Time To Take A Stand

Regardless of where you stand on the volatile issue of same-sex marriage, you deserve a decision from the New Jersey State Legislature. Now after some hesitation by state lawmakers, it looks like there will be one. The Hall Institute's Richard Lee reflects on this development in Same-Sex Marriage: It’s Time for the Legislature to Take a Stand.

Hall Institute Honored
By Leadership NJ

The Hall Institute was honored by Leadership New Jersey yesterday for its work on the October 8 Lieutenant Governor Forum and Debate. The institute was part of the coalition that sponsored the events.

Richard Lee, the institute's communication director, accepted the honors during Leadership New Jersey's Celebration of Leadership event in New Brunswick.

Regaining the Public Trust — When all is said and done, good government depends on accountability and transparency, and integrity is advanced when the rules of the game are fair, clearly understood and consistently applied. Seton Hall Law Professor Paula Franzese offers some suggestions on how to attain these goals in The Challenge to Regain the Public Trust.

A Turkey of a Holiday — Thanksgiving may be the quintessential American holiday, but Hall Institute Executive Director Michael P. Riccards noticed some troubling developments this year. In Some Sour Notes on Thanksgiving, Riccards opines on stores that open too early, the church and gay marriage, and the troop build-up in Afghanistan.

Citizen Journalism — Citizen journalism is becoming increasingly popular, but Alternative Press editor Michael Shapiro feels that, if newspaper executives are truly interested in citizen journalism for the sake of democracy, they should pay citizens to report. He explains why in Citizen Journalism: The Last Refuge?

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The Hall Institute is a non-partisan, not-for-profit foundation established to explore social, economic, educational and cultural issues. Our weekly email newsletter is sent to organizations and individuals with an interest in the material posted on our website at www.hallnj.org.

Since its inception in 2005, the institute has emerged as a leading voice for public policy in New Jersey. More than 400 papers, on topics ranging from health care to education to property taxes, have been posted on our website.

In 2006 and 2008, the institute presented online Virtual Debates among the candidates in New Jersey's U.S. Senate race. We also sponsored NJ2008, a special section on New Jersey's role in the 2008 presidential campaign.

In addition to our other activities, the institute also has published two books -- The State of the Garden State and Reaction and Reform in New Jersey. Both are compilations of the major papers posted on its website. A third volume, Creating A Common Future: New Jersey and Public Policy, is posted on the Hall Institute website.

Located in Trenton at 224 West State Street, the institute was established by George E. Hall, a successful business executive and a leading philanthropist who lives in Middletown, N.J.

WE WELCOME YOUR INPUT AND IDEAS, AND WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUBMIT PAPERS FOR OUR WEBSITE. CONTACT US AT INFO@HALLNJ.ORG.