HITS: Heard in the street... (Part 2)
MORE ON THE UCIA RESOLUTION -- Just whose proposal was this interlocal services agreement [ILSA] with the UCIA? That is, in reference to presenting it to the Council for approval? The resolution was submitted by the Administration, per the agenda. Yet, when Councilor Storch asked if anyone would give a brief presentation explaining the ILSA to the public, neither of the Administration's point persons -- Corporation Counsel or City Administrator -- responded. Instead, it was left to Ed Boccher, the UCIA's attorney. Now, he did an excellent and fair-minded job in PT's humble opinion, but wouldn't you think the Council would want to hear the City's take on the agreement from a City spokesperson? Nitpicking? Maybe, but important nitpicking. Just as Councilor Storch's 'fretting' was important fretting. Just consider nitpicking and fretting part of due diligence. If the Administration doesn't perform it in small things, how can it be trusted to perform it in large ones?
The Council did express some concerns also about timelines and performance questions. Concern has also been expressed in the community that four studies at once may be a lot to bite off -- even for a sizable and successful operation like the UCIA. Can't the Council set a date certain for the submission of a prioritized list and designation of the first study area and a timeline for completion of the first study?
COUNCILOR DAVIS emailed me that he felt he was "misquoted" in yesterday's HITS. Here is what I wrote in reply:
"I did not quote you directly. Here is what I wrote: "The eloquence of Councillor Don Davis in arguing for speedy passage did not trump other Councillors' concerns that it be discussed."The offer stands.
"I believed I heard you say that you felt comfortable with the agreement and that it would be good to get on with it. If I misinterpreted you, please feel free to send me an email stating your recollection and I will post it -- exactly as you put it -- on the blog to clarify."
THE PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT AREAS --
North Avenue -- The expansion makes sense, especially since PNC has expressed interest in developing its property, which accounts for the bulk of the expansion area. Potential issue: The fate of the historic building at the western edge of the area, most recently incarnated as United National's community education center.
The Marino Tract [West Front Street] -- Hopefully, this time around the entire area will be included, including the properties along Plainfield Avenue from Front Street to the railroad tracks. While they're at it, why not expand the study to include the immediate surrounds to the Drake House? And address the issue of the Geraud Avenue bridge -- closed for years, but neither demolished nor rebuilt.
The Macy's Tract -- Hopefully the planners will draw on the wisdom of other communities [San Antonio, TX and Naperville, IL come to mind - click on the links] that have turned their downtown 'waterfronts' into lively shopping, dining and entertainment spaces -- which is what the proposed Green Brook Walkway would lend itself to very well...
East 3rd/Richmond Street Area -- This coyly named area appears to target the property the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority has patiently assembled over the past several years on which to build its new headquarters, maintenance shop and vehicle storage areas. This will be real interesting for several reasons: the PMUA is already in development; there is an existing ILSA in place between the city and the PMUA; and this could end up being an Authority vs. Authority mano à mano.
UNRAVELING THE GREEN/MORIARTY/SWEENEY PROPOSAL --
As getting the state budget passed gets down to crunch mode, there are stories galore in the papers. But none seem to be going after what makes Jerry and Steve and Paul run. Except, that is, the Bergen Record, which reported Wednesday that high-ranking state Democrats told it that a sales tax increase is an option that legislators might consider as a method of offering property tax relief in the special session they will be having over the summer. So, sacrificial lambs? stalking horses? both?
ODDS 'n ENDS --
Mayoral Security -- Several readers have contacted me about seeing police cruisers apparently stationed in front of the Mayor's home in the evening. Word in the street has it that the Mayor is under police protection, though no public announcement of same has been made. PT is reminded of an appearance by the Mayor at a Senior Center meeting where Rasheed Abdul-Haqq questioned the presence of three police officers who arrived and left when she did. Isn't it ironic that a Mayor who campaigned on such a strong anti-crime platform appears to have a police guard without informing the public of its necessity and has found it inconvenient to speak out publicly about the wave of murders -- 5 now, and we're only in June -- the city is experiencing?
Mayoral Communications -- A reader emailed a post they made to the Courier in response to yesterday's editorial:
Haste makes waste! This practice of the Mayor bringing names for appointment and resolutions to the Council that are not on the printed agenda gives the appearance of a 'fast shuffle' to me. The Plainfield Council would have done better serving their City if they had tabled the resolution to allow themselves and their constituents time to study and understand the ramifications of an interlocal agreement between the Mayor and the Union County Improvement Authority. They should do whatever is necessary in order to make informed decisions. The resolution itself is broad in that it designates UCIA the redevelopment entity for redeveloping 'areas' in Plainfield. That sounds like all redevelopment to me. Not just the four areas verbally mentioned. Does this mean that the citizens of Plainfield are now at the mercy of Charlotte DeFilippo and her minions? The way our elected Council members have been rubber stamping the Mayor's wishes (can't say agenda because often her items aren't on the agenda), it looks like we are.PT has noticed before the Mayor making her communications verbally to the Council or handing papers directly to them. With all due respect, in New Jersey official communications and acts by elected officials must be in writing and submitted properly [in the case of the Council, to the Secretary to the Governing Body, the Municipal Clerk]. You may have noted the Clerk's agenda was changed from the traditional 'none submitted' to 'none submitted by deadline' for some time.
Charter 'residency' requirement -- In PT's humble opinion, the $17,000 voted to study the question of the validity of section 3.2 of the charter [a residency requirement], would have been better spent elsewhere -- even if only for eats at some City meeting. I'll bet a fish sandwich at Pete's that there will never be a lawsuit. We're all adults. We all understand the Charter is only a rough guide to the way it would be desirable for things to be done. This is NOT Sunday School.
Chad Weihrauch bids farewell -- Lastly, Chad Weihrauch, the Courier's Plainfield reporter for the last three years, will be leaving the Courier for other journalistic opportunities, effective July 7. PT wishes him well and thanks him for his fine coverage of Plainfield since Bernice retired. Best of luck, Chad!
DISCLAIMER: In the interest of fairness, any person identified in a HITS post who believes he/she has been portrayed unfairly or that the information about him/her is untrue will have the opportunity to respond in this space.
-- Dan Damon
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