HOW WILL THE NEW LEGISLATURE DO?

There's no optimism on the subject of the recently sworn-in legislature, which features a few new faces. Not a single respondent believed that the new legislature will be a solid improvement over the old one. Respondents were split 50-50 between caution (It's too early to tell) and pessimism (Same ol', same ol'). Jeff Milanaik, president of Heller Industrial Parks Inc. and vice president of public affairs for the New Jersey chapter of Naiop, is hopeful but remains cautious. Here are his thoughts on the matter:

"I view change as a very good thing, because it's easy to fall into patterns, so to take things in a new, positive direction, you need to bring new people on board. I hope the changeover in Trenton will be a positive step, especially with the amount of changes taking place in the state as a whole. It's difficult to say at this moment how individual legislators will do.

"There's always the fear that the new legislators won't be any different from those who are departing—that's in the back of everyone's mind all the time, especially considering the problems the state has had. On the other hand, I've come across people in the legislature who are very positive and understand what's going on. Time will tell. Fast forward a year from now and then we'll look back and say: 'Ok, was it a positive change or was it the same old?' It's going to be a tough call."