EJB Talks: Rutgers Bloustein School Experts

On this week's episode, Stuart welcomes Elizabeth Cooner, Executive Director of the New Jersey State Policy Lab. Elizabeth talks about the Lab's mission of conducting rigorous evidence-based research that helps inform NJ policy makers on solutions to important policy questions that are effective, innovative, and always have a focus on equity. She also talks about the lab's valuable and vital collaboration between the Bloustein School and the Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration in Newark. The two speak about recent reports that the lab has worked on including ones on the impacts and implications of cannabis legalization, COVID eviction assistance, and local treatment of vacant commercial property. Tune in for more!

SPECIAL EDITION EPISODE 1: The war in Ukraine has stunned western observers. In this timely, special edition of EJB Talks, Stuart Shapiro speaks with two members of the Bloustein community who are personally touched by the war -- undergraduate public health major Solomiya Mykolyk, and public policy professor Andrea Hetling--both of whom have family in Ukraine.  Solomiya was born in Ukraine and emigrated to the U.S. with her family. She talks about the liberating impact of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and the Revolution of Dignity in 2014, when protesters sought to overthrow the Ukrainian government. Today the experience is much more terrifying as Solomiya describes her disbelief at hearing news of the invasion by Russia last week, reminding us that the consequences of war have a human face.

SPECIAL EDITION EPISODE 2: The world continues to watch as the Russian invasion of Ukraine disturbingly continues. In this timely, special edition of EJBTalks, Stuart Shapiro talks with Bloustein doctoral candidate Sergei Kostiaev. A native of Russia, Sergei discusses his previous academic research and study comparing political cultures of Soviet and Nazi elites, and what led to his study of Russian lobbying in the United States. He gives Stuart and the listening audience a firsthand account of how life in Russia changed under Putin--eliminating critical media,  eliminating opposition, and eliminating any other centers of power that could oppose him. The two discuss what is currently happening including Putin's miscalculation regarding the united response from the U.S., Europe, Canada, and Japan to impose heavy sanctions that have decimated the Russian economy. Sergei also provides some of the other options Western policymakers may have to further weaken Russia, and ends the discussion with ways individuals can help the Ukrainian people.

This week on EJB Talks Jeanne Herb, Director of the Bloustein School's Environmental Analysis and Communications Group (EAC), returns to talk to Stuart Shapiro. Jeanne gives the history of EAC and an overview of its vision of community-based environmental planning, its connection to health and equity, and their growing focus on the intersection of environment and people in both the natural and built environments. Jeanne highlights some of their largest projects. The exciting work she talks about includes the Megalapolitan Coastal Transformation Hub (MACH), a five-year research endeavor, in the New York City, New Jersey, Philadelphia region, with 10 other institutions besides Rutgers, led by Professor Bob Kopp, researching the factors that inform coastal climate change decisions. Other highlights of EAC's research include a focus on local public health capacity, particularly in New Jersey, research support for the state Division of Disability Services' Inclusive Healthy Communities program, and Jeanne's continued commitment to teaching future leaders via her graduate course at the Bloustein School on communicating science with decision-makers.

Jon Carnegie, Executive Director of the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center (VTC) at the Bloustein School, joins Stuart Shapiro on EJB Talks this week. VTC is a leader in transportation planning and policy research and education at the national, regional, and state levels. Jon talks about VTC's core strengths related to transportation in the built environment and its work in transit-oriented development, pedestrian and bicycle mobility and safety, healthy community design, smart growth, and transportation and social equity. They discuss the relationship between transportation, social justice, and the environment.  He tells Stuart about some of their exciting outreach and research including the New Jersey Travel Independence Program (NJTIP@Rutgers), VTC's partnership with the New Jersey Climate Change Alliance which is centered around decarbonizing the transportation sector, and the center's cross-disciplinary work with the Rutgers Schools of Engineering (SOE) and Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) for the New Jersey Department of Transportation, just to name a few. Tune in for all the details!

We are opening our sixth season of EJBTalks with Stuart Shapiro, Interim Dean of the Bloustein School welcoming Kathy Krepcio, Executive Director of the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development. Kathy speaks about the incredible workforce research and scholarship conducted by the center. She describes Heldrich's extensive work on unemployment and long-term unemployment and helping dislocated workers. The Heldrich Center has worked with those laid off after the September 11 attacks and has managed the New Start Career Network program which helps long-term unemployed New Jerseyans over the age of 45. The two speak also talk about Heldrich's new work funded by the Urban Institute's WorkRise, a study which aims to assess opinions of diversity, inclusion, and equity and evaluate responses by race, gender, income, and education to be used to promote more equitable workplaces and economic opportunity. Kathy and Stuart also speak about the center's pandemic-related work researching how New Jersey delivered services to individuals eligible for benefits under the Federal Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act.

To close out this season's podcasts, Amy Cobb returns to pose questions to Stuart Shapiro about the year in politics. They discuss President Biden's achievements, including the Build Back Better framework, the administration's more competent COVID response, and the relatively mundane nature of the administration. The pair also delve into the current administration's woes, encompassing everything from inflation to gerrymandering and voters' rights. Stuart forewarns about Trump's expanding command over the Republican Party, how it complicates this administration's policy agenda and is deeply worrisome for the country.

On this episode of EJBTalks, Stuart Shapiro welcomes back two of our most popular guests. Linda Stamato and Sandy Jaffe founded and ran the Bloustein School's Center for Negotiation and Conflict Resolution while teaching at the school since its founding in 1992. Linda and Sandy reflect on their far-reaching careers and how the fields of planning and policy in general -- and the Bloustein School -- were the perfect fit for them and their work.  The two explore the current state of politics with Stuart and aim to comfort but also affirm that to have democracy, there must be conflict. It is through conflict that an advancement in public welfare occurs. Finally, the pair share the excitement they have had working with colleagues and the optimism and joy they experienced teaching their students at Bloustein.

On this episode of EJBTalks, Stuart Shapiro welcomes South Bronx raised, and fellow Yankees fan, Distinguished Professor Mike Greenberg. They discuss his illustrious career from professor and researcher to the Dean's office at Bloustein. Mike talks about the foundations of the school, how its multidisciplinary, interconnected programs in health, urban planning, and public policy are the reasons for its success, and how the interaction between the disciplines creates versatility and the ability to rise to complicated societal challenges. The two also take a deep dive into the National Environmental Protection Act, with Professor Greenberg describing his shock at how it came to be. He also discusses the past and current challenges NEPA faces politically and administratively. Mike shares with Stuart his greatest joy through his career; watching faculty and students develop, succeed, and advance in prestige both locally and nationally.

On this episode of EJBTalks Stuart welcomes Professor Emeritus Bob Lake, who helped shape our world ranked Urban Planning Program and led our doctoral program. Stuart asks Bob to share his vision of Urban Planning. Bob talks to Stuart about his book on John Dewey, and how Dewey's perspective of the Planning City, the continuous process of figuring out how best to live together, is his ideal of the practice of Planning. The two then delve into the current political atmosphere in the US, the benefits and pitfalls surrounding the current state of community engagement and its incredible importance but possible degradation to the democratic political process. Bob shares with Stuart his feeling of optimism about the future, based on his 46 years of educating astute and enthusiastic Bloustein students into democratically capable citizens who are committed to the long haul of figuring out how to make this world a better place.