More Action Needed On Montclair Dispute, Ex-Councilwoman Says

MONTCLAIR, NJ — A former Montclair town council member says more action needs to be taken in the wake of a recent dispute between neighbors on Marion Road.

Last week, Renee Baskerville – who previously served as councilwoman in the town’s 4th Ward – released an op-ed about the argument, which took place between a white woman and her Black neighbors on June 29.

The incident was caught on video and widely shared on social media. In a caption to the video, the poster calls the woman "Permit Karen" and accuses her of calling police on him and his wife because they're Black. He alleges that the incident started over a dispute about whether they had the proper permit to build a stone patio in their backyard.

According to police, the woman said she was "pushed" during the incident. However, witnesses – many of whom can be seen on video confronting the woman – said they didn't see any physical contact.

No criminal charges have been filed against either party, Montclair police said.

• See related article: Montclair Neighbors Decry Woman Who Called Cops On Black Couple

Baskerville said that several Montclair residents have since been reaching out to her, expressing “righteous indignation” about the incident.

Baskerville alleged that it was “reckless” for the woman to involve police in the dispute, especially considering the local impact of the Black Lives Matter movement.

She added that “there is no suggestion that the Montclair Police Department failed to respond appropriately that day.” Still, something more must be done, Baskerville urged.

In her op-ed, Baskerville called for the town attorney to look into the possibility of enacting a local law to make filing a false report to police a civil and criminal offense in Montclair. However, Township Attorney Ira Karasick said during a recent town council meeting that such an ordinance can’t be developed because a state law addressing that already exists, TAP Into Montclair reported.

While the incident is a stern reminder that Montclair still has work to do when it comes to race relations, there’s a silver lining to the dispute, Baskerville said.

“Many people, like the family involved in the referenced matter, moved here three years ago, in part, because of its reputation as a welcoming community that values and works to ensure diversity, inclusion and dignity of all persons,” Baskerville said.

“That people not only from the immediate neighborhood, but residents from across the township went to the residence of the family under assault to lend support or simply stand in solidarity was uplifting – another testament of who we Montclairions are,” she added.

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