Essex PTA Prez Says Keep PTA Out of Municipal Elections

1. ” I will be listed as Sue Weintraub, Glenfield PTA President.”

   But she didn’t actually do that. She’s listed only by name. The add says “We are members of Montclair’s PTAs”

   Seems like a different thing entirely.

   Sounds to me (and I’m guessing) that perhaps your anonymous tipster forwarded that email to Ms. Steele and she’s not seen the ad. DId you ask her?

2. ROC:

   According to Ms. Steele: “you can not use PTA . . . or the name of your PTA association to support any candidate for any office in print, email, a speech or otherwise.”

   The ad uses the name of the Montclair PTA in an ad supporting a particular slate. Therefore, it arguably violates the bylaws of the Essex County PTA.

   They could have described themselves as “Montclair moms with children in the public school system,” but maybe they felt that identifying themselves as PTA members would carry more weight. Who knows?

3. “powerful, high profile Montclair Moms.”

   How do I get on this list of power broker moms?

   RPM might have some decent ideas about how to effectively run the town but between Karen Turner’s reticence to engage with real questions on this site, Peter Zorich being “personally insulted” by an honest question and the slates desire to get “powerful, high profile Montclair Moms” to sign an ad, I’ve lost some confidence in them. Very politicized…

   And I don’t think anyone is required to answer questions from anonymous posters but they certainly have used both this and site and Patch to broadcast their message…whatever that message may be.

4. Whenever someone says, “cease this action,” doesn’t it make you want to do it one more time.

   And what’s with PTAs. That’s the 70’s. The 2010s have Home & School Associations.

5. You are 100% correct ROC, and I will also bet you that Catherine Steele did not see a copy of the actual ad but a copy of the email only.

6. Did this story come to BNet via Harvey Susswein’s Corruption Hot-Line?

   This seems like a trumped up story to me. I saw the ad in the paper and I didn’t even notice that the PTA was part of the narrative. I read it as a story about Montclair Moms – a story focused on how women in town want a TC that recognizes that they need to do their part. The BOE has taken a long, hard look at how they operate and they are determined to improve. And the BOE seems to view it as an ongoing effort. I was very pleased to read that Mayor Fried reappointed Shelly Lombard to the BOE.

   I also read it as a message about Montclair’s strong sense of community. How is that a bad thing? Groups of all kinds come together to try to help their community. The ad in no way implied that the PTA was endorsing Karen Turner.

   This sounds like a story being stirred up by one of Turner’s opponents. Maybe they’re nervous?

7. bravo jinx–a voice of reason!

8. Uhhhh, you think so Jinx? BTW, that Harvey corruption hot line- line is really funny! I hope RPM places another ad next week with another 115 woman signing it, that’ll drive em all nuts!

9. Jinx can’t wait for the Hot-Line to go live. Jinx sees corruption everywhere.

10. Do the other slates have any actual ideas or is their strategy to just attack RPM? I haven’t heard a single idea from Robert jackson (other than ‘A Sienna On Every Corner!’). And the Corruption Hot Line is kind of …. lame. Seems to me corruption happens when there is an information vacuum. Why not address the actual problems?

11. I agree with jinx! They should be nervous. Turner’s opponents are starting to appear desperate for attention. All of the attention (good or bad) that this race is getting is because of Turner! Clearly, she’s the best choice and will have the strongest voice and very committed backers. BTW, regarding all the negative comments people are posting regarding the RPM MTC Times ad, rise above people it or seek therapy. This is local, small time politics folks.

12. or 115 men dazed

13. roscoe, i think jinx was joking…

14. Who is the Essex County PTA anyway? What have they ever done for the Montclair schools?

    They are a part of NJPTA, but what has that group ever done,…
    https://www.njpta.org/boardofdirectors.html

    besides go on junkets down the shore — https://www.njpta.org/events/njptaconvention.html

    How do these activities help protect Montclair’s magnet schools, busing program, full-day kindergarten and/or public-private pre-K

    Will Steele please tell us… or perhaps some enterprising journalists could search the lobbying and PAC records in Trenton to see what these groups fund and what they (haven’t) done to help Montclair

15. A “dherron” and I were discussing this on Patch. He/she even quoted the PTA bylaws which continually state ” “in their official capacities” when prohibiting political activities. If, Ms. Weintraub had in fact listed herself “Sue Weintraub, Glenfield PTA President.” she would have been indicating her office and therefore acting in an “official capacity”. But, in the ad, she didn’t do that. No one did. They as a group said “we are members of the PTA” how can anyone be acting “in an official capacity” when no one is speaking in their official capacity?

    When Ms. Steele says “Please be advised that you can not use PTA, ” she very could mean “PTA” as a sponsor, or simply listing “PTA” by itself implying an endorsement.

    I’m not a Turner supporter (yet, I haven’t decided whom to vote for) and I’ve been pretty critical of all the slates. In my estimation this is a ploy meant to distract.

16. Joyful – bummer! I was happy to hear that Jinx was ready to jump on the Corruption Hot Line.
    I liked the image of Jinx in a deerstalker hat, peering around corners at 205 Claremont. Ideas like the Corruption Hot Line are just what Montclair needs to dig out of its hole of ineptitude.

17. roscoe–great! another job we can add to Montclair’s payroll!

    notonepersoncares–i couldn’t agree more, does this steele have any idea what a magnet system looks like or any of the issues facing our schools? montclair is a very unique town and i sincerely doubt that steele and her shore buddies have much understanding of the enormous efforts our pta and other organizations make to pump money back into our schools.

    go sue weintraub!

18. ROC – You are on FIRE! Maybe, Ms. Steele is being used a political pawn for one of the other slates? We all know that there is nothing wrong with the ad and I stand by my assumption that she has not in fact seen the ad, only the email. PS. Everyone is pretty funny tonight,first Jinx and now you ROC – I laughed when you wrote
    “A “dherron” and I were discussing this on Patch” like none of us know who “dherron” is. The other slates are really bringing in the “big guns” early on, when “dherron” shows up…rolling my eyes & again rolling my eyes!

19. “In my estimation this is a ploy meant to distract.”

    Just like the ad was a ploy to distract. And an article about an ad. Turner obviously thought the ad would be a good idea to quell any concerns people have about her commitment to MPS but it seemed to backfire. There are plenty of Montclair parents who donate a lot of time and money to the school that are not on that list.

    I thought the article in the Montclair Times was more informative than anything I’ve read on here, especially all the attack dogs that come out to mock the other slates when supporting Turner. Maybe dogs is the wrong word–it seems pretty catty to me.

    I look forward to the CGI debate. (See, I’m reading all those reminder posts, CGI!)

20. I wonder out loud, if this happened yesterday, where the mea culpas? With all due respect those aplogies should have come yesterday? Karen Turner doesn’t apear to be addressing this enourmous problem. I haven’t heard of any powerful, yet noble Montclair Moms stepping down from positions they have publicly disgraced. Kind of a big deal.

21. Is it just me or does this bla, bla, bla character sound a lot like “she who knits” at the council meetings? Lots of long, rambling sentences with a higher than mighty attitude. Oh boy… Put on the seat belts folks.

22. What juicy gossip! It’s too bad running the town isn’t half as interesting as running for its offices.

    It seems pretty clear from the email that Weintraub wasn’t soliciting signatures as PTA prez, but rather thought that the ad would be more impressive coming from women with titles, then thought the better of it.

    Steele should untwist her knickers.

    Oops! Sorry if that last remark betrayed my male paternalistic ideology.

23. There is no one listed as a belonging to a PTA in the ad. What’s the big deal here. The Essex County PTA? What is that. Sounds like a real useful self-promoting organization. I wonder how many kids they have ever helped. I wonder if Ms. Steele is a volunteer like the moms in the ad, or if PTA dues pay her salary. I wonder is she gets nj state benefits. This smells like the the Essex County machine getting nervous. I wonder if Ms. Steele gets invited to the State St diner in Bloomfield on Tuesdays with Jackson, Brendan and Joe D.

24. Nothing like small town politics. What a bunch of hooey. Can we stick to the issues?

25. tballmom,

    “The Essex County PTA? What is that. Sounds like a real useful self-promoting organization. I wonder how many kids they have ever helped. I wonder if Ms. Steele is a volunteer like the moms in the ad, or if PTA dues pay her salary.”

    The PTA is a national organization and the Montclair PTA is under the umbrella of the national, the state and the county PTAs. You question the Essex County PTA’s value, as if Montclair PTA moms are the only one who count. The PTA is a great organization that raises money for schools, but I’m sorry to burst your bubble, that is all it is. Being a PTA mom does not make you a “powerful, high power mom”, nor does being in the Junior League. It makes you helpful and that’s where it ends.

    But beside that, this whole thing bothers me. And jerseygurl, this IS an issue. How RPM chooses to handle its campaign shows its character. They made a big mistake promoting this “Montclair Moms” ad.

26. mmnj, Really? Attacking moms about trying to rally the troops. They are not sitting at home, watching the mud slinging, but actually getting out and trying and get some good, competent people elected.
    Character, PTA moms? Versus what the other slates are doing. I’ve heard rumors flying about the supporters and hired hands from the other slates. It would disgust you and you’d be sure to keep your kids off the streets. They are probably being paid to make up rumors and blog here. Give me a break with all this hoopla! I agree with Jerseygurl. Stick to the issues.

27. I don’t see this as a big deal. Just petty local nonsense. Our town’s finances are FUBAR and if a bunch of PTA moms want to stick up for one of their own it’s fine with me. I want to know more about how each candidate proposes to deal with the mess. And it’s a mess. The first person to show up with the best cleaning materials will get my vote.

28. sohobound–I’m not attacking moms for trying to rally the troops. I don’t like how they went about it and apparently they broke the PTA bylaws in the manner in which they did. But that sentence of “powerful, high profile Montclair moms” does turn me off as silly as it is. I don”t blame RPM for what these big-headed PTA moms did, but I do blame them when they sent out the ad to the media and to any email inbox they could.

    And maybe the other slates are doing some dirty stuff too, but I haven’t heard of it and if I do that will impact my decision when voting.

29. I agree with JG, it’s a non issue so let’s move on.

30. They did not break any PTA laws. The ad said they were PTA & PTO moms. Nowhere did it say any organization backed a political party or slate.

    Is this is an attack on women in general?

    It is no wonder a woman has never been elected mayor in this town with people saying PTA moms have bad character. How do we know the mmnj isn’t a tom or lou?

31. It seems like they did break a PTA law, according to the Essex County PTA.

    I’m a woman sohobound and a mom who is very involved in her child’s school, I can assure you. I’m also a feminist and was excited about the possibility of a woman mayor. But I won’t vote for a woman just because. And while I like some of Turner’s ideas, I don’t like everything about her. I don’t like everything about any of the candidates. Still, my vote was narrowed down to two mayoral candidates. I’m still not decided, but this RPM nonsense bothers me.

32. I love this slate.
    I’m in for Turner, Sarah Palin was a PTA mom and she turned out OK.
    I’m in for Zorich, he’ll use his position to keep a racial balance in Montclair to his liking.
    If the breast feeding knitter would join this slate, Montclair and the Bnet community would be entertained for the next 4 years.

33. I’m organizing an ad by Powerful Hedgefund Superdads for Real Progress Montclair. Please send your name, title and a check for $5 million toward cost of the ad to walleroo, Liz’s porch, 07043.

34. ROC Tax Exempt status. – how does it sound to you? We are the members of UNICEF, the Red Cross and all of the organizations in town. Read our names here: —– and we support a Gingrich – Palin Slate. No one with any respect for keeping a tax exempt status would do such a thing! It implies support of a campaign. It violates the premise of being tax exempt. Turners responses have been a big red flag to me. They did change their verbiage and yet think denying wrongdoing is better than the responsible thing to do. Admit you made mistake and fire the women responsible for the disgracefully arrogant & irresponsible ad.

35. Wallerloo. You are adorable!

36. sohobound The point remains and Sue. Weittaub’s smoking gun e-mail further proves the multiple abuses of power and the implied intent to connect the organizations via its mention along with the names of women who are members, board officers and who are so busy being full of them self that they disgraced themselves in a full page ad in a nice sized font. The money was solicited by Sue Weintraub in her PTA President Capacity – that alone should have her barred from PTA and fired from Tirner’s Slate. The others who foolheartedly signed on – well the whole thing is rather obvious. But you won’t be able to admit that anything was wrong. I remain undecided but disgusted by the tone and manner the ad presented. Further, the appearance of impropriety isn’t wiorth the risk so that the Powerful Palin Pitbulls can destroy an entire slate and get their name in the paper! BTW Palin never thinks she is wrong or that anyone thinks she’s stupid. Disgraceful.

37. “We are the members of UNICEF, the Red Cross and all of the organizations in town. Read our names here: —– and we support a Gingrich – Palin Slate. No one with any respect for keeping a tax exempt status would do such a thing!”

    This is silly. I don’t threaten the tax-exempt status of the various groups to which I belong when I mention my membership along with expressing an opinion. It explains a bit of who I am, and is in no way suggestive of an endorsement.

    What we have here are people looking for something on which to hang their agendas. Considering that we do have significant issues in town, and that there are legitimate differences of opinion between the candidates, this simply takes away from the conversation that we in town should be having.

    I’m not clear what agenda is served by this, but it is certainly not one which favors the Montclair voter.

    …Andrew

38. blabla bla–did you attend the meeting today? did you ask karen turner about RPM’s decision to post the ad?

39. PS Every candidate there mentioned the committees they’ve worked on and the change they’ve helped effect in montclair because it shows their commitment. I think you need to leave Sue Weintraub alone. You may not like her methods, but her intentions are good and she loves this town.

40. Wallerloo. You are adorable!
    I totally agree.

    BTW people, I think the issue was that she utilized an email list that she otherwise would not have had access to, had it not been for her position in the PTA.

    A group of people can get together and take out an ad anytime. It does not appear that they used their titles in the advertisement, so no issue there. Methinks it’s the method used to communicate that was the problem. The PTA pres could have sent a personal note to people she considered friends, and ask them to pass it along if they saw fit. But if she blanket emailed every member of the PTA, then that’s a problem, IMO.

    Next time you send a check to your church, synagogue, animal shelter or March of Dimes, would you be annoyed if someone on their staff sends you a “Lex Luthor for President, Send Money” email?

41. Funny though Kay, I haven’t heard that issue before you, Kay. How do you know this?

42. Thought I read that somewhere, either here or on “that other site”. Although it’s entirely possible that my memory is failing!

43. Good point, Kay, but I don’t think it’s a good idea to go erecting firewalls like that between personal contacts from one sphere of our lives and another. The people on Weintraub’s email list are PTA members but also neighbors.

44. This issue is so dumb and very telling about why Montclair is so f-ed up at this point. You have a group of people who actually work hard and help out other people’s kids (including Karen Turner herself), realize how unsustainable this town is on our present course and want to get a voice on the town government that they feel is inline with theirs. What do they get – lambasting from total idiots who have no alternative solution to propose and are gresping at straws. These schools would be awful if these women (and others along with many dads) didn’t volunteer their time and effort. People who are bashing have done nothing to help out – instead they charge racism, they charge that the minority women involved being “uncle toms”, they charge elitism (that Montclair CC and Bradford Swim Club must be the mecca of power here) and gasp, maybe the worst of all republicanism! (my god how awful – so awful apparently that in a non-partisian election format this is the only charge any slate immediately responds in order to discredit – as an independent who has voted GOP and Dem, i am appalled at that the most) when there is no substantive argument to be made for their chosen candidates of against Turner’s slate. What the hell happened to this town and this country? This is sickening and hopefully the voters in town can see through this garbage for what it is – groups desperately trying to cling to some power in a town they have set on a collision course into the ground when interest rates eventually rise.

45. Hunh. Well, I just know at my company, we are not supposed to use company email lists to promote personal agendas. In fact, people have gotten in trouble for doing just that (even forwarding a link to a politically-charged news article is a no-no).

    Guess I have a different take on this point – I would not appreciate getting an email from my kid’s soccer coach asking me to support one candidate or another. If she were soliciting donations for the March of Dimes Walk-a-thon or something, then maybe that would be OK, but politics? Not so much.

46. Kay my point is how do you know this was the case? That someone used a PTA mailing list?

    Also it’s probably good to keep in mind that political communication is specifically exempted from anti spam and anti-phone solicitation laws.

47. Never mind Kay. I didnt see your message above.

48. I agree with ‘roo. I work on a bunch of committees and sit on the boards of two trade associations. Saying the PTA endorses is wrong. Saying I’m a PTA mom (i.e. I’m involved) is fine. I don’t know what email list she used, but it’s likely she’s worked along side most of these women for years as a PTA volunteer. I think it’s much ado most likely being instigated from the slate (or it’s supporters) that wants to be known as the pro-school slate. They are trying to paint Turner as a Tea Party member who doesn’t support public education. It obviously ruffled someone’s feathers when local public school moms put out an ad in support of her.

    Personally, I’m kind of disgusted by the vitriol and as someone who is/was undecided, I’m tempted to vote for precisely because this kind of pettiness in a local election is really a turn off. Just saying’….

49. The Montclair Times has been completely silent on this topic that elicited tons of comments over the weekend. Is the saintly editor who can’t bring himself to endorse local candidates in the tank for Turner? Hmmmmmmmm

50. It elicited tons of comments because of the nature of the comments and because there were suddenly many anonymous commentors with new on screen names. Like valleyrd and blablabla. The tons seem to have come from a few, or even one or two, people who signed in with new names specifically to make Turner look bad.

51. “They are also inspired by Karen Turner’s campaign to become the first woman elected Mayor in Montclair’s 118 year history.”

    What about Mary Mochary (1980-84), a Republican!

52. The Montclair times never enters the fray. They’re too rarified for that.

53. You are a wise gurl JG

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