Is Your State a Financial Sinkhole? New Jersey and California Top 2025 “Debt” List
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, A sobering new report from Truth in Accounting (TIA) reveals a deepening divide in the fiscal health of America. While some states are basking in “sunshine” surpluses, 25 U.S. states are currently “sinkholes,” lacking the necessary funds to pay their bills.
If you’re driving through the Garden State this December, the highway signs might make you chuckle—and then check your speedometer
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) has officially brought back its famous holiday-themed safety messages. From the NJ Turnpike to I-295, overhead digital boards are lighting up with puns, rhymes, and pop-culture references designed to keep drivers focused during the busiest travel season of the year.
New Jersey is entering the final stretch of summer with mixed but cautiously optimistic economic signals, as recent gains in employment and tax collections provide momentum while federal policy shifts continue to raise concerns about long-term stability. The latest state and federal data point to short-term resilience in the labor market and government revenues, even as economists warn that national trade and immigration policies could create headwinds for growth in the months ahead.
HSTF Targets Transnational Criminals, Netting Over 3,200 Arrests Nationwide
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton, NJ – Federal law enforcement is significantly escalating its presence in New Jersey, a state self-declared as a “sanctuary.” Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Newark and the FBI’s Newark Field Office have officially launched a new Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), dramatically increasing coordination between federal, state, and local agencies to combat transnational crime, gang violence, and narcotics trafficking.
Governor-Elect Under Scrutiny as $1 Million Transition Spending Proposal Is Abruptly Pulled Amid GOP Backlash
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
TRENTON, NJ – Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill is facing the first major fiscal challenge of her incoming administration. Her transition team was forced to abruptly pull a controversial spending proposal that would have inflated the transition committee’s budget to an unprecedented $1 million—a roughly 62 percent increase over prior gubernatorial transitions.
Say Goodbye to Surprise Forks! NJ Lawmakers Advance Bill to Ban Automatic Utensils, But Small Business Owners Fear $1,000 Fines
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
New Jersey’s Plastic Battle Targets Forks and Condiments
Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey, a state that famously led the way with a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags, is once again setting its legislative sights on reducing plastic waste. A new bill, sponsored by State Senators Bob Smith and Raj Mukherji, aims to drastically reduce the number of single-use utensils and condiments automatically provided with takeout and delivery orders.
NJ’s Affordability Crisis Deepens: 81% of Businesses Say Lawmakers Failed to Act as Energy Costs Skyrocket 78% Worse Than Other States!
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
The Cost Crisis: Energy and Taxes Sink NJ Business Confidence
Trenton NJ, the results of the NJBIA’s 67th Annual Business Outlook Survey for 2025 paint a stark picture: New Jersey businesses are grappling with severe profitability challenges driven by high state costs and unexpected national hurdles.
NJ Bill 1701 Bombshell: New Jersey Could Be First State to Offer Full, State-Funded Healthcare Coverage to Undocumented Immigrants!
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, New Jersey is poised to ignite a national debate over immigrant healthcare access with the introduction of landmark legislation. In a crushing toalready over burdened New Jersey taxpayers , Assemblywoman Garnet R. Hall (D–Essex, Union) has sponsored Assembly Bill 1701 (A1701), a measure that would authorize the state to offer full, state-funded healthcare coverage to undocumented immigrants residing and working in New Jersey.
Protecting NJ Residents: Lawmakers Move to BAN Toxic PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Your Makeup and Takeout Containers!
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, New Jersey Declares War on PFAS: Protecting Daily Life from “Forever Chemicals”. New Jersey, a state often described by environmental advocates as “ground zero” for environmental issues, is moving decisively to protect its residents from the harmful health impacts of PFAS—or Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. These chemicals, dubbed “forever chemicals” because they do not naturally break down and accumulate in the human body and environment, are commonly found in thousands of consumer goods.
Less Red Tape, More Common Sense? NJBIA Backs Bill to Revolutionize State Rulemaking Transparency
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, New Jersey’s system for creating state rules, governed by the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), has long been criticized for its lack of transparency. Now, the state’s largest business advocacy group, the NJ Business & Industry Association (NJBIA), is championing a landmark bill aimed at fundamentally reforming the process.
Trenton NJ, New Jersey affordability is back in the spotlight, this time with explosive rumors suggesting that Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill and her team are considering a rapid sales tax hike. Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips (R-40) is not waiting for confirmation, issuing a forceful public demand for Sherrill to address and publicly reject the reports of a proposed sales tax increase to 7%.
Trenton Showdown: Republicans Propose a Tax Cut While Democrats Face Scrutiny Over Rumored Increase
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, in a stunning move that has ignited a major political battle in Trenton, Republican Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia has publicly accused Governor-Elect Mikie Sherrill and Democratic leaders of quietly preparing to raise the New Jersey sales tax back to 7%.
New Year, Higher Price: The Mandated Gas Tax Increase
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey motorists should brace for a price hike at the pump starting January 1, 2026. The State Department of the Treasury, following a mandatory annual review, announced that the total state tax rate on gasoline will increase by 4.2 cents per gallon. This increase is necessary to fund the state’s critical Transportation Trust Fund (TTF), which finances roads, bridges, and mass transit projects across New Jersey.
The $690 Billion Exodus: How High-Tax Blue States Are Hemorrhaging Wealth to Florida and Texas
file photo by Boyd Loving
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, a seismic economic shift is underway, fundamentally reshaping America’s prosperity map. According to a stark new Census Bureau analysis, high-tax states—often dubbed “Blue States”—are experiencing a mass exodus of their most affluent residents, leading to a stunning financial hemorrhage.
The Historic Wealth Transfer Rocking America
The data reveals that New York and New Jersey alone hemorrhaged nearly $690 billion in resident income over the past decade. A staggering 2.1 million high-earners have fled soaring taxes and concerns over urban decay, relocating to sun-soaked, low-tax havens like Florida and Texas. This is not just migration; it’s a “regional bloodletting,” as economist Steve Moore describes it, fueling a historic wealth transfer from the Northeast to the Sun Belt.
Brace for Impact: NJ Health Insurance Premiums Set for a Record-Breaking Spike
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, the long-feared warnings about a sharp rise in healthcare costs have materialized as the 2026 Open Enrollment period begins. New Jersey residents relying on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace, employer-based coverage, and Medicare are all facing significant premium hikes, leading public officials to fear a massive surge in the number of uninsured residents next year.
The most dramatic increases will hit the nearly half-million New Jerseyans who purchase insurance through the state’s marketplace, Get Covered NJ.