What Happened After Shots Were Fired: The Fight Over Police Transparency in Jersey City
States Newsroom, the New Jersey Monitor, and attorney CJ Griffin challenge Jersey City in a potentially defining court battle over police transparency. During an August 2019 party, an off-duty Jersey City police officer—Lt. Michael Timmins—allegedly got drunk, got angry, and fired his gun after an argument with guests. No one was hurt. But that’s not really the story. Despite the...
BHPSNJ District Opens Search for Business Administrator Ahead of July Transition
On Friday, May 2, Applitrack—the platform used by Berkeley Heights Public Schools to manage job postings—listed an opening for the position of “Business Administrator/Board Secretary,” effective July 1, 2025. The listing follows recent Board of Education meetings during which some residents noted that the current Business Administrator’s contract was not among the recent renewals—making the posting anticipated by many. The...
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...
More on the BHPSNJ Business Administrator’s Inaccurate OPRA Report to the Berkeley Heights BOE
The Following was an email sent by NJ 21st to the Berkeley Heights BOE on the Business Administrators Inaccurate Public Comments on OPRA Requests (typos corrected): “We have already written about the Business Administrators inaccurate accusation concerning the OPRA log and our concerns that what ought to be a standard baseline job requirement is being outsourced to attorneys. This email pertains to...
The 2025 Berkeley Heights BOE Reorganization Meeting: Sanity V. Spectacle
The Berkeley Heights Board of Education’s reorganization was so dramatic it could qualify for an Emmy. Next time, perhaps we should aim for a Tony—because honestly, the only way these marathon meetings could be bearable is if the endless contentious debates were performed as a musical, complete with high-energy dance breaks from the Administration. But on a serious note: We...
Johns Notes on the 01/07/2025 BHPSNJ BOE Meeting
Last night’s BOE meeting made it abundantly clear that the board remains deeply divided into two factions: one that seeks to advance change through evidence-based reasoning and thoughtful debate, and another that seems more intent on politicizing every. single. issue. The evening featured the Business Administrator’s perplexing defense of sending documents—already publicly released—for yet another attorney review to determine if...
NJ21st 10/15/2024 Newsletter
What’s Important to Know About Our Local & State Government This Week…. This week’s newsletter begins with our Annual review of proficiency-driven rankings of schools in the 7-District Dashboard and reactions from John and one Candidate to Dr. Moore’s (EIC Ticket) Candidate Statement. We move onto Laura’s deep dive on OPRA requests to the District and find that former BOE...
The OPRA “Opera”
An analysis of BHPSNJ OPRA Requests Over a Six Month Period OPRA, the Opera (or what feels like a never-ending charade) in which those who “abuse” OPRA, because of the strain it puts on staff are made out to be public enemy #1 while others file voluminous requests, ad nauseum, for what some could speculate to be political or personal...
NJ21st 10/07/2024 Newsletter
What’s Important to Know About Our Local & State Government This Week…. Three BOE Candidates (Dr. Foregger, Mr. Behne, and Mr. Samson) responded to our questions on Budget, while Ms. DeBang, Dr. Moore, Ms. Terrero, and Mr. Devanney did not respond. We discuss a further slide in rankings (Niche) due to the sliding proficiencies under the prior Superintendent and former...
NJ21st 09/26/2024 Newsletter
What’s Important to Know About Our Local & State Government This Week…. This week’s newsletter starts with responses from BOE candidates on transparency. Two Candidates running for two available three-year terms (Dr. Foregger and Matthew Behne) responded, as did Arik Samson, who is running for the available replacement seat left open when Angela Penna resigned. The Township is next, and...
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