By Eyes on EB
Published October 25, 2024
If you’re wondering why some East Brunswick residents are raising their eyebrows this week, it’s not just allergy season — it’s because a major news story was announced on May 7… and didn’t make it to TAPinto East Brunswick’s Facebook page until May 18.
That’s an 11-day delay for a retirement story involving the Superintendent of Schools — you know, the person who oversees our kids’ education and eats up a good chunk of the town’s budget.
Naturally, people had questions.
It All Started with a Comment in East Brunswick Group of True Transparency
The thread began when M.S., one of the more vocal contributors on local Facebook forums, asked:
“Anyone want to speculate as to why this was published in TAPinto Milltown/Spotswood and not East Brunswick?”
Great question. It was a TAPinto EB story… just not posted by TAPinto EB. At least, not until people started noticing.
The Delay Heard Around Town
The story eventually appeared on TAPinto East Brunswick’s website, but not on their Facebook page, which is how most residents stay up to date.
So where did it show up?
Milltown/Spotswood. Because that makes sense…?
“Apparently, it’s not considered EB news 🤷🏻♂️” — M.S.
Enter R.W., a rising contributor and a master of subtlety:
“I’m sure there’s a good reason… I love being diplomatic, Rob.”
Translation: This is sketchy, but I’m not trying to get kicked out of the group today.
Speculation Brews Like a PTA Coffee Clash
Then S.D., a group admin, casually floated:
“I have a few wild theories surrounding V.V.’s ‘retirement.’”
While we won’t publish those theories here (yet), the real kicker came from M.S., who offered this blunt assessment:
“The toxic environment is/was of his own making… The effort to suppress Figueroa’s vote put him past the point of no return… We need forward thinkers – Not Cover-up Conspiracies.”
Oof. If Facebook comments could be entered into the public record, this one would be laminated.
Eyes on EB Chimes In
When we joined the thread, we pointed out the obvious:
“This platform has been protecting the establishment for years. They are part of the status quo… If they posted the article and shut off the comments, they’d hear it from many of us.”
And perhaps most importantly:
“Once you make too many friends in this ‘business,’ it becomes hard to be truthful.”
TAPinto’s Statement and… Finally, a Facebook Post
After all the back-and-forth, TAPinto East Brunswick finally posted the article on their page — on May 18.
“As confirmed Friday by the Office of the Middlesex County Superintendent of Schools, Valeski is one of six school superintendents who have announced that he is leaving his current position.”
Glad to see it! But… shouldn’t the leading source for town news be the first to post it, not the last?
When a superintendent announces his retirement, it’s not a footnote — it’s a front-page moment. And for some reason, the article was initially shared on neighboring towns’ pages, which only added to the weirdness.
Final Thought
When a local news outlet delays posting one of the biggest education stories of the year, it’s no wonder people start to ask questions. TAPinto East Brunswick describes itself as an objective source for local news — and as part of a network that claims to fill the gap left by traditional journalism, residents expect timely and transparent coverage.
So it’s fair to ask:
Why did TAPinto Milltown get there first?
Why did it take 11 days for TAPinto East Brunswick to post it on Facebook — especially when that’s where most people follow the news?
We’re not saying there’s an agenda.
We’re just saying… people notice.
And in East Brunswick, they always notice.
— Eyes on EB 👁️
“Because if we don’t watch… who will?”
