[1][2] He graduated from St. Peter's Preparatory School, went to La Salle University in Philadelphia, and spent a year studying in Vienna.

He then studied English literature at the University of California, Berkeley before taking a teaching job at Indian Hills High School in Oakland, New Jersey.

[3] In 1997, Acocella started Politifax, a weekly newsletter about New Jersey politics,[4] and was its editor, publisher, and sole writer.

[5] Initially a fax service before transitioning to email, an annual subscription cost $400 for 46 issues.

[11] Guests included Thomas Kean, Cory Booker, Chris Christie, and Stephen Sweeney.