NJ21st 03/08/2025 Newsletter

What’s Important to Know About Our Local & State Government This Week….
This week, tensions escalated between the Mayor, Town Council, and the Fire Department as the Fire Chief strongly opposed a controversial proposal to move the Fire Protection Bureau under the Building Department.
The move has sparked backlash, with concerns over safety, efficiency, and potential conflicts of interest. NJ21st launched a petition in support of keeping the Bureau under the purview of the Fire Department as this is a public safety issue. The petition already has 100 signatures in less than 12 hours.
Meanwhile, a former Council Member has alleged ongoing failures in code enforcement, claiming political operatives continue to target he and his family through legal threats.
In a Q and A, the President of the Police Athletic League (PAL) sheds light on the organization’s position on the Lower Columbia lease agreement. Additionally, the Superintendent has issued a statement countering misinformation spread by local political machines regarding the Lower Columbia Lease Agreement.
We find out that Pam and her allies plan to spend more District money on justifying their tax-funded witchhunt against Sai Akiri and former BOE Member Robert Cianculli promises the world he is going to share all the bad things Sai Akiri has done – likely the same allegations the SEC already threw out.
We continue our deep dive into the 7-District Budget Dashboard, analyzing financial trends and priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. Early numbers on state aid are also coming in, and we’ll explore what they mean for local schools and services.
To wrap up, we highlight key takeaways from the week and revisit our top three most-read articles from February.