This Week at NJ21st: Civil Liberties, Privilege of Power and Big Moves in Warren

Starting from the top as always….

This week’s episode of the 21st Briefing covers a legislative calendar that touches upon two bills that may have potential concerning impacts on civil liberties, including speech.

The BPU is looking at whether NJ model is incentivizing higher utility bills and is seeking public feedback.

May looks like good news for NJ’s job picture, but peeling back the layers shows that all may not be well.

Going Local…

In Berkeley Heights, Laura provides her notes on a Town Council Meeting that had residents walking up to the podium on data centers, library surplus and missing bill lists. The library comments were actually a follow up to questions asked during the Budget Meetings and it appears residents may need to ping-pong between the Library Board and the Mayor and Council to get an answer as the minutes show no record of discussion.

Sai Akiri shares her concerns on a Mayor and Council receiving special privileges during the GL Graduation she argues are undeserved given a long track record of bad policy decisions. Laura pops up again with a BOE Meeting that saw members voting through privileges for themselves regardless of ethical concerns.

Summit Common Council Meetings continue to put other towns to shame as residents show up armed with information ready to hold their local government accountable.  We highlight a highly informative resident comment on AI Data Centers that every local government should listen to.

Moving onto Millburn we publish an op-ed that acknowledges the issue the 06/16 ballot seeks to solve but disagrees with the proposed remedy.

Then to Warren where 250 manufacturing jobs are set to be created with support from NJ’s first award under the Next New Jersey Manufacturing Program.

On the Socials…

700K children no longer receiving SNAP since passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

Summit and New Providence on the road to better culverts

Millburn’s ballot question is too close to call

NJ ELEC speeds to investigate County Campaign Finance 

New Affordable Housing Income limits go into effect

Andrea Is Searching for a Living Kidney Donor Andrea is a young EMT facing a high-stakes search for a living donor. NJ21st spoke with Andrea and her family about her story, what living with kidney disease looks like and how the community can help her story reach the right person. Visit Andrea's Page NJ21st is sharing Andrea's story as a community service feature. Donor screening information, the full interview, financial support links and contact information are available on Andrea's page.