Letters to the Editor

Saying goodbye after 20 years of Outpost drum circle In September 1999, I began my drum circle, sponsored by Outpost in the Burbs, held at First Congregational Church in Montclair. Today I am announcing that, after 20 years, I have decided it is time to stop...

Focus on fighting poverty to beat achievement gap Poverty and resulting lower socioeconomic status — not racism in Montclair or its schools — remain the primary cause behind our local racial education achievement gap. Instead, we’ve spent way too much time of late finger pointing to “racism” here as the main cause and needed fix.  That was particularly tr...

Local should do better on police blotter In the police blotter published Aug. 22, your paper notes the following: Sunday, Aug. 16 – silver Nissan Maxima left the Crescent Park Deck without paying. The driver is described as a young black male with short hair Exactly who is this description designed to help? Are ...

Payne in the ICE It has been a while since we’ve heard from Representative Donald Payne (D-District 10) on the crisis of immigration policy. On May 30, 2018, his office released a statement calling the Trump Administration’s practice of separating children from their parents at the border “horrendous.” He connects thi...

Remembering a class act July 6 marked the birthday of one of Montclair's most talented and world-renowned daughters, yet almost no one in Montclair today remembers Dorothy Kirsten. Born in 1910, Kirsten, a glamorous blonde, was a major operatic soprano whose long career spanned nearly four decades...

22 Lackawanna litigation I think it will be a loss of money to the town to bring a lawsuit to 22 Lackawanna Development. There were 14 hearings and I attended most of them. It was always the same people that attended and did bring up issues...

Let’s consider parking in Montclair On June 20, Montclair Local reported in a story about parking permits being at such a premium in Montclair that people are forging them. Parking Authority Director Gary Obszarny told township officials in February that residents were unhappy with the waitlist for permitted spots, with those lists numbering up to three times the number of spots the town has to of

Not the town it was when we moved here We've been living here now for over 11 years, and we've enjoyed the benefits of a vibrant, culturally diverse small city that managed, in many ways, to retain the esthetic appeal of a small town...

Dismayed by sudden turnaround on councilwoman Baskerville It was dismaying to read about the behind-the-scenes move within the town council to reverse its position on electing Councilwoman Renée Baskerville to be deputy mayor, after the resolution to that effect had been included on the meeting’s agenda. As explaine...

Israel Cronk for BID Executive Director Israel Cronk took over the Montclair Center Business Improvement District and totally re-energized it. The BID became a real presence in town, with activities, events, promotions, improved physical space...