No idea why NJ is so expensive as I don’t live there.
In short, inept and / or corrupt government compounded by the next group to emerge from the clown car....decades of bad decisions and poor spending choices... Its like no matter who’s running - especially governors - red or blue, eventually they’re either going to be involved in a scandal, turn out to be a total ass, or both.
Christie (R) - He was OK as a state prosecutor and I had some hope for him. But then Bridgegate, and just generally turned out to be a self-absorbed, obnoxious ass. Made a lot of promises about taxes which didn't happen. By the end of his term he was the most disliked governor in NJ history, even beating Corzine, with an approval percentage in the 20's. His unpopularity sunk his lieutenant gov. Kim Guadano's chances for succeeding him because nobody wanted to risk ending up with Christie 2.0.
Christie’s a funny dude - I still think he has a certain degree of integrity, but a vindictive temper and “my way or hiway” attitude override it. Had he been chosen for VP I think he would have kissed up for only so long before the dam broke, followed by some epic clashes.
Corzine (D) - a doofus and embarrassment. dates a married woman while both still married. Possible conflict of interest and some questionable payments exchanging hands there. Set a bad example when his official vehicle caused an accident going 90 mph. He wasn’t wearing a seatbelt (which is illegal). Oops..
Mixed bag of other accomplishments. Caused a government shutdown, unpopular plan to monetize the two main highways in the state, unpopular changes to benefits for state employees, some property tax improvements but not enough. Caused big tuition hikes by reducing funding of state colleges.
Was so unpopular that at one point there was an initiative to recall him as governor, however it failed.
Codey (D?) - Nothing memorable. Acting governor after McGreevy resigned.
McGreevy (D) - cheated on his wife, appointed his secret and totally unqualified gay Israeli lover (possibly a spy to boot) to a homeland security post....
Todd-Whitman (R) - Reduced sales tax and income tax, but property taxes and automobile insurance rates soared. Also appeared to have some questionable views on people of color and said some things that didn't win her any friends in those communities. Left to join the EPA.
Tax increase issues started when Florio (D) diverted tax dollars from suburban schools to a handful of urban and rural districts ("Abbot schools"). To this day, those towns, enjoy property taxes much lower than everyone else's, though most of them aren't places where people want to live. Have friends in one of the few that's pretty nice. The schools aren't producing stellar results despite the preferential treatment.
I'm sure I'm leaving out some scandals, payoffs, etc.
Oh and Murphy - I doubt he’s going to do anything about taxes, but he is pushing to legalize recreational weed. So we can nibble on hash brownies and get blissfully high while we write out those outrageous quarterly checks.
Believe me, not living here is on my bucket list...but house hunting and moving takes more free time than I have right now.