Will Green Get The Votes?

One thing I couldn't help noticing were the printed flyers from THRIVE MONTCLAIR on every car that was there for the forum. They weren't even printed on recycled paper.

Is that Thrive Montclair's statement on the environment?

Wow -- my vote goes to Jerry Fried -- that guy's a magician! Somehow he magically took that photo (above) AND appeared in it as well. Imagine what he could do for our in the crapper Montclair Budget woes!

"Partnership Montclair recognizes the need to: educate the public; make it easy to recycle and do the right thing for the environment; investigate our options and their impact, and make responsible financial choices. We have some recognized "green" experts advising us and look forward to further advances that improve the environment through Council leadership and citizen participation."

Educate yourself Joyce. If you haven't actually done any of this for yourself it's time to be embarrassed and remorseful!

I suppose that you've never heard of a remote for a camera or a delayed picture.

Oh well!

Fried is a magician he's gotten grants (I think the number was close to $400,000)of several hundred thousands dollars for Montclair where there once was $0

But Joyce just bought a new Prius!

Was she advised by some "some recognized "green" experts"?

Why did you paper those cars Teddy. Do you think that that was a green thing to do. Did you go back and pick up the litter later?

Joyce's slate as a whole did terrible. Cummings stuck his foot in his mouth. Terry never spoke except to introduce himself and Murnick was somewhat annoying. Joyce and Robin handles most all of the questions and Joyce just looked lost.

You mean the greenies threw the papers on the ground? Seriously?

Wow. A new recycling program. Solar panels.

Not to be un-PC, but:

WHAT ABOUT TAXES?

(And yes, I realize this was an environment forum, but this pandering to bikes, paper bags and the sun is overshadowed by our overtaxed town. And all these "proposals" are gonna cost money, which we don't have...)

Figuratively speaking, because I can't vote in Montclair as I am no longer a resident, my vote would go to whomever cleans up the trash, on the side of the road, in the parks, parking lots, wherever.

This is something everyone can do, no matter where you live. My running club hosts clean ups twice a year (spring and fall).

It's not easy being green but it's not that hard to pick up the trash.

But who cares, did anyone try Starbucks' new Pike Place coffee?

Terrible. Still burnt tasting (even with a gallon of half & half and a pound of sugar).

DD has nothing to worry about.

Prof, I was waiting to see if anyone asked a green question that just nobody could say yes to...didn't happen.

Here's a question for them, with the emphasis at this forum on environmental concerns, why is the Town Manager looking to change refuse pickup to 2x per week all year long? Shouldn't we be making it easier to get rid of recycling, not refuse?

If I were there, prof, I would give you a big, sloppy kiss on the lips.

walleroo,

Our kiss would look like THIS.

Joyce Michaelson's reactions during the panel bordered on priceless (the look on her face for not being heralded as the champion of the environment for buying a Prius and her shaking her head when one of the moderators said they were sure it was ok with the candidates if they went long were my personal highlights). The gentleman who made the opening comments for her group did have an excellent point, though: There was a very low minority turn-out at the forum and if Montclair wants to make any significant difference, it's going to take the efforts of the whole town.

Ted & Jerry's groups responded to the questions in mostly the same fashion, but with slight nuances. For example; the question about more efficient fleet vehicles.

Ted's group responded to the effect that hybrids were the way to go and we should look into replacing as many of the fleet vehicles as we can.

Jerry's group responded that hybrid is still emerging technology and that there was even better tech yet to come. Instead of going out and buying new vehicles that may not be the most green we can get for the buck in the near future, we should sit on what we have and instead work to cut down on idling and switch as many of the current diesel vehicles over to bio-diesel as possible.

For me, the highlight of the forum was not the difference in semantics between Ted & Jerry's groups, but the independent candidates. Sandra Lang's responses left me very tepid, the male independent (who's name escapes me at the moment) couldn't answer a single yes or no question without adding "But" and then a long-winded explanation that boiled down to feeling the opposite of his initial answer and was of the impression that money generated from the selling green spaces should be used to reclaim other green spaces (instead of... you know... just keeping what we already have open as open). The other female independent (Dr. Something... I'm so bad with names) was truly amazing and almost made me wish I still lived in the Fourth ward so I could vote for her. Her answers were to the point, she sounded like she actually knew what she was talking about, and was entirely unapologetic for her points of view.

I'm still reserving final judgment until I see a few more panels like this on things like the school budget, but as of right now my votes are going to be split pretty evenly between members of camp Fried and camp Mattox (with Fried having a slight edge in the mayoral category).

I am NOT a kangaroo, dammit.

Granted. Yes. You are not.

Perhaps I should have said the kiss MIGHT look like that...

The use of young Kanga was for descriptive purposes only.

Take heed.

You are not Kangeroo.

(Although, I know you have a pouch.)

Do you taste like a Kangaroo or do you tast like chicken?

Prof,

I agree that some of these programs (ie: Solar Panels) would cost the town money upfront, but there's two ways you can look at this (depending on how much retroactive blame you want to lay).

Over time solar panels will pay for themselves, more efficient recycling programs will save the town money at the dump and possibly generate revenue if there were stricter enforcement of current ordinances.

Or, you can look at the fact that by ignoring Kathryn Weller's suggestion 4 years ago of installing solar panels on the schools, the town lost out on a rather substantial grant that would have offset their cost greatly. Sadly, that grant is no longer available, so thanks to the current admin we will all pay more for doing that particular green act.

GnM,

I guess. But my point is that these folks cannot say NO.

Therefore our taxes continue to rise.

Where are the cuts?

Solar panels on schools sounds too much like "lasers in the jungle."

Further, with nothing other than what I see (which may be very wrong), if solar is so great, why aren't they on all new constructions?

Something doesn't add up. So I'm sure there were good reasons for not doing it.

Regardless, my vote will go to someone... anyone, who speaks of CUTTING!!

The independents were Dr. Renee Baskerville 4th Ward (who did a very good job) and Gerald Frier, current 3rd ward rep and seeking 3rd ward, who...well you summed him up nicely Mike.

These are the wayfinding signs proposed by Walleroo:

http://www.boomspeed.com/kmartta/crossing.jpg

It's Jerold Frier, current 3rd ward rep, and yes, you summed him up nicely. I wonder why the 3rd ward, which IMO, is the most dynamic and diverse ward in town, seems to have the worst representation on the current council.

I'd vote Green if it meant that the litter problem in this town could be solved. The streets and roads are filled with tons of litter. It is a disgrace.

"I'd vote Green if it meant that the litter problem in this town could be solved. The streets and roads are filled with tons of litter. It is a disgrace."

This is what I mean. I say let's worry about the things we CAN change. Have you driven off an exit ramp in NJ lately? It's disgusting! I'm not talking a soda can here, a paper bag there. It's epidemic.

I love driving down Rt. 19 and seeing the prisoners cleaning up the side of the road.

Trash is out of control.

But who creates it?

I would love to see some aggressive policing on littering (and driving while talking on a cell).

I'd have no problem with our town being known as a place you dare not litter in.....

(Instead of a town with some of the highest taxes around.)

Once, I went 'off' on a dude who was tossing a flyer placed on his windshield onto the ground at the Farrand St. lot.

He picked it up and said "Ok, are you happy now!" and I said "Yes!".

want to contact Teddy and tell him what you think of his papering ALL of the cars at the environmental forum?

"I would love to see some aggressive policing on littering."

Me, too, Prof. I am not 100% certain how a lot of trash gets there/got there. I do know how much of the trash in woods adjacent to Verona High School got there. Let's see, dozens of empty Bud cans+teenagers=trash. One hypothesis. But since everyone claims their kids are little angels and would never drink alcohol on school grounds, we know that can't be cause of it.

There's a part of the West Essex trail that backs up to the hospital grounds and we've suspected all along that lots of illegal dumping goes on there. In the past, we've found: TV sets, old Christmas decorations, used paint and turpentine cans, toilet fixtures, kids' toys.

And this is just one place of many.

I would think that in a mayoral election, there are somewhat more pressing issues to discuss than bicycles, recycling and solar panels. I wouldn't want to confuse Montclair with either the short-on-municipal-services "People's Republic of Berkeley" or its very worse run (but green!) and crime-ridden neighbor, Oakland.

It's okay for the various slates to feign an air of amateurism about all the rest of the stuff that needs to be dealt with for about one week. But one week only. After that, it becomes time for serious politics. (Which is not something that comes to mind with BlueWaveNJ about anything.)

Hiding -- all of the campaigns are sending out fliers and other promotional material through the mail and by other means. It's a political campaign, what do you expect?

All of the other campaigns are not littering cars with the flyers. One would think that you'd know the difference between a mailing and a papering of cars.

papering of cars = litter

It's only litter if someone throws it on the ground. I always take those things home and either read them or recycle them. Most of the stuff that I get in the mail gets recycled too.

Papering of cars is not very green, agreed. With a strong wind, the paper can be blown away. In the rain, the paper gets wet and adheres to the windshield in a soggy mess.

no one has to throw it on the ground for it to be litter.

if it blows off of your car = litter

if you don't see it and it falls off = litter

I don't recall, was it a windy or rainy night when the mass papering of cars occurred?

Teddy =
littering campaign

a vote against the Sunshine Laws

A vote for the developer at the Marlboro Inn

... and somebody asked me what I was in for and I said "littering" and they all moved away from me on the bench and then I added "creating a public nuisance" and they all came back again ...

You can have anything you want at ______ __________ !

Miss Martta: Don't you mean "endemic?"
But either way. I agree with you. I will vote for anybody who will do something to get the people in this town to just pick up after themselves.

No, I meant epidemic in the sense that it's all over, not just Baristaville, as is the apathy about it.

Alice's Restaurant! Do I win the lounge suite?

Teddy looks nothing like Arlo Guthrie.

"But either way. I agree with you. I will vote for anybody who will do something to get the people in this town to just pick up after themselves.

Posted by oh puleeze | April 9, 2008 12:15 PM "

Teddy tried but it just turned into litter!

"I am not 100% certain how a lot of trash gets there/got there"

I am 100% certain. Its the kids in our town. By Woodman and by the high school, there is trash thrown everywhere every day.
I walked home last night from the train after work and found athletic tape, A PIZZA BOX and ice cream wrappers on my property. What kind of misguided person thinks its remotely ok to stick a pizza box in someone's bushes? I have personally seen kids walking down the street and throwing candy/ice cream wrappers and beverage containers every few feet.
My wife told some to pick up their trash once and they called her the nastiest names in the book. We actually brought the matter to Katz at the high school it was so bad.
I dont know who said it, but as far as the trash situation, if there isnt serious education and enforcement, nothing will change. Preaching at an environmental forum is singing to the choir. There is a serious lack of respect for others in this town that will only be solved through parental guidance. A thing that is sorely lacking in a large part of our community.

Actually spot, I won the contest because I knew it (just forgot to type it) first!

But when I asked Mellon what I got for winning, he just said "I didn't get nothing I just had to pick up the garbage in the snow."

But that's not what I came to talk about...

Amen, Jimmy.

Someone should create one of those google maps like the "teardown" map that shows all the really infamous garbage heaps in town that Montclair, for some reason or another, refuses to clean up. My vote for the best: the huge pile of garbage between the parking lot of the Nishuane School and the ballfields behind the school--every weekend hundreds of kids must cirmumvent this big pile of rubble on their walk from their cars to the kinderkicker fields. It has been there for decades.

... 'excepting Alice' ....

I'm constantly picking up litter on my street. I've often wondered why some homeowners don't seem to mind that stray potato chip bag parked under their hedges, or cigarette butts by the curb. I guess I'm OCD. I also toss roadkill into the park for the crows. They love it. They are big, noisy, shiney and black. Crows rock!

... big, noisey, shiney and black; sounds like one of Cathar's motorcycles.

"I don't want a pickle, just want to ride on my __________. And I don't want to die, just want to ride on my ____________ ____.'

Litter is a huge problem in Montclair.

I would urge members of the soon-to-be-elected council to work with the Montclair BOE to set-up an education program in the schools and a public awareness campaign in the community aimed at cleaning up Montclair.

My street is strewn with cups, cans, bottles and other trash. Fences along the NJT railroad right-of-way are clogged with refuse. Homeowners allow their trash to blow all over neighborhoods.

Montclair is a pretty town (the Sienna and the new field house notwithstanding). But it could be a whole lot more attractive if we all started picking up after ourselves.

My '54 panhead was purple, MellonBrush. All 17 carefully applied coats on the gas tank.

It's nasty, I know, but "big, noisey, shiny and black" puts me first and foremost in mind of Al Sharpton. His well-coiffed, processed head, too, I'm sure, leaks oil just like old Harleys.

Jimmy, I live near BHS and we have the same issue. I recommend the next time you catch them in the act snap a few digital pics as you tell them to "give a hoot". It tends to get their attention.

I'll tell ya how all that garbage gets strewn about, at least in my nabe:
(1) neighbors who don't close up their garbage bags well enough and/or don't put the lid on their garbage cans. The critters tear into it, and then the pieces fly all over everywhere when the garbage collectors arrive. Since we only have garbage collection once a week, their stuff will be gnawed on for up to 6 days on the side of their yard until they drag it to the curb and then it blows around like dandelion seeds in summer.
(2) Kids walking to/from the high school. Stuff thrown everywhere. Toney's Brook, side streets, you name it. looks like a disaster zone.
(3) The worst is the pile of empty 40-ouncers, Mad-Dog and other libations, some of which look to have been refilled with ... well.. we all know that call of nature after one has been drinking beers all night. I thank the nearby 'social club' for this obvious party-overflow. I've done my share of picking up garbage but I'm not touching that mess!

(rant over)

It seems pretty obvious that trash is an issue residents are fed up with.
Are you listening candidates?
There are many doing their part, please take the next step and get the town moving.
How about...
1. Area cleanups-The Woodman Field Neighbors Association has a clean up every year where we rake, pick up hard to get at trash (stuck in the bushes) and plant flowers.
2. Assign community sevice to offenders to pick up trash around town. Screw the no community service policy of old.
3. Have coaches actually hold athletes accountable for their actions. I have seen kids litter right in front of coaches and they did nothing.

Can we have some pride in our town for the love of Pete?

"2. Assign community sevice to offenders to pick up trash around town. Screw the no community service policy of old."

I actually suggested this a while back and you would have thought I suggested burning them at the stake! The flames I got, good Lord. But I still think it's a good suggestion.

I'd add, Miss Martta, that their backsides should be flayed by overseers and "bosses" as they bend to their appointed rounds. Just by way of keeping them dedicated to the task at hand, naturally.

Traditionally, by the way, volunteering for trash pickup gives a con "good time," meaning low-grade offenders would get a day off their sentences for every two worked in the fresh, healthy open air on a day such as this. There's thus no downside at all to your suggestion, it certainly beats having to wait till the gangbangers get done for your own turn at the free weights.

All the talk about picking up the litter...why doesn't the town (or Greenies) start by installing more trash cans in areas that are heavy with litter?
duh
I wish these folks well in the mayoral race..but frankly I'd rather have a mayor and crew who looked a little more professional...
that photo looks goofy
sorry people

I still think you mean endemic

"All the talk about picking up the litter...why doesn't the town (or Greenies) start by installing more trash cans in areas that are heavy with litter?"

There are trash cans which are ignored as its easier to just throw the trash to the ground where they are standing rather than cross the street.

Why would you want more trash cans- didm you see what Anderson park looked like with trash cans installed every 50 feet or so.

The answer is that people should pick up their trash!!

>>

Kids walk from the High School to Nana's/Enzo's for lunch everyday.
How many trash cans are along those streets?
0
Am I missing something here?
Seems to me the High School's Greenie Club should partner with the city to install some cans.
Do something a little more concrete for the community AND their peers...
Want another example??
I charge per hour..
lol

NJ politicos and city planners should visit comparable cities that do NOT have a litter problem to see what they are doing right.

I understand that Morial, the ex mayor of New Orleans, has called off
coming to speak at Ted's function tomorrow nite.

I guess he didn't want to have to pick up the litter when all of the cars around Lakawanna station are papered with Teddy's flyers.