Uncovering the Truth behind what is, and isn't, reported.
The Menendez case began with local government corruption that was tolerated or ignored.
StateLine Watchdog - Your Source for local political news
Local Politics & Government
Open Government & Transparency
Local Politics & Government
Do you know that the state's laws regulating lobbyists do not apply to those practicing at the county and municipal levels? With the decline of local media, the potential for corruption has never been greater. That's why fearless citizen journalism is more important than ever before.
Boards of Education
Open Government & Transparency
Local Politics & Government
Ever ask why property taxes never go down?Property taxes are consistently rated as the Number One issue in New Jersey, but most of the revenue from property taxes is spent by Boards of Education that are elected through a shadowy process that evidences little campaigning and scant media attention.
Open Government & Transparency
Open Government & Transparency
Open Government & Transparency
The post-Watergate FREEDOM OF INFORMATION and RIGHT TO KNOW laws have been steadily eroded for decades. The passage of reactionary "anti-terror" type laws (like Daniel's Law) have all but destroyed public oversight of potentially corrupt connections and practices by elected officials. It is critical to restore some balance in this, the "Soprano State", noted for its political and public corruption.
"Must read" stories...
Bergen County
Bergen County is the most populous county in the state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the county's population was 955,732. The county is divided into 70 municipalities; made up of 56 boroughs, 9 townships, 3 cities and 2 villages. Its most populous place, with 46,030 residents as of the 2020 census, is Hackensack, which is also its county seat. Mahwah covered the largest area of any municipality, at 26.19 square miles.
Bergen has had a county executive form of government. The executive oversees the county's business, while the seven-member Bergen County Board of Commissioners has a legislative and oversight role. The Commissioners are elected at-large to three-year terms in office on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats coming up for election each November in a three-year cycle. All members of the governing body are elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general elections.
The 70 municipalities of Bergen County are represented by six separate state legislative districts (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, and 40).
Passaic County
Passaic County is part of the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States census, the county was the state's eighth-most-populous county, with a population of 524,118. The most populous place in Passaic County is Paterson, with 159,732 residents at the 2020 Census, more than 29% of the county's population, while West Milford covered 80.32 square miles, the largest total area of any municipality and more than 40% of the county's area.
Passaic County has a commission form of government, in which the Board of County Commissioners discharges both executive and legislative responsibilities. Seven Commissioners are elected at-large for three-year terms on a staggered basis. A Director and Deputy Director are elected from among the seven Commissioners, at an annual reorganization meeting in January. The Commissioners select a County Administrator, who, in the role of chief administrative officer, supervises the day-to-day operation of the county government and its departments.
The 16 municipalities of Passaic County are represented by six legislative districts (25, 26, 27, 35, 36, and 40).
Trenton
What goes on in Trenton -- the laws enacted by the Legislature, the regulations created by the bureaucracy, and the rulings handed down by the Courts -- all affect the lives of the residents of Bergen and Passaic counties. We try to feature an important news item relating to this each day, so check in frequently to stay up-to-date.
National
There is a plethora of news coverage about Washington, DC, and national politics. We look for the news items that will affect you back home in Bergen and Passaic counties, whether its inflation or legislation to increase the federal deduction for property taxes.