How Walkable Is Montclair?

Well, it depends on exactly where you stand.  This question is typically raised by people considering a move to Montclair, as they wander around the confusing topography.

Here’s one tool that delivers a walk score related to nearby shopping, schools and parks.  These calculations are supposed to measure how “easy it is to live a car-lite lifestyle.”  When you achieve 70/100, then it’s possible to go car-free.

Of course, Montclair scores depend the delta between you and the Village.  If you live next to the coffee shops, then you’re in luck:  Thornhill Coffee Shop rates a 69/100, while Peets jumps to 88/100.

When you live higher up, it’s not practical to shop on foot.  Redwood Regional Park (Skyline) rates a paltry 8/100, surrounded by nature and a few ridge line homes.

As you move through the hills, the walk scores don’t improve much.  Places like Farallon Way (26), Robin Hood Way (35) and Ascot Drive (also 35) are far from stores or other services.

Still there are walkers out there.  We have an Oakland walking map that marks ideal streets and staircases, and use it frequently.  Yet most folks are exercising their dogs or themselves, rather than shopping.

The upshot?  Cars remain a way of life around these parts.  We’re dependent on guzzlers for work commutes and daily errands too.

Cops Give Fatherly Advice

Oakland cops weren’t shy with their advice to Montclair residents last week.   First, they want to hear about any problems you may see, even small things.  Second, they want us to lock our cars and houses.

While this fatherly advice seems pretty simple, I’m admitting to guilt on both counts.  I often dismiss things that might be suspicious AND I frequently leave my doors ajar.  Maybe it’s time to stop singing Que Sera Sera.

Sandra Pohutsky, who attended this village meeting, explained that “Sgt. Bernard Ortiz and Officer Melvin Bermudez want to know all the problems that are happening in Montclair so that they can recognize patterns and do something about it.  They get a list each day of our complaints.”

While I enjoy sharing what’s happening around town, my instinct is to clam up about experiences that seem minor.  For example, I’m one of many locals who have been solicited for magazines.  I didn’t ask to see the seller’s license nor did I get paranoid about him casing my home.  So I have officially spoken up now.

Saying something can make a difference.  The cops told a story about the “Sierra Club Solicitor” who committed 200 burglaries statewide.  One Montclarion was solicited and then noticed this nice guy rummaging around his neighbor’s backyard.  By calling 911, our local hero helped nab a hardened criminal.

For reference, here’s how to share anything suspicious:

  • Emergencies by land line – 911
  • Emergencies by cell phone – 510-777-3211
  • Non-emergencies – 510-777-3333

Besides the cops, the Montclair Safety & Improvement Council is a citizen group which encourages everyone to share issues they see in the Village; their Yahoo message board is a great vehicle to ask questions.  This group delivers priorities to Oakland cops and city officials about recurring matters.

So the ball’s in our court, to actively communicate with cops and watchdog groups.  Except for the Nina Reiser murder, the crimes are petty ones around here.  Yet it’s still possible to raise awareness and lower the thefts, by reaching out when something’s amiss.

Montclarions Chilled – Nina’s Been Found

We are all pretty chilled by this unexpected news about Nina Reiser.  As a bargaining chip, Hans Reiser was brought back to Montclair this afternoon to show authorities where he buried his estranged wife.

Nina was located in a four-foot ditch near the West Ridge Trail, in Redwood Regional Park.  I shudder while thinking about how many times I walked right by her grave.  This was not exactly a remote spot!

CBS News Producer Paul LaRosa filed this report a little while ago.   We all remember the Hans Reiser case, and the defenses including Nina’s escape to Russia.  As LaRosa said, “that puts a lie to his story.”

I’m sickened about this visit to the Hills today.  With Nina’s body as evidence, Hans might be able to prove the murder wasn’t pre-meditated.  This means the sentence could be reduced from 25/life down to 15/life instead.  Not that this brings back Nina or changes his kids’ lives in Russia.

Do you recall when Nina first went missing?  In Montclair, we were all horrified by this disappearance for a few days and hoped for the best.  But those flyers were up long after we knew better.  Years later, Hans was convicted of her murder due to overwhelming circumstantial evidence.

Our famous murder case is no longer a mystery.  Even though this closes the sordid tale, it will remain chilling for the Reisers’ neighbors.

Outside Mag: Brown, Not Dellums

Oakland has now been called a “bright idea” by Outside Magazine, which gives credit to former Mayor Jerry Brown for buffing up the downtown.   Is our current Oakland Mayor, Ron Dellums, just some metaphorical chopped liver?

In its August issue, Outside touts our urban renewal progress.  The article points to the housing units and restaurants built.  If you build it, then they will come.  (Yes, this doesn’t just apply to baseball diamonds built in cornfields.)  In Oakland, folks are starting to be drawn back to the urban core.

Mayor Dellums is attempting to take a little credit.  His chief of staff, David Chai, tried to attribute the city’s progress to the mayor during KQED’s Forum program last week.  After getting challenged by local journalists, this spokesman backed down quickly.  While Dellums may have supported additional development, results are a long-term proposition.

Of course, Dellums still needs to improve his public relations and communications.  On the local front, he did emerge recently to dismiss the city administrator and show who’s in charge at City Hall.  Most of the time, he avoids press conferences, individual interviews or, ultimately, the general public.

Until reading Outside, I didn’t consider how Dellums would be seen in the national press.  This magazine is far from a political centerpiece, appealing to active or armchair nature enthusiasts.  However it’s telling that the current mayor isn’t mentioned at all.

Non-existent press is probably the reason Mayor Dellums got ignored here.  Try this:  google “development” and “Dellums” together, and you see a few irrelevant results.  So if journalists or researchers tried to find out what’s happening lately, they would come up empty-handed.

There’s no question the quiet mayor needs to pull his communications act together soon – whether that’s putting more effectively flacks out there OR just deciding to engage with media more actively.

Jack London Fourth

The place for Oaklanders on July Fourth?  Jack London Square, which has free activities starting at 4pm today.  If you haven’t made plans, this line-up should make you feel appropriately patriotic.

You can hang out and listen to these groups:  Basic Black Soul and RB; Amigos Latin Pop; House of David Pop/Rock/Cover; and The Ben Oni Orchestra Big Band.

Your kids can be entertained for hours, too.  There’s the requisite magician, a jump house, carnival games, animal balloons, face-painting, and arts & crafts.

Fireworks return this year, after last year’s hiatus.  The display runs from 9:15 – 9:35 pm, accompanied by the Ben Oni Band playing our anthems.