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
Confirmed outcomes from meetings outside Hudson on Oct. 13–14: Passaic County’s amended Meritain renewal and paving close-out both passed; Cape May authorized a $4.5M Wildwood parking-site purchase; Bound Brook’s directory lists a new police chief; Bridgewater-Raritan put its superintendent on leave.
Accountability
Hudson TV resubmitted two complaints to the Government Records Council on its official form Oct. 14 over Brennan Courthouse records it requested Aug. 19 and Sept. 21. The GRC says they are not considered filed until it confirms deficiencies are cured. County officials said they will release the records in parts; Hudson TV gave them until Oct. 21.
Accountability
S4609, set for the Senate Judiciary Committee on Oct. 15, would let State Commission of Investigation commissioners serve unlimited terms and delete the law that makes SCI investigators and accountants peace officers, alongside a new State Inspector General, a pay raise and looser criminal-referral rules.
Accountability
NJ Transit’s board is set to vote Oct. 15 on the second and final option for Easton Coach’s Access Link Region 5 contract: $115.8 million for July 2028 to April 2030, about 20 months before it starts. Four injury settlements over $1 million each, a bridge-lawsuit settlement and a Clifton land buy have no dollar amounts in the public agenda.
Breaking
A U.S. Energy Department order in effect Oct. 13-16 lets PJM run five New Jersey power units past air-permit limits and call on N.J. utilities if supply gets tight. The strain is worst in Maryland, D.C. and Virginia, not New Jersey.
Accountability
What was on the table at county boards, councils and school boards outside Hudson on Oct. 12–13: Passaic’s amended health-plan resolution, Cape May bond ordinances and a sixth paving change order, Camden bond guarantees, Paterson contracts and more.
Accountability
The U.S. Energy Department’s latest grid emergency order, in effect Oct. 13-16, lists five New Jersey units, three in Lakewood and two in Woodbridge, that may run past air-permit limits. A Jersey Intel review of 2026 orders shows the Lakewood units have been named in six of them.
Accountability
Passaic County adopted the amended Meritain Health 2027 no-bid renewal as R-26-0910 at $1,469,808 (six recorded ayes). The day-of amendment dropped a $3,999,624 authorizing figure that matched the 2024–26 three-year total.
Accountability
S4262, on Thursday’s Senate committee agenda, would require at least half of every judgment and settlement the Attorney General wins to sit in banks that keep at least 15% of their deposits in New Jersey. A Jersey Intel analysis of FDIC data shows four of the state’s five biggest banks, holding 43% of N.J. deposits, fail that test.
Accountability
Passaic County adopted the 2024 paving close-out (R-26-0949), authorizing a $397,110.50 final payment to Smith-Sondy Asphalt. Six change orders had taken the $4.61M bid to $5.65M — 22.7% over bid.
