This week on The Montclair Pod, we bring you one of our most important episodes yet.

We tackle a deeply emotional and urgent issue: street safety. NPR's David Folkenflik joins us to share the heartbreaking story of losing his mother to a preventable traffic collision right outside his Upper Montclair home, followed by a conversation with Montclair’s new Complete Streets Director, Jacob Nieman. Then we sit down with Senator Cory Booker to discuss his new legislation, independent media, and his time under a state monitor in Newark. Plus, we break down the district-wide school lockdown, the results of the massive school referendum (and the lawsuit trying to stop it), and Mike shares a brilliant YMCA membership hack.

The Tragic Reality of Street Safety

We sit down with NPR media reporter and longtime resident David Folkenflik, who experienced the unthinkable in October 2023 when his mother was killed crossing the street outside his house. He shares his warnings about Montclair's dangerous intersections, the aggressive driving culture plaguing our residential neighborhoods, and the frustration of warning the town before tragedy struck. We follow this up with a discussion featuring Jacob Nieman, Montclair’s new Complete Streets Director, about how the town plans to fix a broken system.

We Booked Booker!

Senator Cory Booker joins the pod! In Part 1 of our interview, we talk about the power of independent local media, his new bill to raise the standard deduction to $75,000 for families, and his experience dealing with a state educational monitor back when he was Mayor of Newark.

Local Beat: Lockdowns, Lawsuits & The YMCA Hack

It was a chaotic week in Montclair schools. We cover the terrifying district-wide lockdown sparked by a threat to the high school. We also dive into the results of the long-awaited school referendum—which might be on hold thanks to a new lawsuit by David Herron alleging electioneering by district principals. Plus, we talk about the search for a new, permanent Business Administrator, and Mike reveals the ultimate "money coach" hack for joining the Montclair YMCA.

Links & Resources

Watch the Show: Subscribe to The Montclair Pod on YouTube
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Guest: Follow David Folkenflik's reporting at NPR.
Guest: Learn more about Senator Cory Booker’s Keep Your Pay Act.
Street Safety: Learn more about Montclair's Complete Streets Department.
School Lawsuit: Read Matt Kadosh's coverage on the principals and the electioneering allegations.
YMCA: Learn about the Montclair YMCA.
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