Dear NBNEEDSTOKNOW:

The Township of North Bergen (“Township”) writes in response to your 03/30/2026 request seeking records pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act, N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1, et seq. (“OPRA”).

Records requested:
“# 1 - I am requesting the name of the person who from the North Bergen Police Department runs their Instagram Page.

# 2 - I am requesting the names of all users who have been blocked OR placed on "restricted" status by the page, as I have recently learned that my comments have been restricted, meaning, only I can see them an no one else. I am asking legitimate questions of public concern, specifically information about the two recent shootings in the town. Now I learn i am being blocked (or restricted) which sure does feel like a First Amendment violation.

The Township responds:
Your request #1: “- I am requesting the name of the person who from the North Bergen Police Department runs their Instagram Page.”

Response: Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A5(g), requests for information, ambiguous statements, or requests that ask questions are NOT valid OPRA requests, and no response is required. No identifiable government record has been specified. To the extent that your request seeks a personnel record of a duty assignment, your request is denied pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-9 (N.J. Admin. Code § 13:1E-3.2, duty assignment).

Your request #2: “I am requesting the names of all users who have been blocked OR placed on "restricted" status by the page”

Response: Attached find responsive documents entitled, ‘Facebook Blocked Users - North Bergen Police Department’,’ Twitter Blocked Users - North Bergen Police Department’, and ‘Social Media Terms of Use- North Bergen Police Department.’

The remainder of your request fails to identify a specific government record sought. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A5(g), requests for information, ambiguous statements, or requests that ask questions are NOT valid OPRA requests, and no response is required. See MAG Entertainment, LLC v. Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, 375 N.J. Super. 534 (App. Div. 2005); Bent v. Stafford Police Dept., 381 N.J. Super. 30 (App. Div. 2005).

As with any OPRA request, you have the right to challenge the decision by the Township with regards to your request. At your option, you may either institute a proceeding in the Superior Court of New Jersey or file a complaint with the Government Records Council (“GRC”) by completing the Denial of Access Complaint Form. You may contact the GRC by toll-free telephone at 866-850-0511, by mail at PO Box 819, Trenton, NJ 08625, by e-mail at [email address] or at their web site at https://www.nj.gov/grc. The GRC can also answer other questions about the law. All questions regarding complaints filed in Superior Court should be directed to the Court Clerk.

Thank you.

Erin Barillas, RMC
Township Clerk
Township of North Bergen
4233 Kennedy Blvd
North Bergen, NJ 07047
e: [North Bergen Township request email]
o: 201-392-2024
f: 201-330-7694
www.northbergen.org

-----Original Message-----
From: NBNEEDSTOKNOW <[OPRA #89130 email]>
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2026 4:50 PM
To: Erin Barillas <[email address]>
Subject: OPRA request - NBPD Social Media

Dear North Bergen Township,

Please accept this electronic request for public records made under OPRA and the common law right of access. I am not required to fill out an official form or use a particular software platform to submit my request per NJSA 47:1A-5(f), which states that an email from a requestor including all of the information required on the adopted form shall suffice in place of a completed form as a valid government record request.

I HAVE NOT been convicted of any indictable offense under the laws of New Jersey, any other state, or the United States.

I WILL NOT use the requested government records for a commercial purpose.

I AM NOT seeking records in connection with a legal proceeding.

Records requested:

# 1 - I am requesting the name of the person who from the North Bergen Police Department runs their Instagram Page.

# 2 - I am requesting the names of all users who have been blocked OR placed on "restricted" status by the page, as I have recently learned that my comments have been restricted, meaning, only I can see them an no one else. I am asking legitimate questions of public concern, specifically information about the two recent shootings in the town. Now I learn i am being blocked (or restricted) which sure does feel like a First Amendment violation.

I await your response.

My preferred delivery method for response(s) to this request is by E-mail as attachments. Please confirm you have received this request. If you are not the custodian of records, please forward my request to that person and provide their email address to me for future reference.

Yours faithfully,

NBNEEDSTOKNOW

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