"Democracies die behind closed doors. A government operating in the shadow of secrecy stands in complete opposition to the society envisioned by the framers of our Constitution."
--- Judge Damon Keith, of the 6th U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals, 2002.

The New Jersey Legislature knew that Democracy dies behind closed doors when it passed the state's Open Public Meetings Act and the Open Public Records Act.

The Hoboken Reporter newspaper said that on February 7, 2006, Mayor Roberts' education initiative held an invitation-only event for about 40 community leaders who have a stake in the city's educational system.

The meeting, which was closed to the press, was held at the house of Stevens Institute of Technology's President Harold Raveche. Roberts said that the press was not invited to the meeting so that it would not be politicized. According to Roberts, attendees included almost every Hoboken elected official from the City Council and the Board of Education, district administrations, city educators, and local business and civic leaders.

In response, JOHN PAFF of njsunshinelaw.com filed the following complaint with the Hudson County Prosecutors Office alleging that Hoboken violated the Open Public Meetings Act.

COMPLAINT: Violation of Open Public Meetings Act

NJ Open Public Meetings Act