A Governor’s Legacy: Fewer Shootings, Free College and Covid Deaths
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- Governor Philip D. Murphy will deliver his final State of the State address after eight years leading New Jersey, highlighting achievements such as improved credit ratings and legalizing marijuana.
- His tenure included significant challenges, including a deadly COVID-19 outbreak in veterans' homes that resulted in federal investigations and a controversial migrant housing comment that drew national attention.
- Murphy's administration enacted new gun control laws, reduced shootings statewide, expanded property tax refunds, and made community college free for 51,000 low-income residents.
- A criminal inquiry is ongoing into a slowdown in traffic enforcement by state troopers, linked to a rise in fatal crashes, with New Jersey paying $2.6 million to an independent counsel.
- Despite criticisms over increased state spending—from a $
