Mayor Jerry Fried has accepted a part-time paid consulting job for the state Department of Transportation’s “Complete Streets” program. Fried will work on an initiative to help other municipalities create and implement Complete Streets, using the program’s success in Montclair as a model.
Fried just learned about the position last week, and he said he does not yet have all the details on how much work it will involve. “It would not interfere with anything going on in Montclair,” he said. The position is through the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center, which is part of Rutgers University’s Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy.
The Mayor has not decided whether he will run again for office, but said he will make his decision within the next few weeks.
Meanwhile, he addressed the perception held by some residents and Baristanet posters that he has placed too much emphasis on making Montclair bike- and pedestrian-friendly at the expense of other budgetary concerns the town faces.
“I don’t comment on anonymous blog postings,” said Fried, and he noted that he believes that it is “not a good idea” for candidates and elected officials to regularly post on blogs. However, he said, “I have spent very little time working on pedestrian and bike issues.” He said that a number of different organizations and companies have collaborated to successfully make the town more pedestrian friendly.
“It’s not just about people on bikes,” he said, “it’s about advancing policies that lead to more livable communities” that will in turn increase Montclair’s property values and desirability.
“The DOT has told municipalities it wants them to invest money in streetscaping, and not just in cars. That is the future of New Jersey, not putting all of our assets into (constructing) highways that increase sprawl.”
He also noted that it is a smart economic investment to focus on these types of projects because in the future, whether a program meets DOT Complete Streets standards will become a litmus test for federal and state funding.
“Because the council saw the wisdom” early on of focusing on smart, sustainable growth, “we now have policies” in place.
I hope the Mayor has the wisdom to put his energy into his new position, rather than splitting his time between this job and another four-year team as Mayor or council person. It’s clear that this is his passion and he has very little interest in helping Montclair solve its fiscal problems. He may not think he spent an inordinate amount of time on his green issues — and this may be true. However, he clearly didn’t spend enough time on making Montclair economically sustainable. Maybe he lacks the type of expertise needed to really address our very difficult problems, or maybe he lacks the imagination to see options and solutions.
That said, working on green initiatives at the state level sounds like a good fit for him. It’s just not the right fit for Montclair.
““I don’t comment on anonymous blog postings,” said Fried, and he noted that he believes that it is “not a good idea” for candidates and elected officials to regularly post on blogs. ”
Then he checked a sundial for the time and rode off on his Penny-farthing.
“The DOT has told municipalities it wants them to invest money in streetscaping, and not just in cars…”
No, not just cars: now that the state has raised the tolls on the Jersey Turnpike by 50%, look for 18-wheel semis swarming in a bike lane near you.
And, by the way, hrh, one of his sharper critics does blog here under his own name…
It does seem like a good fit. Now let’s get someone who can balance a check book to deal with Montclair’s problems.
“Complete Streets” program success here in Montclair? What the heck are they talking about?
What does Fried do for a “real” living? Did he in fact ever sell his home in town? What will he be paid by the state for his, uh, consulting expertise? Who hired him?
At least the last two are not “anonymous blog postings,” but, rather, questions of genuine import regarding his new position. That Baristanet did not apparently ask them is hardly to its credit. And to whom did Fried in fact “address perceptions,” and when and where? This should all have been covered back when working at one’s high school paper, let alone in a Journalism 101 college-level course.
And has he finally ditched the earring? It seems so from the picture. If so, it was surely about time for a guy of his apparent age.
…using the program’s success in Montclair as a model.
Success…how? I know the town implemented the program, but what has it done, exactly?
It would not interfere with anything going on in Montclair,” he said.
Too bad!
(Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)
Congratulations, Mister Mayor, on the new gig. I think you’ll be great at it. Go for it.
I also think you ought run again. You are clearly having a tough time running this town. Nobody in my gazillion years here has done a very good job, either, so don’t take this as some huge personal failure. These times are particularly difficult, and they call for someone with different skills–financial ones. (Not that I see a white knight on the horizon.) Better to let someone else try, and move on to some other arena in which you can be productive.
It’s not so much that you spent too much time on pedestrian and bike issues. It’s that you focused on them while neglecting other more pressing, albeit difficult, problems. When the house is burning down, it’s not a good idea to bring up the garden that needs weeding.
And by the way, the idea of not responding to anonymous posters is very 1990s. Why does it have to be all or nothing?
Yikes! I meant you ought NOT run again.
Why would anyone hire this fool? Oh. It’s a state agency. Their standards are different.
He does not think it is a good idea to “regularly post on blogs.” It would be a good idea if the elected official were up to the task. He just thinks it’s not a good idea for him because when he writes it does not reflect well on his thought process, such that it is. At least, he recongizes that much, after the fact, so he’s not that far beyond hope.
The best he could do when he did post over on patch was to advise us to shun those who post anonymously.
Hey, Mayor Fried: Just how are we supposed to shun people when we don’t know who they are? That’s what anonymous means.
Two things bother me about this:
1) He thinks these things will increase property value and desirability for Montclair? That may be so, but reasonable property taxes are even more desirable.
2) He spent a lot of time trying to extend his term, and now he doesn’t know if he wants to run yet?? How do you not know at this point? Seems like he doesn’t care about the job at all.
The worst part is, my tax dollars are *still* going to be paying his salary!
I wish good riddance to the arrogant mayor who still doesn’t realize that nothing helps property values more than lower property taxes and better performing schools. These are the two areas he completely ignored throughout his term. Let’s hope he doesn’t screw up our roads as much as he screwed up Montclair’s finances. One last question before you go Mayor Fried. How much economic benefit have we received from the good people of the Binzhou Province? Remember the economic returns you promised? Also, many of us do not post anonymously. You have a history of not listening to your constituents to the tune of ten million dollars which your constituents will be paying for years long after you are laughed off the dais. Quite plainly, you are simply a coward.
Stu for Mayor!!! (sorry Roo!)
Well I’m not the only one who had to get a second job so I could afford to stay in town! Welcome to the club, mayor!
After enduring the 2004- 2008 administration collectively known as the Remson/Maddox/Michaelson clown show, many of us hoped that things might actually start to improve with the Jerry Fried Unity slate…but sad to say, the only thing that’s changed over the past four years is the color of the grease paint. It’s still the same old clown show.
Sorry to say Jerry , but I for one no longer believe that you (and that includes Weller-Demming and Lewis) are up to the job. It’s time to go.
PS : Does Christie know that you are now on the taxpayer’s dime ?
Good Grief. He is going to screw up the state’s roads the way he screwed up Montclair, all at the expense of our tax dollars.
I guess a pre-requisite of the job does not include knowing basic knowledge of pedestrians and streets. This picture was in the montclair times.
http://northjersey.mycapture.com/mycapture/enlarge.asp?image=39408125&event=1373555&CategoryID=29922
Bad enough KWD is pushing a baby on the shoulder despite the nice wide sidewalk, but they are walking with, not against traffic. Then again, maybe it’s a successful Complete Street so no one can get hurt.
Whattttt???? What did he do, or maybe didn’t he do, that got him a paid position in the state? Sounds crazy to me.
“Mayor Jerry Fried has accepted a part-time paid consulting job for the state…”
“Fried just learned about the position last week, and he said he does not yet have all the details on how much work it will involve.”
This sounds like when he accepted the mayor gig, and didn’t know how much work that it involved.
Priceless image Skibum, like a Montclair version of the Beverley Hillbillies. An intrepid band of the clueless trudging down the the shoulder of the road. KWD pushing a baby stroller next to an NJT bus, but no bicycle for Fried. If only they were heading for “greener” pastures elsewhere…
These days public service is worse than a thankless job, it is an invitation to serve as a convenient piñata to anyone who cares to brandish a stick. Jerry has tried and for this I give him credit. The idea that the next Mayor and council will turn around the township budget so as to lower property taxes and improve our schools is nuts; pencils can only be so sharp. Progress on these issues, if attainable, will be very incremental unless there is a surprising black swan event, an unanticipated home run. But it is risky to try since if you swing for the fences and strike out, you are a loser deserving contempt. Maybe no Chinese investors stepped up as a result of Jerry’s efforts. So what? At least he tried.
There are certainly actions taken by this council that deserve pointed commentary. I’d place pretty much most capital expenditures, exemplified by South Park, high on that list. More debt is a terrible idea. But I guess I also see the 3-4 council as national politics writ small. Jerry was not the miracle worker we needed and may not have had the perfect demeanor but he has made his best efforts and I’d argue deserves a modicum of respect.
They are also breaking the law, as evidenced by that picture.
39:4-34. Pedestrians to cross within crosswalk or at right angles; facing traffic; sidewalks
[...]
Where sidewalks are provided it shall be unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along and upon an adjacent roadway.
Hey Mayor! It’s a shoulder stripe for traffic calming purposes! Not a bike lane, pedestrian path, roller derby rink, or Segway zone. It’s not even a “parking lane”, although one is permitted to cross the white line in order to park or turn in or out of a driveway. Gawd! How do people survive around here? Doesn’t anyone pay attention??! sheesh
That sums it up pretty well, townie.
Oh I know Conan. But I think it is ridiculous that in today’s tech age mr mayor is looking down his nose at blogs or bloggers, or even people like us anonymous posters. He’s statement really read to me as “I don’t read honest opinions on how I’m ineffective at my job. I’m planning my next trip to China.”
I find myself agreeing with townie. Sadly.
Townie – your comment ‘Pencils can only be so sharp’ – this assumes that our current structure, personnel management, operating procedures and fiscal management are already optimized. It assumes that Marc dashield has the financial expertise to make the most effective decisions on his own, without advice and counsel from citizens and consultants who have specialized knowledge – and who are anxious to help. It assumes that improved computer reconciliation and budgeting systems don’t add value. It assumes we’re already doing everything right.
I think a group with innovative ideas, an open-minded approach and a more relevant base of experience CAN make a difference.
I don’t agree with Townie at all. I do not disagree that Fried put in countless hours for the town, but he was so misguided and he really did focus way too much on his personal agenda while ignoring Montclair’s fiscal crisis. From bike lockers to bluwave judges and lawyers. From trips to China to Montclair staycations. From Senior Centers to police parking lots. From complete streets (has anything really changed) to failed term extensions. Fried was constantly fighting the progressive battle as lower income residents were forced to leave due to his inability to control taxes. When residents volunteered (just like he did) to offer tons of useful advice, the arrogant mayor claims he knows better. He calls the constituents angry. He claims they don’t know how these things work. To this day, the mayor believes that Montclair does not have a fiscal problem. Even with all of the cuts, the municipal portion of our tax levy increased over 8% last year, as the BOE works miracles keeping their portion down.
If you refuse to privatize garbage collection or sell the ice rink, or refuse to negotiate tough and continue to forgive pre-k and parking authority debts and think that eliminating 5 part-timers is draconian change, then it’s no surprise that Montclair’s overall tax levy has now vaulted higher than that of Glen Ridge’s. And Glen Ridge has almost no ratables. Did you know that my garbage was collected this past Monday (on MLK day)? From the back of my house too. As Glen Ridge continues to explore outsourcing situations, Fried is busy figuring out how to sell off open space at a significant discount to build way more affordable housing than is required to cover operating expenses.
So Townie, tell us how it’s not Fried’s fault and he should be commended for trying his best. If anything, he should be investigated for blowing 10 million dollars by not performing the reassessment earlier. 10 million dollars that could have restored the funding cut from the arts, the library and the pre-K for his entire term.
To Jinx, no I don’t assume township operations are optimized. By sharper pencils I’d include the list of items you outlined. And of course we as a township can do better. My argument was simply that the improvements will not be of an order of magnitude. They can be better and the overall direction can and must be reset but, at the end of the day, change will be incremental. We can aim for large-ish increments.
And Stu, we agree more than we disagree. I’d think to outsource various functions (though this is not a panacea), would sell the arena if a buyer could be found (good luck – seems a white elephant to me), agree the reassessment process is a horror and that the present council, led by Jerry, has had too many priorities given the need to focus on fiscal matters. I disagree that people move out of town based on one politician’s term; individual economic trajectories are way more complex. Since moving here in the 1990s my taxes doubled BEFORE the present council came to office.
As for arrogance, maybe but I cut them all slack. I’d lose patience with people proposing simplistic solutions (ever watch Ch 34?) but I’d sooner jump off a bridge than run for public office.
And last Staycation! C’mon! If Staycation gets stuck in your craw, I suggest a smaller craw.
Townie. Thanks for the response. I do appreciate it. You wrote, “I disagree that people move out of town based on one politician’s term;” Sadly, I did. I feel so strongly about the town’s debt and how it will continue to make it more and more difficult to provide even basic services to the taxpayers as more and more of our taxes go to service debt. I have some friends who are municipal bond experts and they all say that interest rates should start moving upwards within the next two years. I chose Glen Ridge do the excellent schools, proximity to Montclair and what I consider to be a very progressive government that actually practices fiscal conservatism.
Christie’s cap is working, but it’s the lack of caring about debt that will spell the downfall of Montclair’s property values. The only exceptions to the 2% cap are debt service and health care cost increases. Well we just took on another 8 million in debt to pay for the appeals. Didn’t that economist that the Fried Three hired to prove that Montclair’s debt was not at crisis levels recommend not taking on any new debt as the load was unsustainable.
Here’s the quote…”Benecke’s report states that the Township’s level of capital spending is “not sustainable” and that combined town and school spending should not exceed $4 million annually. The CFC’s recommendation was that no new capital spending be approved unless it is necessary to preserve the Township’s existing infrastructure or would pay for itself through decreased operating expenses or increased revenue.”
Fried voted to approve the purchase of nearly $500,000 in packers just recently as Montclair still awaits the garbage outsourcing RFP. This RFP has been promised since well before Dashield was even hired.
So what infrastructure are we saving here. Certainly our revenue has not increased. Meanwhile, on the backs of the newfound BOE surplus, Fried plans on restoring the cuts to the budgets of the library, potentially the pre-K as well as has mentioned restoring money to the fire department and the library. Quite frankly, I think Fried is being deceptive, as he was during the extend the council term campaign.
I’m not out to convince you of anything Townie. I truly think the problem is that no one (besides Cary) is paying attention to the town finances and fear how it will begin to erode Montclair property values. Why would one buy in Montclair if the tax payment is larger than the mortgage payment. This will be the case soon if property values continue to drop and taxes continue to increase at 4% per year (2% from the cap, 2% from increased debt service).
As to your taxes increasing prior to this council. I would have to agree with you that there hasn’t been a council who cares about town debt in my recent history. And mine goes back to 89 when I was attending MSC in my undergrad.
37,000 residents / nearly $300,000,000 in debt (don’t know the real number as no one seems to). It’s just ludicrous. That’s $8,100 per person. That’s a lot of debt to service and the number keeps getting larger. But Montclair continues to focus on solar panels and battery charging stations.
Another four years of this and the diversity is toast. Then what is unique about Montclair? Lots of towns have old housing stock.
This is a slate that ran under the banners of TRANSPARANCY and UNITY. I fell for it and voted for them. Not only has this not been achieved they went to the other end of the extreme. I applaud our leaders who try, however the core 3 are just arrogant and have no desire to listen to other points of view, or god forbid, take up the many qualified people on their offers of help. Quite the contrary, they attack them, do not coorperate and want to answer to noone. The whole election fiasco was so disingenuous, saving 50k when they have shown no desire to cut costs – its a rounding error anyway.
They villify those who appeal taxes, call obac a failure, and show a lack of respect for any opposing view. Considering their platform it is no wonder people feel angry and betrayed.