The return of the Walk to Washington by the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce certainly has to be considered a huge success.
From record registrations (more than 1,200, including 1,000 on a sold-out train) to a format that featured more networking and fewer speeches, eventgoers seemed to appreciate the 84th version of the uniquely New Jersey event — but the first since 2020.
The biggest question: Should the event become an annual thing?
The Chamber, which found a suitable post-pandemic substitute in the ReNew Jersey Business Summit in Atlantic City is leaning toward a scenario in which the two events flip flop each year — a system that would ensure the Walk always would take place during gubernatorial election years.
The unofficial ROI-NJ poll of random riders on the trip to D.C., seemed to indicate that would be the preferred scenario, as a biennial Walk outpaced an annual effort by nearly a 2-1 margin.
No one said this should be the last year of the trip, which clearly was missed by members of the business and nonprofit communities, as well as elected officials, more than two dozen of which made the trip.
Other poll questions
ROI-NJ asked a random sampling of more than four dozen riders a series of questions:
Question: On a 1-5 scale, with 1 being bad and 5 being great, has Gov. Phil Murphy been good for the business community?
5: 20%
4: 16%
3: 44%
2: 18%
1: 2%
Q: Is the state headed in the right direction, yes or no?
Yes: 50%
No: 50%
The Star-Ledger lives
Sunday marked the final print edition of The Star-Ledger (though the outlet certainly continues digitally at nj.com.)
The legacy of the state’s leading paper was evident Thursday during the Walk to Washington as five former Star-Ledger staffers (including this reporter) were at the pre-event breakfast, an event photographed by a former Ledger photographer.
