Note from the editor

NJ21st, Inc. is an independent, nonprofit civic journalism organization founded in 2021 and formally incorporated in the State of New Jersey in 2025. We are committed to increasing transparency and accountability within local government, with a focus on New Jersey’s 21st Legislative District. NJ21st began as a grassroots response to secrecy and misinformation in local decision-making — especially around public education, budgeting, and municipal operations. Since then, our work has expanded to cover a broader range of civic issues across multiple communities. Through independent reporting, public records analysis, and community-driven research, we aim to inform, engage, and empower the public to understand how government really works — and who it works for.NJ21st’s mission is to provide residents with a factual, citizen-driven perspective on local governance, advocate for evidence-based decision-making, and offer a forum for public discourse that is free from corporate and political influence.