News
After 138 Years, This New Jersey Town Voted to Allow Alcohol Sales. Small Businesses Could Benefit
Marc Pfeiffer, a senior policy fellow and associate director of Bloustein Local at Rutgers University’s Center for Urban Policy Research told Inc. that some New Jersey towns stayed dry for so long after prohibition because of tradition, with some wanting to maintain a family-friendly atmosphere. But, he added, “times change, attitudes change, and economics change.”
Connecting Social Policy and Workforce Development to Advance Economic Security
Dean Stuart Shapiro talks with Professor Andrea Hetling about serving as the newly appointed director of the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development and how her research on social policy connects to workforce development and families’ economic security.
Trump promised more manufacturing, but NJ firms say they’re in limbo
Goods were eventually manufactured cheaply in the South and in China, Hughes said.
“It’s really been a long-term slide,” he added.
Advancing Climate Resilience Through Municipal Land Use Planning
The spring 2026 Rutgers Bloustein School graduate planning studio class, “Advancing Climate Resilience Through Municipal Land Use Planning,” involved 15 students working in three teams to support development of CCRHVAs for three of the eight participating towns: Maurice River Township (Cumberland County), Pennsville (Salem County), and Rutherford (Bergen County).
Main Street Redevelopment – Woodbridge, NJ
Ananda Scott Advanced Graphical Communication, Spring 2026 A final board for Advanced Graphical Communication uses representation as a way of thinking, not decoration. This redevelopment plan for Main Street in Woodbridge starts with evidence. Wind-rose analysis...
Liuda Serohina (MCRP ’28) is recipient of WTS New Jersey Fred Berger Endowed Scholarship
Liuda Serohina, a first year Master of City and Regional Planning candidate at the Bloustein School, is the recipient of the WTS New Jersey (WTS NJ) chapter’s Fred Berger Endowed Scholarship.
The Student Movement Addressing Campus Polarization Head On
“Campuses need to not only engage students who are ready, but also students who might avoid these kinds of opportunities. We sometimes say we want to try to make engagement in dialogue unavoidable. To do this, we need to go to where students are at — in student centers, res life and first year experiences; but then also it’s essential to build these opportunities into the curriculum.”
NJ town just started streaming council meetings. Dozens still don’t
The cost of setting up and managing recordings is a common reason for the lack of video in some towns, Marc Pfeiffer, a senior policy fellow at Rutgers University’s Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, previously told NorthJersey.com.
Mary O’Dowd Joins Bloustein School as Senior Fellow
The Bloustein School pleased to welcome Mary O’Dowd, Executive Director of Health Systems and Population Health Integration for Rutgers Health, as a Senior Fellow, Health Administration and Public Health.
NJ Transit launches free ride share van for seniors and disabled customers in South Jersey
“The CG Hopper is a direct investment in South Jersey and the residents who count on accessible transportation most,” NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri said. “By combining the local expertise of Senior Citizens United Community Services and Camden and Gloucester counties with NJ TRANSIT’s network, we’re giving seniors and people with disabilities a free, flexible way to travel across county lines.”
Ignaccolo: An Incomplete Olmsted Park Faces a Hotter Future
Originally published on Olmstead Network, October 5, 2026 by Carmelo Ignaccolo "ReMapping Olmsted" reconstructs the evolution of the Olmsted Brothers’ plans for Mattano Park and the Elizabeth River in New Jersey through the lenses of environmental justice and climate...
VTC Study Helps Shape New South Jersey Microtransit Service
VTC’s involvement will continue throughout the pilot as Lubin and DiPetrillo evaluate service performance and rider outcomes, generating insights to assess the pilot’s effectiveness and inform future microtransit planning and mobility initiatives in New Jersey.