GOVERNMENT / POLITICS
Though crime in the news had a 'vacation' last week (only one story), that just means the media didn't focus on it. Those who live in Plainfield know better. And those who are thinking of living in Plainfield can also get a dose -- of the figures, that is, when they check such community information websites as The Relocation Crime Lab.
But the real crime this past week seems to have been the city's official website.
After I ranted on Friday about still not being able to leave a voicemail on the PCTV-74 phone, a realtor reader suggested taking a look at the city's website. Especially from the point of view of a prospective homebuyer. What an eye opener! I posted a review of the city's website on Saturday: "Plainfield puts its best face forward?"
Forget how the 'new' home page has utterly destroyed the 'look and feel' of John DiPane's hard work in redesigning the site before his retirement. Check out my post for the catalog of horrors.
You can get two quite different experiences of the site, depending on where you start. And you can find people listed who are no longer in charge -- and fail to find people who are. John DiPane wrote me over the weekend that all the information was up-to-date and all the links had been tested prior to handing the site over to Mr. Grey.
John also pointed out that the Council meeting dates have still not been updated, even though the changes were approved back in March, to begin in April, and tonight we will have the third agenda-setting session under the new calendar!
He pointed out that his email address -- now defunct -- still has not been removed, though he has repeatedly asked.
And on that note, perhaps the most egregious insult to someone expecting the site to work. While browsing the Economic Development pages, I saw a contact email link to get more information on moving a business to Painfield and checked it by send a message. Lo and behold, the following was in my mailbox on Saturday morning:
Is this not a crime against the taxpayers of Plainfield? And against those interested in moving or bringing their business here?The following addresses had delivery problems:
Permanent Failure: 550_plfded@earthlink.net...User_unknown
Thursday was the Chamber of Commerce's important Legislative Breakfast which I posted later in the day.
Also on Thursday, I put up the link to Pat Ballard Fox's important letter in the Courier on transit villages and economic development projects proposed but stymied under Mayor Al McWilliams. Hopefully, these stalled projects may get another look.
On Saturday, the Courier editorialized in favor of the Corzine freeze on aid to Abbott districts. The freeze, approved by the NJ Supremes last week, will have an immediate impact on the Plainfield school district's budget plannning. Stay tuned.
Tuesday's mayoral election in Newark is going to have long-term implications -- not only for Newark, but for the state and, indirectly, Plainfield. The stories assessing the election and its impact were gathered here. As well, Bob Braun wrote a thoughtful piece on the sadness of New Jersey's failure to love its cities. . ."A new age begins in Newark ... just like all the ones before"
Last Friday's H.I.T.S.: "HITS: Eerie Council meetings... Raising the roof/getting a roof... Teachers on the march...
Last Monday's TW3: "TW3: May 1 - May 7, 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
Anti-Crime March: "Two mothers organize Plainfield anti-crime march"
Arts: "Meet the Masters: Plainfield Public School Student Art at Swain's"
Chamber of Commerce [last item]: "Network Thursday at chamber event"
Elections, Nonpartisan: "Today is election day in 'nonpartisan' communities"
Fatal Accident: "Plainfield cyclist killed crossing Route 22"
Letter: Sean Henriques: "Plainfield should fix main rail station"
Letter: Michael Smith: "Self-service gas deserves look"
Monday Afternoon Club: "State Convention highlights work of women's clubs"
Plainfield Girlchoir: "Show by young singers is a high note for seniors"
Red Cross [last item]: "Red Cross volunteers feted at reception"
Speaking Out: Rick Taylor: "City's young learn media's importance"
.. - This 'Speaking Out' piece is permanently archived here
Track & Field: "Smith, Taylor, Adams propel Plainfield to girls division title"
YMCA: "Plainfield YMCA chief's focus is community"
CRIME
"Plainfield driver faces 10 years for trying to flee"
CONNECTIONS? FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Abbott Schools Ruling - SL: "Top court orders 'Abbott freeze' but lets schools appeal"
.. - CN: "Top court upholds Abbott aid freeze"
.. - NYT: "Court Allows Corzine to Freeze Aid to Poor School Districts"
Anti-immigrant bias?: "Letter leads to removal in Bound Brook"
... - and here's the Letter: "Bound Brook saw respite from illegals"
Arts Districts/Lofts: "Desperately Seeking Artists"
Black-owned Biz: "Behind growing numbers, a troubling trend"
.... - Lydia Sanchez Flagg is featured, got her start on Plainwood Square
County Perks: "Living in a county-owned Summit house, at $300 a month"
Dems - SL: "Assembly leader takes on property taxes"
... - CN: "Proposals target pension abuse, school district spending, shared services"
Development: "Monroe mayor's many roles tie in to big proposal"
Drugs: "The 2 faces of a good trooper gone bad, who ran drug ring"
Drugs: "Students shout down drugs with songs"
Drugs: "18 suspected gang members include 6 brothers, 2 sisters and kin"
Drug Buyers, Johns: "Naming Names in Paterson, and Let the Named Beware"
Ex-cons: "Getting Past 'Game Face' in Job Interviews"
Gangs: "In Trenton, Anti-Gang Measures Are Proposed"
Gas Boycotts: "Message Aimed at Big Oil, Town Council Shoots Itself In Foot"
Historic Preservation: "Preservation NJ names key spots to preserve"
.. - Councilman Burney is a board member of the state's nonprofit preservation group
Immigrants: "Health Care Eludes Families in the Shadows"
Lynch, John: "As federal investigation continues, Lynch plans exit from public life"
Marketing - 'Walk of Fame': "East Orange's ties to fame to be cast in concrete"
Media: "Q&A: The role of journalism in a changing world"
Parks and Green Space: "A map guide to city's green side"
Real Estate: "NJ real-estate professionals adjusting to new reality"
.. - Mortgages: "Some people staying away from traditional 30-year plan"
Retailing: "Making a Store New While Keeping It Old"
Schools: "Boston's Success Could Be Lesson for Others"
School Budgets: "Proposed bill would end annual ritual unless costs exceed state cap"
... - North Plainfield: "North Plainfield reduces school budget by $234K"
... - Layoffs: "Budget cuts force layoffs of half in Trenton schools"
Schools, Construction: "Safety becomes as issue in school building program"
Schools, Residency: "District gets tough on school enrollment"
Taxes, Mayors: "Mayors renew calls for tax convention"
Taxing Nonprofits: "Playing Tough With the Tax-Exempt"
Wireles, Townwide: "Summit is looking to cast wireless net"
ET CETERA - NON-PARTISAN ELECTIONS
Newark - SL: "Newark voters embrace 2002 loser"
... - Booker: "Before day of triumph, years of canny spending"
... - Sharpe Votes: "The vintage Sharpe James shows up to vote"
... - Ron Rice: "Candidate Rice marched uphill from the beginning"
... - North Ward: "Newcomer Ramos trounces Corchado"
... - Runoff Council Races: "As winners celebrate, 6 runoffs remain"
... - Opinion: Bob Braun: "A new age begins in Newark ... just like all the ones before"
... - Opinion: Tom Moran: "Dusting off hopes for a safer, kinder city"
... - Opinion: Joan Whitlow: "Newark needs more than regime change"
... - Campaign notes: "A fleet of campaign vehicles keeps democracy in motion"
.. - NYT: "On 2nd Try, Booker Glides In as Newark Mayor"
.... - Analysis: "Cory Anthony Booker: On a Path That Could Have No Limits"
... - CN: "Booker wins Newark mayoral election in landslide victory"
..... - Ledger's Newark campaign blog is here, and the NY Times blog is here
Long Branch: "Schneider team wins again in Long Branch"
Trenton: "Palmer wins 5th term; Unusually tight victory for 16-year mayor"
Bayonne: "Showdown for Doria, Conaghan"
Paterson: Torres triumphs, calls city the winne
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