DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
Has the job of the suspended township manager FINALLY been discontinued after four women sued or filed formal complaints because of his alleged hostile workplace behavior?
Sincerely,
He Shall Be Released
Not that I’m aware of, as the Township Council continues to move on this matter slower than a snail. A snail on crutches. A snail on crutches of the wrong size. A snail on crutches of the wrong size that snapped.
DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
A very disturbing delay. But the 1870-founded DeCamp — which never recovered all the ridership it lost during COVID — announced it will discontinue its 33, 66, and other commuter buses to Manhattan effective April 7. Your reaction?
Sincerely,
Bus(ted)
Actually, I have 33 reactions…um…66 reactions, but I’ll offer one: almost everybody in Montclair has mixed feelings about DeCamp, but it’s a shame that people heading to NYC will no longer have a bus option to go along with the train or catapult options.
DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
Got my catapult tickets! DeCamp says it will retain its charter, shuttle, and casino services, but, even so, will some of its drivers, mechanics, and other employees lose their jobs?
Sincerely,
The Remains of the Fray
Sadly that seems possible, but I don’t know any specifics. Perhaps supporters of DeCamp need to up their gambling.
DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
After DeCamp service is discontinued (unless some last-minute funding emerges), what will happen if residents wait for a bus at the Watchung Plaza stop?
Sincerely,
Waiting for Don’t Go
The 66 will be even later than usual.
DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
Will NJ Transit offer more weekday train service on the Montclair-Boonton Line to make up for the DeCamp loss?
Sincerely,
Nell and Mel Ride the MBL
Not sure, but I AM sure that the initials “NJ” also mean discontinuing commuter bus service is “No Joke.”
DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
I assume DeCamp’s regular weekend service to NYC will also end. To make up for that, might trains stop at other Montclair stations besides Bay Street on Saturdays and Sundays?
Sincerely,
Choo Choo Charlie
Don’t know. People living near Montclair’s train stations like the quiet on those two days, but Bay Street is kind of far for some local residents seeking weekend mass transit. Meanwhile, the seats on Lionel toy trains are a bit small for humans.
DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
In other near-future news, U.S. senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) will host a women’s history event at Montclair State this Sunday, March 26, featuring keynote speaker Hillary Rodham Clinton — who of course was also a U.S. senator as well as…
Sincerely,
Hugh Niversity-Setting
…the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, a former Secretary of State, a former First Lady, and, believe it or not, a former syndicated columnist for newspapers — whatever they are.
DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
You were in Washington, DC, in 1997 to cover a speech by Clinton, and thought she had some good things to say, so I imagine you’re at least semi-happy she was chosen to be Sunday’s keynoter.
Sincerely,
A Choice and an Echo
Actually, I feel queasy about Ms. Clinton speaking during the 20th-anniversary month of the U.S. starting the not-necessary Iraq War she voted for despite widespread anti-invasion sentiment back then, including in our town. I mean, Montclair never invaded Cedar Grove, did it?
DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
Don’t forget the fictional Battle of Pompton Avenue! Still, the Bush administration was most responsible for the disastrous Iraq War. Now, what about Menendez hosting the event at MSU?
Sincerely,
Fishing for an Ethics-Related Reply
Queasy about that, too, as I was when he attended a Bradford School event while my younger daughter was a student there a few years ago. After all, the federal government has investigated the senator more than once for alleged corruption — which reminds me that “feds” is plural for not being hungry.
DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
Now that you’ve mentioned an elementary school and a university, how about a middle school?
Sincerely,
Buzz Glenfield
Glad you asked. Let’s discuss Renaissance, which my older daughter attended when it was in a building bordering Munn Street — aka (depending on the day) Tues Street, Weds Street, Thurs Street, and Fri Street.
DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
Can’t wait for the weekend. A judge has confirmed an arbitration decision to reinstate a former Renaissance principal at the North Fullerton Avenue-based school after he was removed in 2020 because of a racially charged situation. Would reinstatement be awkward?
Sincerely,
Back to the Past
Very, with one big reason being that Renaissance students and parents/guardians want the very popular and very skilled current principal Maria Francisco to stay in that post. Even Filomena and Finneas Fullerton, both of whom don’t exist, want her to stay.
DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
So, is there a solution?
Sincerely,
Not Saline Solution
Hopefully the former principal would be willing to apply for openings at a different school in Montclair or in another town. There would be 33…um…66…um…various possibilities.
Dave Astor, author, is the MontClairVoyant. His opinions about politics and local events are strictly his own and do not represent or reflect the views of Baristanet.
