The Montclair Pod

This week on The Montclair Pod, we're serving up a packed episode featuring school budget questions, local food news, community concerns, and a few major updates from around town.For the latest installment of Supper with the Super, we sat down with Montclair Schools Superintendent Ruth B. Turner at Turtle + the Wolf for an honest conversation about the issues residents are talking about most: the forensic audit, the Juneteenth lunch menu controversy, the search for a permanent business administrator, and the school tax increase that's moving forward despite voters rejecting Question 2.Plus, Mike accidentally becomes Montclair's unofficial tree correspondent after witnessing the removal of several large trees in the Fieldstone neighborhood—and hearing firsthand from residents who are upset about what happened.And because this is Montclair, we spend plenty of time talking about food.In this episode:Why school taxes are rising despite voters rejecting Question 2The latest on the stalled forensic audit, business administrator search, and upcoming tech policiesUpdates on special education, transportation changes, and the Juneteenth lunch menu controversyThe debate over tree removals in Fieldstone and Montclair's proposed tree preservation ordinanceNew developments in the ICE detention cases involving pastry chef Leonardo Argoti Rubio and Montclair resident AlbaA look inside Montclair's food scene: Java Love's 15-year journey, the reopening of Jackie's, and Mike's review of Ani Ramen's new sushi menuNew features on The Montclair Pod website, including our community events calendarFeatured in this episode:Turtle + The WolfJava LoveJackie'sAni RamenHave a question for a future edition of Supper with the Super? Send us a DM or email us—we're collecting listener questions now for our next conversation with Ms. Turner in August.Follow us•Watch the Show: Subscribe to our YouTube Channel.•Join our weekly newsletter and stay in the know•Follow us on Instagram @themontclairpod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Watch and subscribe on Youtube!Montclair is freezing - literally and politically.This week, Mike and Farnoosh break down the surprise NJ-11 primary win by Analila Mejia, and take a deep dive into growing immigration fears across Montclair. Immigration law expert Dr. Jackie Vimo, a professor at Montclair State University, joins the show, alongside local leaders Masiel Rodriguez-Vars, President of the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence and Emily Kraft, founder of Craftivists, to separate rumor from reality and explain what families need to know right now.Plus: student walkouts over ICE, Paterson’s school closures and what they could mean for Montclair’s March 10 referendum, and a burst pipe that displaced MESH at the height of winter.Links & ResourcesRegister: Farnoosh and Mike's Free Podcasting Webinar (Feb. 13)Donate to support MESH relocationTickets for February 12th's Montclair Story SalonRSVP for Craftivists' Melt the ICE Knit Night on Feb 19th at Lackawanna Plaza Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Watch the show on YouTubeThis week on the Montclair Pod, Mike and Farnoosh are back to tackle the snowy aftermath and a whirlwind of local news. From the high stakes of the NJ-11 Special Primary—where a crowded field of 12 candidates is vying for your vote—to the sugar-fueled controversy of "Slushiegate" in our school cafeterias, we’re covering the stories that have the town talking. Grab your coffee (or a Walking Taco) and settle in for a jam-packed episode on everything happening in Montclair right now.The Special Election BreakdownFirst up, we get serious about the upcoming Special Primary Election. Terrence McDonald of the New Jersey Monitor returns to help us navigate the incredibly crowded field of 11 Democrats and 1 Republican vying for the NJ-11 congressional seat. We discuss why this seat matters, who is actually running, and what to expect on Thursday.Slushiegate & "Walking Tacos"Is "Slushiegate" the distraction we didn't know we needed? Mike and Farnoosh dig into the latest school cafeteria controversy—from slushies in the lunch line to the "Walking Taco" phenomenon. We break down the new Sodexo menu and the parents' reactions to the sugar rush.Local Beat: Budgets, Buses & BansWe check in on the school budget (spoiler: we aren't the only ones with a deficit). We compare notes with Perth Amboy and the breaking news out of Hackensack, where the school district revealed a shocking $17 million deficit. Specifically, we discuss the major development that the town is stepping in with $6.5 million in emergency funds to help stop immediate layoffs—a move that has sparked conversation about how municipalities support their schools.We also touch on the latest Board of Education friction points: the debate over the upcoming school calendar and the controversy surrounding the new volunteer ban. Plus, we cover the final days of the Montclair Transit Survey.One Big Thing: Milestones & PreschoolsWe wrap up with a shoutout to Cousin Honey, who is celebrating her 97th birthday (sparking a debate on legal names!). Plus, we share critical dates for parents looking into Montclair's upcoming preschool information sessions.Run of Show00:00 - Snow days and basement leaks.03:10 - The NJ-11 Primary: A field of 11 candidates (and 1 Republican).05:00 - School Updates: Calendar debates and the volunteer ban.13:00 - Slushy Gate: The new Sodexo menu, sugar rushes, and "Walking Tacos."22:00 - Guest: Terrence McDonald on why this seat matters and who is actually running.40:40 - News: Transit Survey deadline & The Perth Amboy deficit comparison.46:18 - One Big Thing: Cousin Honey’s 97th Birthday & Preschool Info Sessions.Links & ResourcesElection Day: The Special Primary is Thursday, Feb 5th.ROUTE Questionnaire: Read the NJ-11 Candidate ResponsesMontclair Transit Survey: Fill Out the SurveyMontclair Public Library's Preschool Fair is Saturday, Jan 31st.Guest: Follow Terrence McDonald at the New Jersey Monitor.Support the Show: Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!Newsletter: Subscribe at montclairpod.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Watch the show on YouTubeFollowing last week’s episode on the origins of the magnet system, we pick up the conversation at a critical crossroads—one where values, finances, and state oversight collide. We attend the latest school budget town hall, where Superintendent Ruth B. Turner and district leaders lay out the long road ahead, explain the district’s structural deficit, and address growing anxiety around the possibility of a state monitor and what that would mean for local control.We break down what we heard at the meeting, including important clarifications about the revised ballot questions, the limits of state aid, and why a “no” vote does not guarantee relief. We also reflect on powerful public comments from parents—particularly around transportation—and why buses are not a luxury, but a cornerstone of access and inclusion in Montclair.A recording of the town hall is available here, and the presentation shared during the meeting can be found here .To help put the moment in national context, we’re joined by Richard Kahlenberg, one of the country’s leading experts on school integration, education policy, and economic inequality. We talk candidly about why magnet schools emerged in the first place, what decades of research actually show about integration and student outcomes, and the real risks districts face when the cost of integration comes under pressure.We also share a preview of our upcoming conversation with outgoing New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin, where we ask the questions many parents and taxpayers are wondering about: when does financial mismanagement cross into fraud, who has the authority to investigate, and what accountability can realistically look like.Plus, we round out the episode with local news—from new statewide cellphone restrictions in schools, to staffing shakeups at Town Hall, to a one-year look back at the school closure that shocked the community.RSVP for free for tonight's event with Farnoosh and Hannah Cole, author of Taxes for Humans, at Lackawanna Plaza. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.