MontClairVoyant: Will Montclair Say Hi to Hybrid Instruction? – Baristanet

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
After surveying families during this pandemic time, our school district announced a proposed hybrid plan for the fall. If implemented, what would be the schedule?

Sincerely,
See You in September

The specific days that hybrid students get in-school instruction would depend on whether their parents drive a Prius, with some non-Prius students riding The Magic School Bus in the TV episode in which Pluto was visited.

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
Um…okay. Seriously, what do you think of the hybrid plan, which would have one set of students attend school in person on Mondays and Tuesdays, and another set of students attend school in person on Thursdays and Fridays?

Sincerely,
Days and Confused

A bit risky, and many people understandably feel instruction should remain all-remote for now. But I think the hybrid plan is worth a try, and I want it for my middle-schooler, who wants it, too. An electric plan is out, because we can’t afford a Tesla.

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
There’ll be less crowding in schools under the hybrid plan, and students are aching for some live interaction with their peers, right?

Sincerely,
Not Piers

Right. And Wednesdays would be remote instruction only, even though most kids know how to use a remote.

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
Does the proposed plan also offer an option of all-remote instruction for parents who want that for their children?

Sincerely,
Rooms at Home, Not Homerooms

Yes. But I’m still unclear if teachers and other school staffers would have an all-remote option, too. Many, including those who are older, fear bringing the coronavirus home. Who knows if the virus would even wear a seat belt during the ride home.

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
Moving to another topic, the Montclair Property Owners Association claims it has enough signatures for a November referendum to kill rent control — after the Township Council this April passed a reasonable rent bill the MPOA then blocked in court. Reaction?

Sincerely,
Targeting Tenants

A referendum is democratic, but the MPOA would pour so much money into winning it that it wouldn’t be a fair fight. MPOA leaders are like cartoon villains, which explains the speech balloons hovering above their heads when they walk around town.

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
Those are clouds. Anyway, have the MPOA efforts also been misleading?

Sincerely,
Spin City in a Suburb

The organization sent out signature-seeking texts saying they wanted to put rent control on the ballot, as if they were trying to start rent control rather than overturn it. Massaging rates may have applied.

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
As in massaging the truth. Speaking of the Council, some people tuning into its remote July 21 meeting said the Montclair Police Department (MPD) is overfunded compared to departments in some other towns in our region. Comment?

Sincerely,
Blue By You

Part of that money could be better used for schools and other social needs — such as responding to mental-health crises with mental-health professionals rather than cops. Plus some dollars for a safety campaign encouraging the coronavirus to wear a seat belt when brought home.

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
There was a VERY big audience for a July 19 virtual town hall on police matters, including how cops in many towns and cities use disproportionate force on African-American citizens. Thoughts?

Sincerely,
Hall of Frame

The MPD is better in that respect than many other police departments, but not guilt-free. Meanwhile, Trump’s properties are not gilt-free, but that’s a different story.

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
And a different spelling. Then Montclair’s NAACP got involved with a July 28 letter to the MPD and Council recommending reforms such as a civilian review board and all police officers wearing body cameras. Good ideas?

Sincerely,
Rhea Formz

The recommendations can’t hurt, even though the MPD doesn’t have the bad reputation of, say, the New York City and Minneapolis police departments. All the towns between NYC and Minnesota hope those two departments never merge.

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
Speaking of the Council again, we’re STILL waiting to see if anyone will order all ballots to be counted from Montclair’s May 12 mail election. Heck, didn’t only 195 mayoral votes separate Sean Spiller and Dr. Renee Baskerville?

Sincerely,
Election Dejection

There’s a court hearing scheduled for September 11, but it would be nice, albeit unlikely, if someone (Gov. Murphy?) acted before that. Until if/when all ballots are counted, many will not consider Spiller’s “win” a win, if he were still ahead. And, yes, the two quotes you just saw are not roofing estimates.

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
Much pricier than roofs is the huge U.S. military budget, which doesn’t shrink even during a pandemic. In a recent vote on legislation that didn’t pass, Donald Payne said “aye” to a 10 percent cut in that bloated budget (yay!) and Mikie Sherrill said “nay” (boo!). Reaction?

Sincerely,
Fight Club

Dickens should write a novel called “A Tale of Two Montclair Congresspeople.” Sure, that author is dead, but with enough vitamins…

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
Then there are clothes. Isn’t it wonderful that Toni’s Kitchen in Montclair has opened a thrift shop in Bloomfield?

Sincerely,
Greta Garb, Oh!

It is. Located at 23 Broad — which reminds me that the phrase “23 skidoo” means “get lost.” I sense my readers agree, so this column is now over.

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.