Why Is Our Volunteer Fire Department Being Sidelined?
Arik Samson is a resident of Berkeley Heights and was a 2024 Candidate for BOE Public safety decisions should be made with transparency, accountability, and a clear focus on the well-being of the people they affect. That’s why I, like many others in our town, am deeply concerned about the recent decision to move the Fire Prevention Bureau from the...
Instability and Controversy: The Devanney Town Council’s Police and Finance Departments
Steven Kark is a resident of Berkeley Heights, NJ The Devanney Town Council has a notable history of instability in two key areas. Berkeley Heights Police Department In June 2024, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office concluded an investigation into the former Chief of Police, uncovering multiple instances of misconduct. The findings revealed that the former Police Chief engaged in inappropriate...
Berkeley Heights Resident and NYC Educator Letter to BHPSNJ BOE & Administration on School Closings
Michael Leblond, a resident of Berkeley Heights, is a parent of children in the District and a NYC Educator Dear Dr. Feltre, I am reaching out again to express my concerns on how the district is handling communication and decisions about closing our schools with various weather conditions. In the last two weeks, the district has struggled to communicate effectively...
Berkeley Heights Needs YOUR Independent Leadership
Once again, Murphy has sold out to his machine bosses—just as many successful politicians do. The same governor who guttled OPRA and opened the floodgates for political contributions has now made it even harder for non-machine candidates to get on the ballot. Under the new law: Partisan municipal candidates need as few as five signatures in small towns and up...
Power, Priorities, and Paychecks: Unpacking the Devanney Council’s Latest Moves and a Local Press that Fails to Hold them Accountable
$30,000 for Media Services, Armies of Attorneys and Lobbyists funded by the Families of Berkeley Heights Arik Samson is a Resident of Berkeley Heights and was a candidate for the Berkeley Heights BOE during the 2024 elections. The Town Council has voted to extend the deadline for submitting the 2025 budget, even as it swiftly approved multiple executive orders immediately...
Berkeley Heights Resident & Parent Expresses Concerns on OSC Police Training Report
Rekha Ahalya is a parent with children in the Berkeley Heights School District This week, we learned that Berkeley Heights police attended at least one training session conducted by an organization promoting tactics that contradict principles of diversity, inclusion, and equity. This underscores the critical need for oversight. Prism, initially voted down, was later approved after BOE members received additional...
Berkeley Heights Resident and NYC Educator Letter to BOE on Data Breach, Facilities and BOE President
Michael Leblond, a resident of Berkeley Heights, is a parent of children in the District and a NYC Educator Dear Members of the BHBOE, Welcome to 2025 and the midpoint of the 2024-2025 school year. The start of 2025 already finds the Berkeley Heights Public Schools facing three major challenges that could have significant, long lasting impacts on our school...
What the Berkeley Heights Massage Parlor “Breaking News” Tells Us About Power, Privilege and Hyperlocal News Blogs
-John Migueis A recent headline from a local news outlet brought a wave of attention to a police report: Police Chief William Ives reports the arrest of a 64-year-old female following an ongoing investigation into illicit activities at a local business. Changling Wang, who resided and worked at Qitopia Massage Spa on Springfield Avenue, was taken into custody by Berkeley...
Follow Up To Article on OAL Decision v. Former BOE Majority Published Yesterday
-John Migueis Over the past three years, we have consistently provided a full accounting behind the issues that led to the most recent findings by the Office of Administrative Law (OAL). Specifically, regarding the most recent finding, numerous community members—including contributors, family members, and even a former Board of Education (BOE) member—advised the Board Majority at the time that using...
My Response to a Former BOE Member Regarding the 2022 Negotiation Meetings with Teachers
-Sai Akiri Dear Teachers and Community, For some reason a former BOE Member (Robert C) continues to spread outright misinformation. The facts are that Dr. Foregger and I care very much about our teachers, our school system and most importantly our students. We were absolutely in attendance for 2022 negotiations meetings with the teachers union as they are an important...
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