I'm the Statehouse bureau chief for New Jersey 101.5, covering the governor, Legislature and state politics, and had previously covered the Statehouse for Gannett newspapers for more than 15 years. I'm a lifelong New Jerseyan -- raised in Bergen, living in Hunterdon, Rutgers graduate. I'm co-author of the 2012 biography 'Chris Christie: The Inside Story of His Rise to Power.' I am not the Iron Chef with a similar name though sometimes get tweets meant for him, especially around Thanksgiving. Believe me, you don't want my cooking tips.
Michael Symons
NJ homeland security: We’re getting ready for any election trouble
Security officials have been working on election issues for years and plan to start monitoring at 4 a.m. on Election Day, just in case.
Attention procrastinators: One last day to respond to 2020 Census
The deadline for the population count has moved frequently but is finally set: 6 a.m. Friday on the East Coast.
Miracle-Gro helps NJ marijuana supporters outspend opponents 131 to 1
Campaign finance reports filed with the state show backers of legalized recreational marijuana have raised more than $131 for every $1 by opponents.
Pot legalization opponents: It’s a threat to NJ road safety
Police chiefs association urges people to consider the prospect of reversing years of efforts to reduce fatal crashes involving impaired drivers.
NJ voters to decide: Legalization advocates stress social justice, economy
The latest poll, from Fairleigh Dickinson University, finds the constitutional amendment favored by a roughly 2-to-1 margin.
Voter registration deadline Tuesday (don’t upload vacation pix)
More than 322,000 would-be voters in New Jersey have registered or updated their registration since the online system debuted Sept. 2.
Important: What not to do when voting by mail in New Jersey
New Jersey has allowed vote-by-mail for years – but it’s never been done on the scale of what’s being used during the pandemic-era election of 2020.
NJ ban on plastic and paper bags approved — now it’s up to Murphy
Single-use bags and polystyrene food packaging will be phased out in the spring of 2022, and plastic straws will be only on-demand in a year, if it's signed.
NJ to extend earned income tax credit to more young adults
Bipartisan support for legislation to lower the age at which working adults without children become eligible for the state EITC from 25 to 21 in New Jersey.
Senators resist lifeline for alcohol makers, seasonal bars
Committee OK's extending seasonal licenses to January 2022 but balks at even longer extension. Bill to help breweries doesn't yet get a vote.
MVC separation of licensing, vehicle centers may be permanent
Motor Vehicle Commission chief says the change, made to allow for easier social distancing, has made things more efficient. But it won't stick statewide.
COVID cases, test positivity rates up among younger NJ residents
With COVID-19 cases increasing among younger New Jerseyans, the state is urging caution and plans to roll out a new contact tracing app on college campuses.