NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ—A tractor trailer crash on Route 1 caused about 150 gallons of diesel fuel to spill into waterways near where the New Brunswick Water Utility draws its drinking water. The city’s Water Treatment Plant typically treats water sucked out of the Westons Mill Pond, but the utility is fortunate to have a second […]
Environment & Climate
New Brunswick’s history of industrial pollution and recent changes in the global climate have made the city a focal point for discussions about how to make society more sustainable. Hurricanes and other storms like have caused significant disruption many times in recent history, affecting the supply of drinking water, destroying public buildings, and shutting down transportation routes.
Posted inEducation
Rutgers Students Shaken as Pandemic Disrupts School
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—On March 17, Rutgers University President Robert Barchi cancelled all in-person classes and events for the remainder of the school year, including the long-awaited commencement ceremonies. It’s part of the latest drastic measures taken to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19–measures that have been met with frustration and heartbreak by students, […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Hating on His Own Party, Dem Zoning Chair Spreads False Claims About “Illegals”
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—The Chairman of the city’s Zoning Board spread bad information on his public Facebook page, some of it targeting his own political party. John Cox, a Mayor-appointed board member for 18 years, has repeatedly spread false claims about so-called “illegals” who “belong in jail” and attacks on “dummycrats” despite being a registered Democrat […]
Posted inLaw & Public Safety
Rutgers Closes Eco-Preserve After Coyote Bites Student on Livingston Campus
PISCATAWAY, NJ–The 360-acre ecological preserve at Rutgers University has been closed after a student was attacked by a coyote in the early morning hours of November 14. The community was alerted to the Livingston campus incident in the afternoon, when the Rutgers University Police Department (RUPD) issued the first of two statements on the matter. […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
2019 Hub City Development Docket: Watch Decisions About New Brunswick’s Future
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—It can be hard to keep track of all the plans for new developments in New Brunswick, but we are going to try. Technical meeting agendas released to the public for the first time offer a new window into the city’s development pipeline, and an advance look at possible futures for many sites […]
Posted inActivism & Organizing, Education, Environment & Climate
Rutgers President Barchi Backs Off Climate Pledge, Shifting Blame to Student Newspaper
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—The Rutgers University administration’s commitment to cut net carbon emissions completely by 2030 lasted about four days, and officials still can’t get their stories straight. While hundreds gathered to call for immediate action to combat the climate crisis, just a few blocks away, Rutgers’ outgoing President Robert “Bob” Barchi was cracking jokes at […]
Posted inActivism & Organizing, Environment & Climate, Government & Politics
Voters Deal Another Blow to Edison Mayor, Effectively Killing His Privatization Deal
EDISON, NJ—In a special referendum election, voters in Edison overwhelmingly approved a citizen-initiated ordinance to protect their water and sewer utilities from further privatization. More than four out of five voters approved the new law that will effectively prevent a massive privatization scheme targeting the Township’s sewer system, and much of its drinking water service. […]
