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
Last week's big hit webwise was the guesstimate of the cost to the taxpayers of the new hires at City Hall which was in Friday's HITS. A few readers pointed out that some of the positions named definitely clocked in under $50K/year. That's true, and some are over. I wasn't trying to be scientific as much as to point out the scale of what's going on -- no matter how you slice it, it adds up to many hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars with no end in sight...
Right up there in popularity was the ongoing crisis in the Inspections Division. On Thursday, I reported on the revolt in the Division which broke out into the open during a PMEA union meeting. And on Friday, I covered the rough treatment Inspections head Jocelyn Pringley has received from the administration. The crisis continues: an anonymous email over the weekend said there will be another union meeting today (Monday). I'll be reporting on that as soon as I have word.
The City's communication outlets -- the website and PCTV-74 -- continue their downward spiral. After I was led to report on the website at the suggestion of a realtor, it seems realtors are now hesitating to give the address to prospective buyers for fear of embarrassing everyone. As for PCTV-74, people haven't even been able to get a recorded greeting or leave a voicemail. No wonder the community groups that had regular programming under the previous administration are upset.
In reporting on the Council's probing the administration over these matters, Bernice quotes City Administrator Carlton McGee as saying, "Basically, you want us to go from the Stone Ages to the Jet Ages." While he argued the city could use fancy-schmancy equipment, he totally ignored that there was a perfectly serviceable and attractive website until the new administration tinkered with it.
As for PCTV-74, it also had an attractive presentation and popular programming based on local organizations right up to the day Rebecca Williams was sacked. It remains to be seen whether we will ever recover from these missteps.
In covering Monday's Council agenda-setting session, Bernice highlighted the proposed UEZ funding of surveillance cams to watch city streets. Dan seconded this move as positive -- after years of talk -- only asking that Mr. Billups contributions not be slighted. I also pointed out there will be plenty to discuss about this initiative: cost, deployment, monitoring, evaluating and more. How prescient! The item was withdrawn on the initiative of Council President Ray Blanco "for further research." The questions? Deployment and staffing.
Monday's conversation also brought out that only one in six of eligible businesses are qualified UEZ businesses -- and Plainfield is one of the original UEZ communities! In fairness, we should be compared to the penetration rates in other UEZs. Wonder if that data is available...
On Wednesday, Bernice went into some detail about proposed changes in organizing the 4th of July Parade, one of the last still functioning in the state. Keep your eyes on this year's parade. Will more resources spent make for a better event?
Arguably, thousands of Plainfield teens have held summer jobs through the City's summer youth employment programs over the years. The program continues, even though government funding has steadily shrunken. For worthwhile results, one need look no further than our Tax Assessor, whose first exposure to city government was through a summer job. (Tracy, your secret is safe with me -- I'll never say when it was! - Dan) So, it comes as something of a surprise that a councillor would be unaware of the program...
The news of an apparent scam run by a preacher out of the local Salvation Army saddens all who work with immigrants, as well as those who have counted on the Salvation Army as being above reproach in its social services. It is to be hoped this mess gets straightened out quickly and the SA does what it needs to to restore its reputation. The story was broken on Saturday by the New York Times and the Ledger. The Courier, asleep at the switch, published the AP feed today -- in print only.
Damning-with-faint-praise Dept.: On Friday, the Ledger ran a story based on a County news release of a new fiber optic network planned to link the county's farflung offices. Buried in the story is the nugget that only in Plainfield will the fiber optics run underground -- along the North Avenue industrial corridor. That it will do so is thanks to the foresight and hard work of former mayor Al McWilliams and his economic development team headed by Pat Ballard Fox. Like they say, the winners write the history books. (But now anyone can blog.)
It sounds like the Plainfield schools have a winner in Ernest Caldwell, Jr., a new teacher for its Alpha Academy profiled in Saturday's Courier. Everyone wishes him and the district well in this important endeavor.
Lastly, Bernice reports that the West End planning process that has been simmering for a couple of years is now getting mobilized. Thanks to $100K in seed money from the Wachovia Regional Foundation. Rutgers University's National Center for Neighborhoods and Brownfield Redevelopment continues its advisory role. Keep an eye open for neighborhood-driven plans to improve the 44-block West End neighborhood.
Last Friday's H.I.T.S.: "HITS: Phone games... Workplace harassment?... New hires: number & cost?..."
Last Monday's TW3: "TW3: May 08 - May 14 - Digest of Plainfield-centered news"
COMMUNITY
Exhibit, Library: "Plainfield In Focus - Contemporary Photographs at the Library"
Exhibit, Library: "Rail sites prized in Plainfield exhibit"
Exhibit, Library: "Photo Contest Winners Revealed Saturday" (Plain Talker)
FOSH Community Yard Sale: Gone FOSHin' . . .
Exhibit, Plainfield Students: 3rd Annual Meet the Masters exhibit at Swain Galleries.
Drake House: "Drake House restoration full of history, suprises"
Drake House: "Courier: Photos and audio"
Interfaith Council: "Interfaith Council changes name but keeps its mission"
Park Dedication: "Park planting perpetuates leader's works in Plainfield"
Plainfield Public Library: "Many ways but one goal: County human rights awards"
Plainfield Schools: "Plainfield, Senegal students make a difference"
Police Detective Honored: "Police Det. Francis Wilson honored by Prosecutor" (Sat.)
Red Cross, Tri-County Chapter: "A rescuer needs a bit of help"
CRIME
McAllister Murder - SL: "Suspect arrested in Plainfield murder"
..... - CN: "Shaun 'Wafi' Long charged in fatal Antwine McAllister shooting"
Pemberton Avenue Chop Shop?: "Device helps collar 4 with a stolen car"
Concerned Citizens/Grace Church: "Candlelight vigil to honor Antwine McAllister, slain in Feb."
CONNECTIONS? FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Addiction Services: "Addiction service group gave grants to its own, state finds"
Anti-Immigrant Initiatives: "San Bernardino Rejects Anti-Immigration Legislation"
Artist Live/Work Space: "Creating a Sanctuary Where the Bell Tolls"
Banks: "As banks saturate communities, some want to restrict their presence"
Bike Tour: "Elizabeth dresses up for 3rd annual tour's anticipated 300 riders"
Booker & Council: "Booker adds Payne to team"
Booker Transition: "Pastor M. William Howard will guide Newark transition"
Budget 'Games': "Perth Amboy told to take $8 million from spending plan"
... - "Perth Amboy pleads case on budget"
Cultural Money, Raising When Times Are Tight: "Partners in Culture: The Conn. Model"
Daylaborer Muster Zones: "Mamaroneck Seeks to Settle Lawsuit Filed by Laborers"
Developer scam?: "Development czar, now broke and claiming bankruptcy"
... - "Faiella's 'cozy deal' strips city of $35M in assets"
Developer Promises?: "Old Bridge seeks balance that developers promised"
Developers, Politically Connected: "Builders fined for failure to register"
Development: "The Lofts, a Landlord and a Battle to Remember"
Douglass College: "Women of Douglass promise to hold onto their special identity"
Educational Foundations: "Districts turning to foundations for aid"
Eminent Domain: "A Redevelopment Scuffle in Queens"
Green Brook Flood Control: "House panel OKs $5M for flood control"
Guns: "Lawmakers target illegal gun peddling"
Guns & Bars: "Gunfire outside bar spurs emergency ABC meeting"
Immigration - Editorial,SL: "Jersey needs a new approach"
'Labor Peace' Ordinance: "Hartford's Redevelopment Hinging on Unique Ordinance"
Litter Laws: "New Brunswick rewrites litter law to satisfy courts"
John Lynch: "Veteran political boss leaving exit from public life ajar"
... - "King of politics is full of sound and fury, signifying his decline"
... - "Head of PAC Lynch created will resign"
... - "Consultants with ties to Lynch get contract"
M&E Railway: "Freight rail project runs out of track"
Mt. Laurel Housing: "Fed-up judge strips Carlstadt, East Rutherford of zoning powers"
McGreevey - SL: "Tales of torment: First look at McGreevey book"
... - CN: "Summer debut for McGreevey portrait" (Sat.) Yeah, but where's he gonna live?
Misconduct: "Newark records clerk indicted for selling phony identification"
Newark's Teen Deaths: "'We won't die' is youth battle cry at Newark march"
NJ Orators Club: "Competition empowers them to communicate with confidence"
Patronage: "Chicago Patronage Will Be in Spotlight as Prosecution of Aide Begins"
Photo Radar Speeding Tickets: Ledger editorial: "Reject the photo radar plan"
Police, Funding: "Los Angeles Doubles Garbage Rate to Expand LAPD"
Police Pay: "Bloomberg blames Police Union for Low Pay of Recruits"
Police Training - CN: "Film teaches cops on Arab-American ways"
.. - SL: "Video to close gap between cops, Arabs and Muslims"
Real Estate: "Jersey: High prices, rising rates cool down home sales units"
SCC: "Turner Construction warned for balking at orders to remediate Trenton site"
School Aid: "Hillside parents, board claim state aid diverted while buildings fall apart"
School Integration thru 'Academies': "State criticizes Englewood on integration pace"
School/Town Cost Sharing: "New panel looks to cut costs in Cranford"
Showcase in Morristown: "Farmhouse inspires designers in annual benefit"
Student loans: "Loans turn into an albatross, steering grads away from teaching"
Stun Guns: "N.J. police clamor for stun guns"
Tax Revaluations: "Inspector's call"
Teen Deaths: "A Bleeding City, Seeking More Than a Band-Aid"
UEZ: "Lawmakers Eye UEZ Funds in Budget Crunch"
Women Firefighters: "Fire crews looking to recruit women"
ET CETERA
Plainfield Today: "Getting a human being on the (corporate) phone"
*
GOVERNMENT / POLITICS
Last week's big hit webwise was the guesstimate of the cost to the taxpayers of the new hires at City Hall which was in Friday's HITS. A few readers pointed out that some of the positions named definitely clocked in under $50K/year. That's true, and some are over. I wasn't trying to be scientific as much as to point out the scale of what's going on -- no matter how you slice it, it adds up to many hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars with no end in sight...
Right up there in popularity was the ongoing crisis in the Inspections Division. On Thursday, I reported on the revolt in the Division which broke out into the open during a PMEA union meeting. And on Friday, I covered the rough treatment Inspections head Jocelyn Pringley has received from the administration. The crisis continues: an anonymous email over the weekend said there will be another union meeting today (Monday). I'll be reporting on that as soon as I have word.
The City's communication outlets -- the website and PCTV-74 -- continue their downward spiral. After I was led to report on the website at the suggestion of a realtor, it seems realtors are now hesitating to give the address to prospective buyers for fear of embarrassing everyone. As for PCTV-74, people haven't even been able to get a recorded greeting or leave a voicemail. No wonder the community groups that had regular programming under the previous administration are upset.
In reporting on the Council's probing the administration over these matters, Bernice quotes City Administrator Carlton McGee as saying, "Basically, you want us to go from the Stone Ages to the Jet Ages." While he argued the city could use fancy-schmancy equipment, he totally ignored that there was a perfectly serviceable and attractive website until the new administration tinkered with it.
As for PCTV-74, it also had an attractive presentation and popular programming based on local organizations right up to the day Rebecca Williams was sacked. It remains to be seen whether we will ever recover from these missteps.
In covering Monday's Council agenda-setting session, Bernice highlighted the proposed UEZ funding of surveillance cams to watch city streets. Dan seconded this move as positive -- after years of talk -- only asking that Mr. Billups contributions not be slighted. I also pointed out there will be plenty to discuss about this initiative: cost, deployment, monitoring, evaluating and more. How prescient! The item was withdrawn on the initiative of Council President Ray Blanco "for further research." The questions? Deployment and staffing.
Monday's conversation also brought out that only one in six of eligible businesses are qualified UEZ businesses -- and Plainfield is one of the original UEZ communities! In fairness, we should be compared to the penetration rates in other UEZs. Wonder if that data is available...
On Wednesday, Bernice went into some detail about proposed changes in organizing the 4th of July Parade, one of the last still functioning in the state. Keep your eyes on this year's parade. Will more resources spent make for a better event?
Arguably, thousands of Plainfield teens have held summer jobs through the City's summer youth employment programs over the years. The program continues, even though government funding has steadily shrunken. For worthwhile results, one need look no further than our Tax Assessor, whose first exposure to city government was through a summer job. (Tracy, your secret is safe with me -- I'll never say when it was! - Dan) So, it comes as something of a surprise that a councillor would be unaware of the program...
The news of an apparent scam run by a preacher out of the local Salvation Army saddens all who work with immigrants, as well as those who have counted on the Salvation Army as being above reproach in its social services. It is to be hoped this mess gets straightened out quickly and the SA does what it needs to to restore its reputation. The story was broken on Saturday by the New York Times and the Ledger. The Courier, asleep at the switch, published the AP feed today -- in print only.
Damning-with-faint-praise Dept.: On Friday, the Ledger ran a story based on a County news release of a new fiber optic network planned to link the county's farflung offices. Buried in the story is the nugget that only in Plainfield will the fiber optics run underground -- along the North Avenue industrial corridor. That it will do so is thanks to the foresight and hard work of former mayor Al McWilliams and his economic development team headed by Pat Ballard Fox. Like they say, the winners write the history books. (But now anyone can blog.)
It sounds like the Plainfield schools have a winner in Ernest Caldwell, Jr., a new teacher for its Alpha Academy profiled in Saturday's Courier. Everyone wishes him and the district well in this important endeavor.
Lastly, Bernice reports that the West End planning process that has been simmering for a couple of years is now getting mobilized. Thanks to $100K in seed money from the Wachovia Regional Foundation. Rutgers University's National Center for Neighborhoods and Brownfield Redevelopment continues its advisory role. Keep an eye open for neighborhood-driven plans to improve the 44-block West End neighborhood.
Last Friday's H.I.T.S.: "HITS: Phone games... Workplace harassment?... New hires: number & cost?..."
Last Monday's TW3: "TW3: May 08 - May 14 - Digest of Plainfield-centered news"
COMMUNITY
Exhibit, Library: "Plainfield In Focus - Contemporary Photographs at the Library"
Exhibit, Library: "Rail sites prized in Plainfield exhibit"
Exhibit, Library: "Photo Contest Winners Revealed Saturday" (Plain Talker)
FOSH Community Yard Sale: Gone FOSHin' . . .
Exhibit, Plainfield Students: 3rd Annual Meet the Masters exhibit at Swain Galleries.
Drake House: "Drake House restoration full of history, suprises"
Drake House: "Courier: Photos and audio"
Interfaith Council: "Interfaith Council changes name but keeps its mission"
Park Dedication: "Park planting perpetuates leader's works in Plainfield"
Plainfield Public Library: "Many ways but one goal: County human rights awards"
Plainfield Schools: "Plainfield, Senegal students make a difference"
Police Detective Honored: "Police Det. Francis Wilson honored by Prosecutor" (Sat.)
Red Cross, Tri-County Chapter: "A rescuer needs a bit of help"
CRIME
McAllister Murder - SL: "Suspect arrested in Plainfield murder"
..... - CN: "Shaun 'Wafi' Long charged in fatal Antwine McAllister shooting"
Pemberton Avenue Chop Shop?: "Device helps collar 4 with a stolen car"
Concerned Citizens/Grace Church: "Candlelight vigil to honor Antwine McAllister, slain in Feb."
CONNECTIONS? FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Addiction Services: "Addiction service group gave grants to its own, state finds"
Anti-Immigrant Initiatives: "San Bernardino Rejects Anti-Immigration Legislation"
Artist Live/Work Space: "Creating a Sanctuary Where the Bell Tolls"
Banks: "As banks saturate communities, some want to restrict their presence"
Bike Tour: "Elizabeth dresses up for 3rd annual tour's anticipated 300 riders"
Booker & Council: "Booker adds Payne to team"
Booker Transition: "Pastor M. William Howard will guide Newark transition"
Budget 'Games': "Perth Amboy told to take $8 million from spending plan"
... - "Perth Amboy pleads case on budget"
Cultural Money, Raising When Times Are Tight: "Partners in Culture: The Conn. Model"
Daylaborer Muster Zones: "Mamaroneck Seeks to Settle Lawsuit Filed by Laborers"
Developer scam?: "Development czar, now broke and claiming bankruptcy"
... - "Faiella's 'cozy deal' strips city of $35M in assets"
Developer Promises?: "Old Bridge seeks balance that developers promised"
Developers, Politically Connected: "Builders fined for failure to register"
Development: "The Lofts, a Landlord and a Battle to Remember"
Douglass College: "Women of Douglass promise to hold onto their special identity"
Educational Foundations: "Districts turning to foundations for aid"
Eminent Domain: "A Redevelopment Scuffle in Queens"
Green Brook Flood Control: "House panel OKs $5M for flood control"
Guns: "Lawmakers target illegal gun peddling"
Guns & Bars: "Gunfire outside bar spurs emergency ABC meeting"
Immigration - Editorial,SL: "Jersey needs a new approach"
'Labor Peace' Ordinance: "Hartford's Redevelopment Hinging on Unique Ordinance"
Litter Laws: "New Brunswick rewrites litter law to satisfy courts"
John Lynch: "Veteran political boss leaving exit from public life ajar"
... - "King of politics is full of sound and fury, signifying his decline"
... - "Head of PAC Lynch created will resign"
... - "Consultants with ties to Lynch get contract"
M&E Railway: "Freight rail project runs out of track"
Mt. Laurel Housing: "Fed-up judge strips Carlstadt, East Rutherford of zoning powers"
McGreevey - SL: "Tales of torment: First look at McGreevey book"
... - CN: "Summer debut for McGreevey portrait" (Sat.) Yeah, but where's he gonna live?
Misconduct: "Newark records clerk indicted for selling phony identification"
Newark's Teen Deaths: "'We won't die' is youth battle cry at Newark march"
NJ Orators Club: "Competition empowers them to communicate with confidence"
Patronage: "Chicago Patronage Will Be in Spotlight as Prosecution of Aide Begins"
Photo Radar Speeding Tickets: Ledger editorial: "Reject the photo radar plan"
Police, Funding: "Los Angeles Doubles Garbage Rate to Expand LAPD"
Police Pay: "Bloomberg blames Police Union for Low Pay of Recruits"
Police Training - CN: "Film teaches cops on Arab-American ways"
.. - SL: "Video to close gap between cops, Arabs and Muslims"
Real Estate: "Jersey: High prices, rising rates cool down home sales units"
SCC: "Turner Construction warned for balking at orders to remediate Trenton site"
School Aid: "Hillside parents, board claim state aid diverted while buildings fall apart"
School Integration thru 'Academies': "State criticizes Englewood on integration pace"
School/Town Cost Sharing: "New panel looks to cut costs in Cranford"
Showcase in Morristown: "Farmhouse inspires designers in annual benefit"
Student loans: "Loans turn into an albatross, steering grads away from teaching"
Stun Guns: "N.J. police clamor for stun guns"
Tax Revaluations: "Inspector's call"
Teen Deaths: "A Bleeding City, Seeking More Than a Band-Aid"
UEZ: "Lawmakers Eye UEZ Funds in Budget Crunch"
Women Firefighters: "Fire crews looking to recruit women"
ET CETERA
Plainfield Today: "Getting a human being on the (corporate) phone"
*
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