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The AACCNJ responds to the press announcement of the Murphy Administration’s Disparity Study

TRENTON, N.J. —  The African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ) responds to the release of the Murphy Administration’s Disparity Study.

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion oversaw the effort, which was the first study of its kind to be commissioned by the State since 2003. It was conducted by Mason Tillman Associates, LTD.

Gov. Murphy recently signed a package of legislation into law in Trenton. (Rich Hundley III/ NJ Governors Office).

“On behalf of the 1.2 million black residents and over 88,000 black owned businesses in the state of New Jersey, the announcement of the completion of the disparity study, is the news that we have been patiently awaiting and have prepared our hearts and minds to receive,” said John E. Harmon, Sr., IOM., Founder, President & CEO, African American Chamber of Commerce of N.J. (AACCNJ).

“Acknowledgement is an essential step to establishing the proper pathway to a credible coexistence. Today’s announcement serves as confirmation of what we all knew, and we are eagerly looking forward to a focused strategic alignment with the Murphy Administration, said Harmon.”

“This study speaks to the intolerance for equitable participation in taxpayer funded opportunities resulting in wide social and economic disparities that cannot be glossed over. It is incumbent on this administration, and the legislature, to not try to appease Black and Brown People with well-crafted conciliatory statements given the magnitude of harm we have been dealt with over the years,” said John E. Harmon, Sr.

“As I read through the pages of the Disparity Study it is difficult for me to conclude that there was not a greater degree of awareness, which should have led our leaders to figure out how they could have procured more opportunities to make our state more equitable, while we awaited the completion of the Mason Tillman Study,” said Harmon.

“There were substantial gains for contract awardees and elected officials since 2015 and the economic benefits for Blacks and Brown people in our state have not been reciprocated. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey completed its disparity study in 2017 with results that were almost identical. Herein, a lost opportunity to apply best practices to really produce a Stronger and Fairer Economy,” said Harmon.

“We just celebrated in the past week, what would have been the 95th birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., his powerful words have even greater significance today,” said John E. Harmon, Sr.

“An individual has not started living fully until they can rise above the narrow confines of individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of humanity. Every person must decide, at some point, whether they will walk in the light of creative altruism, or in the darkness of destructive selfishness,” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Montgomery, AL. Aug. 11, 1957.

“As we move forward, we plan to work in partnership with the State to put forth best practices that will provide the constituency of the AACCNJ, and others, with consistent access to opportunities and resources that they can leverage to strengthen their enterprises and ideals while mitigating past underperformance,” said Harmon. “Our mutual goal henceforth is to have a more equitable participation in every area of the public sector wherein economic opportunities exist.”

“We put forth a call to action for your continued support of the AACCNJ, so that we may continue to advocate for a more equitable share of the state’s balance sheet, we have been a leading voice in the advocacy for the completion of this disparity study since our inception in 2007”, said Harmon. “We now claim a seat at the table to ensure that reciprocity, and recompense become a reality with what Dr. King called “the fierce urgency of Now,” on behalf of our constituents and the beloved community. Let us combat selfishness, which is self-destructive behavior, not providing opportunities for those with the capabilities to contribute to the success of the state; let us embark on a new chapter of authentic and transparent collective collaboration.

Background and timeline

Dec. 23, 2020 “The Department of the Treasury announced several key initiatives on Wednesday that will advance the Murphy Administration’s commitment to ensuring Minority-, Women-, and Veteran-Owned Businesses (MWVOB) can more fully participate in New Jersey’s multi-billion-dollar supply chain.1

“Chief among these initiatives is the commissioning of the first disparity study in 20 years to measure current spend data, which is viewed as key to identifying and opening up new opportunities for MWVOBs to contract with the State of New Jersey to provide goods and services. The disparity study has been a priority for the Murphy Administration from day one.”2

“This disparity study is not only long overdue, it is an integral part of our vision for a stronger, fairer, and more resilient, post-COVID economy that opens doors for diverse businesses to play a greater role in shaping our state’s future,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “This study will provide us with an opportunity to create a more equitable business environment, which is a win for us all.”3

“Recognizing how long it has been since the last study was conducted, we tried to ensure that this new study will capture as much data as possible, beyond just statistics that are available on our spend, but also including outreach to stakeholders and community groups as well,” said Treasurer Muoio. “This will give us the tools and the information necessary to determine where our strengths and weaknesses lie so we can implement more equitable procurement strategies moving forward. The state has a vast supply chain of goods, commodities, and professional and financial services and in a truly equitable society every qualified vendor in our state should have the opportunity to participate in the economy fueled by their tax dollars.”4

The goal, as laid out in the bid solicitation, is to research, structure, and conduct a comprehensive and legally defensible disparity study of the State’s contract awards in construction, goods, and services over a five year period (July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2020) to determine whether there is a disparity between the number of qualified minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses ready, willing, and able to perform services, and the number of vendors/contractors actually engaged to perform such services. The Disparity Study will include a review of contracts for construction, goods, commodities, and services and shall be appropriately structured so that the state may, if appropriate, use the information to fashion race- and/or gender-neutral, and if necessary, race- and gender-conscious methods of achieving those goals for state contracts and employment by state vendors.5

The State of New Jersey held a series of virtual business community meetings on Sept. 20, 21, and 22, 2021 regarding its disparity study. AACCNJ’s member organizations participated in the meetings conducted by Mason Tillman Associates.

Jan. 9, 2023. “In spite of so many challenges, black businesses continue as the fastest-growing business segment of our country, so we remain very hopeful. With 94% of the black vote going to Governor Murphy in his last statewide election, we look forward to learning more about the tangible actions he will take in the second half of his final term to help level the playing field for all of us, said John E. Harmon, Sr. “Notably, we eagerly anticipate the announcement and projected timeline on a statewide Disparity Study that will further identify barriers and inequalities within our communities and take them head on.”

“These times remind me of words that were expressed by the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy,” stated John E. Harmon, Sr. “We are now in those times once again and the optimal outcomes can be realized when the rules of engagement are clearly defined, and the playing field is available to all to compete effectively with value being the declared goal. In conclusion, the data in this study confirms that Black people are still at the bottom.”

 

1 https://www.nj.gov/treasury/news/2020/12232020.shtml

2 https://www.nj.gov/treasury/news/2020/12232020.shtml

3 https://www.nj.gov/treasury/news/2020/12232020.shtml

4 https://www.nj.gov/treasury/news/2020/12232020.shtml

 

About the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey

The AACCNJ performs an essential role in the economic viability of New Jersey. While providing a platform for New Jersey’s African American business leaders, to speak with a collective voice, the AACCNJ advocates and promotes economic diversity fostering a climate of business growth through major initiatives centering on education and public policy. The Chamber serves as a proactive advocacy group with a 501(c) 3 tax exemption, which is shared by the National Black Chamber of Commerce.

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 IT’SUGAR unveils  exclusive Barbie Chocolate bars in  collaboration with Mattel close to Valentine’s Day

 

FT.  LAUDERDALE, Fla.  —   IT’SUGAR, one of the largest specialty candy retailers in the U.S., is excited to announce the launch of a licensing deal with Mattel, introducing three exclusive Barbie Chocolate Bars.

 

These delicious chocolate bars, priced at $3.99 each, will be available at IT’SUGAR stores and itsugar.com beginning on Thursday, Jan. 25.

 

The IT’SUGAR Exclusive Barbie Collection celebrate Barbie’s enduring legacy. The chocolate bars feature packaging inspired by Barbie’s signature style, creating a visual delight for fans and collectors alike. These delectable chocolate bars are just the beginning, as IT’SUGAR will soon introduce a variety of other Barbie-themed products in stores and on its website over the next month.

 

“We are excited to bring the magic of Barbie to life through our exclusive collaboration with Mattel,” said Justin Clinger, Assistant Vice President Creative and Marketing of IT’SUGAR.

 

“These bars are just the beginning, and a delightful way for fans of all ages to experience the iconic Barbie brand.”

 

On Thursday, Jan. 25, the IT’SUGAR Exclusive Barbie Chocolate Bars will also be featured prominently across IT’SUGAR’s social media channels. Customers and Barbie enthusiasts are invited to join the celebration of Barbie’s timeless allure with these exclusive treats. Engaging in the conversation on social media using the hashtag #BarbieBars allows you to stay connected and be part of this delightful experience.

 

IT’SUGAR Stores epitomizes what the brand is known for: thousands of varieties of over-the-top sweets, humorous products, and immersive candy experiences with featured shops, including Sour Patch Kids, OREO, Nerds, Skittles, Reese’s, and Starburst. It also includes shops devoted to retro and international candy, TikTok-trending treats, and much more, providing endless playful entertainment for sugar enthusiasts of all ages.

 

About IT’SUGAR: 

IT’SUGAR is one of the largest specialty candy retailers in the world, with over 100 locations in U.S. and Canada. IT’SUGAR isn’t just a candy store – it transforms how the world experiences their favorite sugary treats. Known for its absurd sugar innovations that celebrate lighthearted rebellion, IT’SUGAR aspires to a future where everyone has access to the pure joy that comes from indulging in a world with fewer restrictions and more SUGAR. IT’SUGAR is a member of BBX Capital, Inc.’s family of companies and a subsidiary of BBX Sweet Holdings. For more information, please visit www.IT’SUGAR.com

 

For more information, please visit www.itsugar.com.

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Gaming regulator in China rescinds draft rules, published in December to set spending limits and ban daily login rewards in online games; Tencent rose 6%+

—  China’s gaming regulator has removed from its website rules it proposed last month aimed at curbing spending and rewards

 

Josh Ye / Reuters:

 

HONG KONG — China’s gaming regulator has removed from its website rules it proposed last month aimed at curbing spending and rewards that encourage playing video games, checks by Reuters on Tuesday showed, in a move that boosted gaming company shares.

(Tencent sign is seen at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, China July 6, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights, opens new tab)

The link to the draft rules on the National Press and Publication Administration’s (NPPA) website was inaccessible as of Tuesday morning, after having worked on Monday.

 

The consultation period on the rules, which sparked market turmoil when they were first announced, expired on Monday.
The removal was described by analysts as unusual, with some saying a revision could be in store. The NPPA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the reason for the removal.
Xiaoyue Hu, an analyst at Haitong Securities, said in a note to clients reviewed by Reuters that the removal of the announcement could signal “there might be further changes in the new measures.”

 

Hu said previous regulatory measures seeking opinions had a track record of staying on the government’s websites even after the consultation period ended.
Shares in Tencent Holdings (0700.HK), opens new tab, the world’s biggest gaming company, and its closest rival, NetEase (9999.HK), opens new tab, rose as much as 6% and 7% in morning trading respectively. The two companies’ shares were still up more than 4% at noon against a 2.4% increase in Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index (.HSI)

 

The draft rules, which proposed setting spending limits for online games, had sparked panic among investors, wiping off nearly $80 billion in market value from China’s two biggest gaming companies when they were announced.
Analysts also at the time said the plans brought the risk of potential regulatory change back to the fore in the minds of investors, hurting confidence at a time when the government has been trying to boost private-sector investment to spur a slowing economy.
But five days later, the NPPA struck a more conciliatory tone, saying it would improve them by “earnestly studying” public views. Earlier this month, Reuters reported that China removed a gaming regulatory official from his post, in a move linked to the rules.
Two of the most contentious articles in the proposed rules were articles 17 and 18, analysts said. The NPPA had acknowledged concern over those articles in December and analysts said there was a possibility they could be removed or changed.
Article 17 seeks to ban video games from forcing players into combat, which confused the industry as combat is the key mechanic of the majority of contemporary multi-player games.
Article 18 requires games to set a spending limit for players as well as barring features that incentivize players to spend in the game.
“Our base-case view expects the government to remove Article 17 (prohibition of mandatory player-versus-player) and 18 (imposing spending limit) from the final rule,” Ivan Su, an analyst at Morningstar, told Reuters.
Charlie Chai, a Shanghai-based analyst at 86Research, said regulators have been working to contain the fallout of the proposed rules.
“It seems (government) officials were caught off guard by the overwhelming negative reaction from investors, businesses, and the public,” he said, adding that the government has since “moderated its stance (and labelled) the proposal as ‘negotiable.'”

 

 

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— Techmeme

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‘Coronation Street’ actor Michelle Collins headlines horror film ‘The Haunting of Helen’s Bridge’

British actor Michelle Collins “(Coronation Street,” “Doctor Who)” headlines the cast of horror-thriller “The Haunting of Helen’s Bridge.”

 

The film, directed by Stephen Presley “(Pandemic: the people, the conspiracy, the journey)” and written by Presley and Gemma Esau, recently completed principal photography. It explores the urban legend surrounding Helen’s Mountain and its infamous bridge, located at Asheville, North Carolina.

 

“The Haunting of Helen’s Bridge” follows the malevolent spirit of Helen, a grieving mother who, overwhelmed by the loss of her child, met a tragic end by tying a noose around her neck and hanging herself from the bridge. Actual paranormal footage captured at the bridge is woven into the narrative.

 

Collins said: “I’ve never been in a horror genre movie before, so I was thrilled when this opportunity came along. Despite initially being worried about having nightmares after the filming, I genuinely enjoyed the whole experience, and I’d love to make another horror now. I can’t wait for people to watch it.”

 

Presley added: “I aspired to craft a film that intricately blurs the lines between fact and fiction, creating a space where authenticity prevails in every element.”

 

The casting is by Ajo Kacmar of IO Casting, with Philippe Ashfield at Instant Entertainment serving as publicist. The film is produced by Silent D Pictures, led by producer Djonny Chen, along with Presley for Grimm Pictures, and Kacmar.

 

The film is scheduled for delivery in 2025.

 

Other films that are currently in production at Silent D include “High Wire,” featuring emerging star from Hong Kong, Isabella Wei; and “Influenced!,” a black comedy set in the world of social media influencers inspired by Oscar Wilde’s classic 1891 novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” headlined by Harry Potter star Evanna Lynch.

 

 

 

— Variety (EXCLUSIVE) 

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Lenape Storytelling with Chief Bluejay to commune at D&R Greenway’s Discovery Center at Point Breeze in Bordentown

 The public is invited to an afternoon of Lenape Storytelling on Sunday, Jan. 28  from 2 to 4 p.m. at D&R Greenway Land Trust’s Discovery Center at Point Breeze, located at 101 East Park St., Bordentown, N.J.

 

The public is invited to enjoy an afternoon of storytelling in the tradition of the Lenape, the First People, at D&R Greenway’s Discovery Center at Point Breeze on Sunday, Jan. 28, from 2 p.m. to  4 p.m.

Photo: Visit the Discovery Center at Point Breeze
Photo: Chief Bluejay and Uma Cinnamon in the Peoples Room at the Discovery Center

 

The Discovery Center was created by D&R Greenway Land Trust in a renovated historic home that belonged to the exiled King of Spain Joseph Napoleon Bonaparte’s gardener in the early 1800s. The house will be open with exhibits about the history, land and people of Point Breeze, including the Lenape and Bonaparte, birds and the Delaware River watershed. Visitors learn about the Three Sisters garden, indigenous and heritage crops that are grown in the Historic Garden at Point Breeze.

 

“Wintertime is when indigenous peoples gather to tell stories” says Barbara Michalski, known as Chief Bluejay. Of Lenape descent, she is Chief, Keeper of Culture, Storyteller and Public Speaker for the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania.  She is a talented storyteller who shares the traditions of the Lenape to remind people that “we are still here.” Bluejay provided advice to D&R Greenway in development of the Peoples Room inside the Discovery Center at Point Breeze.  There, visitors will learn about Lenape language and read stories about land and water stewardship.  Chief Bluejay’s intention is “to stress how we should take care of Mother Earth.”

 

A landmark positioned in front of the Historic Garden at the Discovery Center at Point Breeze is a life-size sculpture of an Atlantic Sturgeon.  These huge creatures, that can grow up to 14 feet in length, were once abundant in the Delaware River but were taken to the brink of extinction due to loss of habitat.  They depend on clean water to spawn in the Delaware River.  Native Americans fished these creatures for food and used the remains as fertilizer for agricultural crops. Visitors to the open house will have an opportunity to color Sturgeon cards provided by the Delaware Riverkeeper.  The cards will be hung on our tree inside the Crown Jewels Gallery to transition the holiday tree to a “Sturgeon Family Tree” and share wishes for protecting the Atlantic Sturgeon and the Delaware River.

 

In the Natural World Room visitors will find wood carvings for sale by artist Jane “Walkingstick” Roop, of Lenape descent.  Walking Sticks, Spirit Sticks, and various carvings are available for prices ranging from $35 – $225, with a portion of the sales supporting programs at the D&R Greenway’s Discovery Center at Point Breeze.

Photo: Lenape wood carvings available for purchase at the Discovery Center

 

“This special opportunity celebrates a community of people and special features of the Delaware River watershed that are truly treasures,” says Linda Mead, D&R Greenway’s President & CEO.  “Working in partnership with Chief Bluejay, Jane Walkingstick and other members of the Lenape Nation has been an honor for me and carries out D&R Greenway’s mission to protect land and water and inspire a conservation ethic.”

 

Admission to the Storytelling program and the Discovery Center at Point Breeze is free.  A suggested donation of $10 provides the donor with a souvenir magnet or bag, and supports programs and exhibits.

 

The afternoon program is an open house format. Visitors are invited to join during the open hours for ongoing stories and activities.  The Discovery Center’s exhibits on Native Americans, King Joseph Napoleon Bonaparte, gardens, birds and the Delaware River watershed will be open to view. Registration suggested at info@drgreenway.org or call 609-924-4646.

 

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About D&R Greenway Land Trust: D&R Greenway Land Trust is an accredited nonprofit that has reached a new milestone of over 22,000 acres of land preserved throughout central New Jersey since 1989. By protecting land in perpetuity and creating public trails, it gives everyone the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. The land trust’s preserved farms and community gardens provide local organic food for residents of the region—including those most in need. Through strategic land conservation and stewardship, D&R Greenway combats climate change, protects birds and wildlife, and ensures clean drinking water for future generations. D&R Greenway’s mission is centered on connecting land with people from all walks of life. www.drgreenway.org; info@drgreenway.org. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

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‘In a Violent Nature’ review: A fresh Canadian spin on slasher conventions

Chris Nash’s gory debut feature subjects the usual nubile youth to the usual cabin-in-the-woods horror — but with a distinctive shift in perspective

 

Slasher movies often droop between grisly highlights due to the weak plotting and cardboard characters meant to lend structural integrity to their shock content, but not “In a Violent Mind.”

 

“In a Violent Mind” avoids those pitfalls by pretty much sidestepping entirely the standard niceties of narrative and psychological detail. There is explanatory backstory — however piecemeal and possibly-inaccurate — but otherwise writer-director Chris Nash’s first feature approaches the usual bloody business with a sort of minimalist purity, enabled by focusing almost wholly on the POV of one Unstoppable Killing Machine.

 

It’s a gambit that might easily turn monotonous. Yet this Canadian indie manages to keep us engaged, stirring queasy viewer dread if not much outright terror. Premiering in Sundance’s Midnight section, the Shudder Original is slated to begin streaming on that genre platform sometime this spring.

 

We seem to be back in “Blair Witch” territory at the beginning (and again during a panicked stretch at the end), as off-camera hikers poke around the ruins of a forest fire tower. One of them spies a necklace draped on a pipe, which he pockets before they leave. Our suspicion that removing this talisman might be a bad idea soon bears fruit, as immediately afterward the ground stirs, and a man’s figure covered with soil emerges from its grave. It lumbers to a decrepit house on the border of these parklands — in which the entity once lived, we glean — where a local poacher has the misfortune to be malingering.

 

This first kill is not graphic, but such restraint won’t last long. That evening, the ghoul is attracted to a campfire outside a cabin, introducing us to seven young adults staying there. One of them (Sam Roulston as Ehren) tells the local legend of the “White Pine Massacre,” which involved lumberjacks several years prior picking on the “mentally hindered” son of a store owner. Their pranks inadvertently led to the boy’s death — falling from that aforementioned fire tower — followed by the men’s own mysterious slaughter. (Later, in the present time, a game warden played by Reece Presley fleshes out this history a bit further).

 

Needless to say, our mute, relentless perp (Ry Barrett) is that wronged Johnny come back to vengeful half-life, wreaking grievous bodily harm on anyone he finds. Breaking into a ranger station, he acquires rusty tools of historical-turned-homicidal value from display cases. Subsequent mayhem is vivid, to say the least. While not all the gory prosthetic FX entirely convince, Nash’s penchant for long sustained shots encompass some coups of seamless transition between visibly intact actor and gruesome aftermath.

 

Naturally, there is a Final Girl (Andrea Pavlovic as Kris). But as we’re almost entirely locked into the undead killer’s perspective — primarily from a traveling camera position behind him as he creeps through the woods — these frequently petulant, argumentative victims never require much dimensionality. Their eventual realization that something is very wrong happens mostly off-screen, with dialogue overheard just briefly in moments before they face lethal peril.

 

Aside from the aforementioned stretches of spoken backstory, the only prolonged verbal interlude comes from Lauren Taylor in a late appearance as a passing Good Samaritan. Her monologue pushes the envelope in terms of risking dissipation of the creepy atmospherics. Still, ultimately the mood of menace is sustained enough for an unsettled, eerie fadeout.

 

Using an almost square aspect ratio, DP Pierce Derks makes the northern Ontario wilderness locations both lovely and sinister, with enough variety to the visual tactics that the film never gets stuck in found footage horror’s first-person-camera stylistic rut. A complete lack of any original scoring (some incidental music is heard from radios and such) mostly accentuates the tension.

 

“Violent Nature” isn’t exactly the scariest of screen horrors; it doesn’t have much in the way of humor or complexity. Yet its stripped-down approach to a familiar gist has a distinctiveness that is impressive, and is sure to please fans who are always up for a new slasher film — but wish most of them weren’t so interchangeable.

 

 

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— Variety

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Will Ferrell and trans comedy writer Harper Steel’s heartfelt documentary draws multiple standing ovations at Sundance premiere

Unlike Cannes and Venice, Sundance isn’t a film festival that inspires too many standing ovations.

 

But moviegoers at the Eccles Theatre were moved (more than once) to stand up and applaud after the premiere of “Will & Harper,” a funny, heartbreaking and poignant documentary about Will Ferrell taking a road trip with his longtime friend, Harper Steele, who transitioned at 61.

 

“Look at this! And this is for a documentary,” Ferrell said as he greeted the packed house in Park City on Monday night. “Wow! If we were going to be at Sundance, we thought it would be at a 10 a.m. screening in someone’s garage.”

 

“Will & Harper” chronicles the duo over 17 days as they drive from New York to California, making pit stops at basketball games, dive bars, “swanky” Las Vegas restaurants and other places where Steele hopes to feel more comfortable since she came out as a trans woman in 2022.

 

Along the way, they are greeted by many “Saturday Night Live” veterans, including Tina Fey, Kristen Wiig, and Molly Shannon, which is fitting because Ferrell and Steele met while working on “SNL” — as a performer and writer, respectively — in the ’90s. “(They were important to my transition; they’re my family,” Steele said of her “SNL” friends).

 

“The love these two friends have for one another fills me up,” a misty-eyed director Josh Greenbaum said during a post-screening Q&A. “I’m so grateful for this moment. I’m going to get it together and –”

 

“Answer the question,” Ferrell, who wiped away tears as he took the stage, jokingly interjected.

 

Although Greenbaum is known for kooky comedies like “Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar” and “Strays,” Steele said the director felt like the right fit to handle this documentary with love, care and sensitivity. “Will & Harper” captures serious and emotional conversations about being transgender, but there’s plenty of levity from comical moments involving Pringles, wacky costumes and a fateful trip to Dunkin’ Donuts.

 

“We are comedy writers, so we came up with a lot of bad ideas at first. We planned setups, and it felt weird and prank-y and inauthentic,” Steele said. “We said, ‘Let’s get in the car and see what happens.’”

 

Ferrell, who has endeared himself to America through comedies like “Elf,” “Step Brothers” and “Anchorman,” wanted to share a more personal side in the documentary. He broke down in tears more than once during conversations with Steele throughout the film.

 

“I felt like if we were going to be a part of this and create it with integrity, I owed it to Harper to be as open and emotionally available to what was going to happen,” Ferrell said.

 

Steele said she was inspired to make the documentary at a time when LGBTQ rights in the U.S. have been under attack.

 

“I had this friend — this is my privilege — who has made movies that appeal very broadly. That was the deciding factor … I could abuse this relationship for the good,” she joked. “I still don’t think Will knows what he did.”

 

Ferrell spoke to Variety prior to the film’s premiere and admitted that he had “zero knowledge” about the trans community before Steele came out.

 

“I had met trans people, but I didn’t have anyone personally in my life,” Ferrell said. “So this was all new territory for me. It’s a chance for us in the cis community to ask questions, listen and be there as a friend to discuss this journey.”

 

 

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— Variety

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A look at the challenges Amazon Prime Video faces as it plans to show ads, also to include large brands 

—  The e-commerce giant must provide more high-quality content and court advertisers that don’t sell products on its platform, experts say

 

 

Patrick Coffee / Wall Street Journal:

The arrival of ads on Amazon Prime Video this month is expected to upend the already crowded streaming television market in the U.S. But it also won’t be an entirely smooth transition for Amazon.

 

The e-commerce giant is now the world’s third-largest digital ad seller, behind tech companies

Action series “Reacher” was the most-viewed title on Amazon Prime in 2023, according to Amazon. CREDIT: Brooke Palmer/Prime Video
Meta Platforms, with ad revenue surpassing $12 billion in the third quarter, up 26% from the period a year earlier. Its data and insights on millions of customers give Prime Video a long-term advantage by allowing marketers to target ads based on variables from shopping history to location.

 

Amazon will generate roughly $5.2 billion in additional annual revenue through Prime Video ad sales and the $2.99 monthly surcharge that subscribers can pay to avoid the ads, according to a recent Morgan Stanley research note. Roughly a third of Prime subscribers are expected to opt for the ad-free version, Bank of America analysts say.

Still, the company faces significant challenges as it enters a market where streaming rivals with large footprints in traditional media, such as Walt Disney and WarnerBros. Discovery, and even Netflix, a late arrival to ad sales, enjoy more established relationships with the advertisers that still spend the bulk of their money on broadcast TV. Amazon must convince the world’s largest brands, and the agencies that manage their budgets, to spend big on Prime Video despite a plethora of alternative ways to reach consumers and uncertainty regarding returns on their investments and threats to their market share.

 

“The dollars that are migrating into this opportunity are still tethered, in many ways, to traditional TV buying as opposed to digital ad buying,” said Andrew Lipsman, founder of consulting firm Media, Ads + Commerce. “Right now, Amazon is stronger on the digital advertiser front, but this is all new territory for them. They have plenty of speed bumps along the way.”

 

 

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— Techmeme

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New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency celebrates 40 years of service

TRENTON, N.J. — On Jan. 17, 2024, the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) celebrates its 40th anniversary.

Since its founding 40 years ago, NJHMFA’s programs have directly benefited hundreds of thousands of New Jersey residents by providing affordable housing options and vital mortgage assistance.

Through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, NJHMFA has financed 70,000 apartments, over 66,000 of which are affordable to low- and moderate-income households. Another 112 new multifamily developments are underway, which together will bring online another 9,000 affordable units. NJHMFA has helped more than 10,000 families buy their first home, representing more than $2 billion in market value at the time of purchase and nearly the same again in wealth created through equity.

NJHMFA has also helped more than 56,000 families facing housing instability by providing counseling and financial assistance. Beyond the numbers, NJHMFA’s work has improved thousands of lives: families have found stable homes, neighborhoods have been revitalized, and individuals have found support in their time of greatest need. Against this backdrop, NJHMFA’s 40th anniversary commemorates not only the Agency’s work, but the substantial impact investment in New Jersey’s residents can have on our communities and our future.

“For 40 years, the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency has helped many thousands of New Jerseyans become new homeowners,” said Governor Murphy.

“Our Administration’s partnership with NJHMFA has been essential to creating access to more affordable housing throughout our state. As the agency reaches this incredible milestone of an anniversary, we recognize the many programs the agency has created to make the American dream attainable for so many in our state.”

“NJHMFA exists to make New Jersey housing affordable to all New Jerseyans, and for 40 years, it has delivered. We have deployed innovative programs, policies, and partnerships, becoming a nationally recognized leader in affordable housing development and producing numerous award-winning and landmark properties,” said Executive Director Melanie Walter.

“NJHMFA is proud of the positive impact that we have on the lives of all New Jerseyans, particularly those looking for apartments or first homes that are affordable to them in the communities where they want to live. We look forward to continuing to support community development and revitalization in the years ahead.”

“Congratulations to the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) on 40 years of progressive and innovative work making communities more diverse, and municipalities economically stronger,” said DCA Acting Commissioner Jacquelyn A. Suárez.

“Today, New Jersey families and individuals with specialized housing needs have more options when seeking safe, affordable, and stable rental housing and homeownership opportunities. Without a doubt, New Jerseyans will continue to benefit from NJHMFA’s transformative work in the future.”

NJHMFA was created by an act of the New Jersey legislature merging the New Jersey Housing Finance Agency (HFA) and the New Jersey Mortgage Finance Agency (MFA) into a single organization to house the state’s affordable housing production capacity for both multifamily and single-family housing. Today, NJHMFA oversees a multifamily production portfolio that has grown to exceed $1.3 billion each year, and an approximately $1 billion annual single-family mortgage program. Over the past 40 years, NJHMFA has become the New Jersey state allocator of the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), the host of the state’s preeminent down payment assistance program for new homebuyers, and the administrator of federal assistance programs designed to protect homeowners against the impacts of economic downturns.

Through the LIHTC program, created in 1984, NJHMFA has financed the creation or preservation of over 75,000 affordable apartments across 1,010 properties, with 66,000 of these units already completed and another 9,000 units forthcoming. These projects have provided thousands of low- and moderate-income residents throughout the state with safe and high-quality homes, cumulatively generated billions of dollars in the direct and indirect economic impacts of new construction, supported thousands of jobs, and helped municipalities advance their community development goals.

At the same time, NJHMFA has consistently expanded homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income households. Since the 2017 expansion in single-family programs, NJHMFA has allocated over $100 million in down payment and closing cost assistance to approximately 10,000 first-time low-and moderate-income homebuyers. These borrowers were able to make home purchases cumulatively valued at over $2 billion. Despite the challenges of recent interest rate hikes, this initiative has continued to grow, assisting about 2,500 households in 2023 alone. That same year, NJHMFA created a program specifically tailored to the needs of first-generation homebuyers, making New Jersey one of only a handful of states to offer such assistance.

In addition to creating multifamily housing opportunities and offering access to homeownership opportunities, NJHMFA works to effectively protect quality of life throughout the state by preventing the loss of homeownership. When the housing market collapsed in 2008, NJHMFA provided more than $320 million to over 8,000 impacted homeowners, as well as housing counseling that helped struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure. More than 56,000 New Jersey families have benefitted from NJHMFA’s free housing counseling initiatives. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, NJHMFA developed the federally funded ERMA program, which has distributed more than $150 million to help more than 5,000 homeowners avoid foreclosure so far.

As NJHMFA marks its 40th anniversary, it uses the lessons of the past to shape its clear vision for the future. The Agency seeks to expand its impact, leveraging data resources, technology, and state and federal resources to meet the many diverse housing needs in evidence across the state. It will continue building strong community and development partnerships, optimizing resources, and addressing emerging housing issues proactively. In these ways, NJHMFA will remain at the forefront of New Jersey affordability, accessibility, and sustainability, supporting NJ residents and fostering community well-being in the decades ahead.

About Us: The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) advances the quality of life for residents of and communities throughout New Jersey by investing in, financing, and facilitating access to affordable rental housing and homeownership opportunities for low and moderate-income families, older adults, and individuals with specialized housing needs. To learn more about NJHMFA, visit: https://NJHousing.gov/

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Second TSMC factory for Arizona faces delays as US grants remain in flux

— The firm’s first fab in Arizona has been pushed back to 2025

— Biden White House has yet to hand out promised chip subsidies

 

Bloomberg:

 

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. announced another delay to its $40 billion site in Arizona, dealing a further blow to the Biden administration’s plans to boost manufacturing of critical components on U.S. soil.

Executives said their second plant in Arizona, whose shell is now being built, will start operations in 2027 or 2028, later than TSMC’s prior guidance of 2026. That’s after the company in July announced a delay to the first site, now due to start making 4-nanometer chips only in 2025, citing a lack of skilled labor and higher costs.

“Our overseas decisions are based on customer needs and the necessary level of government subsidy, or support,” Chairman Mark Liu said during TSMC’s earnings conference in Taipei on Thursday. The company’s upbeat outlook for the year drove a rally in chip stocks across Asia on Friday, with TSMC shares up as much as 6.3%.

Previously, TSMC had said it will make 3nm chips at the second factory, which is expected to be more advanced than the first in Arizona. But on Thursday, the company said that incentives from the U.S. government will help determine how advanced the tech inside will be, adding uncertainty to the project’s outcome.

Because of the setback with the first fab, TSMC has delayed its second factory too, according to Chief Financial Officer Wendell Huang. The Taiwanese chipmaker is in talks with the U.S. government about incentives and tax credits, Liu said. He also reiterated TSMC was working with the local union and trade partners in the state. The company has faced resistance to plans to bring in technicians from Taiwan for the construction project.

Pushing back the start of the second fab could mean a delay of as much as two years, time enough for semiconductor tech to advance by one generation.

More than a year after U.S. President Joe Biden signed the Chips and Science Act into law — which is supposed to provide tens of billions of dollars in subsidies to chipmakers expanding in the U.S. — the administration has yet to hand out any grants to major chipmakers like TSMC or Intel Corp. It has so far only provided some modest financial support to two minor industry players.

By contrast, TSMC publicized its plans for a more modest plant in Japan later than its Arizona project, but it has already received funds from the Japanese government. The facility is on track to start production in late 2024, according to the latest update the company provided.

 

— Techmeme