William Scott

They say they're still not satisfied Montclair clearly lays out how it will investigate incidents involving race and identity.

Montclair's newly crafted rent ordinance, expected to be introduced by the council on April 5, now includes two- and three-unit buildings, other than owner-occupied buildings — and some landlords of those smaller buildings are not happy about it.

Also: Council had report on Ira Karasick calling an official "three-fifths of a human" for weeks before he resigned, and some say it should have acted faster.

The Montclair Township Council hired an outside attorney to investigate, but the NAACP says it's still waiting on that report.

Montclair officials enacted a rent freeze last year to protect tenants during the economic downturn due to COVID-19. Now, a Landlord-Tenant Housing Advisory Committee official says that while some landlords have violated the ordinance, some tenants have filed false claims about landlords concerning the freeze. 

The township has decided to alter its affordable housing ordinance to include a rental assistance program for very-low-income tenants in eligible rental units. On Sept. 29, the council approved an ordinance changing the rental assistance from one month to up to three months, or $2,500 in rent, whichever amount is greater. 

After a year of landlord-tenant hearings over rent increases as high as 35 percent in some cases, Montclair may soon get a rent control ordinance.

For more than four decades, the scarcity of affordable housing has been a hot issue in Montclair.

BY JAIMIE JULIA WINTERS winters@montclairlocal.news You may have met them marching in the July 4 parade or while they handed out cards to commuters at the train stations. Their message: “We want you to stay.” And last week, members of the Tenants Organization of Montclair came in droves to address the mayor and council, the people who could bring about change for the thousands of Montclair residen

After receiving leases with up to 30 percent rent increases, residents fight back.