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Welcome to the 70’s and the “Misery Index” is back as the “Hobbes Index”

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood N J, the “Hobbes Index” is the new “Misery Index” . The name is taken from 17th-century political philosopher Thomas Hobbes, who popularized the observation that life is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.”

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70% Favor Increased U.S. Oil and Gas Production

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, with gas prices soaring, energy policy is likely to be a major issue in the midterm election campaign, and voters strongly favor a policy of promoting domestic petroleum production.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 70% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the U.S. government should encourage increased oil and gas production to reduce America’s dependence on foreign sources of oil and gas. Only 18% oppose a policy of encouraging U.S. energy independence, while 12% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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Northeast Jersey Sees More Investment in Parks and Natural Green Spaces

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New Jersey has more space dedicated to parks and nature than any other state. While green areas already account for over 20 percent of land in the state, more than $100 million is to be invested in protecting natural areas, improving existing parks and adding new urban green spaces. From sprawling passive parks to revamped outdoor spaces with facilities for recreational activities, several projects in Northeast Jersey aim to create and preserve more green space despite continued development throughout the region. Even in built up areas, walking trails, parks and landscaped communal gardens will connect communities and enhance local neighborhoods.

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New Jersey Student Loan Borrowers to Receive More than $60 Million in Relief from Settlement with Navient Corp. in State’s Lawsuit Alleging Deceptive, Misleading Tactics

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ,  Acting Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck and the Division of Consumer Affairs today announced that New Jersey student loan borrowers will receive over $60 million in relief from a settlement with Navient Corp. and its subsidiary Navient Solutions LLC (Navient) that resolves a 2020 lawsuit filed by the State against the student loan servicing giant. The State’s lawsuit alleged that Navient engaged in unconscionable commercial practices, deceptive conduct, and misrepresentations when servicing thousands of New Jersey consumers’ student loans over the past decade – boosting company profits at the expense of struggling borrowers.

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The End of the Commuter Model and the Rise of the Digital Nomad

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, it’s been two years since the Covid-19 pandemic sent everyone home from work, and for many workers 2022 will begin and end in the same way: working from home Infront of a screen .

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Garden State Drivers Blindsided by Turnpike and Garden State Parkway Toll Increase

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

New Brunswick NJ, Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and John Catalano today moved to slam the brakes on automatic toll increases like the ones sprung on Garden State drivers last week.

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BUSINESSMAN FRANK PALLOTTA ENDORSED BY 29 LOCAL MAYORS FOR REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR CONGRESS IN THE FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ramsey NJ,  Twenty-nine local GOP mayors are sending a very clear and early message in the upcoming mid-term election cycle: Frank Pallotta has demonstrated he has the right background, appeal to voters, and solutions-oriented approach to be the Republican nominee for New Jersey’s Fifth Congressional District and our next Member of Congress.

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Yes It’s an Inflation Contagion

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No, inflation isn’t going away. No, inflation isn’t transitory. And, sorry, no, CNN, and some blog readers inflation isn’t good for you 

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the chart shows the Biden inflation effect. Since this time last year inflation is up roughly 7%.  The November pace on an annualized basis is close to 10. Half of Americans were born after 1980, so never in their lifetimes have they experienced this kind of sticker shock.

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NEW JERSEY’S STEALTH INCOME TAX HIKE : INFLATION

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NJ Tax Bracket Creep 

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, last week’s federal Producer Price Index report showed that prices for basic  goods across the country surged at a rate unseen in 31 years.

As Jared Walczak of the Tax Foundation noted in an analysis, “Inflation is often called a hidden tax, but in many states it yields a far more literal tax increase as tax brackets fail to adjust for changes in consumer purchasing power.”

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Opera Singers to Perform Well-Known Arias at the Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra’s Next Concert

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra will feature four rising stars in the opera world for its next performance on Friday, Nov. 19, at 8 p.m. 

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“Crypto-Mania” : Cryptocurrency Investors Expect Big Gains

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the market for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin is soaring, and the chance to get rich is the main selling point for investors.

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Biden Administration Mandates Vaccination for Employers with 100 or more Employees

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Washington D.C., the administration of US President Joe Biden today announced the details of 2 policies covering more than 100 million workers in an effort to get more people in the US vaccinated against COVID-19. The first rule, issued by the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), applies to employers with 100 or more employees and requires them to ensure their workers are either fully vaccinated or undergo weekly testing for SARS-CoV-2, for which employers are not required to pay. The rule also requires employers to provide paid-time off for employees to get vaccinated and compel unvaccinated workers to wear a face mask while at work. Employers who willfully do not comply with the mandate could face fines of up to $14,000 per violation, with the possibility of multiple citations per business. The second rule, issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) at the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), requires all healthcare workers employed at facilities that participate in Medicaid and Medicare—approximately 76,000 facilities nationwide—be fully vaccinated, with no option for testing but allowances for medical and religious exemptions.

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The 1970’s 2.0 : Producer Price Index Jumps 8.3%

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the economic whizz kids at the White House and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell keep saying inflation is “transitory.” But Friday morning’s Producer Price Index report show an 8.3% rise for the 12 months. DOL Says that’s “the largest annual increase since the US Department of Labor started measuring this price indicator in 2011.”

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