Politics & Public Affairs Archives

Politics & Public Affairs

Monmouth University pollster Patrick Murray describes Donald Trump’s election as a “wake-up call” for polling professionals.

Monmouth University Pollster Patrick Murray is Making Numbers Meaningful

September 12, 2018

Pollster Patrick Murray earned a reputation for his dead-on projections. Then came the 2016 presidential election, when most polls missed the mark. Here’s what he learned—and how polling has changed....
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Teacher Jean Beeks, a recent transplant from Brooklyn.

In the Wake of Parkland, Districts Ask, Are Our Schools Safe?

September 4, 2018

To arm or not to arm: That's the question roiling many New Jersey districts....
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Kevin Martin revisits the Maplewood street where he was questioned by police after a shopowner reported suspicious activity.

Confronting Racism, Coming Together

July 10, 2018

Racist incidents remain a fact of New Jersey life. Here’s how some communities are trying to bring people together. ...
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Tammy Murphy at Drumthwacket, the historic governor's mansion in Princeton. She promises to be an activist, but never a burden.

Tammy Murphy and Her Husband are In it Together

May 15, 2018

Tammy Murphy still isn’t used to people calling her “first lady.” ...
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Sexual Assault on Campus: A Special Report

March 6, 2018

On campuses across New Jersey, more students are coming forward about sexual misconduct, but confusion remains....
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In 2008, Venessa Manzano founded the Filipino School of New York and New Jersey, a nonprofit focused on keeping Filipino traditions and history alive.

Immigration Stories: Venessa Manzano

February 9, 2018

Much of Venessa Manzano’s life’s work has focused on preserving Filipino culture. In 2008, she founded the Filipino School of New York and New Jersey, a nonprofit focused on keeping Filipino traditions and history alive....
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"I'm sure Dominicans are not going to stay being the biggest population in Perth Amboy forever." - Irving Lozada

Immigration Stories: The Dominicans of Perth Amboy

February 8, 2018

Seventy-eight percent of Perth Amboy’s population of about 53,000 is Latino. Dominicans are the largest subgroup, and work hard to give back to their community. ...
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David and Emill Coto at David's shop, Country Tailors in Basking Ridge.

Immigration Stories: The Cotos

February 7, 2018

The Coto family seem to be the typical all-American family. They own a business. They pay their taxes. There's just one difference: They're undocumented....
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"We were the first ones to move onto that block [in Jersey City], and they didn't like us at all...It took time for them to get to know us." - Khaldiya Mustafa with husband Mustafa Mustafa.

Immigration Stories: The Mustafas

Khaldiya Mustafa, principal of Al-Ghazaly High School in Wayne, and her husband Mustafa imbue their children with pride in their Muslim heritage. ...
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"There is a ridiculous amount of respect for our elders. We are never going to step on their beliefs." - Charlie Patel

Immigration Stories: Charlie Patel

Charlie Patel spent his youth helping his family making ends meet with odd jobs. Today he's used that entrepreneurial spirit to co-found a digital marketing agency. ...
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ESL students gather at Hudson County Community College. From left: Melissa Ojeda, Walid Kaddah, Letice Zunguze, Hanaa Farahat (front) and Fatiha Abdelli.

Immigrant Students Provide Lessons in Perseverance

Elena Gorokhova, an immigrant from Russia, writes about the things she's learned from her students studying English as second language....
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"I'm not just Korean, I'm American...I'm part of this society. I'm crying when I look at the American flag."-Sunjoo Hwang Kim

Immigration Stories: Sunjoo Hwang Kim

Paterson teacher Sunjoo Hwang Kim once felt like an outside in America. Now, she embraces the traditions of both the US and her native South Korea. ...
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"My [immigrant] mother is the strongest person I have ever met. Tough as nails, but very respectful." - Esther Salas

Immigration Stories: Esther Salas

February 6, 2018

By age 38, Esther Salas was selected as New Jersey’s first Latino federal magistrate judge. Five years later, she became the state’s first Latina U.S. District Court judge....
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The State of Immigration in New Jersey

The Garden State has long been a beacon for the foreign born. ...
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A Conversation with MSNBC Anchor Stephanie Ruhle

January 17, 2018

The host of MSNBC Live with Stephanie Ruhle discusses the challenges of covering President Trump, the importance of financial freedom and her documentaries on Haiti and ocean conservation. ...
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