Category: Note From Admins

Candidate Statements, Endorsements, and Your Role in the 2025 Elections

With the election fast approaching, we want to clarify NJ21st’s approach to the 2025 campaign season. We’ve reached out to all declared candidates running for office (contested races) in the 21st Legislative District and invited them to use our platform in sharing substantive candidate statements. Dunellen and Middlesex Borough Candidates email addresses weren’t available so we submitted OPRA requests to...
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ElectionsNote From Admins

New OPRA Tool Available from NJ21st

In light of recent changes to New Jersey’s OPRA law, we’ve made it easier for residents of the 21st District to request public records from their Municipalities, School Districts, County Government, and State Departments. These user-friendly online forms are fully compliant with the updated law. Every municipality—including Westfield, Scotch Plains, Summit, New Providence, Berkeley Heights, and Warren—is included. A copy...
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Note From Admins

NJ21st Is Now a Registered Nonprofit

Founded in 2021, NJ21st (formerly Berkeley Heights Community Watch) emerged in direct response to the secretive and poorly executed reconfiguration of Berkeley Heights Public Schools — a decision our community is still paying for today. We began with a clear promise: to hold every Board of Education member and the Superintendent accountable for the consequences of that process. We kept...
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Note From Admins

What’s New at NJ21st: Wiki, Archive & Submission Tools Now Live

We’re excited to announce a significant update to NJ21st.com — with new tools, improved design, and expanded ways for the public to explore and engage. Here’s what’s new: Wiki: A Curated Hub for Local Issues and Public Insight Our new NJ21st Wiki is a comprehensive, research-driven platform where readers can explore timelines, topic-specific archives, and source-backed summaries of major issues—from...
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Note From Admins

New Jersey Education Report Republishes “Tale of Two School Systems”

Our report, “A Tale of Two School Systems,” was republished by @njedreport. It examines the deep disparities in special education placements between suburban and urban districts, revealing patterns that demand more attention and accountability. We’re grateful to New Jersey Education Report for helping bring this issue to a wider audience.   See the Article on NJ Education Report
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Note From Admins

NJ21st, Journalism and Ethics

Updated 05/02/2025 1. Truth & Accuracy “Evaluate the value of various sources of information.”We verify every article using public records, OPRA requests, and firsthand attendance at meetings. Even our Community Voices pieces go through this process. Fun fact: we were the only news outlet to submit OPRA requests to the District within the BHPSNJ Business Administrator’s most recent report. “Check...
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Note From Admins

Fear of Facts: A Response to Councilwoman Poage’s “Fake News” Claim

The March 18th council meeting served as yet another reminder of how some elected officials misuse their platforms to undermine fact-based journalism. Unfortunately, history repeated itself. Councilwoman Susan Poage followed this well-worn path, spinning legitimate reporting with a “fake news” narrative during Tuesday’s meeting. Yet, despite her grandstanding, she failed to cite a single instance of misinformation—because none existed. This...
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Berkeley Heights Town CouncilBOE Agendas and Meeting SummariesNote From Admins

Help Us Shine a Light on Local Government

NJ21st is dedicated to expanding its reach and bringing fact-based, independent reporting to more communities. As a nonprofit platform, we focus entirely on local government—Town Councils, Boards of Education, County, and State—ensuring residents stay informed and engaged. We’ve had great success in Berkeley Heights, helping residents stay up to date with local governance, and we want to extend the same...
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Note From Admins