Dear Reader, Welcome! Belleville Watch is dedicated to bringing news, commentary and related content in the service of civic engagement, good government and responsible, respectful development in our beloved Belleville, New Jersey! Belleville Watch operates in the spirit of “crusading”… Continue Reading →
By Frank Fleischman III (FF3,) Lead Editor Editor’s Note: Belleville Watch has a “no endorsements” policy. Specific mention of candidate’s names in this piece does not constitute an endorsement by Belleville Watch. Last night’s Board of Education Candidate’s Forum was… Continue Reading →
By Frank F. Fleischman III (FF3,) Lead Editor Belleville Watch has issued a challenge to Belleville Board of Education candidates to sign its “Board of Education Candidate Pledge.” A PDF copy of the Pledge has been e-mailed to all candidates…. Continue Reading →
Mayor Michael Melham often mentions a political opponent’s past with a real estate developer turned FBI informant. But some things in Melham’s political career don’t exactly appear wholesome, either. By Frank Fleischman III, (FF3,) Lead Editor We all know that… Continue Reading →
By Frank F. Fleischman III, Lead Editor I think every writer or artist wishes — once in their lifetime — to address a high school or college graduating class. It seems to be a wonderful way to impart one’s wisdom… Continue Reading →
by Frank F. Fleischman III (FF3,) Lead Editor With everything that has happened in Belleville in the past few years, you’d think the media would be falling over each other to report on them. But that has rarely happened. There… Continue Reading →
State Monitor Thomas Egan was assigned to Belleville School District in 2014 to oversee school board financial decisions following the disastrous $4 million deficit the school district incurred. In the beginning, Mr. Egan received public approval in Belleville for controlling spending and preventing bad school board decisions. In recent years, however, Mr. Egan has been physically absent from school board meetings, has seemingly approved controversial school board decisions and spending, and recently overruled a board vote on the School 1 property. Belleville taxpayers have good reason to wonder why.
by Frank Fleischman III (FF3,) Lead Editor Recently, I sent a letter to Kevin Canessa, Editor of The Observer, calling him out on an editorial he’d written about Belleville’s May 10th election. He published it in the June 1, 2022… Continue Reading →
By Frank Fleischman III (FF3,) Lead Editor (Headline with apologies to the late writer Edward Abbey.) Belleville has had a long history of nasty politics and often scheming and self-serving politicians. Our town is worth fighting for, one step at… Continue Reading →
Longtime Belleville resident and former Roosevelt Avenue commercial property owner Jeff Mattingly helped lead the fight against plans to redevelop the Valley section wholesale in the early 2000s, supported if not spearheaded by then-councilman (and now mayor) Michael Melham. Here,… Continue Reading →
BetterBelleville — consisting of Mayor Michael Melham and at-large councilpersons Naomy DePena and Thomas Graziano promised transparency in government and a break from Belleville’s political past. We believe they have failed in this endeavor and do not deserve re-election.
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