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Aug. 5-11
Behavior Never Lies
Winston Churchill famously said, “I no longer listen to what people say; I just watch what they do. Behavior never lies.” Applying this dictum to regions highly vulnerable to climate change reveals that, for many, climate change is not the top concern when choosing where to live.”
A new report from the real estate company Redfin shows a net increase in the population of some of the country’s highest risk counties. People are moving in at a higher rate than they are leaving. Those in the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection might take note as new rulemaking seeks to curb shore development.
In 2023 more people moved into high-fire-risk counties, especially in Texas, than moved out. The same was true for high-flood-risk counties in Florida.
Redfin’s Senior Economist Elijah de la Campa said there are people fleeing from risky areas with intensifying natural disasters and ballooning insurance costs, but the date shows they are being replaced in even greater numbers by those for whom threats of climate change are not acting as deterrents.
More than 100,000 people moved into high-fire-risk counties last year with over one-third of them going to Texas. Twice as many people moved into high-flood-risk counties with over half of the 200,000 individuals who relocated going to risky counties in Florida.
Despite Redfin agents telling the Insurance Journal that prospective buyers are concerned about the availability and affordability of home insurance in Florida, the result is a net increase in the flow into rather than out of the riskiest counties.
Who Immigrates to NJ?
In July the Pew Research Center published a study on over a century of changing patterns for immigrant origins for each U.S. state. With data from 1850 to 2022, the Pew research shows the changing pattern and volume of immigration in a nation of immigrants.
In 1850 just under 10% of the U.S. population was foreign born. That number reached a high point in 1890 with 15% foreign born. A continuous decline from that peak resulted in a nadir point of 4.7% in 1970. Since then the foreign born population has continuously grown with 2022 showing 13.8% foreign born.
Where immigrants come from has also changed significantly. In 1850 the Pew data says that the leading country contributing immigrants to New Jersey was Ireland. By 1900 Germans were the number one immigration population into the Garden State. That changed 20 years later as Italy took the top spot as the native home of New Jersey immigrants. It was a position Italy would hold for over half a century.
The surprise came in the 21st century when the reports showed the number one country contributing immigrants to New Jersey was India. In 2010 New Jersey’s population grew as much by international immigration as it did by natural increment. Where the state lost was in domestic migration.
By 2022, 2.2 million New Jerseyans are immigrant residents with the leading countries of origin being India, the Dominican Republic and Mexico. The American Immigration Council says the share of the Garden State’s total population that is immigrant born is approaching a quarter at 23%.
Self-Driving Cars
The latest report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration records an estimated 42,795 traffic fatalities in the U.S. in 2022. NHTSA attributes 94% of traffic fatalities to the human driver as opposed to the vehicle or the environment. Those who may see autonomous driving vehicles as a solution to the problem may need to reassess their expectations.
In April of this year, the Association of Computing Machinery warned government policymakers that they “should not assume that fully automated vehicles will necessarily reduce road injuries and fatalities.” The Brookings Institution warns that “the safety advantages of self-driving cars are aspirational but have not been proven.”
What is the status of self-driving vehicles?
Self-driving taxis are a reality in select aeras of certain U.S. cities, including San Francisco and Phoenix. You can ride in one today. In San Francisco, they are reported to be a tourist attraction.
Autonomous vehicles promise many rewards, including increases in safety, new opportunities for those with mobility issues, more eco-friendly driving habits, and convenience for the riders who can spend their time on other things. Of course that is after they stop feeling terrified that the vehicle they are in is going to crash.
A member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers put it succinctly, we could find ourselves replacing human driving errors with “human coding errors.” The goal of autonomous vehicles persists and investment in it has grown. Automotive News reported in 2022 that autonomous transport projects had netted over $160 billion from investors.
The consulting firm McKinsey sees dollar signs, predicting that autonomous driving could create $300 to $400 billion in new revenue by 2035.
Happenings
Joan Dempsey, a former senior intelligence official with 25 years of federal service, has had a second home in Cape May since 2018. She and her husband, both retired from government service, are actively involved in the local community.
New coastal land management rules proposed by the DEP were published in the New Jersey Register on Aug. 5, focusing on climate change impacts, including a new “inundation zone.” A 90-day public comment period began with the publication of the regulations.
During National Night Out on Aug. 6, in Wildwood, a police officer and a juvenile operating a golf cart accidentally struck five people, injuring four adults and a juvenile. The incident, which occurred during a low-speed vehicle demonstration, is under investigation.
Mary McMenamin, a 91-year-old fishing enthusiast and longtime member of the Sunset Beach Sportsmen’s Club, continues to cherish her love for fishing and her unique collection of teddy bears displayed at her home.
The Stone Harbor Zoning Board narrowly approved a settlement allowing the owners of 23 Stone Court to build a reduced-height, two-story home. The decision followed significant public opposition and concerns over zoning and safety issues.
North Wildwood’s 911 dispatchers’ union opposed joining Cape May County’s central dispatch system, arguing it would harm community connection and service quality. Mayor Patrick Rosenello supported the move for efficiency and cost benefits, despite concerns about response times and local knowledge.
Jonathan E. Perez, a former Cape May County corrections officer, was sentenced to 30 years in prison and must register as a sex offender for life after being convicted of sexually assaulting a child. The sentencing followed a joint investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office and New Jersey State Police.
On July 31, Brandon J. Rollans, 25, was arrested on a Cape May beach after fleeing a pedestrian crash. Drones and lifeguards were used to locate him, while drones also assisted in arresting a fugitive working at Cape May Elementary School.
Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian announced the closure of Gillian’s Wonderland Pier and 6th Street Pizza and Grill, citing business challenges and retirement plans. The property, purchased in 2021 by Eustace Mita, will remain open until October for ticket holders.
Cape May’s African American Ethnic Heritage district has been added to the New Jersey Register of Historic Places, with possible National Park Service recognition by year-end. The district features 68 sites significant to the city’s African American history.
On Aug. 6, Stone Harbor Borough Council revised its employee manual to ban recording nonpublic or work-related meetings with a supervisor present, overriding New Jersey’s single-party consent law. No explanation was given for the policy change.
Vahan and Danielle Gureghian were set to appear in court on Aug. 12 for alleged violations involving dune interference at their Dune Drive property. The case has been postponed, with a new court date scheduled for Oct. 7.
Spout Off of the Week
North Wildwood – Before NW commits to county dispatch I hope island dispatch is discussed. I agree with previous spouters that county dispatch has some issues and they need more time to get them rectified before they take another town. I think island dispatch would be beneficial. Just have to figure out some details in regard to location, etc.
Read more spouts at spoutoff.capemaycountyherald.com.
