Statewide intel. Local accountability.
Publisher & Editor — Jersey Intel
Julio Reynoso is the Publisher and Editor of Jersey Intel, an independent investigative newsroom covering state, county, and municipal government, campaign finance, public contracts, and OPRA public-records investigations across New Jersey. Have a news tip or public document? Email jerseyintel@gmail.com.
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Accountability
City Ordinance 6311 lets the developer of a FreezPak cold-storage warehouse pay about $705,985 a year instead of regular taxes on the building. State law sends that payment to the city, minus 5% for Union County. A bill to give schools a share has not moved since February.
Accountability
Hunters killed 367 black bears Oct. 12-17, about half in Sussex County, per preliminary state figures. The hunt rests on a growing-population case, but the most recent estimate the state has published, 3,158 bears, is for 2020.
Accountability
The City Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday night on two “extraordinary unspecifiable service” broker contracts for 2027, paid through commissions and fees. Neither draft resolution estimates what the brokers would earn, and the Acrisure/Polaris Galaxy resolution doesn’t match its own public notice.
Accountability
On the agenda for Oct. 22: Bent Avenue Real Estate Holdings LLC wants a use variance for a four-story, 91-unit building at 18-32 North 7th Street. A Grand Street apartment plan that first came before the board in 2022 as 12 units is back as eight.
Accountability
Confirmed from the district’s meeting stream: Paterson’s Board of Education approved a $100,000 settlement in an unnamed civil case and $38 million in bills, 6-2. Union County’s final Oct. 15 agenda shows $1.1 million in grants that weren’t on the draft, and Fairfield adopted an official position on its open-space referendum.
Accountability
A Jersey Intel review of state court records found Brian R. Fitzgerald, fired effective Oct. 15 after Bucks County, Pa., charges, appeared for the state in at least 22 insurance-fraud judgments and settlements in 11 counties since January 2025. Charges are not convictions.
Accountability
Confirmed from the county’s meeting video: Union County commissioners approved a second change order on the Warinanco Sports Ice Rink, putting extras at $1.96 million, about 7.4% over the $26.6 million contract. Fort Lee adopted a police staffing ordinance; Middlesex’s $27.8M NaphCare vote was still unmarked Friday night.
Accountability
People and companies tied to four developers on Hackensack’s overdue PILOT list gave $52,250 to former Mayor John Labrosse’s council slates, state campaign-finance records show. Mayor Caseen Gaines, who blames Labrosse’s administration for uncollected payments, says the city has recovered about $3.6 million.
Accountability
Confirmed from Thursday’s livestream: NJ Transit’s board approved the $115.8 million Access Link Region 5 option with Easton Coach. Edison introduced a townshipwide data-center ban; Cape May County urged federal beach aid; Middlesex’s $27.8M NaphCare jail-health vote was still unmarked on IQM2 Thursday night.
Accountability
Resolution 26-1210-R on Thursday’s Middlesex County agenda would award NaphCare a $27,810,786.36 contract for jail and youth detention health care. The county’s procurement portal shows CFG Health priced the same contract at $25,791,386.80. State law requires a public report explaining the choice.
