What We Covered in 2025 Part 4: Transparency, Public Records and Oversight

After all these years, we’re still seeking answers to the same question – when residents ask for information or demand accountability, does the system actually respond?

Several articles that center on OPRA, open government and accountability made our top 30 this year.

#8 – Understanding Your NJ Government: OPRA| New Jersey’s Public Records Law

This was the most popular article in our ongoing ‘Understanding Your NJ Government’ series for 2025 and provides a plain-language walk-through of the Open Public Records Act and how it differs from Common Law Right of Access. It covers the problematic 2024 changes to the law and lays out how requests are submitted, answered, and challenged when records are denied.

#11- Open Letter to NJ State Senator Nicholas Scutari Requesting the Immediate Withdrawal of S-4924

For the third time in the same legislative cycle we found ourselves pushing back on Senator Scutari attempts to weaken our state’s oversight mechanisms. This year it involved S-4924 and an unsuccessful attempt to weaken the Office of the State Comptroller. Our letter frames the bill as an attack on open government, pointing to the Office of the State Comptroller as an accountability institution. It included a call to action for readers to oppose the bill.

#23 – Accountability Gap? Berkeley Heights Named in Attorney General’s 2024 Discipline Report

The final article in this set covers the 2024 AG report and highlights the fact that, in one community local officials took no action in response to serious infractions involving a former Police Chief. It also contrasts this lack of action with outcomes in neighboring towns that involved less serious violations. The article provides an example as to how findings are handled from one municipality to the next and the variance that exists in employing accountability measures.