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’s high property taxes keep rising — average is now $8,953
New Jersey’s average residential property tax bill grew at the fastest rate in three years in 2019, 2.1%, reaching $8,953.
Murphy says his jobs program will get NJ to ‘dominate this new decade’
Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration is reorganizing the state’s job training efforts in an effort to better align education programs with the talent needs of employers
Murphy: ‘Show stopper’ benefits from millionaires tax
Governor says he's optimistic a millionaires tax will eventually pass because polls show its popular and the money would fund programs helping the middle class.
Murphy’s 2020 priorities: Millionaires tax, NJ Transit strategic plan
Gov. Phil Murphy made a veiled reference to seeking re-election in a State of the State that promised details on an agenda for 2020 in the weeks ahead.
Plastic & paper bag ban dies in Assembly after Senate approval
The bill would ban single-use carryout bags in two years. Its sponsor says it will be a top priority in the new session with a first hearing on Jan. 30.
Amended bill delivers break to first-time ‘porch pirates’
‘Porch pirates’ face stiffer criminal penalties, though not the first time they’re caught, under one of many bills getting a last-minute push in the Legislature.
Ban on flavored vapes in New Jersey advances in Legislature
Bill is set for Monday approval, despite protests from vape shop owners who say it will force them out of business and send former smokers back to cigarettes.
NJ may require high-hazard trains to disclose routes, contents
Legislation imposing new disclosure requirements on high-hazard trains traveling through New Jersey is scheduled for final approval in a Monday vote.
Task force planned to study impacts of social isolation in NJ
Social isolation, in which individuals have little or no contact with other people, can negatively affect both physical and psychological health.
NJ parents would get more say over student depression screenings
Legislation is back on track for approval that would have public schools screen students for depression yearly in grades 7 through 12.