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
Amid soaring apartment lease costs, does NJ have rent control?
Parts of New Jersey have rent control through municipal ordinances, but not the whole state. Details vary by city and town.
Good news and bad news about NJ employment in May
It was the 18th consecutive month of jobs gains in New Jersey, though the third smallest monthly increase in that year and a half.
A bigger windfall for NJ taxpayers? See how much you’d get under proposed rebates
The size of the promised property tax credits more than doubled, from $700 to $1,500, for homeowners with incomes under $150,000.
Protect Supreme Court justices? 7 congressmen from NJ oppose bill
Pointing to the murder of the son of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas at their home, lawmakers say the bill should go further in protecting the judiciary.
NJ tax collections plunge by billions – but that’s OK, state says
State revenues in May were nearly 39% smaller than one year earlier, but the state Treasury says that's because the income tax deadline was delayed in 2021.
NJ considers ‘microstamping’ requirement for all new guns
Microstamping technology that helps police trace bullets back to guns would be required in New Jersey, but the bill hasn't gotten a hearing.
NJ Senate panel votes for plan to sue gun industry for damages
One part of Gov. Phil Murphy's latest gun-reform package took a first step through the state Senate.
No more aliens, no more inmates? NJ may rewrite its laws
‘Illegal aliens’ could be on their way out of New Jersey’s laws, replaced by ‘undocumented foreign nationals,’ under a bill advanced by a Senate committee.
3 more recreational weed shops open Wednesday in NJ
Garden State Dispensary locations in Eatontown, Union Township and Woodbridge that have been medical-only are next to expand their operations.
NJ considers creating entirely new department to deal with children
New Jersey might consolidate services for youth from across the government, ranging from pregnancy through age 8, in a new state Department of Early Childhood.