GOVERNMENT / POLITICS
BLANCO & HIS REPLACEMENT -- Ray Blanco and his legacy continued to reverberate throughout Plainfield this past week. On Tuesday, the Courier published ("Reader erred on council nomination") a letter from Dottie Gutenkauf answering Dr. Inez Durham's letter of dismay at the way the Dem City Committee arrived at the three names to be submitted to the Council to fill Ray's vacant seat.
PT thinks what is bothering people about the WAY in which the names were selected is a) no one had any indication before the meeting that ONLY SLATES would be allowed to be nominated and only learned it when the Chair said that's the way it would be (which is NOT the way the McWilliams meeting she cites was conducted), and b) that of the three names proposed by Mr. Mitchell -- one of which he had trouble pronouncing -- ONLY ONE had submitted a resumè, which others had been led to believe was the sine qua non of being considered at all.
The background to all of this, of course, is whether the Dem City Committee recognizes the growing importance of Plainfield's Latino community. The NY Times ran two important stories ("Immigrants Swell Numbers Near New York" and "New Data Shows Immigrants’ Growth and Reach". Census data is here.) about the immigrant influx in the NY metro area as measured at the midpoint between two censuses. As reported by an attendee at the August 1 meeting of the Assemblyman and the mayor with the Seniors and written of in a letter to the Courier which has not yet been published (PT may if the Courier does not), the Chairman played the race card with reference to Hispanics and Hispanic businesses downtown. Civil rights legend Andrew Young felt obliged to resign his job as Wal-Mart's image builder after a similar rant against Jews, Arabs and Koreans. Remember Canute (or Knut, if you're so inclined).
Resident Laura Stevens reflected the concern in a letter ("Plainfield Council shut out Latinos in considering Blanco replacement") published by the Courier on Monday (referring incorrectly to the 'council' in it headline). On Wednesday, Bernice's post ("Who Is Christian Estevez?") gave background on several things -- including information about Christian Estevez, who had submitted his resumè for consideration. Resident Patrick Torborg's assessment of Ray's legacy ("Blanco's empathy lives on in spirit") was published on Tuesday, and Bernice pointed readers toward Ray's blog ("Ray Blanco's Blog"), which is still up at this time. PT reported Friday ("Faithful bid Blanco farewell") on the final, tender service, a Spanish Mass at St. Mary's Church.
Tonight, the Council will meet (7:00, City Hall Library) for the first time in a month, and will deal with filling Ray's vacant seat as well as other matters, as pointed out by PT ("Council - Double, double toil and trouble?") in Saturday's post...
MEETINGS, MEETINGS, MEETINGS -- Speaking of meetings, you can be out of the house just about all week if you want, from tonight through Thursday. Bernice outlined the schedule -- and the roadblocks in even getting it -- in her Saturday post ("Board, Council Cram Schedules"), and the Courier covered ("School board schedules three meetings this week") the Board of Ed's schedule on Sunday.
THE ASSEMBLYMAN & THE YM -- When the YMCA got some press from the Ledger on Tuesday for its proposed renovation and upgrading of its housing space ("Plainfield Y seeks upgrade for its housing"), the Assemblyman was quoted as having some rather unflattering views of the YM's clients. His views elicited comments at the New Dems picnic that evening -- as reported by PT ("New Dems picnic: Politics the main dish") -- underscoring that these clients are simply people who are out of work, or who have lost their living space or are victims of domestic violence. The very sort of people Jesus urged his followers to care about. Interestingly, one of these persons was highlighted in a Courier story on Friday ("Slain homeless man's generous legacy: Insurance policy to SHIP"). This was a man who had been homeless at one time (I have been told he was a familiar figure in Plainfield in those days) and was killed in Frenchtown by a drifter he lent a helping hand to, but who managed to scrape together an $11,000 life insurance policy of which he made Somerville's homeless program, SHIP, the beneficiary. For Jesus' view on generosity, read the story of Dives and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31).
CRIME & POLICE STAFFING -- With the recently released Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) showing a drop in crime -- except for homicides -- in Plainfield in 2005 over 2004, people beat feet to make news.
Public Safety Director Martin Hellwig, who strikes PT as a thoroughly professional, cop's-cop type guy, got some nice ink in Tuesday's Courier ("City wants crime dip to be a lasting trend"). Sensibly avoiding crowing over the fact that murders are down -- so far -- in 2006 over 2005, he focused on the close cooperation between the local police and the prosecutor's office as well as the hoped-for benefits of the Operation CeaseFire program coming to Plainfield. PT was quite struck there was no quote from the mayor. What gives?
Prosecutor Romankow, while generally supportive of Plainfield police work, did point out that TWO OUT OF THREE of this year's homicides have been GANG-RELATED, in contrast to the state average of ONE IN EIGHT. That is definitely NOT good news. The Courier editorialized on Wednesday ("No crime news is good news in Plainfield") that the drop is good news, as is the lack of apparent acrimony over policing strategy. The reason the Courier hasn't been hearing much about crime trends in Plainfield is more likely the change in their coverage (time was when Bernice reviewed the incident reports DAILY, a practice long since abandoned by the Courier's editors) than a lack of crime to report. (For instance, not a mention of the almost nightly gunplay in all parts of the city throughout the late winter and early spring.)
Resident Colleen Cattafe took on some of the assumptions in the editorial in her letter ("Editorial on city ignores [Democratic] machine") published on Saturday. While evenhandedly giving the editors credit, she underscored that the changes Hellwig has implemented are basically those McWilliams pushed for. And her concern, as a long-time Plainfield resident, is over just the condition the Courier praised -- the apparent amiability without contention.
As for the assertion that there are five more officers than a year ago, where did they come up with that? The table the Courier published on Sunday ("Police forces, 2005 vs 2004") show a net increase of ONE officer in 2005 -- this is spite of the fact that Mayor McWilliams swore in several in late 2005, who then went to Police Academy, and were subsequently counted as 'new' officers by the new administration. Part of the trouble with assessing the strength of the police department at any given moment is what's going on with retirements and disabilities. Even Mr. Hellwig is vague about the exact number, as reported in the story.
PT wonders why no one is talking about MORE police officers now? That was the mantra on everyone's lips last year. How can a mere five more -- which may or may not boost the actual number above last year's -- do the trick? And then, of course, there are the two officers assigned as the Mayor's 'escorts.'
Sidebar on police-prosecutor cooperation: A story yesterday ("Does Prosecutor Insure Local Cops?") highlighted a situation where a person suing the police over her arrest in a joint operation targeting prostitution sued both the local police and the prosecutor. Turns out the prosecutor's office apparently was NOT insuring the local police in the operation and they were caught with their pants down, so to speak.
TAX SNAFU 4 U? -- On Wednesday, PT heard from a taxpayer-reader that there were problems ("Tax bill headache yours?") with the recent tax bills. Seems the mortgage companies were not sent copies. Too bad for the several thousand or so taxpayers whose taxes are paid by the mortgage companies out of escrow? So, who's fixing the situation?...
DEVELOPMENT -- All this talk about TRANSIT-FRIENDLY this-and-that reminded PT of Plainfield's near-brush with fame and success several years back. When we were one of three possible sites for the NJ Rail and Transportation Museum. Made me dig up the old proposal and post it online ("Time to make tracks to Plainfield?"). One of the hoped-for advantages was to be the extension of the long-planned light rail connecting Ellizabeth and Plainfield all lthe way to Rock Avenue. Plainfield's chances for the museum were scuttled by GOP AND Dem legislators as PT was told at the time "because no one is going to put a museum in a minority town." The county Dems soon thereafter scuttled the light rail proposal, and here Plainfield sits, the tail bone. Not connected to any other bone. Unless, miraculously, our current leaders will be able to make these dry bones dance again. We live in hope...but not TOO much hope, after reading ("Housing sales dive 16.3% in Jersey") that New Jersey housing sales dropped precipitously. Now, about those $400,000 condos on South Avenue that people are getting into hair-pulling matches over...
ODDS 'n ENDS
FARBER FALLOUT -- The resignation of Attorney General Zulima Farbe dominated the news for a cycle (see week's links below), but two important points were made on Sunday. Gannett's snarky Bob Ingle pointed out ("Corzine has plenty more to clean up") that Corzine is also under the microscope, especially now that he has to replace Farber and has others with issues...and the NY Times pointed out ("For Menendez, Being an Ally Could Haunt") that Menendez' closeness to Farber could come back to haunt him in the Senatorial race, where his early lead has shrunk greatly. Seems like there'll be plenty of mud to go around this fall...
PAY-TO-PLAY PEEK -- Gannett gave a peek ("Hovnanian made quick $3M after selling 44 acres to Cherry Hill") into how pay-to-play works on Sunday. Seems big-time Dem contributor Hovnanian made a quick $3M after selling Cherry Hill some acreage they decided not to build on because of environmental and other issues. That's nice. But the zinger is that Cherry Hill had to borrow some money to complete the purchase, and turned to -- who else -- George Norcross' Commerce Bank, where they were able to get an EXPENSIVE loan. Aren't friends nice? Rest assured though, Plainfield pols won't have the same chance, since all the donors here will be lining up to contribute to the Union County Dems, which is the OTHER hat that UCIA director Charlotte De Filippo wears...
GREEN ANTI-UNION OR NOT? -- Though the Assemblyman protested at the recent Dem City Committee meeting that he was being unfairly maligned as 'anti-union' for his stance with Moriarty and Sweeney during the state budget wrangle, the unions seem not to have gotten the word. As PT reported on Friday ("Unions challenge Green..."), there was a union flyer being circulated outside St. Mary's after Mass on Thursday evening. And believe me, it was NOT friendly toward the friend-of-labor Assemblyman... All this after one of the legislative committees announced ("Property tax panel wants early contract offer to state unions") they wanted to get involved in state employee negotiations earlier rather than later...
ON A LIGHTER (WHITER) NOTE -- PT posted an album ("Signs of the Times - White Fences") on Sunday of the new -- and expensive -- white fences that have begun to crop up around town in the past couple of years. Got some IMMEDIATE feedback from people interested in doing fences, but afraid of the tax implications, etc., so I'll be doing a follow-up after a little research...
SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST DEPT. -- Bernice's Tuesday post ("Random Notes") was a number of items of interest from her notebooks, which included this gem...
"Chairman Jerry Green states, 'There is no such thing as an independent thinking person in the state of New Jersey...you have to be part of the structure.'"Peace...
Last Friday's H.I.T.S.: "HITS: Faithful bid Blanco farewell... Unions challenge Green..." -- Market realities and condo proposal... Woodbridge reforms fit for Plainfield?...
Last Monday's TW3: "TW3 - Aug 07 - 13" -- Blanco memorial... Council vacancy... Gangs & Crime stats... Pensions: Plainfield costs... Developer tricks...
COMMUNITY
Bike Rodeo (Sun): "Kids learn bike safety at Plainfield police annual program"
Bike Rodeo (Fri): "Annual bicycle rodeo set for Saturday"
Bike Rodeo (Wed): "Plainfield police pushing bicycle safety"
Boys & Girls Club: "Positive peer pressure; Youth learn in club's leadership program"
Financial Planning: "Unitarians offer financial planning seminar for all"
Housing Authority: "Groundbreaking set at Housing Authority"
Housing Authority: "Federal grant funds addition to Plainfield's Richmond Towers"
Junior Police Academy: "Junior Police Academy teaches cadets public service"
Letter: John Caminiti: "Politicians' true nature revealed"
Letter: Stephanie Payne: "Good news does happen in Plainfield"
Letter: Mariam Shastri: "Pallone giving Bush a free ride"
Park-Madison Office Complex: "Union County honored for Park-Madison complex"
Public Schools: "Plainfield ponders space for disabled pupils"
Senior Center: "Plainfield Board decision pushes senior center plans forward"
Seniors: "Senior annual barbecue will be held Thursday"
Seniors: "Farmers market vouchers available"
Sign Vandals: "Sign vandals poke holes in ad strategy"
Summer Reading Programs: "Celebrating super summer readers"
Union County College: "With class set to start, UCC lacks contracts"
Walkathon: "Cancer support group holding walk-athon"
CRIME
Crime: "Cool-handed thief swipes cash, cigarettes"
Crime: "Ex-Plainfield man given life sentence in HoJo robbery"
CONNECTIONS? FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Angioplasties: "Procedure Off the Charts in Rust-Belt Ohio City" -- includes chart.
Bail Source Hearings: "The money behind bail"
Bilingualwear: "Nueva generación clothes"
Canada Geese: "New rule makes it easier to kill winged nuisance"
Churches & Development: "Churches, towns clash"
Development: "Hurting for Tax Revenue, Town Ponders a Freeze on Churches"
Eminent Domain: "Edison to field eminent domain ballot question"
English: "Voters to consider making English official language of Bogota, NJ"
Homeless: "Slain homeless man's generous legacy: Insurance policy to SHIP"
Joblessness: "State's jobless rate increases to 5.1%"
Language: "At the end of the day, that phrase is used too much"
Libraries: "Welcoming the world, Libraries serve immigrant populations"
Litter, QOL Issues: "Littering poses dirty job ahead for Ironbound"
Manufacturing: "Manufacturers Struggle to Fill Highly Paid Jobs"
Pay-to-Play: "Interim mayor's reform focus includes pay-to-play"
Policing, Joint Task Forces: "Does Prosecutor Insure Local Cops?"
Public Employee Misconduct: "Perth Amboy employee stole $37K in tax collections"
Public Records: "State owes woman's lawyer fees"
Rabbits in Suburbia: "Rabbit baby boom: Hungry nibblers feeding on Jersey terrain"
Real Estate Market: "Housing sales dive 16.3% in Jersey"
Segways: "Segway update makes scooter an easy rider"
Substance abuse education: "Puppets give kids a hand with expressing emotion"
Taxes, Property Valuations: "Bayonne companies balk at city assessments"
'TownTastes': "Visitors get 'Taste' of Clinton Town cuisine, restaurants"
Toxic Sites: "1,800 sites cut from DEP list with no notice"
Toxic Sites: "After Mercury Pollutes a Day Care Center, Everyone Points Elsewhere"
Trains: "Morristown line offers luxury train trips in vintage cars" -- ¡Salud, Gordon!
'Transit Village': "Irvington transit village designation could aid redevelopment"
Tuskegee Airmen: "Months Later, Still Waiting for Medals"
Wachovia: "Wachovia allots $8 billion for loans in Jersey"
Young, Andrew: "Wal-Mart Image-Builder Resigns After Statement Against Jews, Arabs, Koreans"
PROPERTY TAX REFORM
Legislature's Tax Reform Website is here.
Overviews of each committee, and a feedback link for your comments.
Mon - 8/14
Abbott Funding - Editorial, CN: "Abbott fund changes key to reforms"
Legislative Committees: "Tax reform push led by pols who double dip"
Pace of Work: "Lawmakers promise methodical pace in reform hearings"
Taxes, Rising: "Higher bills, flat incomes deflate the American Dream in Jersey"
Tue - 8/15
Editorial, CN: "Self-serving legislators won't help reforms"
Tax Hikes - APP: "N.J. sets pace for 2006 tax increases"
Wed - 8/16
Union Contracts: "Property tax panel wants early contract offer to state unions"
Thur - 8/17
None
Fri - 8/18
Amending Constitution: "The perils of constitutional tax reform"
Multiple Tax Rates?: "Property tax panel ponders differing tax rates"
Sat - 8/19
None
Sun - 8/20
Editorial, CN: "Shifting tax burden to business is bad business"
ATTORNEY GENERAL FARBER
Wed - 8/16
Report: "The Special AG's Report"
Resignation, SL: "Farber resigns under fire; Broke 3 ethics rules aiding boyfriend"
..... - Analysis: "Failure to steer clear of trouble left the AG no margin for error"
..... - Editorial: "Farber's resignation is the right move"
..... - Farber Fallout: "Report criticizing Farber also questions freeholder Estrada"
Resignation, NYT: "Attorney General Quits After Investigation Finds Ethics Breach"
Resignation, CN: "Attorney general resigns"
Resignation, BergenRecord: "AG out after probe shows ethics lapse" -- with links to every story they have run
..... - Text of Corzine, Menendez statements and other comments: "Farber resignation - from PoliticsNJ blog"
Thu - 8/17
AG Candidate - SL: "Corzine's counsel Rabner leading AG race"
AG Candidate - CN: "Stuart Rabner, Anne Milgram considered front-runners"
Analysis, CN: "Rough time for Corzine"
Editorial, CN: "Corzine's next AG pick can't be political"
Farber Resisted - NYT: "Attorney General Put Up a Fight Before Relenting and Resigning"
Corzine - Analysis, NYT: "Corzine Is Loyal, to a Fault, With Friends and Colleagues"
Transition - SL: "As the resignation dust settles, Farber starts work on transition"
Freeholder Estrada Role: "Estrada's favor for Farber examined"
Sun - 8/20
Menendez / Kean Race: "For Menendez, Being an Ally of Farber Could Haunt"
Letter: John Caminiti: "Politicians' true nature revealed"
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