TW3: April 3 - April 9, 2006: Plainfield-centered news digest of the past week

Mondays, PLAINFIELD TODAY is a digest of Plainfield-only news from the past week: That Was The Week That Was -- or TW3 -- with links to the online stories.

GOVERNMENT / POLITICS

CRIME AND POLICING: In the wake of the reinstatement of police chief Ed Santiago and the court's ruling that the City's case was 'without merit,' the Courier editorialized on the matter, laying out the options as they see it: get Assemblyman Green's bill passed and use it to fire the chief (not likely, they conclude), buy the chief out (which could be expensive to the taxpayers, and there is no indication he is interested), or look for a way to 'make the relationship work' (how likely is that?). Resident Joseph Clore probably expressed the opinion of many in his letter in the Courier, urging the city administration to 'do the right thing.'

CONFERENCE MEETINGS: The City Council, implementing its new concept of 'conference meetings,' will take up the topic of public safety at its first such meeting -- this evening at 7:00 P.M., in Muhlenberg's Centennial Hall. Though there was some initial confusion -- which Bernice pointed out -- over whether this is a Council meeting (it is) or a public hearing (it is not), the Courier notes it will debut as the first in a series to be devoted to individual topics.

Police chief Ed Santiago, public safety director Martin Hellwig, and the County prosecutor's office will address the Council on issues and initiatives as they see them. The goal, Bernice points out, will be to help in the Council's formulation of policy -- though it is not clear what exactly the Council's role is in this area. According to Bernice, the Council's new rules of conduct will limit public comment at this meeting to fifteen minutes, total.

The Courier quotes council president Ray Blanco as saying, "The number-one issue facing our city is crime. We've had too many murders in recent years. We've have failed to recognize the presence of gangs. This council is committed to developing and initiating whatever it takes to significantly reduce crime."

GANGS: Speaking of crime and gangs, Dan posted some samples of the colors and gear that gang members, wannabes and kids who are bullied by -- or frightened of -- gangs wear. Now that warm weather is imminent, you will note these signs more as young people shed their winter wear.

And the likelihood we will continue to see gun-toting and gunplay does not seem to be reduced, as an incident reported in the Courier notes -- including that adults tried to interfere with police taking a gun-carrying youth into custody. Let's hope it is not a long, hot summer...

SENIOR CENTER: Bernice reminds us that the Senior Center issue has not gone away. In fact, council president Blanco is quoted as saying the $4.3 million senior center is 'a mistake he should have acknowledged last year.' This comment seems a bit incongruous in light of the great care and deliberation taken by the Council last summer to separate the McWilliams' administration's single bond proposal into four separate bond ordinances to guarantee that the monies raised were spent for the purposes intended.

As for the construction of the Center, Bernice quotes city administrator Carlton McGee, speaking at last week's Seniors' meeting as saying he is “95 percent sure” the building will be on the East Front Street site. As for a timeline, he said, referring to the new administration, “If there’s nothing there in four years, we’re out.”

PMUA's NEW RECYCLING SCHEDULE: Dan tried to toss a bouquet to the PMUA for the new recycle schedule, with interesting results. First off, if you were on another planet for the last couple of weeks, it involves not having any recycle pickup on months with 5 Wednesdays. It's simple and elegant solution and Dan posted the chart here, which you can print and put on your fridge or wherever. Turns out it must have been something like root canal without Novocaine, judging by the responses received. In any event, it is a good idea. Print the chart out and get with the program! Oh, and are those workers goofing off on the 5th Wednesdays? No, but if you want to find out what they're doing you'll have to check with the PMUA.

ETC.: Lastly, Bernice tackled the issue of tax liens. But if you wanted to check on your neighbors and friends you missed your opportunity unless you bought the March 30 Courier. Bernice is nothing if not discreet...

...and illegal construction: "City Council President Ray Blanco promised tough penalties and even lawsuits to fight illegal after-hours construction that both residents and council members brought up Monday." Like gangs, this is a perennial problem. And, as with gangs, warm weather will reveal all...


Last Friday's H.I.T.S.: "H.I.T.S.: Council confusion? County spying on you? More cops on the street?"
Last Monday's TW3: "TW3: March 27 - April 2, 2006"
Mondays, PLAINFIELD TODAY is a digest of Plainfield-only news from the past week: That Was The Week That Was -- or TW3 -- with links to the online stories.


COMMUNITY

Blogs: "Local resident starts blog to share opinions on social issues"
.......... - and the blog is here
Boys & Girls Club: "When it comes to guiding kids, Plainfield club is doing just fine"
Board of Ed Forum: "School board hopefuls appearing at LWV forum"
Children's Choir Festival: "United voices at Crescent Avenue Church"
Exhibit: "Holocaust Exhibit Debuts Tomorrow at Plainfield Public Library"
and an accompanying "Monday Night Film Series - Time To Remember"
Obituary - CN: "Charles E. Billups, retired machinist, community activist"
..... - SL: "Charles E. Billups, communit activist"
Obituary: "Peter R. 'Al' Briggs Sr., Vietnam War veteran"
..... - "Unexpected death in Mayor's family"
PHS Sports: "Union Catholic sweeps distance medley events at PHS relays"
Schools: "Plainfield schools on the upgrade; Key test scores up"
Women's History Month: "Plainfield honors its empowered women"


CONNECTIONS? FOOD FOR THOUGHT

100 Day Milepost: "Edison mayor gaining traction and approval with policies"
Artist Spaces: "A Place of Their Own, Where Creativity Rules"
Cab Companies: "Dover pulls 3 of 4 local taxicab firms off the road"
Campaigning: "Newark Councilman: Elections chief playing politics"
Council Meetings: "Adubato buses in hundreds to counter claim of 'plantation'"
Corruption, American-style: "The world's fattest piggy bank"
Daylaborers: "Out of Town's Sight, Still on the County's Mind"
Daylaborers: "Lakewood approves muster zone plan"
Demographics: "New York City Losing Blacks, Census Shows" -- map here
Development: "New contractor hired in redesign of shopping district site"
Distressed Cities Aid: "A Primer on Distressed Cities Aid"
Email: "E-Mail Message Sent in Error Turns Campaign Psst to Oops"
Email's Hidden Message: "ABC Suspends Producer for E-Mail Messages"
Eminent Domain: "Asbury Park board loses eminent-domain wrangle"
Eminent Domain: "Raise your fists against eminent domain"
Fake Permit Scam: "Newark official's son held in scam"
Gangs: "11 youths arrested; Gunshot during incident at mall"
Gangs and gun violence - SL: "Essex crackdown on gunmen to be copied elsewhere"
..... -CN: "N.J. police, officials announce tactics to stem gang violence"
High School Conflicts: "Student mediators try to keep the peace"
Historic Preservation: "Historical plan prompts anger in Bernards"
House Tours: "Fund-Raisers Give 'Full House' a Whole New Meaning"
Housing: "Groups offer housing options to affordable home seekers"
Housing Prices: "New Rochelle moves to keep a mix of home prices"
Inspections Issues: "Despite investigation, inspector stays"
Legislature: "Bryant is a scrapper for his constituency"
Lobbying - Gannett Special Report:
... - "Governments play, too; Schools, towns pay big for a little help in Trenton"
... - "Deals on wheels? Lobbyists and politicians ride the rails"
... - "Lobbying stops bill to ban use of animals to hunt"
... - "Lobbyists key players in cable TV fight"
... - "School-choice group clashes with influential NJEA"
... - "Some pushing for more disclosure"
... - Editorial, CN: "Show public the money spent on lobbying"
Party Committees: "Study: 40% of state's county party committee seats empty"
Patronage: "How UMDNJ became a 'patronage pit'"
... - CN: "Right friends key to getting job at UMDNJ" - includes list of 'influencers'
Police HQ: "New spacious headquarters awaits E. Orange police force"
Recall Election - CN: "Joerger recall election moving forward"
... - SL: "Bedminster puts signature of approval on recall bid"
School Board Election: "Dispute over debate heats up Hillside school race"
Security: "Fingerprint ID readers put in 4 Elizabeth public housing complexes"
Trees: "Cherry blossom fest plants seeds to save trees"
Verizon vs. Comcast: "Stage set on Long Island for a preview of Cable TV competition"
Zoning Dispute: "Mayor blasts lawsuit filed by Hillsborough Properties"


ET CETERA

Letter - CN: Victoria Griswold: "Election fraud needs recourse"