What 10 Years of Wage Data Tell Us About Living in New Jersey
Over the past decade, wages in New Jersey have gone up—but in many cases, not enough to keep pace with the rising cost of living. NJ21st looked at state and federal labor data to see how different industries have fared since 2013, adjusting for inflation using local cost-of-living data from the New York–Newark metro area. Some sectors did well. Others,...
This Week at NJ21st: Berkeley Heights Spins Again, A Storm Shakes Jersey, Calls for School District Unification, and a Closer Look at NJ’s Prison Economy
Mid-Summer Suprise We begin with a troubling Town Council meeting in Berkeley Heights. The story starts with the Township rejecting the only bid on the Sewage Plant (Sewer Sale Stalls) that then snowballs into a web of no-bid contracts, questionable settlements (including one where taxpayers foot the bill for a vendor’s error), and a quiet vote to raise bid thresholds...
Murphy’s Berkeley Heights Stop Raises Questions on Housing, Flood Policy
The response to Governor Phil Murphy’s July 15th visit to Berkeley Heights was swift — and overwhelmingly critical on social media. Many residents questioned the value of the visit, calling it an empty gesture in light of the state’s policies on affordable housing and environmental regulation. A recurring theme in local online discussions was criticism of Trenton’s recent policy shifts....
Governor Murphy Visits Berkeley Heights After Deadly Storm Hits Union County
Governor Phil Murphy visited Berkeley Heights on Tuesday following a fast-moving storm that caused serious damage across parts of Union and Somerset counties. Speaking alongside local officials and first responders, Murphy described the impact bluntly: “We got crushed.” He confirmed that two people died during the storm, including someone in a vehicle that was swept away. Some injuries were reported...
13 Questions Residents Can Ask at Tonight’s Town Council Meeting
Aside from the questions below, we hope the Council reverses the nonsensical decision to prevent public questions and comments from zoom tonight considering the impact of the storm and the potential for residents to want to speak to their elected representatives about it’s after effects. For context on the below, please read Deals Light on Details- Berkeley Heights Council Set...
Deals Light on Details- Berkeley Heights Council Set to Approve Another Round of Quiet Spending
The Berkeley Heights Township Council is expected to vote on more than $180,000 in new spending, reject a utility privatization bid, and authorize a slew of contracts and resolutions that light up more question marks on transparency, oversight and infrastructure planning.. Sewer Sale Bid Rejected — But Future Contracting Continues The Township is set to formally reject the only bid...
Statewide Justice Trends – Visualizing New Jersey’s Prison Landscape
Beyond the raw figures of New Jersey’s justice system are countless individual lives, each deeply shaped by everything from where they grew up to their racial background. This report, using the most recent data from March 2025, may be a starting point in understanding how poverty and entrenched inequalities determine who ends up in prison and for how long. While...
Sewer Sale Stalls in Berkeley Heights – Lone Bid Rejected?
Berkeley Heights appears likely to turn down the only bid it received to buy its wastewater treatment plant—and yes, it was from New Jersey American Water, just as many expected. According to a resolution up for approval at the next Township Council meeting, the bid didn’t meet the commitment to the level of capital improvements the town had asked for....
This Week at NJ21st: Accountability, Community Love Letters, Dumpsters — and BHPSNJ Still Acting Like the CIA
Who’s In Charge? Back in February, NJ21st uncovered a Union County Prosecutor’s investigation raising serious questions about oversight in key Berkeley Heights municipal departments. This week, the investigation resurfaced—this time in an official NJ Office of the Attorney General report as the Mayor and Council remain silent. Love Letters from the Community One resident raises new concerns over the Township’s push to privatize its...
Accountability Gap? Berkeley Heights Named in Attorney General’s 2024 Discipline Report
Back in February, NJ21st published a Community Voices contribution that raised significant concerns about the Township’s oversight of the Berkeley Heights Police Department. At the time, the Township was also pressuring the school district to divert funds intended for students to cover police benefit time—under a contract with no spending caps. We further noted that two sitting council members are...
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