The Observer Media Group has announced that Juan Melli will join Politicker.com next week as the Associate Editor. Melli founded the New Jersey-based political blog BlueJersey.com in 2005 and has since served as publisher and managing editor. He is completing a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Princeton University. Melli will no longer write for BlueJersey.com.
That means there will be some changes. Most visibly, Rosi Efthim will take over as Editorial Director and Scott Shields as Technical Director. They've both been around since day one and without their work and that of all the writers, Blue Jersey wouldn't be what it is today. I'm confident they will keep the boat rocking and rolling.
If my thesis committee has mercy on me, I should be finished with school very soon. Besides looking for a distraction from the grad school grind, one of the main reasons I started Blue Jersey almost three years ago was because I didn't know anything at all about New Jersey politics. Some might say I still don't, but I feel like I've learned a lot from this community -- especially when it's challenged me to think critically and reevaluate my views. I'm very grateful to have had this fun and educational experience.
I won't be posting here any more, but that doesn't mean you won't be hearing from me in the future. My Blue Jersey email address won't be valid for much longer so for those who would like to keep in touch or try to sell me fake Rolex watches or mortgage products my email address is my first initial + last name + @gmail.com.
So thank you to everyone who has joined along in this experiment to make New Jersey politics and government more open and responsive. There's still a very long way to go, but I know the people here will continue to play an important role in that process. Thank you.
