In releasing his latest gubernatorial campaign policy paper last month, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop put the spotlight on a number of problematic areas in New Jersey state government, saying out loud what many in power would prefer to be kept as dirty little secrets:
- Ethics requirements for elected officials and powerful party leaders are woefully lacking and outdated.
- The state budget process encourages backroom deals and secrecy.
- Legislation to prevent conflicts of interest has been watered down in recent years.
- Legislation to promote transparency has been watered down in recent days.
Kudos to Fulop for laying out these truths and promising to tackle them if elected. Whether or not he’s successful at the ballot box in November 2025, we hope his spotlight provides an impetus for reform. (To read the 14-page paper, go to stevenfulop.com/policies/government-reform-policy/.)