JC Policy Circle
@jcpolicycircle.bsky.social
Advocating for more effective, evidence-based policy in Jersey City, Hudson County and New Jersey
Pinned
There's something fishy going on in the Jersey City Pompidou development process that isn't getting any attention. Did the city light tens of millions of dollars (or dozens of gold bars) on fire here? 🧵1/
Let’s please retire the phrase “induced demand.” Too many people think it means that demand is produced out of thin air. If 6 people want pizza, but there are only 5 slices, making 1 more slice for the last person doesn’t make new demand—it just addresses demand that was always there but unmet.
July 24, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Let’s please retire the phrase “induced demand.” Too many people think it means that demand is produced out of thin air. If 6 people want pizza, but there are only 5 slices, making 1 more slice for the last person doesn’t make new demand—it just addresses demand that was always there but unmet.
Reposted by JC Policy Circle
The Charter Revision Commission voted to place five proposals on the November ballot — four aimed at simplifying and speeding up the development approval process for affordable housing.
New Yorkers to Vote on Affordable Housing Fast Track and Election Calendar This Fall
The Charter Revision Commission convened by the mayor approved four ballot measures aimed at fighting the housing crisis — and one proposal to shift elections to even-numbered years.
buff.ly
July 22, 2025 at 7:14 PM
The Charter Revision Commission voted to place five proposals on the November ballot — four aimed at simplifying and speeding up the development approval process for affordable housing.
Reposted by JC Policy Circle
YESSSSSS!!! I want to live in a world where mayors jockey to take credit for secure bike parking!
July 22, 2025 at 3:13 PM
YESSSSSS!!! I want to live in a world where mayors jockey to take credit for secure bike parking!
Reposted by JC Policy Circle
It's time for clear eyed thinking about the potential for the large-scale destruction of public transit in American cities. It could happen in the next two years. Thread... 1/
July 22, 2025 at 11:58 AM
It's time for clear eyed thinking about the potential for the large-scale destruction of public transit in American cities. It could happen in the next two years. Thread... 1/
Reposted by JC Policy Circle
The Charter Revision Commission just approved the 5 questions that will be on ballots for NYC voters this November!
This includes 4 housing questions, which would collectively represent a huge step forward for affordability in New York. 🧵
This includes 4 housing questions, which would collectively represent a huge step forward for affordability in New York. 🧵
July 21, 2025 at 6:55 PM
The Charter Revision Commission just approved the 5 questions that will be on ballots for NYC voters this November!
This includes 4 housing questions, which would collectively represent a huge step forward for affordability in New York. 🧵
This includes 4 housing questions, which would collectively represent a huge step forward for affordability in New York. 🧵
Reposted by JC Policy Circle
NJ Transit approves $3.2B budget, engineer contract newjerseymonitor.com/2025/07/18/n...
NJ Transit approves $3.2B budget, engineer contract • New Jersey Monitor
The new budget is the agency's first since the pandemic that does not include hundreds of millions of dollars in federal relief funds.
newjerseymonitor.com
July 18, 2025 at 3:00 PM
NJ Transit approves $3.2B budget, engineer contract newjerseymonitor.com/2025/07/18/n...
Reposted by JC Policy Circle
Long experience has shown me that in local government, the definition of "the community" is "people who own single-family houses."
July 14, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Long experience has shown me that in local government, the definition of "the community" is "people who own single-family houses."
Reposted by JC Policy Circle
If anyone wants to work with us to canvass at bus stops on Ocean and MLK so that those bus riders' voices can be heard on this, let us know! It'll drastically speed up their buses, but I'm worried many of them won't even know about this survey or meeting!
Councilman Gilmore put out a survey to gauge community support for making MLK and Ocean one-way as part of the city's plan to 1) make our streets safer and 2) create more space to faster bus and bike travel without 3) taking away street parking.
t.co/sjAtV1kA8o
t.co/sjAtV1kA8o
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdK0CV34Zz7c1awrcgH_1q8lvs8PwumMVze0OyIkzYE4JzU8A/viewform
t.co
July 9, 2025 at 4:55 PM
If anyone wants to work with us to canvass at bus stops on Ocean and MLK so that those bus riders' voices can be heard on this, let us know! It'll drastically speed up their buses, but I'm worried many of them won't even know about this survey or meeting!
It’s remarkable how much more the Hoboken council emphasizes technical proficiency than does Jersey City’s. A Hoboken councilwoman, Tiffanie Fisher, put out a detailed and thoughtful breakdown of her views on the proposed budget. In JC, most council people don’t even attend most budget meetings.
July 10, 2025 at 2:47 PM
It’s remarkable how much more the Hoboken council emphasizes technical proficiency than does Jersey City’s. A Hoboken councilwoman, Tiffanie Fisher, put out a detailed and thoughtful breakdown of her views on the proposed budget. In JC, most council people don’t even attend most budget meetings.
Youth curfew in Newark? Is this real? It must kill summer house parties!
A curfew is in effect for Newark teens for the second year, with those 18 or under required to be home by 11 p.m. unless with an adult. Officials said the program works, with last year showing a 7% drop in juvenile arrests during the span of the curfew.
Curfew for Newark youth begins this week | Video | NJ Spotlight News
For the second year, a summer curfew is now in effect for Newark teens, with those 18 or under required to be home by 11 p.m.
www.njspotlightnews.org
July 8, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Youth curfew in Newark? Is this real? It must kill summer house parties!
Per r/JerseyCity, it looks like Waymo’s training fleet has arrived in Jersey City.
And in Manhattan, Uber has started offering fixed route service. Large L4 AVs operating on fixed routes = abundant, cheap buses.
Are we *sure* public transit as currently operated/funded has a future in NJ?
And in Manhattan, Uber has started offering fixed route service. Large L4 AVs operating on fixed routes = abundant, cheap buses.
Are we *sure* public transit as currently operated/funded has a future in NJ?
July 8, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Per r/JerseyCity, it looks like Waymo’s training fleet has arrived in Jersey City.
And in Manhattan, Uber has started offering fixed route service. Large L4 AVs operating on fixed routes = abundant, cheap buses.
Are we *sure* public transit as currently operated/funded has a future in NJ?
And in Manhattan, Uber has started offering fixed route service. Large L4 AVs operating on fixed routes = abundant, cheap buses.
Are we *sure* public transit as currently operated/funded has a future in NJ?
Taxes that pay for themselves aren’t really expenses. They’re investment.
Wow!
Each $1 spent on Universal Pre-Kindergarten generates between $3-$20 dollars in aggregate earnings.
That's enough to offset the costs of Universal Pre-Kindergarten through higher tax revenues.
Each $1 spent on Universal Pre-Kindergarten generates between $3-$20 dollars in aggregate earnings.
That's enough to offset the costs of Universal Pre-Kindergarten through higher tax revenues.
July 8, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Taxes that pay for themselves aren’t really expenses. They’re investment.
Reposted by JC Policy Circle
Can we please stop measuring the size of govt by the amount of taxes? It’s wildly misleading.
Like, if we didn’t have social security, most people would invest a lot more of their savings in … treasuries. The same thing the social security program does with your taxes.
Like, if we didn’t have social security, most people would invest a lot more of their savings in … treasuries. The same thing the social security program does with your taxes.
May 26, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Can we please stop measuring the size of govt by the amount of taxes? It’s wildly misleading.
Like, if we didn’t have social security, most people would invest a lot more of their savings in … treasuries. The same thing the social security program does with your taxes.
Like, if we didn’t have social security, most people would invest a lot more of their savings in … treasuries. The same thing the social security program does with your taxes.
Reposted by JC Policy Circle
State & local govts (& unpaid civic groups) do a ton of heavy lifting on disaster planning & recovery, but they will always need backup (staff, $$, info, technical expertise) from the federal govt. by all means, let’s build more state & local capacity but not as a *substitute* for federal support.
July 6, 2025 at 4:47 PM
State & local govts (& unpaid civic groups) do a ton of heavy lifting on disaster planning & recovery, but they will always need backup (staff, $$, info, technical expertise) from the federal govt. by all means, let’s build more state & local capacity but not as a *substitute* for federal support.
People (here, Jack C) complain NJ isn’t affordable because of its high taxes, but we’re skeptical that that’s right, at least in the sense they mean it.
The economic cost of govt = (goods/services taxes fund) - (goods/services ppl want). The key thing to optimize is to shrink this difference.
The economic cost of govt = (goods/services taxes fund) - (goods/services ppl want). The key thing to optimize is to shrink this difference.
July 8, 2025 at 2:55 PM
People (here, Jack C) complain NJ isn’t affordable because of its high taxes, but we’re skeptical that that’s right, at least in the sense they mean it.
The economic cost of govt = (goods/services taxes fund) - (goods/services ppl want). The key thing to optimize is to shrink this difference.
The economic cost of govt = (goods/services taxes fund) - (goods/services ppl want). The key thing to optimize is to shrink this difference.
Tapping the sign. A Waymo operator is doubling the size of the fleet.
July 8, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Tapping the sign. A Waymo operator is doubling the size of the fleet.
Reposted by JC Policy Circle
A bill passed by the NYS Legislature requiring two-person crews for all subway trains would not only leave NY in the past—no other major transit system requires this—it would also cause service cuts wherever trains operate with one person now, including on the G and M.
www.etany.org/statements/i...
www.etany.org/statements/i...
July 7, 2025 at 9:48 PM
A bill passed by the NYS Legislature requiring two-person crews for all subway trains would not only leave NY in the past—no other major transit system requires this—it would also cause service cuts wherever trains operate with one person now, including on the G and M.
www.etany.org/statements/i...
www.etany.org/statements/i...
Yes! L4/5 AV technology deployed sensibly is a huge win for urbanism! Safer streets, way less need for parking subsidies, easier tolling/taxing (ht @lewislehe.bsky.social), and improved bus service, all become possible with strong AVs!
I don't think embracing self driving tech should mean that we quit trying to have less car traffic. I just think the technology will be far, far more effective than speed cameras and red-light cameras. It will revolutionize public transit (busses especially) and reduce car ownership dependency!
July 8, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Yes! L4/5 AV technology deployed sensibly is a huge win for urbanism! Safer streets, way less need for parking subsidies, easier tolling/taxing (ht @lewislehe.bsky.social), and improved bus service, all become possible with strong AVs!
Reposted by JC Policy Circle
I don't think embracing self driving tech should mean that we quit trying to have less car traffic. I just think the technology will be far, far more effective than speed cameras and red-light cameras. It will revolutionize public transit (busses especially) and reduce car ownership dependency!
July 8, 2025 at 12:40 AM
I don't think embracing self driving tech should mean that we quit trying to have less car traffic. I just think the technology will be far, far more effective than speed cameras and red-light cameras. It will revolutionize public transit (busses especially) and reduce car ownership dependency!
Reposted by JC Policy Circle
Waymo starts robotaxi testing in Philadelphia and NYC
Waymo starts robotaxi testing in Philadelphia and NYC | TechCrunch
Waymo kicked off two “road trips” to Philadelphia and New York City on Monday, signaling the Alphabet-owned company’s push to expand into cities in the Northeast.
techcrunch.com
July 7, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Waymo starts robotaxi testing in Philadelphia and NYC
Honestly not sure whether this reflects good or bad performance for SF’s speed cameras?
July 7, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Honestly not sure whether this reflects good or bad performance for SF’s speed cameras?
Are we *sure* public transit as it is funded/operated today has a financial future? Can we please start talking about how to save public transit before it’s too late?
July 7, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Are we *sure* public transit as it is funded/operated today has a financial future? Can we please start talking about how to save public transit before it’s too late?
OP here is concerned that North Bergen will build a preschool for only North Bergen kids on county land.
JC residents aren’t really in a position to complain because the state did a similar thing on a bigger scale last year in favor of the city when it all but deeded Liberty State Park to JC.
JC residents aren’t really in a position to complain because the state did a similar thing on a bigger scale last year in favor of the city when it all but deeded Liberty State Park to JC.
July 7, 2025 at 1:06 AM
OP here is concerned that North Bergen will build a preschool for only North Bergen kids on county land.
JC residents aren’t really in a position to complain because the state did a similar thing on a bigger scale last year in favor of the city when it all but deeded Liberty State Park to JC.
JC residents aren’t really in a position to complain because the state did a similar thing on a bigger scale last year in favor of the city when it all but deeded Liberty State Park to JC.
Some great observations from @ilanaglazer.com!
Incredible new @chiosse.bsky.social video with @ilanaglazer.com on how New York became so unaffordable
July 3, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Some great observations from @ilanaglazer.com!
One of the great weaknesses of capitalism is that it doesn’t scale reward to effort. There are few office workers who work harder than roofers. And many CEOs don’t grind as hard as full-time stay-at-home parents.
If theres anyone who should get beanie bag breakrooms, generous PTO and vacation days, it should be the retail and food industry workers before office workers.
July 3, 2025 at 12:18 AM
One of the great weaknesses of capitalism is that it doesn’t scale reward to effort. There are few office workers who work harder than roofers. And many CEOs don’t grind as hard as full-time stay-at-home parents.