This week, we shared snapshots on our socials highlighting the campaign contributions made by vendors alongside the payments they received from the town for their services.

We encourage residents to start paying closer attention to this critical information, especially in light of New Jersey’s recent rollback of campaign finance reforms, which takes transparency back to the dark ages.

These special interests often view towns like Berkeley Heights as political opportunities to profit from tax-funded projects or initiatives, while essential public institutions face challenges and working- and middle-class families struggle under the tax burden.

Residents must pay closer attention to the relationship between campaign contributions and local government spending. It’s also time to rethink our perspective on grants—typically representing a small fraction of what taxpayers contribute to the state and county—and consider their true impact.

Moreover, we should move beyond the tribal nature of local politics and focus on prioritizing good policy and competence over popularity or affiliations with volunteer organizations that sometimes serve as political stepping stones.

These snapshots represent a small part of a larger story that will unfold in the days to come.