AGP Executive Report

Housing & Public Assistance: Essex County’s public housing occupancy slipped to 83% in 2025 (down 1 point), with 6,052 units; Hudson County fell to 95% (6,582 units), Middlesex dipped to 90% (597 units), and Sussex held at 98% (80 units), underscoring uneven demand across the state. Crypto & Cybersecurity: Liquid Network said “white hat” hackers took nearly 4,000 BTC (~$319M), pausing bridge nodes and prompting exchanges to halt LBTC deposits/withdrawals while the sidechain is investigated. Sports Betting & Regulation: New Jersey’s push to take the Kalshi sports-prediction market fight to the U.S. Supreme Court continues, as courts split on state authority over the fast-growing market. Travel & Airlines: Delta and United are resuming flights to Tel Aviv from New York-area hubs, with Newark service restarting Tuesday, as competition may affect fares later in 2026. Consumer Fraud Signals: BBB Scam Tracker data put Emerson among 132 NJ cities tied for 120th in July scam reports, reflecting persistent small-scale fraud activity. Aviation/Travel Incident: An American Airlines passenger was duct-taped after an alleged racist/homophobic rant on a flight that diverted to Baltimore, highlighting ongoing onboard safety concerns.

Election Economy: A new set of midterm questions is centering on cost of living and economic discontent, with voters weighing inflation, housing pressures and tariff fallout as campaigns gear up for Labor Day’s political kickoff. Data Centers & Land Use: As Trump pushes for more data centers, voters in key races say they don’t want them—fueling local moratorium fights over water, land and community impacts. Prediction Markets Clash: New Jersey is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to settle the growing dispute over sports prediction markets, as courts split on state authority and regulators push back. Health Care Costs: Student-loan forgiveness progress is being disrupted by federal payment-count coding errors, while insurers’ proposed rate hikes keep squeezing households. Public Safety: A fatal head-on crash on Route 206 in Andover Township closed out the holiday weekend with one death and two injuries. NJ Business & Growth: GoNetspeed announced an $8M fiber expansion in Carteret, adding to the state’s ongoing broadband buildout. Local Spotlight: Miss New Jersey Kylie Gene Wright is set for the Miss America 2027 finale after winning the Garden State title in June.

Prediction Markets Fight: New Jersey is pushing its case to the U.S. Supreme Court over states’ authority to regulate sports prediction markets, arguing the Kalshi/Polymarket dispute should be settled at the highest level. Housing & Public Assistance: HUD data show Essex County’s public housing count edged up to 6,052 units in 2025, while Middlesex County fell to 597 and the state’s broader assisted-housing picture continues to shift by county. Local Governance: Hoboken moved to curb late-night noise by adding a 10 p.m. Pier 13 curfew after years of complaints. Energy & Environment: Apple growers took a hit after a late-spring freeze wiped out the crop at Freehold’s Battleview Orchards, forcing the farm to skip apple picking this fall. Business & Jobs: A new wave of tech layoffs is back in focus as companies restructure amid AI and automation, with recent cuts at firms including TikTok and Apple drawing attention. Public Safety: A Cape May County official tied to hazardous materials preparedness was arrested on alleged grant-funded HAZMAT training billing and forgery/theft charges.

Public Safety & Fraud: Roselle logged one scam report in July 2026, tying it for 120th among 132 New Jersey cities tracked by BBB Scam Tracker, with the reported loss tied to a travel/vacation/timeshare scheme. Energy & Permitting: A nationwide review of 2026 renewable energy siting bills found most proposals aimed to restrict projects, but enacted measures skewed permissive; researchers expect 2027 to be the “biggest year yet” for siting-related legislation as data centers keep expanding. Housing & Subsidized Units: HUD data shows Hudson County public housing units fell 77 to 6,582 in 2025, with tenant-based vouchers at 11,958 and project-based assistance at 7,237. Local Business & Solar: Lower Towamensing Township approved AMPAL Inc. for a conditional use permit to install 10 solar arrays on its property. Community History: Palmerton residents debated where to reinstall a decades-old time capsule in Borough Park, aiming for a more visible location. Higher Ed & Federal Funding: The U.S. House passed a bill cutting federal aid to colleges that participate in commercial boycotts of Israel, raising stakes for campus funding eligibility.

Cybersecurity & Critical Infrastructure: The NYT reports Iran may be weighing escalation against the U.S., including targeting more ships in the Strait of Hormuz and launching cyberattacks on U.S. systems; officials say Iran-linked hackers hit more than 100 U.S. water systems in July, triggering disruptions and boil-water advisories. Healthcare Safety: Baxter and B. Braun issued separate recalls of 0.9% saline IV bags after particles were found in sealed containers, with distribution including New Jersey. Consumer & Retail: Barnes & Noble says it’s opening dozens more stores in 2026 as it expands beyond 720 locations nationwide. Legal/Business: A federal judge dismissed Newark Mayor Ras Baraka’s defamation suit against former U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, calling the claims “ultimately unfounded” and possibly made with “actual malice.” Labor & Economy: Rutgers’ LEARN report finds New Jersey union membership is holding steady and even growing in some sectors heading into Labor Day. Real Estate/Jobs: Burlington Stores’ planned HQ move to Philadelphia includes a $370M investment and keeps warehouses in Burlington County. Public Safety/Environment: NJ.com analysis using NOAA data warns parts of the Jersey Shore could be underwater with modest sea-level rise later this century.

AI & Big Tech Dealmaking: Nvidia is buying Hugging Face for about $13 billion, signaling a push to dominate open-source AI platforms as the company competes for the next “AI battleground.” M&A in Tech: PlusAI has agreed to merge with Texas Ventures Acquisition III to reach Nasdaq, valuing the unmanned-truck software firm at $800 million and targeting commercial autonomous trucking by 2027. Investing & Legal Deadlines: Kaplan Fox flagged multiple securities class-action deadlines tied to GoDaddy, UWM Holdings, Taboola, Alignment Healthcare, and others—watch dates like Oct. 20 and Oct. 13 for lead-plaintiff moves. New Jersey Policy & Housing: NJ AG Davenport reached a $650,000 settlement with Match over criminal background screening claims; meanwhile, HUD data shows several NJ cities holding steady or shifting public housing unit counts in 2025. Real Estate & Construction: NJ’s updated Uniform Construction Code arrives with immediate implications for permitting, costs, and project risk allocation. Local Business: PGIM launched two new core equity ETFs from Newark, while Montclair State opened a VR learning lab funded partly by NJEDA.

Corporate Relocation: Burlington Stores will move its headquarters from Burlington Township to Philadelphia, investing about $370M and targeting 2,000 jobs over five years, a fresh sign of the NJ-to-PA corporate drift. Prediction Markets & Sports Betting: New Jersey is pushing the U.S. Supreme Court to settle its dispute over prediction-market sports bets, as Michigan courts tighten restrictions on Kalshi with steep daily penalties. Antitrust/Consumer Costs: A multistate coalition including New Jersey’s attorney general sued Amazon over an alleged ad-pricing scheme that prosecutors say overcharged sellers by $20B since 2019. Public Finance & Credit: KBRA upgraded New Jersey’s rating to AA-minus, citing improved pension funding and budget management ahead of a major Transportation Trust Fund deal. Health Costs for Workers: NJ panels approved a 17.3% average premium hike for local government worker health plans, while a separate teachers’ plan vote deadlocked. Energy/Environment: Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed a law legalizing plug-in balcony solar up to 1,200W, limiting local and landlord roadblocks. Business & Real Estate: Hoboken zoning cleared a six-story, nine-unit luxury project at 701/709 First St. Food Safety: FDA recalled Crystal Temptations “Chocolatey Eyeballs” sold in 13 states, including NJ, due to undeclared milk allergens. Local Economy/Jobs: Campbell’s announced a 13% salaried workforce reduction as it cuts costs.

Prediction Markets Clash: New Jersey has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to settle who can regulate sports prediction markets, escalating a patchwork of conflicting rulings involving Kalshi and Polymarket. Regulatory Pressure: Michigan’s AG secured a preliminary injunction against Kalshi, forcing geofenced blocks on sports contracts and raising the stakes for how states treat “financial instruments” versus wagering. Energy & Fuel Costs: A lawsuit alleges Freedom Fuel sold nearly $4 million of stolen gas, while a separate report questions whether the White House’s oil shipment stats add up. Real Estate & Housing: American Healthcare REIT agreed to buy eight senior housing communities for about $696 million, expanding in supply-constrained East Coast markets. Local Development: Wayne Township and William Paterson University are at odds over a deed restriction tied to an affordable housing plan. Business Tech: Ocean Power Technologies is rolling out Palantir Foundry to scale autonomous maritime operations. Manufacturing & Workforce: NJMEP named keynote speakers for “MADE in NJ” Manufacturing Day, highlighting labor-market challenges for manufacturers.

Prediction Markets Fight: New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport asked the U.S. Supreme Court to settle a fast-growing dispute over whether states can regulate Kalshi and similar platforms, after lower-court rulings blocked NJ’s efforts—setting up a potential nationwide showdown over whether these “sports event contracts” are gambling or commodities. Data Center Pressure: A new report says data center tax breaks are helping Big Tech expand while shifting revenue away from states, as communities and lawmakers increasingly clash over noise, water use, and power demand. Local Enforcement: Passaic County moved against retailers accused of selling illegal tobacco and THC products to minors, including charges tied to West Milford smoke shops and gas stations. Real Estate Finance: Walker & Dunlop arranged $390 million in construction financing for Park Tower, a mixed-use multifamily project in Jersey City’s Journal Square. Defense & Manufacturing: Marotta Controls won Navy-linked contract work for next-generation electronic warfare hardware, underscoring continued defense supply-chain investment. Health & Policy: Senator Andy Kim visited Warren County to push on affordable healthcare and workforce development. Sports Media: Prime Video secured exclusive local streaming rights for six NHL teams starting 2026-27, including the New Jersey Devils via MSG Networks.

Securities & Litigation: Kaplan Fox filed new investor class actions tied to GoDaddy (GDDY) and Innventure (INV), with lead-plaintiff deadlines in October, as the firm continues to pursue alleged misstatements and accounting issues across public companies. Healthcare Markets: Johnson & Johnson shares jumped toward a record high after FDA approval for a rare-disease immunology drug, adding to momentum for the New Brunswick-based giant. NJ Infrastructure & Connectivity: GoNetspeed is bringing a fully funded $8 million fiber build to Carteret, targeting up to 6 Gbps symmetrical service for more than 6,300 homes and businesses. Public Safety & Privacy: Flock Safety says it’s cutting default license-plate-reader retention to seven days and adding new search controls, while NJ rules still require longer storage for most law-enforcement use. Local Economy & Growth: Carteret’s fiber expansion and Woworks’ rapid restaurant rollout (about 40 openings targeted this year) point to continued investment in NJ-area services and consumer spending. Business & Policy Watch: NJ Democrats urged the state AG to step back from the Paramount Skydance merger fight, arguing it could hurt the state economy.

State Policy & Energy Costs: Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed a law making qualifying plug-in balcony solar panels under 1,200 watts legal in New Jersey without utility approval, with potential bill savings of up to $50 a month. Food Safety: Hodo, Inc. recalled more than 10,000 cases of Lightly Fried Chili Crisp Tofu in 29 states after it said printing ink from packaging “may have migrated” into the product. Consumer Protection & Privacy: A New Jersey school district’s plan to enforce the state’s new cell phone ban using a third-party app has sparked parent pushback over privacy and geofencing concerns. Public Health: The FDA classified the Taylor Farms cyclospora-linked lettuce recall as a Class I event, the highest risk category, as case counts continue to rise. Business & Legal: A New Jersey Appellate Division ruling reinforced the limits of changing positions in court, a reminder for businesses relying on consistent claims in disputes. Local Housing: Voorhees is set to review plans for 120 affordable apartments at The Oaks at Centennial, following strong demand for a nearby Michaels project.

Big Tech Accountability: A coalition of 22 states and the FTC sued Amazon over alleged “hidden” ad surcharges, claiming the company secretly inflated prices paid by advertisers by tens of billions. Consumer Safety: Crystal Temptations recalled Halloween “Chocolatey Eyeballs” sold in 13 states, including New Jersey, after milk allergen whey wasn’t declared on labels. State Policy & Workforce: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore announced employer registration is live for paid family and medical leave, a move that could affect NJ-area employers competing for talent. Local Business & Growth: Foxquilt launched an errors & omissions insurance product in New Jersey and other states, expanding embedded coverage for small businesses. Energy & Infrastructure: Gov. Sherrill delivered the next steps of New Jersey’s data center plan, signing legislation to boost transparency on energy and water use and offering municipal guidance. Health Tech Leadership: Samsara Vision promoted Jason Herod to CEO, continuing leadership momentum for the NJ-based ophthalmic device company.

Amazon Antitrust/Consumer Costs: The FTC and 22 states, including New Jersey, sued Amazon alleging it secretly inflated sponsored-ad prices for more than 1 million advertisers using undisclosed surcharges and auction manipulation, potentially costing tens of billions; Amazon denies wrongdoing. Food Safety in NJ Retail: Walmart shoppers in New Jersey were warned after a multistate recall of Martina-brand mangoes (302 boxes) over possible Salmonella risk tied to the same farm as positive samples; no illnesses reported. Local Health Response: Montclair launched an opioid response street team to connect people to treatment before, during and after overdoses, funded through New Jersey’s opioid settlement share. Education/Arts Funding: Paper Mill Playhouse received a $150,000 Disney grant to expand its Disney Musicals in Schools program in eligible Newark-area public elementary districts. Business & Legal: Subaru of Cherry Hill is seeking amended plans to relocate its dealership on Route 70, adjusting for NJ flood-hazard rules. Public Safety/Crime: A Prospect Park councilman was permanently banned from office after pleading guilty in a Lucchese-linked illegal gambling ring. Corporate Finance: Johnson & Johnson scheduled an investor call for Oct. 13 to review third-quarter results.

Cannabis Markets: Green Thumb Industries’ stock may look stuck, but analysts point to steady profitability, strong retail footprint, and high-margin wholesale brands as the reason Wall Street remains bullish. Securities Watch: Kaplan Fox flagged multiple investor deadlines tied to major companies, including GoDaddy (lead-plaintiff move by Oct. 20), UWM Holdings (Oct. 13), Taboola (Oct. 20), and Pentair (Oct. 2), underscoring how quickly market-moving claims can hit New Jersey-linked investors. AI/Data Centers & Compliance: A major East Coast data center in Vineland, DataOne, is accused of running dozens of unpermitted generators and violating federal law, adding pressure on the state’s growing data-center oversight. Legal/Markets: A Ninth Circuit ruling gives Nevada more power to regulate Kalshi’s sports prediction markets, creating a circuit split that could escalate to the Supreme Court. Local Business: New Jersey permanently legalizes to-go cocktails, giving restaurants another revenue lever as costs stay high. Consumer Safety: Walmart recalls mangoes in four Northeast states after Salmonella was found at the source farm, including distribution into New Jersey.

Data Centers vs. Town Zoning: Holmdel Township approved a local ban on data centers, adding to New Jersey’s growing resistance over water use, power demand and neighborhood impacts—though a Bell Works/Bell Labs-area bid could still move forward because its application predates the new rules. Public Safety: A drunken boater has been charged with homicide after a crash near Toms River killed a 26-year-old passenger, marking the third deadly Jersey Shore boat wreck this summer. Consumer & Business Risk: A lawsuit alleges a fuel supplier to Trump-praised “Freedom Fuel” discount stations sold about $4 million in stolen gas to New Jersey and Pennsylvania retailers. Sports Betting/Regulation: Kalshi’s reported U.S. Open exclusivity deal is drawing fresh scrutiny as courts continue to weigh who can regulate prediction markets—an issue that’s already hit New Jersey and Nevada differently. Local Fraud Signals: BBB Scam Tracker data shows Harrington Park and Sussex each logged scam reports in July, underscoring ongoing consumer-loss risk across the state.

Meta Settlement & Teen Safety: Meta agreed to a massive multistate settlement tied to claims its Facebook and Instagram harmed children, with New Jersey set to receive at least $525 million and new teen-safety rules expected to follow. Data Centers & Local Control: Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed a law requiring data centers to report water and energy use, as New Jersey municipalities continue battling new facilities—Jackson and others have moved to ban them. Prediction Markets Clash: Kalshi’s legal fight with Nevada continues, with courts backing Nevada’s ability to regulate prediction markets and setting up a broader fight over who has authority. Healthcare Labor Pressure: Hospital strikes are being fueled by staffing shortages and violence against healthcare workers, raising pressure on employers and policymakers. Retail & Real Estate Signals: Nordstrom is exiting an Illinois mall anchor spot, laying off 101 employees—another sign of ongoing retail reshuffling. Transportation Tech: JFK Terminal 6 selected Sittig Technologies’ PAXGuide to automate multilingual passenger announcements across all gates. Sports Business Watch: The Jets and Dolphins are active in the QB trade market, while the Buffalo Bills face scrutiny over stadium field quality and seat/pricing dynamics.