TW3: May 1 - May 7, 2006: Plainfield-centered news digest of the past week

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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

COUNCIL: The City Council moved this past week (the second of its Monday/Wednesday pattern) to repeal the ordinance establishing the 'Safe Homes' initiative and to expand the Special Improvement District. Bernice reported on both the 'Safe Homes' repeal and the SID expansion. The Courier reported on the Council's business meeting on Friday with "Plainfield repeals ordinance to limit overcrowding". Two points to note: Inspections staff were unaware of moves to eliminate the program and the SID expansion is being rejiggered after Bernice pointed out that the SID proposal included residential properties which are exempt by their nature. Here's a question for you: Resolutions are signed off on before going to Council; the Corporation Counsel affirms they are correct as to form, and the City Administrator affirms they are correct as to business purpose. So which one should have caught the exempted properties?

BOARD OF EDUCATION: A new Board of Education was seated on Tuesday with the swearing-in of Rasheed Abdul-Haqq, Pat Barksdale and Lisa Logan-Leach. Bernice reported on the meeting, and Dan reviewed fiscal challenges the Board faces, including one of the big issues Gov. Corzine is trying to put on the local Boards' plate: keeping Abbott funding flat. The papers were full of the state's funding freeze moves and the review by the state's Supreme Court [see special section under 'Connections'], and the Courier editorialized on Thursday that the state needs a breather from the Abbott aid mandate. The fear among Abbott districts is that it will not be a one-time freeze, but will continue indefinitely -- perhaps even permanently -- if the state's fiscal position does not improve. And guess who will have to pick up the slack -- estimated at about 4% annually in fixed cost increases?

IMMIGRATION: Last Monday's day of rallies and boycotts around immigration issues mobilized milllions of immigrants and their supporters countrywide [see special section under 'Connections'], including, as Bernice reported, a rally in front of City Hall during the early afternoon and a spontaneous rally in front of the YMCA on Monday evening as the Council held its agenda-setting session. While the rallies focused on questions surrounding the current national debate on whether or how to legalize illegal immigrants, other issues are being brought into the conversation -- including the growing economic power of immigrants in the nation's communities. Locally, where most immigrants are Spanish-speaking, there are questions about the lack of proportionate representation in city employment -- especially in the police and fire divisions. We will certainly hear more of this as time passes. Sunday's Ledger ran a front page story on undocumented immigrants' hesitancy to use health and social services. Anecdotal evidence concerning the Plainfield Health Center suggests that may be less of an issue in Plainfield. Or more, depending on your point of view.

EMINENT DOMAIN: Included is a special section of recent articles on Eminent Domain under 'Connections' -- the national debate about whether or not governments can take private property for other than public purposes gains momentum. You can be sure it will reach Plainfield sooner or later.

CRIME:

"Assault charges upgraded to murder in Suarez case"
"Plainfield man accused of fondling girl at church"
"Plainfield man indicted after 4-town police chase"
"Plainfield pair are in attack outside bar"
SL: "Plainfield man in police custody after N. Plainfield robbery, high speed chase"
... - CN: "N. Plainfield cop chasing Plainfield robbery suspect ends with crash"
Liberty Village Disturbance: "Dozen arrested after disturbance"


Last H.I.T.S.: "Illegal rooming houses... New Finance director?... Kenyon Ave waits for a callback... Jocelyn wages war?... Drugs where!!?..."
Last week's TW3: "April 24 - April 30"


COMMUNITY
Cardinals 5K Run: "Cardinals - 5th Annual 5K Run & Health Walk"
Cedar Brook Park: "Cedar Brook Lake restoration under way"
Celebrity Basketball Fundraiser: "Basketball fundraiser brings pros to Plainfield"
Girl Scouts: "Girl Scout volunteers are honored by Washington Rock Council"
Memorial: "Memorial Saturday for Peggy Thomas, a Symphony founder"
Plainfield Today: "Auto accident disrupts Plainfield Today today"
Poem: "Ozymandias - thoughts truly for our times"
Schools: "Schools showing off latest technology"
Union County Relays: "Plainfield's girls: Most impressive single relay"


CONNECTIONS? FOOD FOR THOUGHT
After-School Care: "Newark Museum after-care program inspires kids"
Antiwar Demo - Area Residents quoted: "Giving the President a Pink Slip"
Bowser Goes National: "New President of National Conference of Black Mayors"
'Christmas Tree' Fund: "Corzine shuts down remainder of program's funds for good"
Development: "Condos, parking for Cranford's south side"
... - 'Steep Slopes': "Caldwell weighs 'steep slope' limits"
... - Resident participation: "Residents invited on-site to share development ideas"
Ex-convicts: "Jobs for ex-cons an issue Newark's next mayor must deal with"
E-Z Pass Tags: "Die-hard E-ZPass tags will replace aging transponders"
Gangs, Domestic Violence: "New NJ programs stand out among other cuts"
Gas Prices: "The [true] high price we pay for gasoline"
Google 'Mashups': "Trinity College Uses Google to Map the Invisible City"
Handicapped Parking: Speaking Out: "Cottrell's work spotlights cheating"
High School Sports: "Drug tests OK'd for high school athletes"
Historic Preservation: "Sharpe sets off ruckus by 'firing' Newark preservationist"
Human Trafficking - SL: "Network busted; Believe illegal immigrants forced into prostitution"
... - "Men were seen as hard-working business owners"
... - NYT: "Human-Smuggling Inquiry Leads to Raids and Arrests"
... - The suspects came to the attention of authorities during the Plainfield case of four years ago
... - "State offers perfect atmosphere for trafficking predators"
Immigration Reform - LAT: "Immigrants Demonstrate Peaceful Power"
... - SL: Analysis: "With no overall leader, rights groups ponder the next step"
... - NYT: Analysis: "After Immigration Protests, Goal Remains Elusive"
Official Corruption: "Lawmakers set to scrutinize bevy of corruption bills"
Pay-to-play: "State Democrats backpedal on pay-to-play"
PILOTs: "Jets get $3.6M tax break on training facility"
Political Flyers: "In Newark race, the mud flies" -- cribbed from Plainfield??
Rail Tunnel to Penn Station: "New York front-runner gets behind rail tunnel"
Recall - Editorial, CN: "Joerger's decision a winner for Bedminster"
Sewerage Privatization: "Sewerage authority privatization stirs up debate"
Sodas in Schools - Bloomberg: "Coca-Cola, Pepsi Ban Soda in Schools in Clinton Deal"
... - SL: "Jersey schools' ban on soda spreads"
Sunshine Law: "Sharpe underscores point with DCA head"
... - Sends Corzine a message: Unhappy with press presence at meeting
Tax Rebate Apps in Mail: "Senior and disabled homeowners can receive up to $1,320"
Teacher Pensions: "Pension fund falls $13B short of needed bottom line"
Traffic Control: "Circle vs. roundabout: The debate spins on"

ABBOTT SCHOOLS FUNDING
SL: "State justices hear argument for freezing aid to poor schools"
..... - "Farber argues Abbot fiscal failures mean districts can do without more aid"
CN: "Before high court, Farber pushes for Abbott funds freeze"
NYT: "Trenton Asks for a Freeze in School Aid"


EMINENT DOMAIN - Courier Series [archived here]:
... - "Ruling by high court made seizure an issue of 'eminent' concern"
... - "What is public right to private property?"
... - "Group targets eminent domain abuse"
... - "'Renewal' is seen as the next big thing"
... - "Monmouth U-Gannett NJ Poll on Eminent Domain, 9/2005"
... - "Her plea: 'We don't want to move'"
... - "Eminent domain takes stage at N.J.'s top court today"
... - NYT: "Bloomberg Says Power to Seize Private Land Is Vital to Cities"
........ - Aaahh! But the debate is over using it for private purposes...

IMMIGRATION RALLIES [including NJ and US]:
.. - CN: "Multiple protests, but few disruptions, in Central Jersey"
..... - Statewide: "From loud rallies to quiet streets, immigrants make nonpresence felt"
.. - SL: "Nationwide boycott for new legislation draws huge crowds"
..... - Business: "Demonstrations ripple through N.J. businesses"
..... - Passaic: "Mayor helps defuse tensions in Passaic"
..... - Schools: "Crowded protests help empty some classrooms in Jersey"
..... - Mexico: "In Mexico, calls for boycott go largely unheeded"
..... - Morristown: "In midst of historic Green, hundreds of immigrants rally"
..... - New Brunswick: "Marchers' message hits New Brunswick"
... - NYT: "Nationwide Immigrant Rallies Are Under Way" - pics are here
... - LAT: "Immigration Dissent Sweeps L.A. and the Nation" - pics are here and here
..... - Analysis: "After Marches, Finding the Way Forward"
..... - Editorial, LAT: "Pass comprehensive immigration reform now"
..... - Economic Impact: "Immigrants Take Economic Impact to the Streets"
... - Chicago Tribune: "Immigrants at crossroads"
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