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New Jersey Senate and House leaders have expressed their position that there will be no state level increases next year.
At a public policy forum hosted by the New Jersey Business Association (NJBIA) in November 2022, Assembly Speaker Greg Coughlin predicted that “a tax increase will be avoided in 2023.”
The leadership of the state legislature, who attended the forum, expressed this position, saying that internal discussions on the budget for the next fiscal year are already underway.
Senate Budget Committee Chairman Paul Salo was more explicit about tax hike concerns. “There have been no tax and fee increase in the state budget this year,” Salo said. I don’t think there will be any tax hikes at the legislative level next year,” he said.
The details of the state budget for the next fiscal year will be announced by Governor Phil Murphy around February of next year, but so far, the leadership of the state legislature has said that there is no special tax increase in the process of prior discussion.
The current fiscal year’s state budget totals $50.6 billion, the largest in New Jersey’s history. In addition, government spending is expected to increase due to fears of a recession.
However, the leadership of the state legislature has expressed its will not raise taxes next year for residents who are facing financial burdens due to inflation. However, even if there is no tax increase at the state level, residents still cannot shake off concerns about a property tax hike set by each town government.
There are concerns about property tax hikes as labor costs and health insurance benefits for county and town government officials are rapidly increasing. New Jersey’s 2021 average property tax is $9,286, the highest in the nation.
In addition, as unemployment benefits payments to the unemployed surged due to the COVID-19 crisis, the employment insurance fund was depleted, raising concerns for companies about a sharp increase in employment insurance contributions required by the state government.

New York and Singapore were ranked as the most expensive cities in the world. Los Angeles has the 4th highest cost of living in the world, along with Hong Kong.
According to the “2022 Worldwide Cost of Living” report released on the 1st by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), a sister company of the British Economist, New York and Singapore have the highest cost of living this year among 172 cities surveyed. tied for first place.

EIU ranks the cost of living in cities according to the World Cost of Living Index (WCOL index), which reflects the prices of over 160 goods and services, including food, clothing, housing, transportation, and tuition, based on New York prices (100 points). Singapore both scored the highest score of 100. This is the first time New York has topped the list.

In addition to New York, a total of three American cities, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, made it into the top 10. The EIU analyzed that this is not only due to inflation but also to the strong dollar phenomenon.
Following New York and Singapore, Israel Tel Aviv (3rd), Los Angeles and Hong Kong (tied 4th), Switzerland Zurich (6th), Geneva (7th), San Francisco (8th), France Paris (9th), Denmark Copenhagen ·Sydney, Australia (tied for 10th)
Damascus, Syria, is the cheapest city to live in. It was followed by Tripoli, Libya (171st), Tehran, Iran (170th), Tunis, Tunisia (169th), and Tashkent, Uzbekistan (168th).

Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia, ranked first and second, respectively, as the cities where the cost of living increased this year compared to last year. These cities ranked 37th and 73rd in the cost-of-living ranking, up 88 and 70 places, respectively, compared to last year. It is analyzed that this is because the price of goods soared due to the sanctions imposed on Russia by the West after Russia invaded Ukraine in February this year.
Meanwhile, prices in the 172 cities surveyed this year increased by an average of 8.1 percent compared to last year. The war in Ukraine, supply chain collapse, and China’s intensive COVID-19 quarantine policy are cited as causes, the EIU explained.
Gasoline was the most expensive item, and it was found that it increased by 22% compared to last year due to the rise in international oil prices. “The war in Ukraine, ensuing Western sanctions against Russia, and China’s COVID-19 containment policies have created supply chain problems, which, combined with rising interest rates, have resulted in a rise in the global cost of living,” said Upasana Dutt, Head of Global Cost of Living at EIU. “Supply Chain Bottlenecks As the current situation is resolved little by little, prices are expected to ease next year,” he said.

According to data from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Administration (ICE) International Student Management System (SEVIS) under the Department of Homeland Security, California (8,489) has the largest number of Korean students this year (2021/22), New York with 6,335, Texas with 2,726, Massachusetts with 2,707, and Illinois. 2,437 people appeared in order. The Washington area recorded 2,216, including 946 in Virginia, 825 in Maryland and 445 in Washington DC.

According to an annual report released last month by the Institute for International Education (IIE), while the number of international students in the United States, which had declined due to the Corona 19 pandemic, has been found to be returning to pre-pandemic levels this year, the number of international students in the United States exceeded 1 million in 2019/20 The number of foreign students decreased to 910,000 in 2020/21, but increased slightly (3.8%) to 950,000 this year (2021/22).

By country, China has the largest number with 290,000, followed by India with 199,000, South Korea with 40,000, Canada with 27,000, and Vietnam with 21,000. China accounted for 30% of all international students, followed by India with 21% and Korea with 4.3%.

The university with the largest number of international students in the Washington area is Johns Hopkins University (7,893 students), followed by the University of Maryland (UMCP, 5,545 students), Virginia Tech (4.434 students), George Washington University (4,051 students), and George Mason University (3,679 students).

Virginia Mason parent company has reported computer hacking damage

The Chicago-based parent company of Seattle Virginia Mason Franciscan Hospital (VMFH) was found to have been hacked and personal information of some patients was leaked.

‘Common Spirit Health’, which operates 10 VMFH hospitals in the Puget Sound area, said that the names, birth dates, addresses, and phone numbers of some patients, their families, and doctors in charge were leaked.

Common Spirit Health released a statement on the 30th, and because of its own investigation, it was identified that an “unauthorized third party” attacked the computer network and stole information between September 16 and October 3 for two weeks. Common Spirit first revealed that it had been hacked in mid-October.

Common Spirit, which operates 140 hospitals in 21 states other than Washington, said that it is currently investigating whether information was leaked from other hospitals.

Among Common Spirit-affiliated Washington VMFH hospitals, Silverdale’s St. Michael, Burien’s St. Ann, Geek Harbor’s St. Anthony, Lakewood’s St. Clare, Enumkler’s St. Elizabeth, Federal Way’s St. St. Francis, Tacoma. Including Joseph et al.

Common Spirit said that it is sending notices of apology to patients who may be affected by the hacking, and that affiliated hospitals across the country also carefully reviewed their own medical records and immediately reported any abnormalities.

Those with questions about the case should contact the hospital’s website commonspirit.org/upgrade or call 855-504-2738 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, CommonSpirit said.

Mortgage have fallen for the third week in a row. Although the drop in three weeks was the largest in 14 years, it is evaluated that it is not enough to expect a turnaround in housing demand as mortgage demand declines.

According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and economic media CNBC on the 1st, the Mortgage Bank Association (MBA) announced that the average 30-year fixed mortgage loan rate for conforming loans (under $647,200) based on 20% down payment was the previous week It said it fell from 6.67% to 6.49%.

As of the 10th of last month, the average mortgage interest rate soared to 7.08%, but fell 0.59 percentage points as it plummeted to 6.49% in three weeks. This is the largest three-week decline since the 2008 global financial crisis.

Mortgage rates have been on a downward trend for three weeks in a row, but mortgage demand has shown a downward trend instead of a rebound. According to MBA, the number of mortgage applications daily decreased by 0.8% compared to the previous week. Even after adjusting for the Thanksgiving holiday effect, it showed a declining trend.

Demand for refinancing (refinancing) also declined. It plunged 13% from the previous week and 86% from a year ago. CNBC pointed out, “It is very unusual that the demand for refinancing has decreased despite the fact that there are more than 100,000 borrowers who can enjoy the effect of lowering interest rates if they refinance due to falling mortgage rates.” Mortgage applications for home purchases increased by 4% compared to the previous week but decreased by 41% compared to the same period a year ago.

The WSJ reported that although mortgage rates are falling enough to record the biggest drop in 14 years, it is not enough to expect a reversal in the momentum of the US housing market, which has entered a recession.

Compared to a year ago, the current mortgage interest rate is still more than twice as high, so home buyers who feel the burden of monthly payments are maintaining a wait-and-see attitude.

The housing market continues to be sluggish as interest rates are high, housing prices are high, and housing demand is also shrinking.

The Federal Reserve has not stopped raising interest rates, so if the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) on the 13th and 14th raises the base rate by 0.5 percentage points and additional interest rate hikes are announced, mortgage rates may rise again. Coming out.

It is expected that the working conditions of employees of retail chains, including Grocery Market, which have been experiencing inconveniences in daily life and difficulties in raising children due to frequent changes in working hours, will be greatly improved. From next year, employers of large retail chains in the city of Los Angeles must notify their employees in writing of the two-week work hours two weeks in advance, and must guarantee at least 10 hours of rest time after work until the next work day. .

While employers of large retail chains are clearly opposed, saying that the uniform application of the law will hinder management, active movements to form unions are being detected, and Korean grocery markets are also becoming more and more strict with LA City’s labor-related laws. We are keeping a close eye on the development of the situation while worrying about the repercussions.

According to the LA Times on the 23rd, the LA City Council passed the ‘Fair Work Week’ on the 22nd, which aims to provide transparent and predictable advance notice of working hours to large retail chains with stores in LA. made it

Under the Fair Week Labor Act, which will take effect in April next year, employers of large retail chains with 300 or more employees with stores in Los Angeles must notify their employees in writing of 14-day work hours two weeks prior to implementation. Even if the notice period of two weeks in advance has been complied with, if the working hours are reduced due to a change in the execution stage, part of the wages can be compensated, and the employee may refuse to work additional hours even if the employer asks for it.

In addition, the city bill must guarantee at least 10 hours of rest time between work and commuting to the next shift. This is intended to improve the practice of so-called “clopening,” in which an employee who has finished working at the grocery market closing time leaves late at night and works early the next morning. If you cannot guarantee more than 10 hours of rest time, you must pay additional wages accordingly.

When recruiting new personnel in the market, it is necessary to give the opportunity to apply to the employees who are working in advance by asking whether to apply. If an employer violates the Fair Week Labor Act, fines of up to $50 per day are levied.

The Fair Week Labor Law is legislated to eliminate the negative effects of having difficulties in living and raising children as employers unilaterally change working hours, as well as disrupting income due to unexpected changes in working hours. is the purpose of

According to a 2018 study by UCLA, 80% of grocery store employees experience unstable working conditions due to frequent change of hours at the request of their employers.

When the corporation goes into effect, more than 70,000 employees working at large grocery markets and retail chains such as Ralph’s, Target, Trader Joe’s, CVS, Rite Aid and Home Depot with more than 300 employees will directly benefit.

Large retail chains are expressing dissatisfaction with the passage of the bill. Criticism is pouring out that the application of a uniform law will intensify management pressure, pointing out the contradiction of having to be fined for adjusting working hours if an employee takes an unexpected leave.

Korean grocery markets in Los Angeles, which are looking forward to the passage of the Fair Week Labor Act, are in a position where they cannot just watch the fire across the river. Considering that behind-the-scenes work to promote the formation of a labor union is currently underway in Koreatown, there is a prospect that demands for improvement of working conditions, including working hours, wages, and overtime, will intensify as the time for enforcement of the law approaches.

There are also voices of concern that the movement to form a union for employees to voice their voice to demand improvement in working conditions could spread to the Korean grocery market.

A Korean American Grocery Market official said, “As various labor-related laws in LA City, including the minimum wage, are stricter for employers, the reality is that more attention is paid to compliance with labor laws.” It’s getting harder and I’m not as good as I used to be,” he said.

During the Corona 19 pandemic, used car transactions are recording the highest price ever, but used car prices vary widely by vehicle type. A used car price comparison site (iSeeCars.com) compared the depreciation rate according to the year and year and announced the ranking of used cars in the Washington area that do not drop in price over time and, on the contrary, used cars whose price plummets.

The most popular used car was the Jeep Wrangler, and the price of the Unlimited model did not drop by less than 10% even after 5 years. A three-year-old Wrangler sold for 1.3 percent more than a new car.

This is because the number of people looking for used cars has increased due to a lack of supply compared to demand. In particular, the Jeep Wrangler is an iconic off-road model, and it is analyzed that it is loved regardless of the model year because there is no significant change in the design of used cars or new cars.

On the other hand, the worst used car was the BMW 7 Series, which received less than half of the purchase price after 5 years of purchase. The 2017 7 Series sold for $83,000 at the time, but now, five years later, it’s selling for less than $41,000. A five-year-old BMW can extend the warranty, but it was not reflected in the used car price.

In addition, the reason for the high depreciation rates of Cadillac Escalade and Mercedes S-Class is that people who pay a lot of money to buy a luxury car are not interested in used cars and want a new car again.

In addition, there is not much demand for relatively expensive used cars, so high-end used cars that are constantly on the market are sold at a bargain price that is less than half of the purchase price after 5 years, regardless of the condition of the car. The average depreciation rate for 5-year-old used car prices in the Washington area was 32.5%.

On the 14th, the Federal Department of Transportation issued an immediate refund order totaling $600 million and “withdrawal of fines” to six airlines, including Frontier, for delaying refunds to passengers despite reasons such as flight cancellations or delayed departures.

The airlines that were fined this time are Denver-based Frontier Airlines, Air India, TAP Portugal, Aero Mexico, El Al and five foreign airlines, including Avianca. Frontier was hit with a $2.2 million fine, the most of the six airlines, while other foreign airlines were fined between $750,000 and $1.4 million.

Federal Transport Minister Pete Buttigieg said, “If a flight is canceled, airlines must immediately return airfare to customers who want a refund, but airlines that fail to do so are subject to fines.” Buttigieg added: “A flight cancellation is a frustrating enough situation from a passenger’s point of view,” adding, “We shouldn’t have to wait months for a refund.”

Current federal law requires airlines to refund passengers instead of crediting them if a flight is canceled or delayed significantly, or if a passenger abandons the trip in these circumstances. In addition, when boarding is canceled due to a passenger’s personal circumstances, the airline usually provides a voucher, but the airline may return cash at its discretion.

In August, the federal Department of Transportation issued proposed rules to protect passengers who have had their flights canceled and want refunds. But the American and International Aviation Association (AIAA), which represents US and foreign airlines, has yet to take a clear position on the Department of Transportation’s regulations.

The Ministry of Transport is reviewing new regulations, which include refunding airfare for passengers who miss their flights due to illness, and posting actual ticket prices, including fees, on flight booking sites.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport announced that the advisory committee will collect public opinion and submit detailed air ticket refund rules by December 9.

Asiana Airlines (CEO Jeong Seong-kwon) will carry out the ‘2022 City to City’ city advertising campaign with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the New York Tourism Administration. <Refer to the poster> Asiana Airlines signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the New York Tourism Organization to promote joint marketing, and until December 11 for New York-Incheon routes

‘CITY TO CITY’ is a global marketing campaign between New York City and major cities around the world, and Asiana Airlines is participating with Seoul City for the second time after 2017.

Asiana Airlines plans to help attract tourists by promoting various promotions, including special ticket promotions for passengers traveling between New York and Seoul. Asiana Airlines plans to publicize Seoul by posting information on Seoul destinations and contents on its official website, and details can be found on the Asiana Airlines official website.

Seoul and New York City plan to maximize publicity effects by conducting outdoor advertisements in each other’s cities in major tourist attractions, including densely populated areas. The city of Seoul posts New York City tourism advertisements on 300 bus and taxi stands, including Gangnam-daero, Express Bus Terminal, and Yeouido, while New York City posts advertisements on 125 bus stops.

An Asiana Airlines official said, “We hope to attract tourists and expand exchanges between cities through joint marketing at the time overseas travel resumes in earnest.” I will do it,” he said.

Asiana Airlines operates the New York-Incheon route every day, and the A350, a state-of-the-art aircraft that provides in-flight Wi-Fi service, is helping passengers to travel comfortably and comfortably. The flight schedule for the New York-Incheon route is daily 11:40 am New York departure (OZ221) ~ 17:30 pm + 1 arrival in Incheon, daily 9:40 am Incheon departure (OZ222) ~ 9:40 am New York arrival.

Reuters and the Associated Press reported on the 13th that several deaths were confirmed due to a mid-air collision between two obsolete aircraft at the Dallas Air Show.

According to local law enforcement authorities, six people have been counted so far in connection with an accident in which a Boeing B-17 bomber and a Bell P-63 King Cobra fighter collided in flight at the ‘Wings Over Dallas Air Show’ held at Dallas Airport, Texas the day before. The injured were not identified.

It was reported that 4,000 spectators who were watching the event at the time were unharmed.

No official identities have yet been released, but Keller County Mayor Amin Mizzani said that “Terry Barker, an Army veteran and retired pilot, was in the B-17” and that he passed away in the crash.

The Air Force Memorial Association (CAF), which hosted the air show, explained that the B-17, which has a large body, usually has four to five people on board, and the P-63 is generally operated by a single pilot.

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which has launched an investigation into the cause of the accident, plans to first find out whether the flight route was properly controlled at the air show.

NTSB commissioner Michael Graham said at a press conference, “We need to find out why these planes stayed at the same altitude at the time of the accident.”

International Air Show Association (ICAS) president John Cooderhey pointed out that the air show plan would have been thoroughly reviewed through a rehearsal flight the day before the accident, and said, “I watched the video (at the time of the accident), but even as I have been doing this for 25 years, I can’t understand what happened. couldn’t,” he said.

The aircraft participating in this air show were active during World War II. The B-17 was the main bomber for the US Army, called the ‘fortress in the sky’, and the P-63 was also used in several battlefields.

After the two planes crashed at 1:20 pm the previous day, a video was posted on Twitter showing large flames and black smoke billowing from the ground.

This is not the first time an aircraft has been involved in an air show accident in the United States.

In Hartford, Connecticut, in 2019, a B-17 bomber crashed due to pilot negligence, killing seven people. At the 2011 Reno Air Show in Nevada, a P-51 Mustang fell in front of a crowd due to a fuselage defect, killing 11 people and injuring 74 others.