I'm the Statehouse bureau chief for New Jersey 101.5, covering the governor, Legislature and state politics, and had previously covered the Statehouse for Gannett newspapers for more than 15 years. I'm a lifelong New Jerseyan -- raised in Bergen, living in Hunterdon, Rutgers graduate. I'm co-author of the 2012 biography 'Chris Christie: The Inside Story of His Rise to Power.' I am not the Iron Chef with a similar name though sometimes get tweets meant for him, especially around Thanksgiving. Believe me, you don't want my cooking tips.
Michael Symons
As commuters work from home, NJ income tax coffers may benefit
New Jersey commuters who used to cross a river into New York or Philadelphia but have been working from home could yield an unexpected windfall for the state.
Sweeney skeptical of state and local coronavirus borrowing plans
The Assembly has passed a bill allowing local 'coronavirus relief bonds' and will take up state borrowing this week. Neither has gotten a Senate hearing.
Lawsuit in NJ seeks to limit vote-by-mail ballot rejections
Coronavirus has New Jersey emphasizing vote-by-mail. But around 1% of such ballots are typically rejected, often when signatures don't match voter records.
NJ details how next year’s school aid will shrink by $335 million
Districts that are losing aid will lose just as much as expected. Those that are gaining aid will receive, on average, two-thirds less than promised.
Legislature’s analysts issue slightly less dire revenue outlook for NJ
Murphy administration's $10B forecast for a drop in revenues is plausible, though in short term OLS expects gap to be almost $500M smaller.
NJ Supreme Court asked to alter rules for inmate COVID releases
Nearly seven weeks after an executive order made 3,000 state inmates eligible for temporary home confinement, 337 have been released.
Lawmakers urge NJ to do more to help small businesses buy PPE
Now that New Jersey is in the personal protective equipment business, some lawmakers want the state to help hook up mom-and-pop shops with that type of gear.
NJ toll-road traffic ticks up; borrowing planned but not cuts
With traffic and revenue down due to the pandemic, the Turnpike Authority plans to refinance debt to defer payments but hasn’t yet reduced operating budgets.
NJGOP sues Murphy, calling business shutdowns unconstitutional
The lawsuit, which was filed in state Superior Court in Cape May County, said the state's shutdown orders violate equal protection and due process.
New jobless claims in NJ up but by the least amount in 9 weeks
Signs of stabilization: Initial claims fell to a nine-week low and continued claims declined – substantially, in fact – for the first time during the pandemic.