JC Policy Circle
@jcpolicycircle.bsky.social
Advocating for more effective, evidence-based policy in Jersey City, Hudson County and New Jersey
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.
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?
In other words, gross taxes collected can rise while the cost of govt decreases or stays static. For example we know that in many cases, $1 of spending on schools results in a > $1 increase in property values. The taxes for spending on teachers isn’t a real cost of govt!
July 8, 2025 at 2:55 PM
In other words, gross taxes collected can rise while the cost of govt decreases or stays static. For example we know that in many cases, $1 of spending on schools results in a > $1 increase in property values. The taxes for spending on teachers isn’t a real cost of govt!
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.
The JC version: the state changed the parks’ usage to accommodate the planning preference of its host city. While the core function of most state parks is passive and nature-based recreation, the state agreed to effectively put city athletic facilities and performance spaces on park grounds.
July 8, 2025 at 2:32 AM
The JC version: the state changed the parks’ usage to accommodate the planning preference of its host city. While the core function of most state parks is passive and nature-based recreation, the state agreed to effectively put city athletic facilities and performance spaces on park grounds.
This thing is over 400 pages! JPMorgan, one of the handful of the most complex conglomerates in America, has a shorter financial report than NYC’s govt does!
Wouldn’t a more focused report make oversight easier and more effective? Can they really not summarize their performance in say 50 pages?
Wouldn’t a more focused report make oversight easier and more effective? Can they really not summarize their performance in say 50 pages?
July 7, 2025 at 6:05 PM
This thing is over 400 pages! JPMorgan, one of the handful of the most complex conglomerates in America, has a shorter financial report than NYC’s govt does!
Wouldn’t a more focused report make oversight easier and more effective? Can they really not summarize their performance in say 50 pages?
Wouldn’t a more focused report make oversight easier and more effective? Can they really not summarize their performance in say 50 pages?
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.
Consider @thecity.nyc. It costs less than $10M per year to operate. If @thecity.nyc work shaves a handful of basis points off of NYC’s borrowing costs, fully subsidizing it would comfortably net NYC a positive financial return.
June 27, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Consider @thecity.nyc. It costs less than $10M per year to operate. If @thecity.nyc work shaves a handful of basis points off of NYC’s borrowing costs, fully subsidizing it would comfortably net NYC a positive financial return.
Local news even impacts the private sector. Here’s are findings that newspaper closures decreased local private sector investment and increased management misbehavior.
The subsidies would pay for themselves! 2/2
The subsidies would pay for themselves! 2/2
June 27, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Local news even impacts the private sector. Here’s are findings that newspaper closures decreased local private sector investment and increased management misbehavior.
The subsidies would pay for themselves! 2/2
The subsidies would pay for themselves! 2/2
We have to find smart, content-neutral ways to publicly subsidize news—especially local news, which is least suited to the digital advertising model.
Here’s a finding that closing a local newspaper results in an increase to municipal borrower costs. 1/2
Here’s a finding that closing a local newspaper results in an increase to municipal borrower costs. 1/2
June 27, 2025 at 4:39 PM
We have to find smart, content-neutral ways to publicly subsidize news—especially local news, which is least suited to the digital advertising model.
Here’s a finding that closing a local newspaper results in an increase to municipal borrower costs. 1/2
Here’s a finding that closing a local newspaper results in an increase to municipal borrower costs. 1/2
We somehow missed that the @amywilson.bsky.social is leaving Jersey City! Best of luck, Amy, and thanks for running Neighborhood Character all these years! Your newsletter has helped filled a big news shortage for the city and sparked discussion and awareness. open.substack.com/pub/neighbor...
June 26, 2025 at 7:43 PM
We somehow missed that the @amywilson.bsky.social is leaving Jersey City! Best of luck, Amy, and thanks for running Neighborhood Character all these years! Your newsletter has helped filled a big news shortage for the city and sparked discussion and awareness. open.substack.com/pub/neighbor...
It’s the time of year when political hopefuls try to convince you that any and all tax increases are waste and hurt affordability, as Jack Ciattarelli does here.
This is just so clearly wrong. Here’s a 2020 paper linking spending on teachers to increasing home values. Why does this myth persist?
This is just so clearly wrong. Here’s a 2020 paper linking spending on teachers to increasing home values. Why does this myth persist?
June 26, 2025 at 7:05 PM
It’s the time of year when political hopefuls try to convince you that any and all tax increases are waste and hurt affordability, as Jack Ciattarelli does here.
This is just so clearly wrong. Here’s a 2020 paper linking spending on teachers to increasing home values. Why does this myth persist?
This is just so clearly wrong. Here’s a 2020 paper linking spending on teachers to increasing home values. Why does this myth persist?
As of today, his plan is head and shoulders above his peers' proposals (if they've even thought/written/spoken about improving services at all).
solomonforjc.com/wp-content/u...
solomonforjc.com/wp-content/u...
June 25, 2025 at 6:33 PM
As of today, his plan is head and shoulders above his peers' proposals (if they've even thought/written/spoken about improving services at all).
solomonforjc.com/wp-content/u...
solomonforjc.com/wp-content/u...
We're particularly excited about his "Make Shit Work" plan for city services. Every candidate campaigns on improving performance, but rarely do candidates show they've thought deeply about where bottlenecks and inefficiencies arise and how to systematically address them. And his plan is ambitious.
June 25, 2025 at 6:33 PM
We're particularly excited about his "Make Shit Work" plan for city services. Every candidate campaigns on improving performance, but rarely do candidates show they've thought deeply about where bottlenecks and inefficiencies arise and how to systematically address them. And his plan is ambitious.
Beyond supply, he's proposed various housing consumer protection laws. We'll have to reserve final judgment until he provides more details, but some of them seem like refreshingly ambitious takes on transparency and fair dealing.
June 25, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Beyond supply, he's proposed various housing consumer protection laws. We'll have to reserve final judgment until he provides more details, but some of them seem like refreshingly ambitious takes on transparency and fair dealing.
His rent stabilization proposal tries to strike a balance between incenting new units and giving current renters a chance. It permits landlord profit roughly in line with the S&P 500's historic performance.
June 25, 2025 at 6:33 PM
His rent stabilization proposal tries to strike a balance between incenting new units and giving current renters a chance. It permits landlord profit roughly in line with the S&P 500's historic performance.
(i) Housing
First, Solomon understands that the supply-to-demand ratio = price and has signaled a willingness to continue to support new building.
First, Solomon understands that the supply-to-demand ratio = price and has signaled a willingness to continue to support new building.
June 25, 2025 at 6:33 PM
(i) Housing
First, Solomon understands that the supply-to-demand ratio = price and has signaled a willingness to continue to support new building.
First, Solomon understands that the supply-to-demand ratio = price and has signaled a willingness to continue to support new building.
One really surprising finding from this paper is that models seem to produce different outputs when you ask them to solve a problem by writing the answer out in code versus just asking them to directly produce the answer?
arxiv.org/pdf/2411.02272
arxiv.org/pdf/2411.02272
June 24, 2025 at 10:16 PM
One really surprising finding from this paper is that models seem to produce different outputs when you ask them to solve a problem by writing the answer out in code versus just asking them to directly produce the answer?
arxiv.org/pdf/2411.02272
arxiv.org/pdf/2411.02272
Jersey City is dropping its licensing and fee regime for selling ice. Abundance is finally paying off!
June 24, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Jersey City is dropping its licensing and fee regime for selling ice. Abundance is finally paying off!
So McGreevey's platform does mention the use of walking and biking units but just doesn't explicitly tie them to e-bikes the same way it does motorcycles. Presumably the walk/bike units would be eligible to issue tickets to e-bike riders?
June 22, 2025 at 6:14 PM
So McGreevey's platform does mention the use of walking and biking units but just doesn't explicitly tie them to e-bikes the same way it does motorcycles. Presumably the walk/bike units would be eligible to issue tickets to e-bike riders?