expenses like food, clothing, shelter, and utilities. This data, which also shows that CTC payments are barely being used for leisure or going into savings, underscores the need for cash payments for families so they can meet the most basic of needs. The data also shows that only 16 percent of families with young children are using the CTC payments for child care. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities / Claire Zippel]

$15 Million

The return of in-person learning comes with the return of kids taking diesel-fuel-powered buses to get to school. This is a big public health and environmental concern, as diesel exhaust not only pollutes the air but also triggers health problems — especially for children. Fortunately, Senator Patrick Diegnan plans on introducing new legislation to provide $15 million to fund electric school bus purchases in six districts per year for three years. As NJPP outlined in a March 2021 report, transitioning to electric buses will help alleviate New Jersey’s contribution to the climate crisis, make our air cleaner, and our communities healthier. [NJ 101.5 / Jen Ursillo]

ICYMI

Earlier this week, NJPP Policy Analyst Marleina Ubel joined Salvation and Social Justice in Elizabeth for the launch of the Make The Right C.A.L.L. campaign to remove police from behavioral health crisis responses. As Marleina said in the press conference, it’s time to take a more holistic view of public safety that isn’t premised on punishment. Click the link to watch a recording of the event. [Salvation and Social Justice / Facebook Live]

Pets of NJPP

Meet Chester, courtesy of my good friend Max Randall. Chester likes hanging out in the sun and contemplating the meaning of life. When Chester was a kitten, he enjoyed napping in Max’s baseball hats, but now that he’s bigger he prefers sleeping under the covers. 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: 12,023,983
Fully Vaccinated People: 5,961,522
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

ICYMI: Join Us in Celebrating Brandon McKoy’s Tenure With NJPP!

$2,000

New Jersey is one step closer to a more inclusive pandemic recovery with the launch of the Excluded New Jerseyans Fund website. Eligible households may apply for up to $2,000 in assistance once the application portal opens later this month. The $40 million fund, established after months of protests and hunger strikes by immigrants’ rights activists, will provide pandemic relief to undocumented immigrants and others excluded from federal aid. Even so, the program will only reach a fraction of the state’s roughly 500,000 undocumented immigrants unless the state provides additional funding. [NJ Spotlight News / Rhonda Schaffler]

5 Times More

A big new report by NJPP Policy Analyst Marleina Ubel makes a strong case for reimagining public safety and making robust community investments that target the structural root causes of crime. The report highlights how the current criminal justice system not only falls short of its stated goals, but also causes a great deal of harm — especially for Black residents. Looking at local budgets in two communities, the City of Elizabeth and Gloucester County, the report finds that police spending is up to five times larger than investments in health and human service programs. [New Jersey Monitor / Dana DiFilippo]

89 Percent

The federal tax code gives preferential treatment to investment income over income from work, according to a new report by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. Given the nation’s long-standing racial wealth gap, white households are the biggest beneficiaries of special tax rules for income from capital gains. In total, 89 percent of unrealized capital gains above $2 million are held by white families even though they make up approximately 65 percent of families with that level of wealth. [Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy / Joe Hughes and Emma Sifre]

5,000

During the first 14 months of the pandemic, it’s estimated that up to 5,000 children in New Jersey lost caregivers to COVID-19, with the vast majority of those children from Black and Hispanic/Latinx families, according to a new study from researchers at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Boston Children’s Hospital, and multiple universities in England and South Africa. We’ve already seen some of the racial disparities laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic and this data only adds to the growing list of ways the pandemic disproportionately harmed Black and brown communities. [NJ Spotlight News / Lilo H. Stainton]

15,000

The New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners unanimously approved new rules from the Murphy administration expanding abortion access, allowing 15,000 nurses, physician assistants, and midwives to perform abortions, and lifted regulations barring the procedure after 14 weeks of pregnancy. Echoing elements within the Reproductive Freedom Act supported by Governor Murphy, these new rules help protect pregnant people’s right to abortions and expand access to critical health services for communities that need it most. [NorthJersey.com / Dustin Racioppi]

ICYMI

Brandon’s virtual farewell event is right around the corner — so make sure to register while you can! Click the link to join us on Zoom in celebrating Brandon’s tenure with NJPP on October 21 at 5:00 PM. [NJPP / Progress 2021]

ICYMI 2

There’s no pet this week (send me pics for next week, please!), so here’s another ICYMI: Click the link to watch NJPP’s Marleina Ubel break down her latest report on alternatives to policing on NJ Spotlight News. I also want to give a big shout out to Marleina as this is her first report release as a full-time member of the NJPP team. Congrats, Marleina! [NJ Spotlight News / Raven Santana]

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: 11,849,762
Fully Vaccinated People: 5,904,329
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

ICYMI: Join Us in Celebrating Brandon McKoy’s Tenure With NJPP!

ICE

Bergen County has officially ended its contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to hold immigrant detainees at the county jail. Wednesday’s vote by the Bergen County Board of Commissioners follows months of protests outside the jail — and hunger strikes inside it — against inhumane conditions and human rights violations. Bergen is the last county in the state to terminate its contract with ICE; Hudson and Essex each terminated their respective contracts earlier this year. [WNYC / Matt Katz]

2 Million

Nearly two million fewer jobs will be created, per year, if the federal budget reconciliation package is cut from $3.5 trillion to $1.5 trillion, according to a new analysis by the Economic Policy Institute. New Jersey would lose approximately 51,000 jobs per year alone, equivalent to 1.17 percent of state employment. “Further reducing the scale and scope of the budget reconciliation package unequivocally means the legislation will support far fewer jobs and deliver fewer benefits to lift up working families and boost the economy as a whole,” writes report author Adam Hersh. [Economic Policy Institute / Adam Hersh]

8-to-1

Children in families with little or no income may end up on the chopping block if the Build Back Better recovery package is scaled down to $1.5 trillion, according to a new analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. That’s because the bill, as currently written, would permanently expand the Child Tax Credit (CTC) for families that do not earn enough to qualify for the full tax credit amount. If this provision is scaled down, the reconciliation package will not be nearly as successful at reducing child poverty, advancing racial equity, or stimulating the economy, as the CTC expansion has an 8-to-1 return on investment, meaning for every $1 spent on the program has a return to society of $8. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities / Arloc Sherman, Chuck Marr, and Stephanie Hingtgen] 

$21

Remember when the $15 minimum wage was considered a radical concept? Now, higher wages are increasingly recognized as a win-win for workers and businesses alike. If you don’t believe me, ask Bank of America. The bank announced on Thursday that it is raising its minimum wage to $21 an hour, effective next week, with plans to raise the company’s wage floor to $25 by 2025. “Our company’s focus on responsible growth requires that we provide a great place to work,” said Sheri Bronstein, Bank of America’s Chief Human Resources Officer. [ROI-NJ / Tom Bergeron]

46

Even with fewer people on the road in 2020 due to the pandemic, New Jersey residents still experienced 46 days of elevated air pollution last year, according to a new report by Environment New Jersey Research and Policy Center. The report linked the air pollution to the state’s transportation sector (read: cars and buses), as automobile fumes are the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the state. The report recommends that New Jersey lawmakers reduce the state’s reliance on fossil fuels, namely by transitioning to electric cars and buses. [NJ Spotlight News / Tom Johnson]

ICYMI

Help us mark the end of an era as we celebrate Brandon McKoy’s tenure with NJPP! Click the link to register for Progress 2021: Honoring Brandon McKoy on October 21 at 5:00 pm. This virtual event is free and open to the public, but you can make a donation in Brandon’s honor by clicking the link. [NJPP / Progress 2021]

Pets of NJPP

A few weeks ago we featured Susan Druckenbrod’s cat, Pip. Today, I’m pleased to share an adorable picture of Pip’s brother, M! While Pip was a rugged adventurer, M is more of a dreamer who loves being pet. 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: 11,668,004
Fully Vaccinated People: 5,851,381
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

7

Some big NJPP news: After more than seven years with NJPP, President Brandon McKoy is stepping down at the end of the month to join the senior leadership team at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a national think tank that researches and promotes policies to reduce poverty and advance equity. In his new role as Vice President of State Partnerships, Brandon will provide strategic support to think tanks across 41 states (including New Jersey!), Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. Read the formal announcement here and click the bracketed link to read more about Brandon’s new job. We’re also throwing Brandon a virtual celebration — more info on that below. [ROI-NJ / Tom Bergeron]

$3.5 Trillion

The $3.5 trillion Build Back Better Act would make the federal tax code more progressive — but only if the $10,000 cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions is kept in place. As NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Sheila Reynertson breaks down here, the reconciliation package would raise taxes on the nation’s richest households and biggest corporations to pay for big investments in child care infrastructure, rental assistance, new Medicare benefits, tax credits for working families, and so much more. If the legislation is amended to repeal the SALT cap, it would offset all of the revenue raised by the income tax changes in the bill with nearly all of the benefits going to the richest 20 percent of households. [NJPP / Sheila Reynertson]

Racial Wealth Gap

Earlier this week, NJPP’s Sheila Reynertson joined NJ Spotlight News for their “NJ Decides 2021: Election Conversations” series. In the discussion on the state’s finances and pandemic response, Sheila made clear that federal aid from the American Rescue Plan should be targeted to those harmed most by the pandemic, and that future state budgets should prioritize investments that help close the racial wealth gap. [NJ Spotlight News]

40 Percent

A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that COVID-19 rates were approximately 40 percent lower in schools that improved their ventilation systems. But as NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Peter Chen notes here, preventing the spread of the pandemic is only one of many benefits of improved indoor air quality in schools. Research shows that improved air quality also results in improved student and staff well-being, and better academic performance. Fortunately, there’s funding available through the American Rescue Plan for schools to improve their ventilation systems — but only if local school boards apply for it. [NJPP / Peter Chen]

Lawsuit

The Oasis Drop-In Center, Atlantic City’s only syringe exchange program, lives to see at least another month after a New Jersey Superior Court judge stopped the city from shutting down the harm reduction center. The court order, issued Wednesday in response to a new lawsuit filed by the South Jersey AIDS Alliance, restricts the city from enforcing an ordinance that would shut down the program effective October 12. Harm reduction centers like Oasis are a proven public health tool for preventing overdose deaths and stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS. Atlantic City has one of the highest HIV counts in the state, largely as a result of injection drug use. [The Press of Atlantic City / Molly Shelly]

ICYMI

Want to celebrate Brandon McKoy’s tenure with NJPP? Join us later this month as we honor his leadership and vision at a free virtual celebration! Click the link to register now — and make sure to check out the perks that come with a sponsorship. [NJPP / Celebration of Progress Honoring Brandon McKoy] 

Pets of NJPP

Meet the newest member of the Peeples family: Dotty-Dot! As you can see, his spots (dots?) make him a handsome fellow. Dotty-Dot loves carrots, snuggles, and obstacle courses. And when he’s in the mood for a snack, dried pineapple is his favorite; cucumbers, not so much. Thanks for the submission, Elena!

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

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Vaccine Doses: 11,535,778
Fully Vaccinated People: 5,804,009
[New Jersey Department of Health / COVID-19 Dashboard]

8,097

More than 8,000 people are homeless in New Jersey, according to new data released by Monarch Housing Associates. This year’s survey, conducted over a two-week period in January, is likely an undercount given the COVID-19 pandemic: counties sent fewer volunteers to search for people, organizers were unable to hold community events, and shelters took in fewer people to allow for social distancing. The big takeaway from the report: there are stark racial disparities in housing. Approximately half of those facing housing instability are Black, despite Black people making up only 13 percent of the state’s population. “These high racial disparities in the numbers show it’s a combination of race, housing segregation, economics, education,” said Taiisa Kelly, CEO of Monarch Housing Associates. “The impact of structural racism drives these numbers we’re seeing, not poverty alone.” [NorthJersey.com / Ashley Balcerzak]

750,000

Now for some good housing news: the Build Back Better economic recovery bill advancing through Congress would make major investments in housing, funding up to 750,000 housing vouchers over the next five years. The vouchers alone would assist an estimated 1.7 million people across the country once fully phased in, including more than 660,000 children. According to a new analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the recovery bill’s voucher expansion would do more than any other measure to reduce homelessness and racial disparities in housing. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities / Will Fischer and Erik Gartland]

17

Earlier this week, the Build Back Better recovery plan was endorsed by 17 Nobel Prize-winning economists, including Princeton University’s Sir Angus Deaton. In an open letter, the economists not only endorsed the $3.5 trillion in spending to help stimulate the economy, but also the $2.9 trillion increase in taxes to pay for the program. “While we all have different views on the particulars of various economic policies, we believe that key components of this broader agenda are critical—including tax reforms that make our tax system more equitable,” the economists wrote. [Fortune / Nicole Goodkind]

Cuts

On the campaign trail, Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciatarelli has proposed big cuts to state spending — in the ballpark of $9 to $11 billion. As NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Sheila Reynertson told NorthJersey.com, reverting to Christie-era spending would widen racial disparities and hamper the state’s recovery from the pandemic. “We already know that when state government is starved, it comes at a real cost to all residents,” Reynerston said. “When people had trouble getting their unemployment checks or stood in long lines at Motor Vehicles, they were seeing the result of a decade’s worth of budget cuts to state agencies.” [NorthJersey.com / Dustin Racioppi]

Wealth Disparity

Last week, Governor Murphy named 23 members to a new Wealth Disparity Task Force to develop strategies to build a more inclusive economy. The task force includes senior members of the Murphy administration, including Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver, state Banking and Insurance Commissioner Marlene Caride, Labor Commissioner Rob Asaro-Angelo, among others. The task force also includes some familiar faces, including NJPP President Brandon McKoy, Fair Share Housing Network Deputy Director Rev. Eric Dobson, National Medical Fellowships President Michellene Davis, and Cuqui Rivera of the Latino Action Network! [New Jersey Globe / David Wildstein]

ICYMI

Big shout out to NJPP President Brandon McKoy for being named to the 2021 ROI Influencers: People of Color list! From the write-up: “Too many think tanks — on both sides of the political spectrum — use their platform simply to push their partisan view. McKoy and New Jersey Policy Perspective are different.” [ROI-NJ / Influencers: People of Color]

Pets of NJPP

The NJPP extended family lost another furry friend this month. Pip, the smart and talkative cat of Susan Druckenbrod, was a rugged adventurer who passed away over Labor Day weekend. The Druckenbrod family loved him hard and he loved them hard back. So sorry for your loss, Susan!

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