Did the Former Berkeley Heights BOE Majority Get Acquitted of an Ethics Violation by Admitting They Broke the Law?
Let me explain. On March 22, 2022, current BOE Member and former BOE President Angela Penna co-published what we now know to be an inaccurate letter to the editor in response to Sai Akiri’s condemnation of the budget process. This letter was not only quickly debunked but it resulted in an ethics complaint against the publishers of the letter by a resident and parent...
New Jersey Fights Back an Era of Darkness
For now…. The Bill that threatened OPRA was pulled from the agenda by Assembly Speaker Coughlin, who followed up with a post on Twitter: More than a few people have suggested that the victory is temporary, as the Governor did not want his decision to sign or veto the Bill to complicate his wife’s bid for the Senate. One source...
Update on Our Efforts to Stop the Assault on the the Open Public Records Act
While the OPRA Bill passed Committees on Monday, it is going for a vote tomorrow, and we can still stop it as momentum against it continues to grow. BHCW sent a letter to legislators Sunday along with the petition.. BHCW also joined 100 other organizations throughout NJ, asking that this bill be stopped. Since it passed committee, Mayor Devanney and every member...
Elected Representatives in NJ Need to Stop Hiding Behind “Leagues” And “Associations”
Before getting started on this, I want to acknowledge our Mayor, every single member of our Town Council, and the four BOE Members who publicly conveyed their opposition to NJ legislation that seeks to destroy the Open Public Records Act, which would be catastrophic for NJ residents. With one day left, I hope Ms. Bradford, Ms. Stanley, and Ms. Penna do the...
NJ Is Rallying to Stop State Sen. Sarlo’s & Assemblyman Danielsen’s Age of Darkness
NJ Is Rallying to Stop State Sen. Sarlo and Assemblyman Danielsen from Destroying the Open Public Records Act Since discovering that Sen. Sarlo has teamed up with Assemblyman Danielsen to usher in a new age of Darkness through a second attempt to gut OPRA, organizations in NJ are rallying a defense. We first want to credit Krystal Knapp and the Jersey Vindicator for breaking...
Kevin Walsh – Government Accountability Jedi – Deserves Our Help
Kevin Walsh is NJ’s Acting State Comptroller, and his appointment is being held up by two Senators connected to a South Jersey Party Boss who doesn’t even live here any more and was on the wrong end of Mr. Walsh’s tireless efforts to protect New Jerseyans from corruption and wasteful spending, according to Jersey Vindicator Mr. Walsh has approached his...
Social Media is Not the Problem – We Are
Vaccines, Presidential Elections, and COVID-19 – are three phenomena that come to mind when we hear the shrieks about the dangers of social media. Americans are almost famous for the degree of polarized thinking they apply to virtually any situation. There are no excellent Republican ideas, no good ideas coming from Democrats, and only when one embodies beliefs wholesale are...
John’s Notes on the 02/26/2024 BOE Agenda: Transportation Presentation
The presentation document is a disappointment in two ways- the lack of detail in connection to recommendations and the lack of explanation in connection to questions the public has had for nearly a year surrounding the management of this program. I won’t spend much time on the first area as I’ll have more to say after the presentation. I will...
Notes on the 02/20/2024 Berkeley Heights Town Council Meeting- Trespassing Ordinance and Another Tense Discussion
The Town Council voted through a resolution on 02/20/2024 that broadens parameters that make it easier for local police to question or “act” with regard to suspected trespassing. From a civil liberties perspective, on paper, it appears to make sense as long as it is applied in practice with fidelity to the ordinance. Based on my understanding of the ordinance, more...
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