As 2012 approaches, the Hall Institute looks forward to providing New Jerseyans with another year of incisive, timely commentary and analysis on the major public policy issues confronting our state. We also extend a warm thank you to all of our followers and supporters who helped to make 2011 our best year ever.

January

• Hall Institute Executive Director Dr. Michael P. Riccards and Communications Director Richard Lee are quoted in several print media including the Wall Street Journal, Trenton Times, Press of Atlantic City, Newark Star-Ledger and five Gannett newspapers on local New Jersey taxes, pension reform, Rutgers-UMDNJ merger, citizenship.
• Hall Institute Newsletter highlights:  "The Debate over Gun Control" featuring NJ Assemblyman Michael P. Carroll vs. Bryan Miller, project director for Ceasefire NJ; "Fresh Water Requires Fresh Investment in New Jersey" (NJ Assemblyman Upendra J. Chivukula); "A Dubious Distinction" (Michael P. Riccards).

February

• At the New Jersey State House in Trenton, Hall Institute Executive Director and presidential scholar Michael P. Riccards unveils a commemorative plaque in honor of the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birthday; mounted on a wall outside the Governor's Office, the plaque was commissioned by the New Jersey Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission chaired by Riccards and funded by Hall Institute Founder George E. Hall. The unveiling commemorated the historic visit Lincoln made to Trenton in 1861 while traveling to Washington, D.C., for his inauguration. The Commission also presented a series of events including a Lincoln impersonator speaking the words of the President-elect before the Legislature in 1861.
• Michael P. Riccards writes an essay titled "Is It Time for a Unicameral Legislature?"
• Hall Institute Jersey Junction Radio Podcast covers topics including NJ State Budget Preview and NJ State Budget Analysis.
• Michael P. Riccards and Richard Lee are quoted in several print media including the Washington Examiner, Press of Atlantic City, Newark Star-Ledger, Trenton Times, Asbury Park Press, Blue Jersey, Courier Post, NJToday, New Jersey News Room on New Jersey casino layoffs, health insurance reform, Abraham Lincoln's visit to Trenton, 2012 Presidential elections.
• Newsletter highlights:  "The Education Leader Newark's Children Need" (Ross Danis, Executive Director of the Newark Education Trust); "The Reagan Centennial" (Executive Director Michael P. Riccards); "Establishing County Schools for New Jersey's Children with Autism" (Dr. Salvatore Pizzuro).

March

• The Hall Institute co-sponsors a public forum at Rutgers-Newark with Prof. Richard Keevey and Rutgers' School for Public Affairs and Administration titled "The Gaming Industry in New Jersey: The Present and the Future" featuring Jon Hanson, chairman of the N.J. Gaming, Sports and Entertainment Advisory Commission; Robert E. Mulcahy III, former President and CEO, NJ Sports and Exposition Authority; Karyn Malinowski, director of Rutgers Equine Science Center; Suzette Parmley, business reporter at The Philadelphia Inquirer; Jeffrey Gural, chairman of Newmark Knight Frank and American Racing Entertainment.
• The Hall Institute adds a special Future of NJ Gaming section to its website.
• The Hall Public Forum livestream broadcast features Joseph Marbach, Provost at La Salle University and previous President of the New Jersey Political Science Association.
• Hall Institute Jersey Junction Radio Podcast covers topics including Public Employees, Pensions, Benefits and Taxpayers; the Redistricting Picture for New Jersey.
• Michael P. Riccards and Richard Lee are quoted in several print media including the Newark Star-Ledger, Standardbred Canada, SBOANJ.com, Wall Street Journal, Asbury Park Press, Press of Atlantic City, NJBIZ, The Harness Edge, USTA News, HarnessRacing, New Jersey News Room, Daily Kos on New Jersey's gaming industry, New Jersey redistricting, Gov. Christie's vetoes.
• Newsletter highlights:  "Post Rally Study: An Analysis of Cops and Crime Rates" (David J. Moody); "Dealing with Tenure" (Michael P. Riccards).

April

• Michael P. Riccards is quoted in several print media including the Newark Star-Ledger, Reuters, Asbury Park Press, Daily Kos, Wall Street Journal, USTA News, NJ 101.5 FM Radio on New Jersey's gaming industry and New Jersey's pension crisis.
• Hall Institute Jersey Junction Radio Podcast covers topics including Redistricting Analysis; Upcoming School Board Elections; School Elections:  Analyzing the Results.
• Newsletter highlights:  "Post Rally Study: An Analysis of Cops and Crime Rates" (report on a study commissioned by the Hall Institute and authored by David J. Moody); "Dealing with Tenure:  Grading the Governor's Budget" (Executive Director Michael P. Riccards).

May

• NJ Assemblywoman Linda Stender and NJ Senator Barbara Buono contribute op-ed to Hall Institute Newsletter on "New Jersey and Climate Change: A Crossroads of Conscience".
• Other Newsletter highlights: "Is NJ Shortchanging Its Latino Community?"  (Latino Institute Executive Director William Colon); "Special Education Funding Dilemma" (Dr. Salvatore Pizzuro); "How to Grow a Local Arts Scene" (Lawrence McCullough).
• Hall Public Forum Video Broadcast - New Jersey's Media Landscape:  Richard Lee interviews PolitickerNJ.com founder Darryl Isherwood.
• Hall Institute Jersey Junction Radio Podcast covers topics including ARC Tunnel Bill, Supreme Court Compromise; What to Do with NJ's Unanticipated Income Tax Revenue.

June

• Hall Institute Jersey Junction Radio Podcast covers topics including NJN and Helicopters; Public Pension Reform.
• Newsletter highlights include:  "John Edwards and The Prosecutors" (Michael P. Riccards); "The Wrong Time for Cuts to Public Media" (Richard Lee); "Gambling at the Meadowlands" (Oceanport Mayor Joseph A. Irace); "The Growing Latino Population" (Latino Institute Executive Director William Colon); "New Jerseyans with Disabilities: Still Struggling for Access to Employment, Health Care, Housing, Community Acquiescence, and Human Rights" (Dr. Salvatore Pizzuro); "Governor Christie Signs Landmark Pension Bill Into Law" (New Media Director William J. Richards).

July

• Hall Institute Jersey Junction Radio Podcast covers topics including Budget Aftermath; Congressional Redistricting; Rupert Murdoch Scandal; College Presidents' Salaries.
• Newsletter highlights include:  "A War on the Poor" (Latino Institute Executive Director William Colon); "End of the Buck Rogers Era" (William J. Richards); "Curtailing Pensions and Benefits" (Michael P. Riccards).
• Hall Public Forum Video Broadcast - New Jersey's Media Landscape:  Richard Lee interviews Nick Acocella, editor and publisher of Politifax.

August

• Hall Institute Press Director Lawrence McCullough delivers a presentation at Mercy International Centre in Dublin, Ireland on social-issue theatre; presentation occurs during the Centre's Global Youth Conference 2011 where actress Lisa Bansavage performs two of McCullough's original dramatic works on 19th-century House of Mercy founders Catherine McAuley and Frances Warde.
• Hall Institute Jersey Junction Radio Podcast covers topics including Earthquakes & Hurricanes; Presidential Race 2012; Port Authority Toll Increases.
• The Hall Institute includes the Executive Office of the President of the United States among its readership; according to web site viewer statistics, an article on Congressional gridlock ("FAA Showdown:  Not Over Yet" by William J. Richards) was read by the White House.
• NJ Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Cryan contributes op-ed to Hall Institute Newsletter on two bills seeking to regulate New Jersey's wine industry.
• Newsletter highlights include:  "Saving the Middle Class" (Michael P. Riccards); "Race to the Top:  Every Picture Tells A Story - And More" (Richard Lee); "Still Second Class Citizens:  New Jerseyans with Disabilities Remain Ostracized from the Workforce" (Dr. Salvatore Pizzuro).

September

• The Hall Institute co-sponsors a public forum at Rutgers-Newark with Prof. Richard Keevey and Rutgers' School for Public Affairs and Administration titled "Has New Jersey Solved the Pension and Retirement Health Benefit Problem?" featuring Susan Urahn, Managing Director, Pew Center on the States, The Pew Charitable Trusts; Andrew P. Sidamon-Eristoff, Treasurer, State of New Jersey; Dr. Ronnie Lowenstein, Director, Independent Budget Office for New York City; Richard Raphael, Executive Managing Director, Fitch Ratings Agency; Dr. Richard F. Keevey, former Budget Director and Comptroller for the State of New Jersey and Chief Financial Officer for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
• Newsletter highlights include:  "Labor Day 2011: Working Together, Moving Forward Together" (New Jersey State AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech); "Congress' War on Science" (William J. Richards); "A Third Party For Whom?" (Michael P. Riccards); "Rethinking Flood Response - A Regional Approach" (Keith Kazmark); "Cleaning Up the Soprano State" (Vincent Sheridan).
• Hall Institute Public Forum Video Broadcast: Michael P. Riccards discusses legal challenges faced by parents of children with disabilities with Jennifer N. Rosen Valverde, Esq., MSW of Rutgers University School of Law.

October

• Hall Institute co-sponsors with Dr. Salvatore Pizzuro and Disability Advocacy Services, Inc. a public forum titled "Statewide Summit on Status of Disabled News Jerseyans" in East Rutherford; Hall Institute Founder George E. Hall delivers opening remarks.
• Michael P. Riccards and Dr. Salvatore Pizzuro co-author a Report to the Governor on the State of Disabled Citizens in New Jersey that is sent to the Governor's office and State Assembly; Dr. Pizzuro meets in Trenton with a Governor's Office representative to go over critical points in the Report.
• Michael P. Riccards is quoted in Bond Buyer and the San Francisco Chronicle on pension reform.
• Lawrence McCullough publishes "Turning Immigration into a Workforce Issue" in Community College Times.
• Hall Institute Public Forum Video Broadcasts:  Michael P. Riccards discusses public safety and homeland security issues with security specialist Mike Presutti and interviews William J. Richards on the future of manned space flight.
• Newsletter highlights include:  New Jersey Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman's open letter to The Occupy Movement; Michael P. Riccards' analysis of Governor Chris Christie's decision not to seek the Republican Presidential nomination in 2012; "Constitutional Concerns Over the Involuntary Civil Commitment of Sex Offenders" (Carole J. Sevely).

November

• The Hall Institute finishes work on an Institute smartphone app v 1.0 developed by William J. Richards with full implementation set for 2012.
• Michael P. Riccards is quoted in Business Week and the San Francisco Chronicle on double dipping on pensions and state jobs in New Jersey.
• Lawrence McCullough publishes "An Expanded Core Mission for the Municipal Public Information Officer" in EfficientGov.
• Lawrence McCullough delivers a panel presentation at New Jersey State League of Municipalities Conference in Atlantic City ("Using the Arts to Revitalize Local Economies").
• Newsletter highlights:  "Technology and Public Policy:  Historical Examples and an Imaginative Use to Promote the Human Rights of Children" (Dr. Glenda Kirkland, Bloomfield College); "New Jersey's Media Landscape: Can It Help Us Understand the Emerging Framework of Politics and Democracy in the Internet Age?" (Richard Lee, St. Bonaventure University); "Wall Street, The Mainstream Media, and What The Pundit Class Doesn't Understand" (Press Director Lawrence McCullough); "Pensions in Chile" (Michael P. Riccards); "The Abuse of Those with Developmental Disabilities Continues" (Dr. Salvatore Pizzuro).

December

• Hall Institute Public Forum Video Broadcast - Focus on Healthcare:  Executive Director Michael P. Riccards interviews Linda Walder Fiddle, founder and executive director of The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation for Adult Autism; Andrea Krich, executive director of United Cerebral Palsy of Northern, Central, and Southern New Jersey, Inc.; Dr. Lawrence Decker, clinical psychologist and founder/director of the Center for Cardiac Wellness.
• Hall Institute starts new video series - Hometown Solutions: Examining Best Practices in NJ Local Government; inaugural episode features Michael P. Riccards and Lawrence McCullough discussing Woodbridge Township's use of arts as an economic revitalization tool.
• Michael P. Riccards publishes op-ed on status of pension reform in New Jersey in syndicated Gannett newspapers.
• NJ Assemblywoman Connie Wagner (Vice-Chair of the Committee on Health and Senior Services) contributes op-ed to Hall Institute Newsletter on aid for New Jersey flood victims.
• Other Newsletter highlights:  "The Medical Mandate" (Michael P. Riccards); "Vouchers, Children of Color and The Big Lie" (Latino Institute Executive Director William Colon); "The State of American Catholicism" (Michael P. Riccards).
• Year-end statistics measure 9.3% increase in Hall Institute web site readership over 2010.