You know in any other state where there is not another town every 4 blocks this move would not mean anything at all. How far did they move? Was it even a mile? Maybe two?
Bloomfield: The “new” Montclair.
Miss Martta predicts more and more of this in the years to come. More and more arts organizations, theater groups, etc. packing up and moving to Bloomfield because they can’t afford the freakin’ rent here.
Meanwhile, the Plofkerites will continue enjoy their lattes and scones at the sidewalk bistros of Montclair while laughing all the way to the bank.
Comrade Martta,
Too true! Pity we can’t keep part of Montclair decrepit and bombed-out enough to provide low rent shop space!
Heading out now for my *espresso* and scone. (lattes are ‘wussy’ and too French!)
Montclair could make a committment to arts groups. Yes, that would involve monetary concessions. But the arts are not a left/right issue. Government support for arts is an ancient tradition from long before the days of social welfare. Pericles supported the arts in ancient Athens and he is what we would call today a right wing dictator.
The most expensive neighborhoods in NYC are next to the museums and there is plenty of middle class housing near Broadway (ok, off-broadway)and right next to that are the poor neighborhoods. The presence of art institutions actually raises the desirability of the neighborhood.
The problem is ill-considered development that provides no room for art. There are still lots of active art programs in Montclair but for how long?
BTW, ROC, the NEA is supported by that well-known lefty Laura Bush. There is no need to pretend to be a philistine to shore up your right wing credentials. It’s oK to like theater (especially subversive theater), we won’t think you’ve gone to the dark side.
43,
You *completely* misunderstand me. I am a big supporter of the Arts, I attend them regularly I have seen fine shows at 12 Miles West and Luna stage.
But, the whining about high rents ‘hurting’ the arts is unproductive. What is the alternative? Rent control?
Look at Newark, to a large extent the PAC has led the way in revitalizing both the Artistic Scene in Newark AND had the effect of *raising* the rents in the surrounding neighborhood as redevelopment occurs.
I am not against the NEA I am only against grants to artists. Using NEA money to build facilities I think is fine.
The artistic Politburo that is the NEA determining what is ‘good’ and therefore politically ‘acceptable’ and fundable art is one of the largest incentives for producing *mediocre* art in the history of humanity!
Political committees can’t and shouldn’t determine what is ‘good’ or ‘bad’ art.
“The artistic Politburo that is the NEA determining what is ‘good’ and therefore politically ‘acceptable’ and fundable art is one of the largest incentives for producing *mediocre* art in the history of humanity!
Political committees can’t and shouldn’t determine what is ‘good’ or ‘bad’ art.”
*******************************
I actually agree with ROC on this…halt the presses!
However, I DO take offense to him referring to me as a “comrade,” implying the I have socialistic tendencies…nothing could be further from the truth.
My tendencies are esthetic ones. The Barista was right in her two-word caption: “Bloomfield’s gain.” The more arts organizations, mom & pop shops that move to Bloomfield or the surrounding areas, the more we lose.
Montclair’s downtown will soon become a plethora of overpriced stores & retail chains and will resemble any other Main Street, USA, neighborhood.
If this is what the residents want, fine. If not, they need to examine past events and analyze what is happening.
If they fail to do this, we will be left with a legacy of “mediocrity” of which you speak.
Citizen Martta, (better?)
>>If they fail to do this, we will be left with a legacy of “mediocrity” of which you speak.
or….we could just drive 1.21 miles east to see 12 miles west.
-not so bad.
NJ has too many towns. Montclair and Bloomfield could easily merge. Then this would be moot.
no way! One of the best things about NJ is home rule and small towns.
I am even willing to pay for it! (i.e. high taxes)
BTW, we also could ALL be part of Newark!
Try giving your Mayor the ‘mean stare’ at the Quick-E-Mart in a big city! No way.
ROC,
I generally agree with some of your comments and wholeheartedly agree that only in small communities can you really know and speak to your elected officials.
Many of us in Montclair (I know not from whence you come) know this mayor and the last and the one before that. How many know our congressmen or senators?
However, small towns do not make for great efficiency. Neither do large cities.
Montclair at 40K population is a quandary. What os the “correct” size?
Do we (all the people of NJ) need three Caldwells?
Or, my personal example, When the town where I grew up formed a regional HS district, they did not merge the elementary districts or the three towns (then about 15K, now about 40K), so they added another layer of government and another set of salaries, rather than eliminating two staffs and support.
This is not a simple question, but also the root of many problems.
Being a Bloomfielder, I’m perfectly happy to get Montclair’s arts castoffs. Each arts organization that comes to town brings other businesses that improve the area (We’ve had several delightful restaurants open in North Center in the past year) As for merging with Montclair. . .well, Kevin, if you manage to succeed with your secession from Essex County, I might be for it, but right now, I like my taxes just the way they are – 1/3rd or less of Montclair’s!
You know in any other state where there is not another town every 4 blocks this move would not mean anything at all. How far did they move? Was it even a mile? Maybe two?
Bloomfield: The “new” Montclair.
Miss Martta predicts more and more of this in the years to come. More and more arts organizations, theater groups, etc. packing up and moving to Bloomfield because they can’t afford the freakin’ rent here.
Meanwhile, the Plofkerites will continue enjoy their lattes and scones at the sidewalk bistros of Montclair while laughing all the way to the bank.
Comrade Martta,
Too true! Pity we can’t keep part of Montclair decrepit and bombed-out enough to provide low rent shop space!
Heading out now for my *espresso* and scone. (lattes are ‘wussy’ and too French!)
Montclair could make a committment to arts groups. Yes, that would involve monetary concessions. But the arts are not a left/right issue. Government support for arts is an ancient tradition from long before the days of social welfare. Pericles supported the arts in ancient Athens and he is what we would call today a right wing dictator.
The most expensive neighborhoods in NYC are next to the museums and there is plenty of middle class housing near Broadway (ok, off-broadway)and right next to that are the poor neighborhoods. The presence of art institutions actually raises the desirability of the neighborhood.
The problem is ill-considered development that provides no room for art. There are still lots of active art programs in Montclair but for how long?
BTW, ROC, the NEA is supported by that well-known lefty Laura Bush. There is no need to pretend to be a philistine to shore up your right wing credentials. It’s oK to like theater (especially subversive theater), we won’t think you’ve gone to the dark side.
43,
You *completely* misunderstand me. I am a big supporter of the Arts, I attend them regularly I have seen fine shows at 12 Miles West and Luna stage.
But, the whining about high rents ‘hurting’ the arts is unproductive. What is the alternative? Rent control?
Look at Newark, to a large extent the PAC has led the way in revitalizing both the Artistic Scene in Newark AND had the effect of *raising* the rents in the surrounding neighborhood as redevelopment occurs.
I am not against the NEA I am only against grants to artists. Using NEA money to build facilities I think is fine.
The artistic Politburo that is the NEA determining what is ‘good’ and therefore politically ‘acceptable’ and fundable art is one of the largest incentives for producing *mediocre* art in the history of humanity!
Political committees can’t and shouldn’t determine what is ‘good’ or ‘bad’ art.
“The artistic Politburo that is the NEA determining what is ‘good’ and therefore politically ‘acceptable’ and fundable art is one of the largest incentives for producing *mediocre* art in the history of humanity!
Political committees can’t and shouldn’t determine what is ‘good’ or ‘bad’ art.”
*******************************
I actually agree with ROC on this…halt the presses!
However, I DO take offense to him referring to me as a “comrade,” implying the I have socialistic tendencies…nothing could be further from the truth.
My tendencies are esthetic ones. The Barista was right in her two-word caption: “Bloomfield’s gain.” The more arts organizations, mom & pop shops that move to Bloomfield or the surrounding areas, the more we lose.
Montclair’s downtown will soon become a plethora of overpriced stores & retail chains and will resemble any other Main Street, USA, neighborhood.
If this is what the residents want, fine. If not, they need to examine past events and analyze what is happening.
If they fail to do this, we will be left with a legacy of “mediocrity” of which you speak.
Citizen Martta, (better?)
>>If they fail to do this, we will be left with a legacy of “mediocrity” of which you speak.
or….we could just drive 1.21 miles east to see 12 miles west.
-not so bad.
NJ has too many towns. Montclair and Bloomfield could easily merge. Then this would be moot.
no way! One of the best things about NJ is home rule and small towns.
I am even willing to pay for it! (i.e. high taxes)
BTW, we also could ALL be part of Newark!
Try giving your Mayor the ‘mean stare’ at the Quick-E-Mart in a big city! No way.
ROC,
I generally agree with some of your comments and wholeheartedly agree that only in small communities can you really know and speak to your elected officials.
Many of us in Montclair (I know not from whence you come) know this mayor and the last and the one before that. How many know our congressmen or senators?
However, small towns do not make for great efficiency. Neither do large cities.
Montclair at 40K population is a quandary. What os the “correct” size?
Do we (all the people of NJ) need three Caldwells?
Or, my personal example, When the town where I grew up formed a regional HS district, they did not merge the elementary districts or the three towns (then about 15K, now about 40K), so they added another layer of government and another set of salaries, rather than eliminating two staffs and support.
This is not a simple question, but also the root of many problems.
Being a Bloomfielder, I’m perfectly happy to get Montclair’s arts castoffs. Each arts organization that comes to town brings other businesses that improve the area (We’ve had several delightful restaurants open in North Center in the past year) As for merging with Montclair. . .well, Kevin, if you manage to succeed with your secession from Essex County, I might be for it, but right now, I like my taxes just the way they are – 1/3rd or less of Montclair’s!