For the first time in my adult life, and likely the first time since you can remember, a majority of New Jersey citizens believe that our state is heading in the right direction. Considering very little in Trenton has changed other than the Governor, I think that it is safe to say that this turn of events is directly attributable to Governor Christie’s policies and much of his prospective agenda going forward.
If you’re not so convinced, but remember that back in October of 2009, just before Governor Christie was elected, only 21 percent believed New Jersey was heading in the right direction. This is compared with the landmark 51 percent today.
Something that the media always seems to ignore, but I believe is important, is the difference in responses between households with and without public employees, since the perception is that Governor Christie does not poll well with that group.
Well, when you take public employee households out of the sample, the “Right Track” number shoots up to 54 percent. When you only look at public employee households and exclude everyone else, the number drops ten points to 41 percent. However, considering the perception, I am surprised the number is even that high. It certainly says a lot about the accepted reasonableness of the Governor’s policies, even among those who do not support him for various reasons. It is also notable that 49 percent of the sample are Democrat voters or at least those who lean Democrat, while only 33 percent are Republicans.
This poll is a huge victory for the Governor as any attempt to spin this as a negative would be absolutely ridiculous.
Just for fun let’s do our own poll here: Save Jerseyans, would you say that New Jersey is on the right track or the wrong track?
The ship is sinking, but it's now pointed to port rather than heading further into the icefield. The state has structural problems and there's a lot of work to do, but the hole isn't getting deeper and ever so slightly I dare say is getting a few grains of the sand put back in it. Even Tom Moran had to admit that Christie has gotten more done since becoming Governor than anyone since Kean – and with a hostile legislature. The 2% cap, flawed or not and PenBenefits, ideal or not, are HUGE successes. So I'd have to say as an outsider the answer to me appears to be yes.
Incidentally, on a sidenote, I'm not sure if it was you or Matt so forgive me if I'm fingering you – but I believe there's some opposition on here to a shared services bill here. It seems predicated on a two-fold belief, if I've absorbed the arguments properly..1) the idea of localities rights to be profligate if they so choose under the whole Home Rule thing. Their residents will suffer so why not let them if they want to? and 2) that dictates from Trenton are well…from Trenton…and Trenton is certainly a master at finances (spending them that is).
I certainly agree with 2) above and granted this is all speculative talk on a bill that does not yet exist but does anyone believe that a majority of locales are going to be willing to share services without strong incentive? You have 562 municipalities (I believe that's the total…if my memory serves). They each are mini-fiefdoms. Even the otherwise sane Republican/Conservative ones aren't going to willingly give up their own little empires. Maybe a dictate from Trenton isn't ideal, but what are the other options? It seems to me that, aside from structural (long-term) fiscal issues, property taxes are the number one issue there. I mean they are absolutely mind-boggling. Now I realize that there are other issues contributing to the property tax situation (inequitable state school aid, for example), but it seems to me that some sort of push for shared services has to be a key component of improving the situation.
My out of state $0.02….this stuff interests me to an unhealthy level..
Home rule …..the state is forcing home rule on towns just buy denying them the school funding they are entitled to …My town say nothing last year if they even gave us 50 cents on the dollars that Trenton steals from us my towns property tax bills which average $11,800 would be cut by 30% ….
we have to see what happens at last.everything will be known at last