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
NJ Transit fare hikes unlikely through at least 2024
Federal aid and transfers from the Turnpike Authority have NJ Transit chief hopeful to avoid fare hikes for three years, if ridership rebounds as expected.
J&J vaccine pause will delay fix for MVC closure problems
Motor Vehicle Commission was beginning a program to vaccinate agency staff, but that's on hold as the safety of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is reviewed.
Despite pandemic, NJ among nation’s top preschool spenders
Rutgers' National Institute for Early Education Research says states need to plan now for students who'll return to class after skipping a year of preschool.
Grewal says ‘de-policing’ a real issue after pot legalization law
State racing to develop training for police so they're comfortable with how marijuana and alcohol possession among youth are to be handled.
Over 1,300 childcare centers in NJ remain closed, some forever
Nearly 400 childcare centers in New Jersey have closed permanently, and more than 900 others are temporarily closed but plan to reopen.
NJ hopes to head off nation’s worst eviction crisis post-COVID
Two months after the public health emergency eventually lifts, evictions that have been on hold since last March will surge. Federal aid can help reduce it.
As water bills grow, NJ urged to consider fund to help residents
Water, sewer and wastewater upgrades are likely to be costly, not to mention other climate change resiliency measures to address rising seas and floods.
NJ property taxes went up again in 2020 — but not in these 55 towns
Last year saw the the highest increase in the statewide tax levy in a decade,
Lawmakers to NJ’s education chief: Get schools reopened faster
Frequent topics at a Senate hearing on the Department of Education budget included school reopenings, spending of federal aid and the delayed assessments.
NJ public school enrollment drops 3%, lowest level in 20 years
Enrollment decline was sharpest in pre-K and kindergarten, as families opted against remote learning or starting amid the COVID pandemic.