As election deadlines draw nearer, we’ll start with a new addition to our “Understanding Your NJ Government” series with a clear blueprint on how to run for office. One of our core objectives is making sure that independent candidates (right, left, wherever) who aren’t bought and paid for step up and answer the call. NJ needs ethical, competent candidates from all sides of the spectrum to run and replace what is currently in power.
We also added to our Reports offering with an analysis of Police Use of Force, across seven municipalities using the NJ OAG Dashboard. The report not only offers interesting insight but is another example of how to use state-level data to inform local conversations.
Wrapping up the top level, our coverage of this week’s robust legislative agenda provides a look at bills in committee that touch on renter relief, transit and school safety.
On the local level, Shauna continues her one woman show of unpeeling what has quickly devolved into a campaign of questionable claims in Berkeley Heights’ race to the referendum. This week, she tackles the ‘the only way we can pay for all this is through a referendum’ myth.
Moving onto Municipal Government, Laura completed what John started on the Berkeley Heights Town Council Agenda and took a look at Berkeley Heights Ordinances that will impact the Township for decades. We published a clip of a resident pushing back on the Connell Density Ordinance during the February meeting and an article that included Council-woman Poage’s claim to be for transparency while voting against an OPRA settlement that involved private email accounts being used for township business during this week’s meeting.
The last two Berkeley Heights Council meetings are something residents from all communities should be attentive to as there was a subtle yet significant conflation of ‘state mandates’ and voluntary concessions to politically generous political donors that, in the words of one resident, will produce a virtual city.
On The Socials….
Addressing Referendum Fiction with Facts
Response to Municipal Plant on Substack
nj21st Responds to Berkeley Heights Township Administrator’s Confusion on CMS Sports Complex
Berkeley Heights ‘but the state is making us do it’ and ‘our hands are tied’ Starter Pack
Top Three Articles for February…
Nokia Redevelopment Investigation, $16.7M Emergency Spending, and Key Questions
nj21st 2025 Property Tax Dashboards
Court Orders Berkeley Heights to Release Unredacted Emails, Finds OPRA Denial Unreasonable
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