Rent Is Too D*mn High
You can’t affordably rent a two-bedroom apartment anywhere in the United States on minimum wage, according to a new report that tracks the gap between wages and rents nationally, and New Jersey is one of the more expensive states. Matt Skoufalos’ NJ Pen takes a look at what that means in South Jersey. “This is why New Jersey is number one for millennials still living at home.”
‘Siri, What’s a Taxpayer?’
“Should N.J. taxpayers pay for lawyers for immigrants facing deportation?” NJ.com asks the provocative question that I’m sure lots of people have answered already.
For what it’s worth, most immigrants facing deportation don’t have a lawyer, but the think-tank New Jersey Policy Perspective thinks they get them and offers an economic rationale, citing $5.9 million lost annually in turnover-related costs to replace immigrant employees who are detained or deported, $18 million in lost wages and $1.6 million in lost tax revenue.
“They should hire citizens,” says one expert.
“We never thought of that!” said no taxpayer ever.
Elsewhere in Why does that Money Bother you but this Money Doesn’t?
The CRDA ok’d $13 million to do up the bathrooms at the Convention Center and replace LEDs (more lights!) at Boardwalk Hall, etc. because it is an investment in our collective future and I’m sure there’s some economic rationale, though I note they weren’t really pressed very hard to provide one.
For comparison’s sake, Phil Murphy wanted $2.1 million for immigration lawyers.
‘For a German it is Extremely Offensive’
In other news, you can drink outside on the beach with your dog in Wildwood at this bar called PigDog.
Senior Week in Wildwood: A money-making machine that residents love to hate–WILDWOOD — For Jessica Dorazio, 18, the week began with getting an impromptu flower tattoo on the Wildwood boardwalk. A few days later, she fell asleep to the sound of drunken neighbors attempting to climb up a column to a second-story balcony at 2 a.m. www.philly.com
NJ LAWMAKERS CONSIDER NEW TAXES ON HOSPITALS TO FUND MEDICAID, MEDICAL EDUCATION–State and county officials would have new power to tax New Jersey hospitals to generate additional revenue for low-income patient care and medical education under a pair of bills that emerged as part of a last-minute legislative flurry in Trenton. www.njspotlight.com
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: JORDAN SANTANA BECAME A COMPLETE PLAYER DURING HER CAREER AT EHT–Jordan Santana always had the potential to become a potent scorer, even though she only picked up the game of lacrosse a few years before she entered Egg Harbor Township High School. She’s athletic enough to have competed in sports such as cross country, track and diving, and once she became more comfortable with lacrosse there was no stopping her. glorydaysonline.com
Water company doesn’t have to tell public about water shut-offs. Lawsuit says that’s not OK–A national advocacy group is seeking to raise awareness about the need for transparency in information from public utilities and driving the point home with a lawsuit against Camden. www.nj.com
North Beach welcomes Stockton campus to the neighborhood–VENTNOR – Although technically it’s located in the next town over, residents of the North Beach area of Ventnor are excited to have Stockton University opening in the Downbeach/Chelsea area of Atlantic City. downbeachpilot.com
Margate offers ‘A Day of Tide, Tunes & Togetherness’–Margate is the place to be and bee seen this weekend as the Margate Business Association presents its annual Beachstock: The Planet’s Biggest Beach Party. downbeachpilot.com