Message from NJ21st to Our Neighbors in Berkeley Heights, NJ

As an independent source of information for our community, we take pride in being both outspoken and impartial. Over the past three years, we have never turned away an elected representative or township official who wanted to engage in meaningful dialogue. We’ve consistently offered opportunities to those with differing viewpoints, inviting them to join us for open and honest debate.

Our platform is and has always been open to anyone in our community, regardless of their perspective or positions.

One cannot preach unity while only presenting arguments and engaging in personal attacks within echo-chambers designed to protect you from an opposing argument to your positions.

One cannot cover news while distorting the facts of a story and only publishing comments and perspectives that benefit positions that are simply not evidenced.

The entire community will see through that and they will resent it.

We firmly believe that the improvement of our public institutions can only come through open, fact-based, policy-focused communication.

We encourage everyone in our community to embrace the opportunities for dialogue offered here, not to shy away from them.

Despite efforts by political machinery and profit-driven news outlets to downplay independent, community-focused journalism, our readership continues to grow—particularly in this election year.

We were the only publication to accurately spotlight the influence of money in local politics, providing insights often overlooked elsewhere.

We were also the first and only source to provide a thorough report on the recent Office of Administrative Law decision regarding ethics violations within the former BOE majority.

We were the only local outlet to provide comprehensive coverage on the harmful and sweeping overhaul of the Open Public Records Act by Scutari and Sarlo.

We were the only local outlet to provide comprehensive coverage of NJ’s unfair and problematic history with ballot design.

Through informed, critical coverage of issues ranging from the school budget to proficiency rates, transportation, and academic achievement, we’ve consistently pushed beyond surface-level responses from administrators and government officials. We didn’t just echo what we were told; we asked challenging questions and delivered context others missed.

Our mission began three years ago with a focus on holding the District accountable for a poorly conceived reconfiguration plan. This year, with a new BOE majority in place, a new superintendent has been hired who appears better aligned with the community’s needs, and most BOE members involved in the reconfiguration have moved on. Since that episode, other communities have taken note, recognizing the importance of family-informed, evidence-based approaches when implementing significant changes.

The District has made commendable strides, acknowledging issues in academic proficiency, enabling remote participation in meetings, and enhancing budget transparency. We have also dismissed a law firm that mired the District in one costly and disastrous legal issue after another. These actions, while positive, represent only part of the progress we’ve advocated.

Unfortunately, while the District moves forward, our municipal government has regressed. Recent decisions include hiring a part-time CFO instead of a full-time position, no-bid contracts, removing remote access for Town Council meetings, limiting access for media outlets that report critically, and advancing misinformation on key topics like school transportation.

The Town Council is almost unanimous in every vote, lacking the robust debate and discussion that we now see on the Board of Education that are so necessary for healthy democratic institutions.  

The one council member who voiced opposition found himself and his wife the target of a monologue that had nothing to do with concerns the council member expressed on financial oversight.

We have worked to expose the broken and often toxic nature of local politics. We’ve made progress in advancing it’s repair, but it’s time for others to stop being afraid, step up and build on the foundation that has been laid.

The platform will remain, and so will we.

The door to this community platform remains open for ALL voices in Berkeley Heights and the 21st district.

Thank you for supporting independent, non—profit, ad-free, community-driven journalism and for being part of this journey.