u/contrarian_outlier_2
Primary Election June 2
More information can be found on the Board of Elections website: https://www.morriscountynj.gov/Government/Voting-and-Elections
u/contrarian_outlier_2 — 7 days ago
▲ 1 r/MorrisTwp
Morris Township Future Forum
We are a non-partisan citizen advocacy group dedicated to informed civic engagement on the decisions shaping our community. We monitor Township Committee, Planning Board, and Zoning Board proceedings, participate in public hearings, file Open Public Records Act requests when warranted, and produce substantive analysis of the governance issues facing Morris Township.
This page is one way we keep our neighbors connected to that work.
We are launching this group because Morris Township residents deserve substantive, fact-based reporting on the governance of our community — and because too much of the public discussion about Township decisions has been one-sided, conducted through Township communications channels that present official narratives without independent analysis.
Many residents remain unsettled by how the Township handled its Round 3 affordable housing obligations and is now handling Round 4. Significant market-rate development at sites like the Honeywell Red Bulls, and Colgate-Mennen properties produced opportunities that could have been leveraged toward Morris Township's affordable housing obligations — and were not.
Today, the Township faces Round 4 obligations that will be met largely through new construction on sites that residents see as poorly suited to additional density, with infrastructure that is already strained and with PILOT structures that exempt new development from contributing to school funding.
These are decisions with consequences that residents will live with for decades. They were made with limited public engagement, defended with limited public explanation, and continue to be implemented with limited responsiveness to the residents most affected.
Residents who raise these concerns at Township Committee meetings, at Planning Board hearings, and through OPRA requests have too often found themselves heard but not answered, attended to but not engaged, treated as a procedural requirement rather than as constituents whose concerns merit substantive response. This is a governance culture that needs to change, and changing it requires a sustained, organized civic voice.
Morris Township Future Forum is one part of building that voice.
OUR INAUGURAL NEWSLETTER IS NOW AVAILABLE:
In this issue, you will find:
"Happy Arbor Day? Counting Trees in Morris Township" — an original analysis using U.S. Forest Service data showing that Morris Township lost approximately 250 acres of tree canopy between 2013 and 2023, despite Township programs intended to maintain canopy cover.
"Making a Difference" — a feature recognizing the work of Charlie Schachter and the Morris Township Environmental Commission on community education and the Butterworth pollinator garden.
A May 2026 calendar of Township government meetings, important deadlines for residents, and links to cultural and recreational venues across Morris Township and Morristown.
Our mission statement and editorial standards.
Future issues will examine other matters of consequence to Morris Township residents, including the federal lawsuit against the Township over Ordinance 08-22, regional coordination with civic groups in neighboring communities, and the substantive issues facing voters in this November's Township Committee election.
Follow this page for ongoing updates between issues. To subscribe to the newsletter directly, email us at mtwpff@gmail.com.
We are also looking for volunteers. Sustained civic advocacy takes work — research, proofreading, video editing, social media, calendar maintenance — and the group is stronger when more residents contribute to it. If you can offer a few hours a month, we would value your help. Reach out at mtwpff@gmail.com.
u/contrarian_outlier_2 — 8 days ago
Bud Ravitz: Cyberbully
A Candidate's Character: What Bud Ravitz Showed Us
Morris Township Future Forum has always believed that voters deserve complete information. Earlier this cycle, we editorially encouraged residents to examine Bud Ravitz's record and positions and make their own judgment. We stand by that approach.
Mr. Ravitz, however, apparently does not.
When we posted substantive questions about Township PILOT programs — attaching links to our actual research — Mr. Ravitz responded not with answers, but with contempt. He called us a "troll page." He questioned whether we were "smart" enough to understand local governance. He demanded we identify ourselves while simultaneously dismissing anything we might say.
When we attempted to address his concerns directly — by phone, in good faith — he responded with a profane tirade.
We are Morris Township residents. We are not trolls.
We note that Mr. Ravitz's own party reached a similar conclusion before we did. Democratic chair George Quillan stated publicly that the Morris Township Democratic Committee declined to endorse Ravitz in part because "a number of our members think he devotes too much time and effort to writing opinion pieces on national issues and not enough on the details of his job as a local government official." insidernj
That judgment came from the people who know him best politically.
Mr. Ravitz is now running as an independent under the banner of "USA 2.0." Voters are free to evaluate that candidacy. But they should do so with full knowledge of how this candidate treats constituents who ask questions he doesn't like.
Morris Township deserves representatives who welcome scrutiny. Mr. Ravitz has demonstrated, repeatedly and in his own words, that he does not.
— Morris Township Future Forum
u/contrarian_outlier_2 — 7 days ago
▲ 14 r/moraldilemmas
I am a mod on another subreddit devoted to local issues where another redditor was engaging with me in a healthy debate about a local issue. I subsequently broke off further dialogue with this individual because they had their position and I had mine and that was that. Out of curiosity, I looked at this person's post history, and this individual had posted their age, country of origin, and a picture of their house as well as their political affiliation. All those data points were enough for me to identify this individual; they actually live about a mile away from me. Should I DM this individual and suggest they make their post history private? My gut tells me not to because I think this information would not be well received but I think they should be made aware that this data is out there and could be used to identify them. In addition, there were some posts of a highly personal and intimate nature that I'm sure they would not like to see the light of day any further. Thoughts?
u/contrarian_outlier_2 — 9 days ago
▲ 1 r/MorrisTwp
May 2006 Upcoming Events
MAY 2026 CALENDAR
Morris Township Government Meetings
Monday, May 4, 7:00 PM — Planning Board Meeting Municipal Building, 50 Woodland Avenue
Monday, May 18, 7:00 PM — Board of Adjustment Meeting Municipal Building, 50 Woodland Avenue
Wednesday, May 20, 7:00 PM — Township Committee Regular Meeting Municipal Building, 50
Woodland Avenue (in-person and via Zoom) Public hearings scheduled on Ordinance No. 25-26 (Master
Plan consultant appropriation, up to $250,000) and on the ordinance appropriating $437,000 from the
Sewer Utility Capital Fund Balance for capital improvements.
Monday, May 25 — Memorial Day, Township offices closed
For meetings of other Township boards and commissions (Environmental Commission, Historic
Preservation Commission, Recreation Commission, Senior Citizen Advisory Committee, Open Space
Committee, Transportation Advisory Committee, and others), see the full Township calendar at
morristwp.com/calendar.aspx.
Important Dates for Residents
Friday, May 1 — Second-quarter property tax payment due
Thursday, May 14, 4:00 PM — Morris Township Annual Garage Sale registration deadline (register
through Community Pass via the Township website at
morristwp.com)
Monday, May 25 — Memorial Day; trash and recycling collection schedule adjusted (check your zone
with DPW at
morristwp.com/153/Collection-Services)
Monday, May 25 — Schools closed (Morris School District); refer to
district calendar
morrisschooldistrict.org for the full
Throughout May — Curbside Yard Waste Collection continues (refer to your zone schedule at
morristwp.com/183/Yard-Waste). Residents may also bring grass clippings and light brush directly to the
DPW Recycling Depot on Jane Way off West Hanover Avenue, weekdays 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM and
Saturdays 6:00 AM to 1:45 PM.
Looking Ahead
Saturday, June 20, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM — Morris County Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Event,
Chatham High School, 255 Lafayette Avenue, Chatham Township. Open to all Morris County residents
with proof of residency. (No HHW event is scheduled in May; the next opportunity after the April 25
event is June 20.) For full schedule and accepted materials, see
mcmua.com/sw_hhw_events.asp.
Thursday, June 18 — Morris School District last day of school (high school graduation day)
[Pool opening date for Ginty and Streeter Pools to be confirmed; historical opening is early June. Refer to
morristwp.com/461/Swim-Pool for current information.
Please let us know of any upcoming events for inclusion in future editions:
u/contrarian_outlier_2 — 11 days ago
▲ 1 r/MorrisTwp
We are a non-partisan citizen advocacy group dedicated to informed civic engagement on the decisions shaping our community. We monitor Township Committee, Planning Board, and Zoning Board proceedings, participate in public hearings, file Open Public Records Act requests when warranted, and produce substantive analysis of the governance issues facing Morris Township.
This page is one way we keep our neighbors connected to that work.
We are launching this group because Morris Township residents deserve substantive, fact-based reporting on the governance of our community — and because too much of the public discussion about Township decisions has been one-sided, conducted through Township communications channels that present official narratives without independent analysis.
Many residents remain unsettled by how the Township handled its Round 3 affordable housing obligations and is now handling Round 4. Significant market-rate development at sites like the Honeywell Red Bulls, and Colgate-Mennen properties produced opportunities that could have been leveraged toward Morris Township's affordable housing obligations — and were not.
Today, the Township faces Round 4 obligations that will be met largely through new construction on sites that residents see as poorly suited to additional density, with infrastructure that is already strained and with PILOT structures that exempt new development from contributing to school funding.
These are decisions with consequences that residents will live with for decades. They were made with limited public engagement, defended with limited public explanation, and continue to be implemented with limited responsiveness to the residents most affected.
Residents who raise these concerns at Township Committee meetings, at Planning Board hearings, and through OPRA requests have too often found themselves heard but not answered, attended to but not engaged, treated as a procedural requirement rather than as constituents whose concerns merit substantive response. This is a governance culture that needs to change, and changing it requires a sustained, organized civic voice.
Morris Township Future Forum is one part of building that voice.
OUR INAUGURAL NEWSLETTER IS NOW AVAILABLE:
In this issue, you will find:
"Happy Arbor Day? Counting Trees in Morris Township" — an original analysis using U.S. Forest Service data showing that Morris Township lost approximately 250 acres of tree canopy between 2013 and 2023, despite Township programs intended to maintain canopy cover.
"Making a Difference" — a feature recognizing the work of Charlie Schachter and the Morris Township Environmental Commission on community education and the Butterworth pollinator garden.
A May 2026 calendar of Township government meetings, important deadlines for residents, and links to cultural and recreational venues across Morris Township and Morristown.
Our mission statement and editorial standards.
Future issues will examine other matters of consequence to Morris Township residents, including the federal lawsuit against the Township over Ordinance 08-22, regional coordination with civic groups in neighboring communities, and the substantive issues facing voters in this November's Township Committee election.
Follow this page for ongoing updates between issues. To subscribe to the newsletter directly, email us at mtwpff@gmail.com.
We are also looking for volunteers. Sustained civic advocacy takes work — research, proofreading, video editing, social media, calendar maintenance — and the group is stronger when more residents contribute to it. If you can offer a few hours a month, we would value your help. Reach out at mtwpff@gmail.com.
u/contrarian_outlier_2 — 12 days ago
We are a non-partisan citizen advocacy group dedicated to informed civic engagement on the decisions shaping our community. We monitor Township Committee, Planning Board, and Zoning Board proceedings, participate in public hearings, file Open Public Records Act requests when warranted, and produce substantive analysis of the governance issues facing Morris Township.
This page is one way we keep our neighbors connected to that work.
We are launching this group because Morris Township residents deserve substantive, fact-based reporting on the governance of our community — and because too much of the public discussion about Township decisions has been one-sided, conducted through Township communications channels that present official narratives without independent analysis.
Many residents remain unsettled by how the Township handled its Round 3 affordable housing obligations and is now handling Round 4. Significant market-rate development at sites like the Honeywell Red Bulls, and Colgate-Mennen properties produced opportunities that could have been leveraged toward Morris Township's affordable housing obligations — and were not.
Today, the Township faces Round 4 obligations that will be met largely through new construction on sites that residents see as poorly suited to additional density, with infrastructure that is already strained and with PILOT structures that exempt new development from contributing to school funding.
These are decisions with consequences that residents will live with for decades. They were made with limited public engagement, defended with limited public explanation, and continue to be implemented with limited responsiveness to the residents most affected.
Residents who raise these concerns at Township Committee meetings, at Planning Board hearings, and through OPRA requests have too often found themselves heard but not answered, attended to but not engaged, treated as a procedural requirement rather than as constituents whose concerns merit substantive response. This is a governance culture that needs to change, and changing it requires a sustained, organized civic voice.
Morris Township Future Forum is one part of building that voice.
OUR INAUGURAL NEWSLETTER IS NOW AVAILABLE:
In this issue, you will find:
"Happy Arbor Day? Counting Trees in Morris Township" — an original analysis using U.S. Forest Service data showing that Morris Township lost approximately 250 acres of tree canopy between 2013 and 2023, despite Township programs intended to maintain canopy cover.
"Making a Difference" — a feature recognizing the work of Charlie Schachter and the Morris Township Environmental Commission on community education and the Butterworth pollinator garden.
A May 2026 calendar of Township government meetings, important deadlines for residents, and links to cultural and recreational venues across Morris Township and Morristown.
Our mission statement and editorial standards.
Future issues will examine other matters of consequence to Morris Township residents, including the federal lawsuit against the Township over Ordinance 08-22, regional coordination with civic groups in neighboring communities, and the substantive issues facing voters in this November's Township Committee election.
Follow this page for ongoing updates between issues. To subscribe to the newsletter directly, email us at mtwpff@gmail.com.
We are also looking for volunteers. Sustained civic advocacy takes work — research, proofreading, video editing, social media, calendar maintenance — and the group is stronger when more residents contribute to it. If you can offer a few hours a month, we would value your help. Reach out at mtwpff@gmail.com.
u/contrarian_outlier_2 — 14 days ago
▲ 2 r/MorrisTwp
The Power Behind the Throne: "Boss" Quillan
Recently, The Morris Township Democratic Committee unceremoniously threw incumbent Morris Township Committee members William 'Bud' Ravitz and Siva Jonnada under the bus. This is not the first time the MTDC decided to give an incumbent the heave ho having similarly pulled the chute on incumbent John Arvanites in 2020 for not towing the party line. These purges have the fingerprints of MTDC chairman George Quillan all over them. Quillan acts as the de facto political "boss" of the Morris Township Democratic machine along the lines of Jersey City's Frank Hague. He was also appointed as Chairman of the Morris Township Planning Board despite having no expertise is such disciplines as civil engineering, land use, or environmental engineering. The Morris Township Planning Board has been rubber stamping developments all over town with no regard to environmental impacts, school overcrowding, and congestion. It's time for the citizens of Morris Township to rage against this machine. DM me if you want in.
u/contrarian_outlier_2 — 2 months ago
▲ 1 r/MorrisTwp
Book an appointment now; slots fill up fast:
u/contrarian_outlier_2 — 2 months ago