This week on The Montclair Pod, Farnoosh and Mike drop the episode a little early because Montclair’s school deficit story is moving at warp speed, and because some of us need something to listen to while hiding from relatives in the bathroom.
In our deep-dive roundtable, we bring in Matt Kadosh and Asad Jung, the two Montclair Local reporters who’ve been working around the clock to cover the town’s $19.6 million school deficit, the December 9 special election, and the sudden flurry of lawsuits, claims, and shifting narratives.
Together, we unpack:
- The human side of reporting the crisis — what it’s been like to chase constant updates, untangle confusing information, and manage the emotional temperature of the town.
- The lawsuit challenging the December 9 ballot, which alleges the wording is “confusing” and “misleading.” Could it derail the vote? Alter public perception? Or further divide an already tense community?
- The new claim against former Business Administrator Christina Hunt, including allegations she mishandled a food-services contract that may have cost the district over $500,000, and the curious gaps in paperwork that complicate the case.
- The broader systemic issues: years of turnover, fragile financial controls, and the question of whether it’s fair — or even correct — to pin this moment on one person.
- What comes next, including more litigation, more scrutiny, and how residents might better understand the scale and origins of the crisis.
Then:
Farnoosh & Mike Eat Food, sponsored by Twocents, takes you inside Qahwah House, the Yemeni coffee spot drawing crowds for its honey-soaked desserts and cardamom-spiced brews.
And in Ask Our Agent, Compass agent (and pod sponsor) Karin Diana breaks down the most common bidding mistakes that cost buyers homes in Montclair’s ultra-competitive market, from ignoring the data to missing the psychology behind list price strategies.
We wrap with local headlines, big events (hello, Winterfest), a new NYC restaurant coming to Bloomfield Ave, and a reminder to support Toni’s Kitchen this holiday season.
Learn about Montclair’s Budget Hearings Here. And donate to Toni’s Kitchen here and here.
It’s a packed pre-holiday episode that’s timely, caffeinated, and essential listening for anyone trying to understand the fast-moving story shaping Montclair right now.
To read more of the stories we reference from The Montclair Local, check out: