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This week on The Montclair Pod, Farnoosh and Mike put two of Montclair’s favorite topics under the microscope: schools and real estate. With a nearly 20 million dollar school deficit, a December 9 referendum, and talk of a possible state monitor, they ask the question everyone is whispering at open houses: Could this hurt Montclair’s reputation and even our property values?

• They revisit their interview with Town Manager Stephen Marks, who says the housing market is still strong by the numbers, then layer in fresh data and social media reactions. Local real estate attorney and 18 year Montclair resident Jen Metzger joins to explain what she is seeing in contracts, buyer behavior, and how much school headlines really factor into closing day.
• NJ also has a new governor. Political reporter Terrence McDonald of the New Jersey Monitor stops by with quick reactions to Mikie Sherrill’s decisive statewide win, why flipping several Trump leaning counties matters, and how a governor who raised her family here might show up for towns like Montclair that are wrestling with school funding and affordability.
• Farnoosh and Mike then pull back the curtain on their decision to run an anonymous No No op-ed about the referendum on MontclairPod.com.
• In Ask Our Agent, sponsor and Compass agent Karin Diana answers a question many Brooklyn and Manhattan buyers have: What is the toughest part of adjusting to Montclair life and how do you ease the shift from walkable city to car seats, commutes, and home repairs?
• For Farnoosh and Mike Eat Food, brought to you by Twocents, the hosts head to La Fontaine, a charming café blending French, Italian, and Turkish flavors, and talk about why it has become a neighborhood favorite.
• And if you have ever wanted to rent your house to a movie crew, this one is for you. Former Upper Montclair homeowner Kim Amirata shares what it was like to have her house used in the new Bruce Springsteen biopic, and Glenn Schuster of Film Friendly Locations explains how productions find Montclair homes and what homeowners can expect.
• The episode wraps with a quick local news rundown, from township email scams to school clubs losing funding to the upcoming Montclair Comedy Festival, plus the one big thing each host is doing this weekend.

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