Mayoral Candidates Speak

Where's the interview with Walleroo?

wow..so someone finally got a pic of Liz...that is Liz, right?

Is it just me, or does the Ted Mattox interview not play? the first two worked fine. My computer is reading the Ted Mattox file as a windows picture file.

Puss - it does not play. I've already sent an email to Baristanet. Or perhaps Ted has filed a suit to prevent it from playing.

Sorry. My technical booboo. The Mattox interview plays now. (And yes, that is Liz.)

I just can't listen to either Joyce or Ted talk.

Ted uhhh always uhhhhhhhh sounds like he's uhhh uhhhhhhhh smirking while he's uhhhhhhhhhhh uhhhhhh talk uhhhh talking uhhhhhh, and sounds uhh like uhhhh he thinks he's, uhhhhhhhhh, theuhhh cool guy. Not to mention the, uh, stammer.

Joyce reminds me of a smug, condescending, old-but-trying-not-to-look-old elementary school principal from like twenty years ago. Is it just me or does she have a Long Island accent? She just sounds like she thinks she knows so much better than anyone who might be talking or listening to her, and it's so clear that she's BSing her way through any line of questioning.

I could actually follow what Jerry was saying. He said 'uh' WAAY less than Ted and didn't ooze condescension the way Joyce does. He sounds smart and a little geeky rather than sounding like he was trying to ooze around the issue or sounding like a mere sound-bite generator.

For one thing - just ONE thing - I could never vote for someone if I couldn't even stand to listen to them talk for forty seconds.

thank you jerry for finally admitting that you and cary were slate shopping for your own self interest, not the public interest. third ward, at large, mayor - anything to be on the Council, including joining Gerry Tobin at the hip and his record of 8 years of voting for every tax increase, fee increase and nobid contract.

Jerry and Cary didn't go "slate shopping," whatever that means.

They sought to provide an alternative for the town. That's what they've
done.

The Thrive campaign keeps talking about "no bid contracts".

I know Mattox opposed contracts with the MEDC and MAC (both good organizations as far as I can see) but where are these other contracts?

What years do they cover? What is their value?

Soccermom08 is art of the Thrive campaign and keeps popping up as their mouthpiece.

Answer some real questions for a change soccermom08!

Has anyone seen Ed Remsen's ad in the Montclair Times?

"Just Voting NO is Not good Government... or Good Leadership"
...Ted Mattox lacks the qualities needed to serve as Mayor of our town"

Remsen talks about Ted's quest for more salary as a Town Council member and the fact that Mattox has loose lips when it comes to confidential documents.

Worth reading! Get yourself a copy. maybe the Barista can contact Remsen and run it here!

I have a copy of today's Montclair Times and am looking at the Remsen piece.

It also says " Four years is enough time to establish a track record, start and complete projects, earn a reputation as a leader. Mr. Mattox has done none of this. After a few months on the council, he concluded that he was "overworked" and "underpaid" and he rejected the longstanding premise that Council Members are "volunteers" providing a community service. "

This brings new meaning to Thrive's slogan

"Your Voice, Your Money, Our Future"

It was mentioned on this site previously that Tobin did not "assemble" the Unity slate and that it is Fried's slate. Tthe poster is correct in that Fried admits in the interview that he did not assemble the Unity slate, but that he joined it after the other slate he was on (Swenson's slate I believe) dissolved.

So someone other than Africk or Fried put the slate together per Fried's own comments. That leaves Lewis, Castor, Weller or Tobin.

Soccermom07042, I assume you are talking about the lawsuit that was posted on the watercooler that refers to the no-bid contracts and the relationships between those organizations receiving the contracts and the people that voted for them. It's all (or mostly) in the post....why not just take the time to read it instead of asking others to do it for you?

The way it reads, Remsen and Tobin, on the advice of Trembulak, were sending a lot of money to the MEDC, an organization some of the founded and others were a part of. The MEDC didn't bid for these contracts or provide any information in terms of what they were doing with the money.

It also mentions that they took a loan from the town and per the agreement, never paid the penalties for not paying back the loan on time.

It also mentions that once Mattox brought the no-bid agreement to their attention, Hhartnett and Trembulak agreed it was illegal and instead of fixing it, found a loophole which Mattox alleges is still illegal, to not only continue funding these organizations without contracts, but to actually increase their funding.

There's more and it is available on the Watercooler.

the record is clear. Councilor Tobin is the true leader of the Unity slate. jerry and cary must run on Tobin's record because there is no other record of municipal work on the unity slate.

"Has anyone seen Ed Remsen's ad in the Montclair Times?"

Considering Ed's performance ove the last 4 years and his backing of Michaelson in this election, I'd consider an attack by old Ed a badge of honor.

Remsen's allegations of Mattox wanting to raise salaries was only brought out in the council's countersuit (a lawsuit that the taxpayers paid for even though the council never voted on it or had a public comment session).

No proof was ever offered that it was true and the court set it aside.

BTW, thanks for offering these interviews Liz...the more info the better.

Yes, thanks Liz. Listened to all three during my morning commute. I had to chuckle when I heard Joyce Michaelson say "we want to go out to the community. Our ward councilors will schedule at the minimum quarterly meetings in the community to hear from them what their concerns are..." Its nice to know, that after four years, our elected officials are finally considering the idea of listening to the concerns of their constituents.

It's funny- Mattox voted for Wayfinding and then sued about it:

WHEREAS, The Montclair Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
has been pursuing a Wayfinding Program on behalf of ther Township; and

WHEREAS, The Township Council believes that a Wayfinding Program
is in the best interests of the community and economic development;
and

WHEREAS, the MEDC has made a presentation to the Council giving
a detailed report on the particulars of a comprehensive wayfinginfg
program; and

WHEREAS, the MEDC has indicated that a comprehensive wayfinding
program for the community would cost approximately $721,000 in
capital expenditures over the next four years; and

WHEREAS, the MEDC has indicated that much if not most of the
above cost can be off-set with grants; now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the Township of Montclair, in
the County of Essex, does hereby endorse the Wayfinding Program as
presented by the MEDC as being in the public interest in support of
community and economic development.

Record of Council Vote:
Frier - YES
Lang - ABSTAIN
Mattox - YES
Deputy may Michaelson - YES
Mayor Remsen - YES
Schlager - YES
Tobin - YES

Brandnew- you must be reading a different document. The document above shows that mattox voted for Wayfinding and that only Sandra lang Abstained (coward!).

No one has said that the MEDC didn't bid except mattox- as a matter of fact there's a post from the MEDC President that was published as a letter to the editor in the Montclair Times that disputes your "facts".

Here it is:

A full-page advertisement in last week's Montclair Times sponsored
by Ted Mattox and his Thrive Montclair site is factually wrong. I
have pointed out these errors before, but he keeps on repeating
fiction, not fact.

"He continues to state that the Wayfinding contract [he gives it the
incorrect name "Wayfinder" - showing his complete ignorance of the
program] was awarded on a no-bid contract basis. He is factually and
categorically wrong - and he knows it. The contract was awarded after
a thorough and extensive bidding process in which 11 leading
nationwide firms in the field competed. Mr. Mattox was present at the
Township Council meeting when this process was explained, and yet he
continues to state fiction instead of fact.

"Ted Mattox did not save the township $800,000, as his advertisement
states. The program never contemplated spending this amount and the
township resolutions adopting the program which Mr. Mattox voted in
favor of [the township clerk has the document] never mentioned this
amount of spending.

"Furthermore, the resolution specifically stated that "much if not
most of the cost can be offset with grants." Mr. Mattox did not and
could not have "helped taxpayers save $800,000" as his advertisement
claims because the taxpayers were never going to be on the hook for
$800,000.

"Contrary to "Wayfinder" - Mr. Mattox's term - the proposed
wayfinding program is used in many progressive towns as a branding
and marketing initiative to boost their local economy and attract
shoppers to their business districts. With a recession looming, it is
a shame we don't have this program in place. These are the facts and
it's time Mr. Mattox speaks the truth." (signed Dale Jacobs,
Montclair)

Too bad Mattox stopped that wayfinding project. With Montclair's current crime wave of GSP thefts, there's soon going to be an awful lot of drivers unable to find their way:

THEFTS FROM CARS

The global-positioning system inside a 2008 Jeep Wrangler parked on Christopher Street was stolen on Friday, April 4 between 6:45 and 7:40 p.m., police said. The thief broke the front passenger’s side window to steal the Garmin Nuvi GPS, worth $300. Investigators were not sure what had been used to smash the window.

A $200 GPS unit was stolen out of a Clifton man's car while he was inside the YMCA on Park Street between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., police said. The thief broke the driver's side window of the car, parked on the second level of the North Fullerton Avenue Parking Deck, and nabbed the Magellan 3100, which had been on the driver's side of the dashboard.

A perpetrator took an iPod and a GPS unit out of a 2003 Acura TL after smashing the driver's side window between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Both of the stolen goods had been stored in the center console of the car, parked in the South Fullerton Avenue Parking Lot. Including the window, the total cost to the victim was around $1,400.

But Ted Mattox voted FOR WAYFINDING!!

"It's funny- Mattox voted for Wayfinding and then sued about it:"

It's been pretty well documented, so either Hiding is ignorant of the fact or misleading again.

The Wayfinding program was initially proposed as being funded entirely by grants...Mattox voted yes.

The grants never came through so instead of killing the proposal, the MEDC changed it to be taxpayer funded. The council, EXCEPT Mattox voted yes. Mattox voted no to spending taxpayer monies on this program.

over 30 people spoke out in public session AGAINST Wayfinding. One spoke in favor, Dale Jacobs, the head of the MEDC who was getting paid for this program. In addition, there were over 300 signatures on a petition against wayfinding.

The day after the lawsuit was served, the council, according to Ed Remsen, talked informally over the weekend and decided to drop wayfinding (this was over 2 weeks after the public comment against...pretty interesting timing). They officially tabled it that Tuesday. Not killed it or voted against it, which they did not, just tabled it...so expect to see them take another try at it when the public has forgotten.

Why the constant need to correct Hiding's incorrect information? Does Hiding have so much of a horse in this race they stoop to lying about the record hoping you won't fact check?

So, in effect, Mattox's lawsuit stopped the wayfinding program which had been changed from grant funded to taxpayer funded (sneaky little bastards) thus saving over $700k-$800k in taxpayer money for SIGNS!

I've noticed Livingston has a wayfinding sign program....paid by the businesses in town.

BTW, someone named Pat Gilleran who is a moderator on the Watercooler posted this exact same misleading information on the watercooler. She states she is aligned with Unity Montclair, so know I guess the bias and need to distort facts is obvious.

"the record is clear. Councilor Tobin is the true leader of the Unity slate. jerry and cary must run on Tobin's record because there is no other record of municipal work on the unity slate."

What an erroneous thing to say about Cary. If you had a clue, and have been to a single council or BOE meeting, you would know that Cary Africk has attended every Council and BOE meeting out there. He asks more intelligent, researched and probing questions than the board or council does at their own meetings.
You saying otherwise only shows that your eyes are closed to reality, or you simply aren't informed. If you want to shill for one slate, please dont do it by slinging bs about a real, valuable servant to this town. This man only wants to help and because of that he will certainly get my vote.

Yet another blatant lie from the Thrive slate.

from the Watercooler:
"Pat Gilleran (not aligned with any slate but with the TRUTH)"

so it's BrandNewLies is it?

You seem to be very involved in defending Pat...wonder why?

Anyway, if she was really interested in the truth, why would she post misleading information?

Does she have a horse in this race considering she doesn't even live in Montclair? Could it be old pal Cary Africk? Does Africk know she is posting such nonsense?

Well Cary? You're logged on...do you?

Why would she have a horse in a race that she doesn't vote in.

I just happen to be following your lies- this is what was posted on the cooler. You'll note that pat is posting under her own name not some fictional non identifyer and she has the document:

I have the document in question in front of me and will reproduce it
here:

Resolution Endorsing A Wayfinding Program for the Township of
Montclair

November 23, 2004

WHEREAS, The Montclair Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
has been pursuing a Wayfinding Program on behalf of ther Township; and

WHEREAS, The Township Council believes that a Wayfinding Program
is in the best interests of the community and economic development;
and

WHEREAS, the MEDC has made a presentation to the Council giving
a detailed report on the particulars of a comprehensive wayfinginfg
program; and

WHEREAS, the MEDC has indicated that a comprehensive wayfinding
program for the community would cost approximately $721,000 in
capital expenditures over the next four years; and

WHEREAS, the MEDC has indicated that much if not most of the
above cost can be off-set with grants; now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the Township of Montclair, in
the County of Essex, does hereby endorse the Wayfinding Program as
presented by the MEDC as being in the public interest in support of
community and economic development.

Record of Council Vote:
Frier - YES
Lang - ABSTAIN
Mattox - YES
Deputy may Michaelson - YES
Mayor Remsen - YES
Schlager - YES
Tobin - YES

Pat Gilleran (not aligned with any slate but with the TRUTH)

That was the 2004 vote? What about the 2006 vote? Why don't you post that? Doesn't help your misleading case, does it? Still waiting to hear from Cary on the truth about these votes.

Big_Patti, why not post truthful info and let people really decide? Are you so afraid of people seeing the facts? Are you afraid it will somehow hurt Unity's chances?

So first you claim that Pat is aligned with the Unity campaign when her post clearly show that she isn't.

Then you demand that she have ALL of Ted's voting records.

What do Cary Africk and the Unity campaign have to do with Ted's voting records and what individuals post on the Watercooler.

You don't even have her addy correct.

MORE LIES AND MISTRUTHS FROM THE BRANDEW THRIVE REPRESENTATIVE

Yes, it's been well documented that Ted voted for Wayfinding and then sued.

No need to mislead anyone on this as it's a fact.

Why doesn't the THRIVE shill just go away and paper some more cars!

Ted mattox's campaign has littered Montclair with impunity and he's only a town council member.

If elected he will spend our money with impunity.

Big-Patti clearly is aligned with Unity. She also signed her post that she was seeking the truth, yet continues to post lies, so what's that worth?

She took the time to find the 2004 voting record when the council, including Ted, voted for a program funded by grants, yet seems to have overlooked the voting record where Ted was the ONLY One to vote against the program when it changed to taxpayer funded...how odd she missed that one.

Even Cary Africk, who attends all of the meetings and would know, posted back then that Ted voted against it when it was switched as he said he would also have. In fact, Cary has posted numerous times that the only reason the wayfinding program was killed was because of Ted's lawsuit!

You go Cary! Tell it like it is! Thank you for informing people that Ted's lawsuit saved the town...in your words...nearly $1M!

Cary Africk, Ted's biggest supporter!

Back to littering, huh? Sounds desperate. I guess the facts are too much for you. Let the candidates run on their factual records...stop lying to people trying to obtain the facts bi_patti.

Back to littering, huh? Sounds desperate. I guess the facts are too much for you. Let the candidates run on their factual records...stop lying to people trying to obtain the facts big_patti.

'Even Cary Africk, who attends all of the meetings and would know, posted back then that Ted voted against it when it was switched as he said he would also have. In fact, Cary has posted numerous times that the only reason the wayfinding program was killed was because of Ted's lawsuit!"

This is why we need Cary on the council. He puts truth above political posturing.

Just taking a few minutes out from talking to voters....

Months ago I asked Baristanet to implement a responsible policy to cover election-related posts: disallow anonymous postings during the campaign. I can see no benefits of hiding behind an alias. If anyone would like to speak to me, they can email me at unitymontclair.org. If we can arrange it, I would be happy to meet in person with anyone who has well-reasoned thoughtful policy initiatives.

As chairman of the Council on Ministry at the Unitarian Congregation in Montclair I have dealt with many people with complaints and comments and our policy is really one that all people should follow: if you won't allow your identity to be disclosed you forfeit the right to have your concerns taken seriously. The only exception is when there may be actual abuse.

On to the lie:

Gerry Tobin is the most effective member of the council running for re-election and I'm happy to have him on the Unity Montclair slate. His votes to preserve the Marlboro Inn (both Mattox and Michaelson voted against preservation) and against the new strip mall on Bloomfield Avenue as well as his work on 1st Ward issues such as the "quiet zone", saving the Alonzo Bonzal preserve and working to improve the business climate in Upper Montclair stand in stark contrast with sitting Council members with no record of policy initiatives. Gerry is a thoughtful, intelligent person working on a Council which has been embarrassingly dysfunctional during the past four years.

Unity Montclair is group of concerned citizens working to take our Council back and have it better serve Montclair. I am the leader of the Unity Montclair slate. Period. Any other claim is merely political propaganda meant to gain votes by playing off of dissatisfaction with the current Council.

I would like to ask SoccerMom08...

Assuming you won't let anyone know who you are, what is your reason for concealing your identity? How does it help concerned citizens decide how to vote on Tuesday?

I hope everyone reading this comes out to vote on Tuesday. Four years ago the mayor was elected with only about 10% of the registered voters. Let's do better this time around.

Jerry Fried
Candidate for Mayor
Line D - Unity Montclair

"This is why we need Cary on the council. He puts truth above political posturing. "

Then let him post the truth while here.

"Gerry Tobin is the most effective member of the council running for re-election and I'm happy to have him on the Unity Montclair slate."

Hey Jerry, good luck with that endorsement!

Also, since you seem to want someone to come clean about their identity...will you be asking the same of the various posters here that seem to be your supporters? Didn't think so.

Jerry, you seem like a nice guy...best of luck. I pray that your last minute decision (per your comments to Liz) to run for Mayor doesn't put Joyce back in office.

Can we move the election up? I think the non-news worthy stories are more interesting than the bickering that has taken over everything election related.

Brandnew, MontclairMommy, and all the different SoccerMom's:

If you can't play nice, please stop playing. Out of 40 posts on this thread; I'd say at least 30 of them are you going back and forth.

Nonsense like this is what's going to turn people off of learning about the election and either vote for the slate that doesn't have (what appears to be) mouthpieces slinging mud all over the place (That would be Michaelson's slate, btw) or not vote at all.

You are helping no one, except maybe Joyce Michaelson, with all of this stupidity.

Thanks Mike.

"Nonsense like this is what's going to turn people off of learning about the election and either vote for the slate that doesn't have (what appears to be) mouthpieces slinging mud all over the place (That would be Michaelson's slate, btw) or not vote at all."

Mike, I agree 100% and I feel the in-fighting between the two groups is handing the election to Joyce ass everyone else stays home...BUT, it's hard not to post to correct facts that you know are purposefully being distorted. It's hard to leave them out there uncorrected.

ummm, as, not ass

I've personally never been waterboarded, but I imagine it can't be any worse than being subjected to all this bickering.

Just got a phone call from some guy with a southern accent working for a polling company. He asked me "if the Montclair election was held today, who would I vote for?" He wouldn't tell me who was funding the survey, but considering Unity had raised less than 300 bucks, my educated guess says it was either Joyce or Tedd. Not sure how useful a poll like this would be at this stage of the game. My guess is one of the candidates is concerned that the election might be a lot closer than she thought it was going to be. In fact, she might now have to dip some more into her own pocketbook (or perhaps, someone else's pocketbook), but before she does this, she should probably get some sort of research before she wastes more of her money. Just a thought.

How petty and miserable can a thread get?

puss-it's ALL over the Watercooler.

It's a Joyce Michaelson/Partnership production. If you say you're undecided they try to convince you to vote for her...do it's no "poll" either. That's Joyce's style, say that it's one thing when it's actually something else. Partnership with who? The devil of course.

You would have known if it was Ted's THRIVE poll since they would have trussed you up and threatened your next of kin if you didn't vote for him. That's his style, no subtlety there. Who will Thrive, Ted of course.

Smart Voting

In this up coming election there are three candidates for Mayor. One represents the status quo Joyce Michaelson who?s voting record is virtually identical to Mayor Ed Remsen?s. In fact, Ed Remsen has endorsed Joyce Michaelson for Mayor in an effort to continue the failed policies of the current council.

Ted Mattox and Jerry Fried both represent ?change.? Mattox has a track record of fighting on behalf of the resident?s of Montclair both in town and in Trenton. Jerry Freid, although a nice person, has no government experience of any kind. Representing ?change? requires having the experience and judgement to get those changes implemented. There is no on-the-job training for the position of Mayor. How will Jerry Fried fair against Township Manager Joe Hartnett, who has decades of ?Jersey Politics? experience under his belt?

The bottom line?. ?change? voters must come together to defeat the status quo. Ted Mattox has the type of broad-based diverse support across ALL four wards, required to win. If the ?progressive? vote is split among Ted Mattox and Jerry Fried, Joyce Michaelson will win and Montclair?s failed policies will continue.

Truth is? if voters want real ?change,? the residents can?t split the ?change? vote. Mattox already has a broad base of support in ALL four wards and is the only viable candidate to defeat the status quo.

What happens to the Lawsuit if Ted becomes mayor, will he now have to sue himself?

Ted will settle with himself for major bucks using the town's money! Mattox does have a history, a history of voting no to disrupt and fighting with the other town council members.

Ignore the Thrive representative above.

Fried has plenty of experience and has gotten thousands of dollars for the town in the form of grants.

He's been around and knows his way around.

Vote your conscious, vote our future, vote for Unity!

Fried has a plan for the town...an "actionplan" posted on his bike website that requires well over $1M to implement (says so right on his website)....where will he be getting all of that money? Are we looking at wayfinding 2? How much will the taxpayers have to pony up to fund Fried's "plan"?

Do you think Ted can come to an agreement with Ted? maybe that is the one person he can get along with.... on second thought, he can not get along with anyone, not even himself

That's the Bike Montclair Action Plan created with a grant of $100,000 from NJ Dept of Transportation.

The Township of Montclair has been awarded $324,000 from the N.J. Department of Transportation (DOT) for a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program at Rand School. The elementary school is one of 29 in the state to be selected by the DOT to benefit from the SRTS grants.

The primary goal of the Safe Routes to School grant program is to enable and encourage walking and bicycling to school while enhancing the safety of these trips. The program helps the environment by easing traffic jams, curbing air pollution, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and further improves children?s health by providing regular physical activity.

This grant will help to pay for infrastructural improvements and educational programs to make it safer for school children to walk and bicycle to and from school. Improvements planned for Rand School include high visibility crosswalks, new sidewalks, lighting, bicycle parking and traffic calming measures within the school zone.

Additionally, the grant will pay for the development and distribution of a Safe Routes map, education and encouragement activities, increased enforcement in the school zone, and a local SRTS program coordinator stipend.

Let It Roll
The Township of Montclair is committed to making the community more bicycle- and pedestrian-compatible. Due initially to the efforts of the bicycle and pedestrian advocacy group Bike Montclair, the municipal government has supported plans to ensure that residents feel comfortable and secure walking and biking around town. Shoppers should be able to get to Montclair?s business districts, commuters to their bus stops and rail stations, and students to their schools without everyone using their own car or SUV.

To highlight the importance of Safe Routes to School, Bike Montclair chose that title as its theme this year for their annual Tour de Montclair. Over 600 residents biked in this year?s scenic tour, using a route that connected all of Montclair?s elementary and middle schools.

To show a commitment to a town-wide SRTS Program, Township Manager Joe Hartnett established an SRTS Task Force in November 2006 with the aim of expanding the SRTS Program to all public elementary and middle schools. The Task Force is headed by the Township?s Assistant Planner Patrick Franco, and includes Township Engineer Kimberli Craft and Environmental Coordinator Gray Russell, Bike Montclair?s Laura Torchio, Kathy Smith and Joanne Aidala from the Montclair Health and Wellness Initiative, and Officer John Timchak from the Montclair Police Department.

The Task Force is preparing a grant application similar to that developed for the Rand School Program for a town-wide SRTS Program. The grant would fund school zone infrastructure improvements, SRTS educational workshops, and an SRTS coordinator stipend.

In addition to the enhancement of pedestrian crossings and traffic calming in school zones, a key element in the township-wide SRTS program is to begin implementing the building blocks of a Bicycle Network, providing safe cycling corridors that link all of Montclair?s schools. The implementation of Montclair?s Bicycle Network is a goal originally pursued by Bike Montclair in its Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan, which was also funded through a NJDOT grant.

Taking It to the Streets
The Township?s commitment to improved safety for bicyclists and pedestrians stems from the Department of Community Services? street and curb upgrade plan under which enhancements such as curb extensions, high visibility crosswalks, and traffic calming techniques like speed humps have been implemented under the direction of Township Engineer Kimberli Craft.

Through its Bike & Pedestrian Action Plan, Street Upgrade Plan and now a SRTS Program, the Township is committed to establishing a town-wide network of safe bicycle and pedestrian corridors.

The SRTS program is part of Governor Jon Corzine's five-year, $74 million pedestrian-safety initiative, which includes $15 million over five years for SRTS programs in K-8 schools. The NJDOT Safe Routes to School program is part of a national program conducted in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Look for SRTS info on Montclair?s Channel 34
If you would like more information about the Safe Routes to School Initiative or would like to implement a Walk or Bike to School Day at your school, please visit www.bikemontclair.org for links to great resources.
Also, you can view the SRTS National Partnership?s video, ?Why Safe Routes to School Matter? on Montclair?s Channel 34.

How is the $1M plus program going to be funded? Will it be funded the same way wayfinding was...promised grants only to evaporate into taxpayer funds?

How much will Fried's pet plan cost the town?

Wayfinding 2.

You should be asking these questions of Laura Torchio, Bike Montclair's Chairperson.

She's on the Watercooler and could explain further.

So far bike Montclair has raised over $440,000 for their plans.

Calling Bike Montclair's initiative to raise money another Wayfinding Project is disingenuous.

Please ignore the member of the Thrive campaign who keeps spreading negative gossip.

Why is it that Thrive can't seem to run a positive campaign?

Negative incorrect info? Like this..

"Yes, it's been well documented that Ted voted for Wayfinding and then sued."

You posted this and you know it's not true. Ted voted for the program in 2004 when it was to be funded 100% by grants according to Dale Jacobs and the MEDC. In 2006, the grants never appeared and the MEDC and Dale Jacobs repackaged the program as taxpayer funded. Ted voted NO to using $750k in taxpayer funds after 300 people signed a petition and 30 showed up to the council meeting to say no to wayfinding. Tobin, of UnityMontclair, voted yes and told the audience that he new what was best for the town.

fast forward to fried's $1M plus (his numbers) "actionplan". The only action is how much money they will be taking out of your wallet to pay for it. Go to the website and see the details yourself. $1M plus for this program put forward by Fried and promoted by him at the Environmental debate.

wayfinding 2.

It's quite true that Ted Mattox voted for Wayfinding in 2004.

Entirely true! Totally true! and you know it.

It's also entirely true that Ted Mattox sued the Town of Montclair - more than once. Totally true. Amazingly true.

and you know it.

Bike Montclair is a private organization. Bike Montclair is sponsoring a plan.

The town of Monclair is not sponsoring Bike Montclair's plan.

The Town Council and mayor (including your beloved Teddy) voted to support and fund Wayfinding in 2004.

Those are all facts.

How petty and miserable can a thread get?

I think your question was just answered. BTW...today at least one person from each slate visited our home while on the campaign trail. Meeting all these people in person, the one thing I really came away with is that these people genuinely care about this town. Who would take the time and effort to run for such a thankless office unless they really truly cared about our town? The bottom line is, when this election is over, we will all still be neighbors, so is there really any reason to be insulting each other with such juvenile bickering? I just reread this thread and if I had to describe it, I would say its like watching "Crossfire" but instead of seasoned pundits, the guests are all preschoolers.

You must be slow so i'll type slowly for you.

Ted voted for wayfinding in 2004 as a program funded ENTIRELY by GRANTS.

Ted voted AGAINST wayfinding in 2006 when it was to be funded ENTIRELY by TAXPAYERS.

That was easy.
Those are the facts.

Also the facts...at the environmental debate, Fried stated his support for HIS actionplan for Montclair that will cost YOU the TAXPAYER $1M plus.

Say it again, $1M plus in taxpayer money.

How much of your money, $1M plus.

Also, when will Jerry Fried answer the charges against him in 2001 for clubbing baby seals? It's a fact and you know it. Look it up.

Ummmm.... was I not listening well or did Ted Mattox really say in this interview that he would likely fire the township manager if he were elected mayor?

good interviews

thank you for doing them and putting them up, baristas

reading all the anonymous back and forth crap was a waste of time though

Although I think i'ts commendable that all three candidates are making an apparent effort to stop by as many houses as possible before the election, I would like to note that walleroo has always had an even more refreshing "open crawlspace" policy, during which all are invited to wallow alongside him under assorted local porches.

I am surprised that no one has asked Ted who is financing his lawsuit and campaign. You want to bet that is the same consultants that were fired by the town

Follow the money and you will see that Ted is no reformer

While this post makes no sense...

Go to the NJ ELEC website where all candidates must file finance information. Mattox is mostly (as also reported by the Star Ledger) spending his own money.

Michaelson is flush with cash, including $5000 from Codey and is spending like wildfire.

Fried is not spending much thrtough his slates account, but is spending most of it through an account attributed solely to Tobin, which is technically not legal if Tobin does not indicate this (which he has not).

Mattox also paid out of his own pocket for the lawsuit, which has also been reported. Tthe town's lawsuit against Ted is being paid for with taxpayer money, even though there was no public comment or vote.

Another interesting bit of info on the NJ ELEC site is that while Joyce is a member of Partnership Montclair, she also has her own committe called Micaelson for Montclair.

Joyce has denied that Partnership Montclair is behind the phone poll that people are talking about...the one that pitches Joyce to you if you declare as undecided. That's true, it's because it is being paid for by Michaelson for Montlcair.

And the member of the Thrive Team knows this because he has ESP?

Brandnew - please stop trashing Bike Montclair. It an organization that is getting grant money for the town. Yeah. We get it. You love Mattox, we get it. Maybe you should sign your posts with your real name.

So Ted had a few extra hundred thousand dollars lying around to fund the lawsuit?

Brandnew stop drinking the kool-aid

Here are my concerns, after 29 years in town:
1) we are $180 million in debt, with potentially another $35 million for a school(which I'm not saying is good or bad, just the number). To the Mayor candidates..."What is your plan to reduce(I would hope you have one) that debt, and to what level, by the time you seek re-election 4 years from now?" (Hint: You've got to monetize something, cut layers of management in Municipal & Education, and/or???)
2) Mayor Candidates: You are our Chairman/Chairwoman of the Board. You need to get your board members to work together for the town, some of which may not be from your slate, and YOU must be the town's advocate in Trenton and County, to get us more Funding, since the money we pay out, does not equal the money we get back. If you can't get us more money,, we (frankly) don't need you to help us spend our money. What is your Plan?
3) 25% of School Budget for Special Needs. How are you and the Council going to fix this? We seem to have an unnaturally high share of our collective monies going there. Every town can't be spending this much, or are we just paying large amounts for bus service.
4) In 4 years, our taxes will be what %?
5) As house prices fall (they will, as taxes rise, and the % of taxes vs real estate value gets further out of whack), you will see a flood of tax appeals, that homeowners bring (at their expense) and the Town has to defend (wants?) at Town legal expense...Do you have a plan?
2009, 2010 may have critical points here, as house resale prices fall below assessed value. We are desireable, but no more than other towns with rail & transportation access.
6) Much has been said about "quite zones" and consultant to file w/state/fed RR. What is cost to town, to implement? I thought I once heard $800K, per crossing (for 4-side gates), and where is that $$$ coming from?
7) Are we totally funded for Pension & Medical benefits accrued for our workers. If not, how much, and how do you plan on funding that?
8) I note that a CA town filed for Bankruptcy, because it can not afford to actually pay. Their expenses exceeded their revenues. Sound familiar?

sorry- there are no answers coming....

I am a regular person...not affiliated with any slate but very, very, very tired of spending more on taxes than I do on groceries. I am dismayed that the folks running this town seem so out of touch with anything other than their own "situational ethics." The critiques of J.M. have been so thorough I don't think they need to be reiterated here. It is what it is as is the rest of her slate. Ted Mattox seems to be a good hearted soul but is so confrontational I wonder if he ever could get anything done. A lot of the other candidates I simply don't know anything about them or the things I do know don't speak well of them. Hence I am going to endorse Unity Montclair (as if any one gives a flying fig who I endorse) but I am endorsing this slate mainly because of Cary Africk who clearly has the time, money, effort, brains and willingness to devote himself to Montclair. As for the others on his slate. Many of them are very credible and have a history of public service. Folks dis Tobin a lot and I did consider for awhile that I should not vote for him because I didn't know what role he has played in the sh###### that Montclair has become. But I trust the other people on his slate so I am going to vote for him. Don't know if this post helps or hurt any of the folks concerned but all I want to do is work, take care of my kids, and live a good life. I don't want to have to worry about the elephants while the pi@@ants are running over me. Unity Montclair seems to get that.

UNITY Montclair has my vote as well. As far as I'm concerned it's the only slate that has the ethics needed to run a transparent government.

Jerry Fried has impressed me as an ethical person, voice of reason, who will run a transparent government and take Montclair down the path to fiscal responsibility.

Cary Africk has such a deep understanding of all of the issues going on it town and has shown his willingness to research, find experts on whatever the issue is, to inform and educate all sides, and to do the right thing.

Katherine Weller has given countless hours of volunteer time in the community and her involvement with the environment is well known.

Nick Lewis is also known as a man of much integrity and a long time volunteer in the schools and community.

Gerry Tobin has served this community for a long time and has been Deputy Mayor, on the Board of School Estimate,a member of the Planning Board liaison to the Environmental Committee, the Parks and Recreation Committee, the Cable Television Committee, the Historic Preservation Commission and the Montclair Economic Development Corporation. He is the chair of the Township Facilities Committee and serves on the Personnel and Budget subcommittees.

I don't know much of Sandy Castor but her experience working in the Montclair Mayor's office as a liaison to the public, helping with citizen complaints and on the Corzine campaign is impressive as well.

Is it ethical that Gerry Tobin rents office space from the twon attorney he voted to appoint? What about voting to grant variances to the owner of that building?

Gerry is a named defendant in a lawsuit that alleges misuse of power and inpropriety. Not my idea of ethics.

Commented deleted.

SoccerMom08 you have no shame.

Tobin should be able to rent from wjoever he wants to

SoccerMom08/Brandnew you have no shame.

Can't wait for this dreadful election to be over--"can't we all just get along?"