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Montclair: a city on the go(Editor’s note: This is the third in a series on the history of Mont' clair and the formulation of the general plan.)BY RUTH KOEHLERPart three? The immediate past.To this day many people outside of Montclair wonder why the city was ever incorporated, and why the city that should never have been incorporated is so highly successful.Mayor Harold Hayes in a recent interview said the people in Montclair know why it was incorporated and also admits that the city was highly unusual at the time of incorporation in that it had no central or downtown shopping area.“Montclair was incorporated because the citizens wanted and needed better police and fire protection and street lighting.’99Hayes explained that prior to incorporation, the area from Mt. Baldy to Carbon Canyon was policed by two county sheriff's cars.Incorporated on a song and a prayer and nearly torn apart at its inception by political and internal problems, the city has kept itself aloof while overcoming these problems to become in 1970 a thriving and somewhat wealthy community.Hayes attributes Montclair’s success to the very fact that Montclair is young, and that as a consequence, it has always employed young and forward thinking persons to man its staff.t*Why, I’m the oldest codger on the council,” Hayes said. “Montclair is not burdened with old, outdated and preconceived notions of how things should be done.I»Former City Administrator Mike Graziano called Montclair “a city determined to find a way,”When other cities were unable to get things done, Montclair has nearly always led the way with a series of firsts.When they wanted and needed a post office, no obstacle was too large, including changing the name of the city. When Montclair needed sewers, a way was found to get sewers.When other cities were lamenting the fact that overpasses on some of their main arteries were becoming necessary at the railroad junctions, Montclair went ahead and found a way to take care of its trouble spot.That «oot, the overpass at Central and State, formerly known as Narod, was one of Montclair’s early and most proud achievements.Montclair has continually looked for ways to get revenues into the city and keep the burden of high taxes off the shoulders of the citizens.Two years ago the Montclair Plaza was opened in the city limits. That regional shopping center took the place of the one thing Montclair lacked — a downtown. It also has proven its worth in increased revenues.The land on which the Plaza stands was once considered for a high rise and condominium apartment complex with a golf course. Now the city fathers are glad that it was not used, as a golf course.Zoning and ordinances are now being passed to allow for high rise apartments in another area. The golf course idea is dead, much to the relief of many residents. At best, a golf course is a risky business.The fire department capital improvement program is another one of Montclair’s highlights. Three years ago Montclair assumed responsibility for the fire district which was formerly under the jurisdiction of the County,Under the guiding hand of Fire Chief Harold Duncan, the department is in the process of upgrading itself for the twofold purpose of better fire protection to the citizens and lower insurance rates. On a scale of one to ten, Montclair is now rated by the National Fire Insurance Board as six. A rating of One is the ideal goal.Right now the department is undergoing re-evaluation, the city expects a rating of four, but Chief Duncan is hoping Montclair qualifies for a scale rating of three.The Police Department has heen part of Montclair s responsibility since the city’s inception. Immediately upon incorporation, Montclair contracted with the County to establish an extra car to patrol the area. Within the first year, Montclair had three patrol cars of its own. The first Police Chief was Ben Smith. Three years later Chief Ray McLean took over.Montclair was the first city in the area to have police dogs cm its force. McLean says the efficiency and the worth cf the police dog program has more than proven itself. “When suspects are apprehended and interrogated by various police departments in the area interested in clearing up similar crimes on their books, invariably the suspect states he stays away from Montclair,” says McLean. According to him, the reason given by criminals themselves is that they are afraid of the dogs.Montclair Police Department has an innovative youth program, aimed at preventing crime and helping youngsters. This program, among many other recent innovations such as a female police reserve, has kept Montclair on the list of firsts.City Administrator Lauren Wasserman is another man who will no take the old statement “it can’t be done because it hasn't been done before” as an answer.Faced with the problem of minibikes as a growing public nuisance he instigated a program which will keep many youngsters, parents and citizens very happy for a long time. „* Continued next issue.
Newspaper Details
Montclair Tribune
Montclair, California, US
Thu, Oct 22, 1970
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Los A.
CA, USA 20 Jan 2021
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