As Gov. Mikie Sherrill prepares to take office, The Fund for New Jersey is urging the new administration to act boldly on key policy priorities — from affordable housing and education to transportation, childcare, and transparency.
These recommendations anchor The 2025 Crossroads NJ Report, a data-driven look at the state’s progress and persistent gaps since the foundation’s original 2017 report.
Released at the end of 2025, the report draws on four public convenings held by The Fund for New Jersey throughout the year and outlines specific actions the incoming administration could take to strengthen equity and accountability statewide.
Brandon McKoy, the president of The Fund, said the recommendations serve as a roadmap for Sherrill’s team to build a more transparent, responsive, and equitable government.
“When it comes to issues like education, housing, transportation, climate, and a couple of other important things, we like to take stock of where the state is,” said McKoy. “And then make a few recommendations for improvements that should be pursued and advanced with the new administration coming in.”
Among the report’s top recommendations: education and childcare, with the lack of high-quality education posing a major challenge in the state. According to McKoy, New Jersey ranks low nationally in educational outcomes for low-income students.
Some of the issues that have not been achieved over the last several years are investing in New Jersey’s two and four colleges to expand the number of residents who earn degrees, develop additional magnet schools as appropriate that include diversity criteria and many others.
In addition, one of the major and urgent issues facing New Jersey, according to McKoy, would be childcare. With costs soaring, McKoy said many families are paying more for child care than for rent or a mortgage, a situation he described as unsustainable.
“It’s difficult, because you want high quality child care, and the people that are performing child care deserve to be paid,” said McKoy. “But there’s got to be a way for the government to help subsidize the cost of child care and focus more on that need.”
Transportation shortfalls, particularly in South Jersey, compound these challenges, McKoy added, making it difficult for residents to access jobs and services.
While addressing key issues facing New Jersey, McKoy said the public wants a more aggressive government and greater transparency and accountability, particularly as the state has a long-standing reputation for corruption. He called for residents to have a clearer understanding of the daily priorities of lawmakers in Trenton and the governor.
When it comes to how the government shows up for the community, McKoy adds how it is crucial when a new government comes into office to make sure that they are working ethically , responsibly and adding positions that can process public transparency.
Adam M. Gordon, the Executive Director at Fair Share Housing Center shared that the conversation around housing priorities of the new governor can be focused on creating more housing and cracking down on landlords that are using unfair practices.
“As far as the coalition led to really strengthening the rent control ordinances in Newark, we’ve seen Mayor Baraka launch a number of really incredible initiatives in terms of supportive housing, in terms of for people experiencing homelessness, in terms of really making sure that new housing includes affordable housing,” Gordon said.
Gordon pointed to statewide fair share housing requirements and a first-generation homeownership program as examples of successful policies that have helped many Black and Latino families. He also highlighted local innovations and stressed the need for stronger action to fully address the state’s housing needs.
As New Jersey’s population grows increasingly diverse — with nearly one in four residents born abroad — the report calls this diversity a defining strength that fuels cultural vitality and innovation. Preparing for the 2030 Census, the authors underscore the importance of fair representation and equitable distribution of resources.
“Anytime there’s a change in administration, that’s an important time to pay attention, because the governor of New Jersey is the most powerful governor in the country. A lot of other states voters get to elect, say the Attorney General, or various department heads,” said McKoy. “In New Jersey, the governor just appoints those people. So you’re really entrusting a lot of power, perspective and opinion with one person with one one position.”
Editor’s note: This story was updated to clarify a statement made by McKoy.