State Monitor or Local Control? Montclair Is Divided. Plus: Town Manager Stephen Marks on Budget Challenges

Subscribe, leave a review below, and please share your thoughts at MontclairPod.com. Follow on Instagram and send us a tip: [email protected] week, Montclair’s financial story gets real. We sit down with Town Manager Stephen Marks to talk candidly about the township’s budget, his first six months on the job, and why he believes a state fiscal monitor might be “warranted” for Montclair’s schools, given a nearly $20 million deficit.Then: What can Montclair learn from our neighbors in Nutley, who are currently experiencing the effects of a state takeover of their school district? We unpack the lessons, the trade-offs, and the emotion behind what it means to lose (or preserve) local control.Plus:Why are some residents voting Yes/Yes to fund both deficits, and others are saying No to send a message?Montclair principals send letters to families outlining potential cuts and encouraging a YES vote on December 9, which raises flags.A new resource SaveMontclairSchools.com, is a grassroots group urging residents to vote Yes/Yes in the upcoming special election.A lighter break: Farnoosh & Mike Eat Food (sponsored by Twocents) heads to Libélula Café for empanadas that might change your day.“Ask Our Agent” with sponsor Karin Diana of Compass: Options for Montclair homeowners who want to downsize but stay local.And your favorite local pod just got some hardware. The Montclair Pod is officially a Signal Awards winner for Best Local News Podcast!Join for a special live taping of The Montclair Pod at The Montclair Film Festival. Reserve your seats.Episode Credits:Hosted by Farnoosh Torabi and Mike SchreiberProduced by The Montclair PodEdited by Bob RaynorSponsored by Twocents and Karin Diana, Compass Montclair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.