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 -- When will PT not start the weekly recap with crime? Well, it won't be this week. Murder No. 7 came only two days after Murder No. 6 victim died -- and just steps from City Hall. Robert Clayborne was identified as the 7th murder victim of 2006 by both the Plaintalker and the Courier. (PT was told that the victim was chased into the building from the street and shot to death in a hallway-- echoing a Newark homicide over the weekend in which the victim was chased, then shot.) Frank Puri, a former North Plainfielder who was found beaten and unconscious -- and originially unidentified -- on Liberty Street died from his wounds on Wednesday, becoming victim No. 6 in 2006, as reported by the Courier and Plainfield Today. (The Ledger treated the story as a brief in the print edition only and did not post it online.) On the drugs front, Plainfielder Dwayne Austin pled guilty to running a drug distribution scheme that used the parking lots of several businesses along the busy Route 22 corridor between North Plainfield and Somerville.
As PT pointed out on Friday, City Hall has maintained radio silence on the wave of murders -- and crime generally -- in Plainfield. In Newark, Cory Booker has taken a different tack: announcing his 'Safe Streets' initiative, and scheduling a press conference for today to release his 100 Day Plan (that's on day 10 of his term, thank you very much!). And yesterday, Booker was interviewed on one of the talk shows where he said that even though he had received death threats it was the obligation of public officials to speak out about crime and to reassure residents about what is being done to protect them.
COUNCIL -- Council was dark last week and will be this week. Next agenda session is slated for Monday, July 17 and business meeting is set for Wednesday, July 19. A complete, CORRECT calendar can be found at the Plaintalker's "Council Meetings: Be There" post . Don't bother with the city's website -- the 'old' site had incorrect info, the 'new' site had none in its Friday iteration.
Council President Blanco severely pummeled the Courier about the head and shoulders for its editorial on the UCIA resolution in his 'Speaking Out' piece "Plainfield editorial was amateur reporting". Read it and form your own opinion. PT's point in all this was NOT whether the Council was well- or timely-informed in making the decision. It was that the Council conducts the PEOPLE'S BUSINESS and the people deserve to be well-informed. It still seems questionable to PT as to whether the slam-dunk Monday-Wednesday schedule really allows the public to keep an eye on what its servants are doing in its name...
Bernice brought out that City Administrator Carlton McGee has outlasted his appointment as acting director of Administration and Finance and that the law does not allow for his continuing to exercise the duties. Not to worry, she quotes Council President Blanco as saying, “It‘s a technicality, but there‘s no harm done either way,” a sentiment echoed by Assemblyman Jerry Green. Time was when the Council and the Assemblyman were sticklers for the letter of the law. That was then, this is -- apparently -- not then. The Council could always repeal the inconvenient law.
DEVELOPMENT -- Wednesday's Zoning Board hearing drew a large crowd interested mostly interested in a proposed 64-unit condo proposal for the 800-block of South Avenue. Bernice outlined what was coming up in a Plaintalker piece, and PT noted the importance of attending the meeting. Followup pieces included the Plaintalker and the Courier on Thursday, with the Ledger weighing in on Friday. You might be surprised to note the developer expects to be able to sell undersized units (not meeting zoning specs) for $400,000 or more. Interesting times, indeed! You can get more on all this as the hearing will be continued in a special Zoning Board meeting on Wednesday, July 26, 7:00 PM in the City Hall Library. Mark your calendars. Be there or be square.
WORLD-CLASS-COMMUNICATIONS DEPT. UPDATE -- So, after PT made a crabby post about the City's official communications efforts on Friday -- dare we argue, WITH considerable provocation? -- along comes word that the Web gods have spoken and a new iteration of PLAINFIELD.COM was up. As indeed it is. You must check it out. (Someone is evidently paying attention to PT's kvetches, as the '©2006' which appeared on Friday has since been removed. Good. Better would be never putting it there in the first place.) Now if the designers can populate the pages with meaningful information, we'll be well on our way. Speaking of meaningful information, can someone PLEASE run grammar- and spell-check on the Mayor's welcome letter!? $1 to your favorite charity if you spot the problems and email me the corrections.
VIEWS OF THE 'BURNED-OVER DISTRICT' -- Toted my digital cam along on the family reunion over the July 1 weekend. Lot has changed since I graduated high school in 1956 and left for college, never to really return. Rust belt + 'lake effect' winters = what a killer combination! But it is decidedly beautiful in the summer and, along the shore of Lake Erie has steady breezes day and night. My photo essay/nutshell history is at "A Burned-Over District album".
Last Friday's H.I.T.S.: "HITS: July 7, 2006" Death threats on Mayor?... Murder No. 6... World-class communications?... Gov writes Plainfield off?..."
Last Monday's TW3: "TW3: Jun 19 - 25, 2006" -- There was no TW3 for July 3rd, owing to my trip back to the 'Burned-Over District' -- Dan
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.
GREEN / MORIARTY / SWEENEY PROPOSAL & STATE BUDGET:
FRI 6/30
SL: Tom Moran: "Governor deserves a a medal for his mettle"
..... - Editorial: "Grow up and sign the budget"
..... - "A gradual shutdown, should budget talks fail"
CN: "Corzine prepares to pull plug on N.J. governmen"
NYT: "Going to Rollaway Mattress in New Jersey Tax Standoff"
TUE 7/4 (Catch-up)
SL: "Governor orders special sessions to pass a budget"
..... - Casinos: "Rebuffed in court, casinos must close at 8 AM Wed. if no budget in place"
CN: "Corzine calls full session of Legislature"
..... - Editorial: "No dishonor in budget discontent"
..... - Letter: Freeholder Adrian Mapp: "Green needs to lay off union rhetoric"
NYT: "Corzine Calls Special Joint Session to Resolve Budget Crisis"
WED 7/5
SL: "Special budget talks fail to curtail state shutdown"
..... - Analysis: "It's a short road from annoyance to crisis"
..... - Norcross: Tom Moran: "Norcross casts dark shadow on fiscal crisis"
..... - Comment: Paul Mulshine: "Jon is Jim, minus the political talent"
..... - Ringside: "The best fireworks display was inside the Statehouse" -- Did Kenny assault Green?
..... - Corzine v. Roberts: "At center of impasse, a battle of two strong wills"
..... - Emergency Powers: "Law gives Corzine broad powers in budget impasse"
..... - Cryan v. Greenwald: Paul Mulshine: "Rumble under the Rotunda"
CN: "Corzine steadfast over sales tax boost"
..... - Letter: Rebecca Williams: "Green wrong on union contracts"
NYT: "After Hot Day in Trenton, Standoff Stands"
..... - "Budget Crisis Shuts Down Casinos and Parks"
THU 7/6
PoliticsNJ: Online Tally Boards: Assembly and Senate
SL: "In shutdown, all bets are off; Corzine agains trys to sway dissenters"
..... - Breaking News: "Assembly panel to consider its budget bill today"
..... - Closings: "In Atlantic City casinos, wheels stop turning"
..... - Analysis: "Tax standoff a guy thing, female legislators say"
..... - Editorial: "A budget impasse answer"
..... - PAAD: "Pharmacists asked to continue distributing PAAD prescriptions"
CN: "Sales tax foes push own plan for budget"
..... - Analysis: "South Jersey Dems united against sales tax hike"
..... - Joe Roberts: "Speaker Roberts' legacy may hinge on budget fight"
NYT: "In a 'Deplorable' Shutdown's Negotiations, Scant Progress"
..... - Analysis: "Behind Standoff, a Struggle for Party Control"
..... - Closings: "Casinos Are Shut in Atlantic City in Budget Crisis"
......... - Link to a Chart of Non-essential state employees
FRI 7/7
SL: "State budget war is over"
..... - Analysis: "Corzine's clout routs Roberts' rebellion"
..... - Roberts: Tom Moran: "Smiling face is only thing Roberts can try to save"
..... - Editorial: "A deal done weeks late"
..... - Devil is in the details: "As wrangling ends, wrestling begins"
..... - Courts: "Courts will reopen to massive backlog"
..... - Casinos: "For casinos and guests, it's another double zero"
CN: "Deal made, state back to work Saturday"
..... - Services: "Budget deal means services restart"
NYT: "Deal on Sales Tax Ends Shutdown in New Jersey"
SAT 7/8
SL: "Seven key areas to watch as state government restarts"
CN: "Lawmakers to finalize budget this morning"
NYT: "Drastic Action, Modest Result in New Jersey"
..... - Breaking news: "Governor Ends Weeklong Shutdown, Opens Casinos"
..... - Disruption: "Trenton Showdown Ended, but Shutdown Lingers On"
SUN 7/9
SL: "Long night's journey to budget"
..... - Analysis: "How a budget dispute became a brawl"
..... - The Auditor: "Sunday, July 09, 2006" -- Budget gossip
..... - Editorial: "Next up: Property taxes"
..... - Casinos: "Slots whir, horses rush, and all is well again in world of chance"
..... - Sales Tax: "For Jersey shoppers, nowhere to run"
..... - Florio Q&A: "The ghost of budgets past"
CN: "Trenton tax hikes hit drivers, smokers"
..... - Editorial: "Budget deal leaves some glasses half empty"
..... - Analysis: "Democrats now weigh fallout from budget feud"
..... - Speaking Out: Charlotte DeFilippo: "Corporate America shirks benefits duties"
NYT: "Corzine Ends Shutdown and Approves New Budget"
Record: Lawrence Aaron: "N.J. Democrats get full measure of their governor"
CONNECTIONS? FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Bed & Breakfasts: "Maplewood votes to allow up to 4 B&Bs"
DeFilippo: "Hillside mayor, council face off"
Development: "A connected firm steers S. Amboy's revitalization"
Development, Age-Restricted: "Rocky Hill clears housing project"
Development: "Retail use allowed on 500 acres in Old Bridge"
Eminent Domain - Editorial, CN: "Keep some options open on eminent domain"
Eminent Domain: "Group looks to limit Piscataway property seizure"
Management: "Baltimore's CitiStat system keeps tabs on OT, complaints"
Pay-to-Play - Editorial, CN: "Pay-to-play bans need local touch"
Pay-to-Play: "Edison approves ordinance to ban developer donations"
Police absenteeism: "Reducing absenteeism, PA reins in cops who call out"
Tax Revaluation: "Irvington undergoes court-ordered revaluation"
COMMUNITY
Herman Austin: "Herman Austin, 80, reported missing"
July 4th: Plainfield Today: "Celebrate Independence Day!"
July 4th Parade - CN: "Queen City welcomes 4th"
McGreevey: "Moving day"
McGreevey: "McGreevey move cheers Plainfield's gay community"
New Covenant Christian Academy - CN: "The Plainfield school that inspiration built"
..... - SL: "Academy aims to give Plainfield an option"
Rotary Event: "Track-and-field meet is longtime tradition"
Letter: Joan Hervey: "Same-sex couples make good parents"
Not getting your own CLIPPINGS email daily? Click here to get started.
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GOVERNMENT / POLITICS
CRIME -- When will PT not start the weekly recap with crime? Well, it won't be this week. Murder No. 7 came only two days after Murder No. 6 victim died -- and just steps from City Hall. Robert Clayborne was identified as the 7th murder victim of 2006 by both the Plaintalker and the Courier. (PT was told that the victim was chased into the building from the street and shot to death in a hallway-- echoing a Newark homicide over the weekend in which the victim was chased, then shot.) Frank Puri, a former North Plainfielder who was found beaten and unconscious -- and originially unidentified -- on Liberty Street died from his wounds on Wednesday, becoming victim No. 6 in 2006, as reported by the Courier and Plainfield Today. (The Ledger treated the story as a brief in the print edition only and did not post it online.) On the drugs front, Plainfielder Dwayne Austin pled guilty to running a drug distribution scheme that used the parking lots of several businesses along the busy Route 22 corridor between North Plainfield and Somerville.
As PT pointed out on Friday, City Hall has maintained radio silence on the wave of murders -- and crime generally -- in Plainfield. In Newark, Cory Booker has taken a different tack: announcing his 'Safe Streets' initiative, and scheduling a press conference for today to release his 100 Day Plan (that's on day 10 of his term, thank you very much!). And yesterday, Booker was interviewed on one of the talk shows where he said that even though he had received death threats it was the obligation of public officials to speak out about crime and to reassure residents about what is being done to protect them.
COUNCIL -- Council was dark last week and will be this week. Next agenda session is slated for Monday, July 17 and business meeting is set for Wednesday, July 19. A complete, CORRECT calendar can be found at the Plaintalker's "Council Meetings: Be There" post . Don't bother with the city's website -- the 'old' site had incorrect info, the 'new' site had none in its Friday iteration.
Council President Blanco severely pummeled the Courier about the head and shoulders for its editorial on the UCIA resolution in his 'Speaking Out' piece "Plainfield editorial was amateur reporting". Read it and form your own opinion. PT's point in all this was NOT whether the Council was well- or timely-informed in making the decision. It was that the Council conducts the PEOPLE'S BUSINESS and the people deserve to be well-informed. It still seems questionable to PT as to whether the slam-dunk Monday-Wednesday schedule really allows the public to keep an eye on what its servants are doing in its name...
Bernice brought out that City Administrator Carlton McGee has outlasted his appointment as acting director of Administration and Finance and that the law does not allow for his continuing to exercise the duties. Not to worry, she quotes Council President Blanco as saying, “It‘s a technicality, but there‘s no harm done either way,” a sentiment echoed by Assemblyman Jerry Green. Time was when the Council and the Assemblyman were sticklers for the letter of the law. That was then, this is -- apparently -- not then. The Council could always repeal the inconvenient law.
DEVELOPMENT -- Wednesday's Zoning Board hearing drew a large crowd interested mostly interested in a proposed 64-unit condo proposal for the 800-block of South Avenue. Bernice outlined what was coming up in a Plaintalker piece, and PT noted the importance of attending the meeting. Followup pieces included the Plaintalker and the Courier on Thursday, with the Ledger weighing in on Friday. You might be surprised to note the developer expects to be able to sell undersized units (not meeting zoning specs) for $400,000 or more. Interesting times, indeed! You can get more on all this as the hearing will be continued in a special Zoning Board meeting on Wednesday, July 26, 7:00 PM in the City Hall Library. Mark your calendars. Be there or be square.
WORLD-CLASS-COMMUNICATIONS DEPT. UPDATE -- So, after PT made a crabby post about the City's official communications efforts on Friday -- dare we argue, WITH considerable provocation? -- along comes word that the Web gods have spoken and a new iteration of PLAINFIELD.COM was up. As indeed it is. You must check it out. (Someone is evidently paying attention to PT's kvetches, as the '©2006' which appeared on Friday has since been removed. Good. Better would be never putting it there in the first place.) Now if the designers can populate the pages with meaningful information, we'll be well on our way. Speaking of meaningful information, can someone PLEASE run grammar- and spell-check on the Mayor's welcome letter!? $1 to your favorite charity if you spot the problems and email me the corrections.
VIEWS OF THE 'BURNED-OVER DISTRICT' -- Toted my digital cam along on the family reunion over the July 1 weekend. Lot has changed since I graduated high school in 1956 and left for college, never to really return. Rust belt + 'lake effect' winters = what a killer combination! But it is decidedly beautiful in the summer and, along the shore of Lake Erie has steady breezes day and night. My photo essay/nutshell history is at "A Burned-Over District album".
Last Friday's H.I.T.S.: "HITS: July 7, 2006" Death threats on Mayor?... Murder No. 6... World-class communications?... Gov writes Plainfield off?..."
Last Monday's TW3: "TW3: Jun 19 - 25, 2006" -- There was no TW3 for July 3rd, owing to my trip back to the 'Burned-Over District' -- Dan
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.
GREEN / MORIARTY / SWEENEY PROPOSAL & STATE BUDGET:
FRI 6/30
SL: Tom Moran: "Governor deserves a a medal for his mettle"
..... - Editorial: "Grow up and sign the budget"
..... - "A gradual shutdown, should budget talks fail"
CN: "Corzine prepares to pull plug on N.J. governmen"
NYT: "Going to Rollaway Mattress in New Jersey Tax Standoff"
TUE 7/4 (Catch-up)
SL: "Governor orders special sessions to pass a budget"
..... - Casinos: "Rebuffed in court, casinos must close at 8 AM Wed. if no budget in place"
CN: "Corzine calls full session of Legislature"
..... - Editorial: "No dishonor in budget discontent"
..... - Letter: Freeholder Adrian Mapp: "Green needs to lay off union rhetoric"
NYT: "Corzine Calls Special Joint Session to Resolve Budget Crisis"
WED 7/5
SL: "Special budget talks fail to curtail state shutdown"
..... - Analysis: "It's a short road from annoyance to crisis"
..... - Norcross: Tom Moran: "Norcross casts dark shadow on fiscal crisis"
..... - Comment: Paul Mulshine: "Jon is Jim, minus the political talent"
..... - Ringside: "The best fireworks display was inside the Statehouse" -- Did Kenny assault Green?
..... - Corzine v. Roberts: "At center of impasse, a battle of two strong wills"
..... - Emergency Powers: "Law gives Corzine broad powers in budget impasse"
..... - Cryan v. Greenwald: Paul Mulshine: "Rumble under the Rotunda"
CN: "Corzine steadfast over sales tax boost"
..... - Letter: Rebecca Williams: "Green wrong on union contracts"
NYT: "After Hot Day in Trenton, Standoff Stands"
..... - "Budget Crisis Shuts Down Casinos and Parks"
THU 7/6
PoliticsNJ: Online Tally Boards: Assembly and Senate
SL: "In shutdown, all bets are off; Corzine agains trys to sway dissenters"
..... - Breaking News: "Assembly panel to consider its budget bill today"
..... - Closings: "In Atlantic City casinos, wheels stop turning"
..... - Analysis: "Tax standoff a guy thing, female legislators say"
..... - Editorial: "A budget impasse answer"
..... - PAAD: "Pharmacists asked to continue distributing PAAD prescriptions"
CN: "Sales tax foes push own plan for budget"
..... - Analysis: "South Jersey Dems united against sales tax hike"
..... - Joe Roberts: "Speaker Roberts' legacy may hinge on budget fight"
NYT: "In a 'Deplorable' Shutdown's Negotiations, Scant Progress"
..... - Analysis: "Behind Standoff, a Struggle for Party Control"
..... - Closings: "Casinos Are Shut in Atlantic City in Budget Crisis"
......... - Link to a Chart of Non-essential state employees
FRI 7/7
SL: "State budget war is over"
..... - Analysis: "Corzine's clout routs Roberts' rebellion"
..... - Roberts: Tom Moran: "Smiling face is only thing Roberts can try to save"
..... - Editorial: "A deal done weeks late"
..... - Devil is in the details: "As wrangling ends, wrestling begins"
..... - Courts: "Courts will reopen to massive backlog"
..... - Casinos: "For casinos and guests, it's another double zero"
CN: "Deal made, state back to work Saturday"
..... - Services: "Budget deal means services restart"
NYT: "Deal on Sales Tax Ends Shutdown in New Jersey"
SAT 7/8
SL: "Seven key areas to watch as state government restarts"
CN: "Lawmakers to finalize budget this morning"
NYT: "Drastic Action, Modest Result in New Jersey"
..... - Breaking news: "Governor Ends Weeklong Shutdown, Opens Casinos"
..... - Disruption: "Trenton Showdown Ended, but Shutdown Lingers On"
SUN 7/9
SL: "Long night's journey to budget"
..... - Analysis: "How a budget dispute became a brawl"
..... - The Auditor: "Sunday, July 09, 2006" -- Budget gossip
..... - Editorial: "Next up: Property taxes"
..... - Casinos: "Slots whir, horses rush, and all is well again in world of chance"
..... - Sales Tax: "For Jersey shoppers, nowhere to run"
..... - Florio Q&A: "The ghost of budgets past"
CN: "Trenton tax hikes hit drivers, smokers"
..... - Editorial: "Budget deal leaves some glasses half empty"
..... - Analysis: "Democrats now weigh fallout from budget feud"
..... - Speaking Out: Charlotte DeFilippo: "Corporate America shirks benefits duties"
NYT: "Corzine Ends Shutdown and Approves New Budget"
Record: Lawrence Aaron: "N.J. Democrats get full measure of their governor"
CONNECTIONS? FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Bed & Breakfasts: "Maplewood votes to allow up to 4 B&Bs"
DeFilippo: "Hillside mayor, council face off"
Development: "A connected firm steers S. Amboy's revitalization"
Development, Age-Restricted: "Rocky Hill clears housing project"
Development: "Retail use allowed on 500 acres in Old Bridge"
Eminent Domain - Editorial, CN: "Keep some options open on eminent domain"
Eminent Domain: "Group looks to limit Piscataway property seizure"
Management: "Baltimore's CitiStat system keeps tabs on OT, complaints"
Pay-to-Play - Editorial, CN: "Pay-to-play bans need local touch"
Pay-to-Play: "Edison approves ordinance to ban developer donations"
Police absenteeism: "Reducing absenteeism, PA reins in cops who call out"
Tax Revaluation: "Irvington undergoes court-ordered revaluation"
COMMUNITY
Herman Austin: "Herman Austin, 80, reported missing"
July 4th: Plainfield Today: "Celebrate Independence Day!"
July 4th Parade - CN: "Queen City welcomes 4th"
McGreevey: "Moving day"
McGreevey: "McGreevey move cheers Plainfield's gay community"
New Covenant Christian Academy - CN: "The Plainfield school that inspiration built"
..... - SL: "Academy aims to give Plainfield an option"
Rotary Event: "Track-and-field meet is longtime tradition"
Letter: Joan Hervey: "Same-sex couples make good parents"
-- Dan Damon
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