TW3 - Aug 07 - 13: Blanco memorial... Council vacancy... Gangs & Crime stats... Pensions: Plainfield costs... Developer tricks...

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

RAY BLANCO -- Tuesday, Plainfielders from every walk of life bid farewell to Council President Ray Blanco in a memorial service at Queen City Academy, the former Temple Sholom.

Dan posted his assessment of Ray's legacy ("Ray Blanco: His Legacy, Our Opportunity") on Tuesday. Bernice ("Justice, Diversity, Education Are Blanco Legacy"), the Courier ("Plainfield honors Blanco, his legacy") and the Ledger ("A 'passion for justice' gone too soon") reported on the memorial on Wednesday. An anonymous comment to Dan's post was posted on Wednesday by a Plainfielder who recounted two experiences with Ray -- one of which, characteristically, involved Ray's willingness to help a young person interested in breaking into the movie industry. Alex Toliver had a letter in Thursday's Courier, of which more below.


COUNCIL VACANCY -- The Democratic City Committee had met on the previous Friday (see last week's TW3), but the Ledger ("Public safety director leads council field") and the Courier (Plainfield Dems nominate three to replace Blanco") were just catching up on Tuesday.

Of course, the REAL news was THE WAY in which the three names to forward to the Council were decided upon, something which the papers missed as they had no reporters there -- though the Courier did editorialize about the process ("Plainfield Latinos deserved closer look") after hearing from Plainfield's Latino community.

Dr. Inez Durham noted her displeasure with the process in a letter to the editor on Sunday ("Plainfield council [sic] erred on selection"). Alex Toliver's letter of Thursday ("Blanco wanted best for Plainfield"), while seeming to honor Ray Blanco, REALLY weighed in on the side of the process as conducted by the City Committee Chairperson, Assemblyman Jerry Green. (NOTE: There is another letter, from resident Laura Stevens, in today's Courier -- see under PLAINFIELD section.)

(For those who missed the meeting, only bloc slates were allowed and voted on. PT does not recall any mention of bloc slates in the City Committee bylaws. This was done despite the fact that two of the three persons on the slate proposed by former mayor Harold Mitchell did not bother to submit resumés as the ground rules required. EVERYONE knows how the game is played. What would have been the harm in submitting Dr. Durham's slate -- Estevez, Gibson and Jerome -- to the Council? After all, they were the only ones to submit resumés.)

On Thursday, Dan assessed the FARM TEAM metaphor ("Dem 'Farm Team': Is there any there there?") -- to which an anonymous COMMENT was posted on the same day, suggesting Plainfielders would do well to bring back a real TWO-PARTY SYSTEM as a corrective to the high-handedness on display.


CRIME STATS: ARE THEY FOR REAL? -- The FBI's annual Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) were released this week, as reported by the Ledger ("Murder spike linked to gangs in Elizabeth and Plainfield") and the Courier ("Somerset County crime up 2%; Plainfield sees decrease"). The complete report, by community, is on the State Police website here. On Sunday, the Courier folowed up with a story on domestic violence, and the associated table in the print edition shows reported incidents down in Plainfield, with 755 incidents reported in 2005 as opposed to 946 in 2004.

For those of us who lived through the 2005 Democratic primary campaign in Plainfield, the community was constantly bombarded with the word that we were living in the MURDER CAPITAL of northern NJ -- in press coverage, in Mayor Robinson-Brigg's campaign mailings and, especially egregiously, by News12NJ, the cable news program.

So, was it true? Well, we certainly had more murders. But all is forgiven. To be soon forgotten? It was just a blip, as now noted. Repeat after me: Crime is no problem in Plainfield... Crime is no problem in Plainfield... Crime is no problem in Plainfield... Crime is no problem in Plainfield...Zzzzzzzzz.


GANGS -- Meanwhile, back in the REAL world... gangs are an issue. And that INCLUDES Plainfield, even if the Administration doesn't want to talk about it.

The UCR stories in the Ledger emphasized how the availabililty of guns ("Homicide numbers spike last year, and authorities are blaming guns") was making gang encounters more violent -- and more deadly. And how the gangs are reaching down to recruit younger and younger kids ("Jersey's growing army of young gangsters").

All this was tragically brought home by the shooting death last week of an Orange police officer ("The violent death of an officer") by a young man whose family had tried everything to keep him from gangs ("Suspect's mother: 'A parent can only do so much'"), a young man who had crossed paths with the officer before ("Slain Detective and Suspect Had Crossed Paths Before"). An abandoned house that plagues the neighborhood was the scene -- and Plainfield has seen its share of abandoned houses that draw squatters and drug dealers.

Meanwhile, there is evidence New Jersey gangs are spreading to Pennsylvania ("Gangs migrate to Poconos"), and we learn that the Guardian Angels are looking into developing a Poconos chapter ("Angels to visit Poconos as prelude to possible chapter"). Speaking of which, what ever happened to the Guardian Angels' Plainfield chapter?

And then there is Black-Latino gang rivalry, murderous in other places ("Gang Rivalries Chill Los Angeles"), but not YET seen in Plainfield, though the intemperate remarks heard recently in Plainfield are more likely to inflame Black-Latino relations than to soothe them.

So, whether or not the Administration wants to talk about gangs or crime, the seeds of trouble ahead are there...and being nourished by the casually inflammatory language of our leaders...


THE MASTER PLAN. . . AND DEVELOPER'S TRICKS -- Bernice alerted residents ("Residents To Have Say Tonight") to the opportunity to come out and chime in on the Planning Board's discussion over revising the current Master Plan. She followed up with a thoughtful piece in Friday ("What Is A Transit Village?") pointing out a key concept that needs to be nailed down.

The Courier weighed in ("Zoning board hearing complex variance") on the Zoning Board's continuation of the proposed South Avenue condos -- though PT was somewhat puzzled at the length of the story, considering the meeting in question was more than a month in the future. More interesting, though, was the story the NY Times ran on Thursday ("Developer's Trick: Understate Economic Risks"), in which a judge accused a developer of understating the economic risks of a proposed project to gain approvals to move ahead. Now, THAT'S an idea to wrap one's mind around!...


BUDGET TIME DRAWETH NIGH -- Though not submitted yet, PT hears whispers that the Council and the Administration have been busily consulting over the drafting of the FY2007 budget, which must be submitted to the Council soon.

Whatever else, Plainfield will be facing yet another increase in the share of public employee pension contributions that is to be picked up as reported by the Ledger ("Reality of rising county, city pension costs sets in"), which also supplied a table of Plainfield entities. What does all this bode for whether or not there will be a tax increase? Stay tuned.

Meantime, lest you think Jersey's woes are unique, the NY Times ran an overview story ("Public Pension Plans Face Billions in Shortages") detailing how pols (yes, NEW JERSEY'S INCLUDED) have played fast and loose with funding the pensions. And now, the effort is on to make the difficulties appear to be the EMPLOYEES' responsibility...


BLACK (MEN), INC. -- The Ledger ran a compelling story ("The rules of black inc.; men tested by stereotyping") on the daily discrimination that Black male professionals experience in the corporate world, and strategies these professionals have developed for coping with this daily reality. Former mayor Al McWilliams and Freeholder Adrian Mapp are prominently mentioned. PT has gotten reader feedback that it is hoped that Pinkett and Robinson will GET THAT BOOK PUBLISHED SOON!


ODDS 'n ENDS --

GET YOUR KICKS ON ROUTE 78? PT doesn't think so. The hiccups getting the Route 78 reconstruction under way ("Contractor delay snarls Route 78 anew") are now joined by a road nightmare 3 miles to the north at the junction of the GSP and 280 ("Route 280 work begins on access ramp from Parkway"). Can you say G-R-I-D-L-O-C-K? PT tries to be helpful by posting commuter help info daily (Commuter help online")...

WINDOW GUARDS... On Wednesday, PT posted a story about 909 Park Avenue -- a classic Art Moderne apartment building with outward swinging casement windows. Driving by, PT has not been able to spot window guards. A new law is supposed to strengthen the rules regarding them, but PT wondered aloud about who would enforce the new rules, and when, and how effectively. An anonymous COMMENT said 'Don't blame the landlord!' Though the wretched condition of this particular building is the responsibility of (past) landlords, that wasn't PT's point. So, we have this new law. What next?

McGREEVEY COMINGS AND GOINGS... The Courier ran a story ("McGreevey flies high after dark days") on Saturday -- which PT actually spotted the day before on Newsday; you know, the LONG ISLAND newspaper -- and the Auditor chimed in in Sunday's Ledger. Trouble was the Ledger's online story OMITTED the Plainfield juice, so PT typed it up and posted it on STUFF for one and all.

EYE ON PLAINFIELD... PT posted another photo album ("A Plainfield Album - 8/13/06") of signs around town. This is kind of fun. And it keeps you from thinking of PT as only a sourpuss! Or does it?


Last Friday's H.I.T.S.: "HITS: Act of God on Prospect Ave... Biz opportunity for all!!!... Lawlessness at City Hall?... Condos, yes. But buyers?..." Reposted Saturday, Friday's links didn't work
Last Monday's TW3: "TW3 - Jul 31 - Aug 6" -- Blanco remembrances, memorial... Filling Council vacancy... Schools... House tour..


COMMUNITY

Crime: "Plainfield man accused of posing as lawyer" -- So. We have white-collar crime, too.
Sen. Harrison Williams: "Rutgers archives materials being organized" -- and Wikipedia article on Williams, who was born in Plainfield.
Schools: "Uniforms pushed for Plainfield students"
Union County College: "Tuition hikes blamed on soaring enrollments and costs, less aid" -- +5.1% for UCC


CONNECTIONS? FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Abandoned Houses: "Inside Orange's house of trouble"
Abandoned Houses - Editorial, SL: "Take aim at trouble spots"
Carjackings: "3 counties -- Essex, Hudson, Union -- account for most carjackings"
Crime, Essex Co.: "Homicide numbers spike last year, and authorities are blaming guns"
Crime/Temperature Connection?: "When Staying Cool Seems Better Than Being Bad"
Commuter Parking: "Same Problem, Different Stations"
Eminent Domain - Editorial, CN: "Don't keep it simple on eminent domain"
Fire Dept. Diversity: "Seeking Diverse Fire Dept., City Relaxes Requirements"
Funds, Missing: "Perth Amboy tax office emloyee suspended after funds missing"
Gangs (1): "The violent death of an officer" -- he responded to scanner talk of gunfire in neighborhood
Gangs (2) "Suspect's mother: 'A parent can only do so much'" -- tragedy of a family that tried everything
Gangs: "Gangs migrate to Poconos"
Gangs, Black/Hispanic Rivalries: "Gang Rivalries Chill Los Angeles"Gangs, Violence: "Slain Detective and Suspect Had Crossed Paths Before"
Guardian Angels: "Angels to visit Poconos as prelude to possible chapter" -- what ever happened to the Plainfield chapter?
Home Maintenance: "Jersey's strapped homeowners slip into maintenance gap"
Immigrants & English: "Need for English divides immigrants"
Immigranats, Daylaborers & Unions: "Union leaders wary of AFL-CIO pact"
Immigrants, Illegal: "Feds deploy 3rd team to hunt fugitive illegal immigrants"
Public Pensions: "Public Pension Plans Face Billions in Shortages"
Re-Entry Programs: "Help for the Hardest Part of Prison: Staying Out"
Retail: "Union Twp. looks to create niche market, unlike Rt. 22 strip"
Services Consolidation: "8-town police force is a cost-cutting idea"
Shared Services: "W. Orange weighs sharing fire services with Orange, Montclair"
'Transit Village': "Old J&J plant to be leased as developer seeks transit village"
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A Plainfield Album - August 13, 2006 (As always, click on any picture to enlarge)

West 7th and Arlington

Eiseman's Lighting, a Park Avenue Fixture, Moves

Look! Up In The Air! Goodyear Over Twin City

Look! Down to Earth! Across from Stillman School

For Sale - Snow Plow Blade

For Sale - Residential Lingerie?

A Learning Center to Inspire Confidence

Strand Theater - Available, Again

Lifeguards at Seidler Field Pool

P.I. - Too Discreet For Results?

HITS: Act of God on Prospect Ave... Biz opportunity for all!!!... Lawlessness at City Hall?... Condos, yes. But buyers?...

HITS: HEARD IN THE STREET...

AN ACT OF GOD ON PROSPECT AVENUE...

On Tuesday, a large tree in the front yard of Assemblyman Jerry Green's Prospect Avenue house fell over. It was a still, windless afternoon, according to the mail carrier who just missed being on the walkway to the house, and the tree simply uttered a loud crack and fell over. The house was not hit...

...Pestering about COMMUNICATIONS...again... While at City Hall for the Planning Board meeting last night, PT browsed the information on the information counter in the City Hall rotunda. Still plenty of out-of-date items -- including brochures inviting sign-ups for the Girl Scouts summer camp. Which ended August 4th, a week ago. Sigh.....

...But all is not lost...A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL!!! Also noticed on the information counter were flyers and business cards from several local businesses. Now, in the bad old days, community organizations were encouraged to publicize their events, businesses were NOT encouraged to hawk their wares or services. But new times bring new conditions. In the interest of keeping the Administration honest, anyone who has a business or service should hustle right down to City Hall ASAP and plunk down a packet of their flyers, coupons, business cards, etc. Hey, it's a business opportunity brought to you by city government. (Be sure to check back periodically and see that your stuff is still on the counter)...

LAWLESSNESS AT CITY HALL? ...a reader forwarded the following clip from the Ledger Plainfield Forum:

1211. Channel 74

by ewFront, 8/9/06 10:28 ET

Check local channel 74 for new programming. Programming includes, "Blueprint" which is a piece on Victorian Homes in Plainfield, a welcome from the mayor, footage from our July 4th parade and other city events. The improvements are a delight. Let's see more.

Interesting thing here is that Plainfield had gotten a special license to show that program back when Rebecca Williams was station director. The terms of the license do not allow its being shown willy-nilly by the station. Violation of the terms of the original license could result in a lawsuit against the City and get the station in trouble with the Board of Public Utilities. But of course, PCTV-74 took care to get ANOTHER special license, right? Let's see, should someone call the History Channel to check? Or ask PCTV-74 to see the special license for the current showing?... Hmmmmmmm...... Decisions, decisions.....

While we're still on COMMUNICATION... a reader berated me a few days ago for having my cell discontinued. Turns out she was calling the old city cell phone number, which I had for more than 7 years. Interesting. When I put in for retirement, I wrote a memo to the Administration suggesting that they reserve my desk and cell numbers for my replacement, since those numbers were in the rolodexes of media professionals and contacts throughout the NY metro area. What did they do? You guessed it. Try them yourself: My old desk number - (908) 226-4905. My old cell - (908) 963-5142. Meanwhile, the new communications person at City Hall has a different number. Do you know what it is?...

CONDOS EVERYWHERE...BUYERS NOWHERE?... What with plans for condos above the proposed new Senior Center and in TWO locations on South Avenue, one has to ask: Has Plainfield been exempted from the realities of the real estate market? Everywhere there is news of a slowdown in construction and sales, with accompanying falling prices and long sales times. So, what bubble are we living in that we are not subject to same? Or is it really a plan to get the stuff up -- regardless of whether it can be sold -- and then let it be turned into rentals or Section 8 housing at a convenient future moment when the public is not paying close attention?...

WOODLAND SCHOOL PASSING ZONE... a reader wrote recently about the PASSING ZONE on Woodland Avenue alongside the Woodland School. PT learns from a DOT source it IS ALLOWABLE depending on several conditions. As the striping appears not to be new per an inspection by PT, it would seem that all meets DOT's approval. However, if neighbors feel it is unsafe, they can petition the Council to have it remarked -- which must be done by way of a Council resolution...


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.

Due to problems with links to yesterday's post, the entire entry has been reposted as of Saturday AM.

-- Dan Damon

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Dem 'Farm Team': Is there any there there?

At last Friday's Democratic City Committee meeting, Chairperson Assemblyman Jerry Green used a FARM TEAM metaphor with reference to receiving Committee endorsement as a candidate for City Council office.

This was in conjunction with presentations to the Committee by Council hopefuls 32-year old resident Christian Estevez and 72-year old resident Harold Gibson.

Estevez emphasized his hometown and labor activist roots as well as his campaign experience -- most recently on Jon Corzine's successful race for governor.

Gibson detailed his 50-year career of public service, which has included being both Plainfield's public safety director and city administrator.

One wag observed after the meeting that it was an interesting sort of farm team that took a dedicated player 50 years to get the nod for a Council seat.

In baseball, farm teams are where talent is put to work -- hard work -- and constantly scrutinized with an eye to moving the best players upward in the system.

That's where the metaphor fails in Plainfield. There really is no farm team. And getting moved up seems to have more to do with pliability than ability.

As the current leadership inevitably ages and dies off and Plainfield's future is increasingly left to chance, we will have to face the problem that Oakland, California's most famous ex-pat posed: Is there any there there?

Maybe hopefuls would be better off going the route that Cory Booker took: Make bold moves, build their own team, organize to win, and when they win have something to bring to the table other than the fact that they were on the FARM TEAM.

-- Dan Damon

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Child's fall from window highlights inspection issues

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A reader reports that in the early evening of Friday, August 4, a young child fell from an upper story window of the apartment building at 909 Park Avenue. A neighbor reported the child appeared to have a severe head injury, but was still alive when EMTs left the scene.

The incident comes only days after Gov. Corzine signed into law a bill strengthening New Jersey's window guard laws, as reported in both the Ledger ("At a tragic site, window-guard rules bolstered") and the NY Times ("Corzine Signs Window-Guard Law").

Sadly, the new law may not have helped save this child -- the news stories only mention windows that slide up and down. As you can see from the photo, the windows in 909 Park Avenue are classic examples of the casement windows that were all the rage in the 1930s, from which the building dates.

Originally the site of the Park Avenue Baptist Church (long ago merged with First Church into First-Park Baptist Church), the Art Moderne apartment building which replaced it was one of the crème de la crème Plainfield addresses through the 1960s. With terraces and glass block window walls, it was the very summit of elegant apartment living in Plainfield.

In fact, when I first moved to Plainfield in the early 1980s, I met a doctor's widow who had lived there for years and was very reluctant to move even though the owners at that time were making no investment in maintaining the building.

Over the years, it changed hands several times, each time getting to look shabbier and shabbier. It seems only to have been a method for absentee landlords to extract cash from the community without making any investment in keeping the property in decent shape.

The building recently changed hands again, to another investor-landlord. A Plainfield investor had looked into purchasing the property but withdrew after seeing the condition of the building from the inside, feeling it would turn into an endless 'money pit.'

The tragedy involving this young child only underscores other issues that seem never to get enough attention in reference to Plainfield's larger multi-family properties:

• Did the state, which must inspect the building every 5 years, do everything it could to ensure the windows are safe?
  
  
• What is the role of local code inspectors in such cases?
  
  
• What action is the Administration taking in light of this tragic incident?

The condition of this once-fine building has bred not only an avoidable accident, but is a blight on Plainfield's reputation for caring about historic properties.

-- Dan Damon

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Ray Blanco: His Legacy, Our Opportunity

Ray Blanco was, in the best sense of the word, a political being.

Meaning that he understood the importance of the individual's responsibility to the polis (πολις), the community -- and the responsibility of the leaders of the polis to attend to doing what fosters the well-being of the entire community.

As we bid farewell to our friend and leader, we would do well to reflect on his legacy and affirm our responsibility to carry it forward.

Ray Blanco celebrated inclusivity, diversity and opportunity.

Ray believed in including everyone in the political stew. He always reached out -- to those who didn't see it his way as well as those who did. He reached out to young people to encourage their talents and urge their best contributions to society. His was not a vision of private success alone.

Ray believed there was room for all at the table, that opportunity was not a scarce resource, but the very nature of the way life unfolds. And he believed in seizing opportunity.

Ray rejoiced in the opportunities -- and especially the business opportunities -- in Plainfield for one and all who have a dream, make a plan, and will roll up their sleeves and get to work.

Ray Blanco saw the City Council as a center of excellence and interdependence.

Ray believed that a Council should work hard and to its fullest ability. And he pushed people, like a good coach, to do better than they thought they could.

Ray understood the interdependence of the branches of government, and staunchly defended the prerogatives as well as the responsibilities of each.

Ray was a stickler for abiding by the spirit as well as the letter of the law. He could be innovative, but appreciated the role of custom in holding things together. He believed in playing by the rules.

Ray Blanco believed in transparency in the conduct of the people's business.

Ray believed public office was an opportunity to serve the people, not rule them.

Ray believed that governance should be as transparent as possible.

Ray believed that opportunities for citizens to serve on boards and commissions and in other voluntary ways should be simple and accessible. Both are hallmarks of his first significant legislative effort, the Civic Responsibility Act.

Ray Blanco was generous with praise and help.

Ray welcomed and cherished all: youth and adults; Black, white and Latino; native-born and immigrant; straight and gay.

Ray despised demagoguery. He could not abide dissembling.

Ray never took an opportunity to raise himself up by belittling or demeaning others or their contributions.

We can do nothing to bring back that smile, that laugh, that warmth and energy.

But we can dedicate ourselves to honoring Ray's contributions --

• By taking them up as our own, making them part of our own civic life.
  
  
• By embracing diversity.
  
  
• By encouraging young people to engage themselves politically.
  
  
• By conducting the people's affairs with openness, honesty, and the best interests of Plainfield foremost.

And in doing that we will honor him in the best way possible.

To our brother Ray, 'hail and farewell,' Ave atque vale.

-- Dan Damon

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TW3 - Jul 31 - Aug 6: Blanco remembrances, memorial... Filling Council vacancy... Schools... House tour...

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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

RAY BLANCO -- Council President Ray Blanco died suddenly and unexpectedly on Friday, July 28. PT broke the news on Saturday ("Council President Ray Blanco Dies"). Bernice posted a moving remembrance on Sunday ("Remembering Ray Blanco"), and both the Ledger ("Ray Blanco, popular activist, politician and producer") and the Courier ("Plainfield's Ray Blanco dies at 50") ran news obituaries. Memorial service details were announced on Monday, July 31 by both the Courier and the Ledger.

The tributes continued with an editorial on Tuesday by the Courier ("Ray Blanco devoted himself to Plainfield"), and remembrances on Wednesday by former Courier reporter Chad Weihrauch ("Chad Weihrauch Remembers Ray Blanco") and on Sunday by Ray's friend and neighbor, PT's Dan Damon ("Ray Blanco - A remembrance").


FILLING THE COUNCIL VACANCY -- State law provides for the manner in which a seat which falls vacant is to be filled and the technical ground was covered by Bernice ("Officials Must Fill Vacancies Due To Blanco's Death"). The Ledger ("Officials Must Fill Vacancies Due To Blanco's Death") and the Courier ("Group wants another Hispanic leader on City Council") wrote their pieces after attending a news conference held by the Latin American Coalition at which the hope was expressed for a Hispanic nominee. Bernice reported Saturday on Friday's Dem City Committee meeting ("Dems Favor Gibson For Vacancy") at which three names were selected for submission to the Council.


PUBLIC SCHOOLS -- While the public schools struggled with budgets, staffing and union contracts, as reported by Bernice ("Interim AD Emerges At Confusing Meeting"), the Courier focused on the hiring of an interim athletic director ("City school board selects interim athletic director") and editorialized on the school uniforms ("Uniforms a wise choice for schools in Plainfield") subject. On Sunday, a 'Speaking Out' piece on the school union contract situation ("Plainfield school board unfair over contract") ran in the Courier. PT leaves it to you, dear reader, to figure out who has their finger on the pulse of the community.


BLOCK ASSOCIATIONS BOOSTED -- This year's celebration of National Night Out featured a week of events -- a novelty. But the high point was the kickoff on Saturday of a year-long effort to expand Plainfield's block association network, as reported by Plainfield Today ("Block Association clinic and kickoff set for Saturday") and the Plaintalker ("Block Associations Get Support").

The effort is being spearheaded by the Union County Prosecutor's Plainfield outreach office, located in the St. Mary's School at West 6th and Liberty Streets. Assistance, training and networking opportunities are being offered not only to those interested in traditional block associations, but organizations -- such as FOSH -- that cover the interests of larger areas. If your neighborhood is interested in starting, reviving or strengthening a block association, you can get more information from Assistant Prosecutor Tiffany Wilson at (908) 791-7130.


THIS 'N THAT --

ROUTE 78 -- The reconstruction that will surely be from hell, if you have to use this road. Check out the Courier ("I-78 express lanes to close") and Ledger ("Reconstruction will use recycled pavement") stories and the links in today's CLIPS to online resources for news on the project...

CRIME FIGHTING -- Help is on the way. Well, sort of. Plainfield will be added to the expanded 'Operation Ceasefire' anti-gang program -- next year -- as reported by the Ledger ("'Operation CeaseFire' to start in more cities") and the Courier ("Hard-line anti-gang initiative to expand"). Though it doesn't sound urgent OR full-bore, if you read the stories closely...

TRANSFORMER EXPLOSION SHUTS LIBRARY -- PT reported ("Library closed by ruptured electrical transformer") on the utility problems that led the Library to be shut down early last week -- during the height of the heat wave. There are no reports of tears being shed by Library staff over the time off...

SOUTH AVENUE CONDO PROPOSAL -- Continuing her thorough coverage of the proposal, Bernice questions ("Condos: A Tough Sell?") whether projections of sales of condos to people who actually intend to live in them might be a bit...well, rosy. And this doesn't even touch on what's happening to the real estate market generally. Is 'softening' too strong a term? (You may want to check out Paul Krugman's analysis in today's NY Times.) Besides all this, Bernice points out ("Old Urbanism, New Urbanism") the differences between what is being proposed for Plainfield and what generally -- and pretty successfully -- passes as 'New Urbanism' elsewhere in the country...

PENSION PAYMENTS TO WHACK BUDGET? -- Reach for the Alka-Seltzer! The Administration hasn't even brought a budget proposal to the Council yet -- though legally it is due soon. But increases in the share municipalities must pay for public employee pensions -- as reported in Sunday's Ledger ("Leap in pension payments to wallop towns") -- are sure to cast a pall on matters once the process actually does begin...

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE -- Plainfield Today posted an album ("Signs of the Times - A Plainfield Album") of interesting -- and interestingly spelt -- signs from around town on Saturday. Who says all I do is carp? On Sunday, the Courier ran a teaser story ("Queen City readies for tour of historic districts") on the upcoming house tour. You will want to mark your calendars for September 10th!

Last Friday's H.I.T.S.: "HITS: August 4" -- Ferraro sighting confirmed... Cooling site? Who knew?... South Avenue hanky-panky?... 2 from the mailbag...
Last Monday's TW3: "TW3: Jul 24 - 30, 2006" -- Blanco memorial service... Gay marriage debate... Women to be ordained as Catholic priests...


COMMUNITY

Birds, Evicting: "No Trees Were Harmed in Evicting These Birds"
Green Brook Flood Control Commission: "Commission reflects on 1973 flood, river's future"
Letter: Herb Kaufman: "Cheney-Specter bill sets nation back"
Muhlenberg [next to last item]: "Charity gives $60K to medical center"
Tax Rebate Filing Date: "Trenton extends tax-rebate filing deadline"
Workplace Incident: "Assault charges downgraded in wake of Plainfield man's blackout"


CONNECTIONS? FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Code Enforcement, Selective: "Prosecutor investigating W. Long Branch inspections department"
Condo Development: "Developers Nationwide Nix or Delay Condo Projects"
Day Care, Home-based: "Home child care workers gaining their own union"
Demographics: "Union among 25 counties nationwide with largest loss of whites in decade"
Development: "Newark rethink blight designation for Mulberry Street"
Eminent Domain - OpEd, NYT: "Case Won on Appeal (to Public)"
Gangs, Anti-Gang Kids' Book: "'No Bandanas' storybook attempts to reach kids at risk"
Gun Dealer Lawsuits: "2 Georgia Gun Dealers Settle Suit Brought by NYC"
Immigration, Asylum Rulings: "Study Finds Disparities in Judges’ Asylum Rulings"
Immigrants, Illegal: "U.S. Puts Onus on Employers of Immigrants"
Legislative 'Christmas Tree' items - Editorial, SL: "Make legislators justify pet projects"
Minimum Wage: "Minimum wage increase fails in Senate dispute"
Murals: "Beautifing communities by painting murals on abandoned structures"
Online Forums: "Hanover forum operator blocks some posts, 'never expected controversy'"
Public Employee Misconduct: "Former tax official enters pretrial program, misappropriated $388,000"
Urban Hospitals, OpEd - SL: Archbishop John Myers: "Urban hospitals need a transfusion"


CRIME

Burglary: "Police seek suspect in home burglary"
Drugs [last item]: "14 arrested, charged in drug investigation"
Slashing: "Mother and daughter guilty in knife attack"
Slashing: "Woman found guilty in Front Street knife attack"
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Ray Blanco - A remembrance

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Ray Blanco and I were neighbors in the same block of West Seventh Street for most of a quarter century.

Most of that time we were social friends and our contacts had to do with -- what else? -- food and socializing among friends and neighbors, including Ray and Ken's legendary New Year's Day parties.

Though I learned early on of his involvement in politics as friend and protégé of Democratic Assemblywoman Angela Perun, a former city councilor, we never talked politics after Angela's rough treatment at the hands of the party. And neither of us involved ourselves in the hurly-burly of Plainfield politics in those days.

Ray concentrated on his calling as a documentarian: traveling everywhere, producing memorable -- and sometimes biting -- work. And mentoring young people interested in careers in media and communications.

Ray could not resist being helpful.

So, when I asked him early in Al McWilliams' first administration if he would sit on a blue ribbon panel to look into a proposal to develop the long vacant Park-Madison site into a film production studio, he only had two questions: Who else was being asked? Would the panel be free to make any recommendation it saw fit?

Assured, he consented at once. And that has made a great difference for Plainfield in two ways.

First, he took the lead in helping save Plainfield from what could have been an expensive mistake, if not an outright fiasco.

With his understanding of the business as well as the artistic side of film production, Ray quickly determined the proposal was all smoke and mirrors. As he put it to me privately, "These people don't have a pot to pee in." He pointed out that they didn't have great connections in the business, and a commitment by the city would no doubt be disastrously expensive and embarrassing in the long run.

In a few weeks, the panel completed its work. The proposal vanished into thin air when the city pressed for written commitments and proofs of financial viability.

This was a case of due diligence duly done.

And it saved Park-Madison for what was a better project.

The second difference was that through this experience, Ray and Mayor McWilliams became acquainted, with Ray being drawn back into local politics after an absence of many years.

I worked with Ray on the production of a series of political 30-second spots in 2004.

What a whirlwind!

He worked in a frenzy of creativity. We outlined the spots and worked jointly on blocking dialog. This would go on until late in the evening. In the morning, I would awake to find at least one -- if not more -- completely revised scripts in my email inbox.

He used his connections in the industry to assemble a first-class crew.

He obsessed over the 'sets,' the makeup, the camera angles, the indoor shots, the outdoor shots, encouraging the candidates through endless takes and retakes. One candidate he was finally able to 'loosen up' by seeing to it they had a drink, a short break and then a -- successful -- retake.

But that was only the beginning!

It was during the editing that I really learned how demanding and attentive to detail Ray could be. To magnificent effect.

We spent an entire weekend editing the footage down into the five spots. And I mean entire. It was arranged I would be there early in the morning to work with Joe, the editor. Ray would come later, and then the work would really get under way. Until late in the evening. Make that very late.

Everything had to be right. The pacing, the voiceovers, the music, the fades, the graphics. And it all had to fit into 30-second pieces. It was then that I could see what made Ray such a success in his profession.

And it was those same qualities that he brought to his service to the community as a Councilor.

How would Plainfield have benefited had Ray served out a full term? We will never know, but his last public act as Council President -- in the context of a failure by the Administration to observe the rules -- was to declare that the Council "would not be made fools of again by anyone."

Challenging words. And he gave every indication of being ready and willing to live into the challenge. We shall all miss his not being able to.

-- Dan Damon

A memorial service will be held at the Queen City Academy, 815 West 7th Street, Plainfield, at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 8. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ray Blanco Scholarship Fund at the Queen City Academy.

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A Plainfield Album - August 2006

A Plainfield Album - August 2006 'Signs of the Times' (As always, click on any picture to enlarge)

Welcome to Plainfield - Park Avenue

Luxury Furnished Rooms Available - Across from City Hall

Phone Pole Ads Abound

Drake House Restoration Proceeds

Business - East 5th Street

Business - Church Street

Cassett 'Back to School' Jam

Cedar Brook Park Sign

Gospel Explosion Coming To Plainfield

HITS: Ferraro sighting confirmed... Cooling site? Who knew?... South Avenue hanky-panky?... 2 from the mailbag...

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HITS: HEARD IN THE STREET...

EX-POL PMUA SIGHTING CONFIRMED













It's true. Former Councilor Bob Ferraro IS working for the PMUA. PT is told he is a half-time employee and is assigned to the Second Ward as a 'compliance officer.' For Ferraro, the job brings medical benefits and further contributions to his state pension plan. PT finds it ironic that the man who cost the City over a quarter of a million dollars in a failed legal challenge to the PMUA's establishment now works for the very agency he tried to strangle in its crib. Plainfield -- what a forgiving town!

Speaking of compliance, PT is given to understand that new resident ex-governor Jim McGreevey was given a 'welcome to Plainfield' gift: a citation for incorrect PMUA putouts. Hmmmmmmmmm. Are there dots to connect here?...


CRIME & JUSTICE

This past week, a Realtor® emailed that Plainfield customer looking to trade up volunteered they were no longer taking their children to the Plainfield Library since the daytime shooting on the Library's steps. PT also learned of the reaction of a new homeowner, a professional with a national agency, who was flabbergasted to learn neither the Mayor nor the administration has made moves to reassure the public about crime. Another correspondent -- in the Van Wyck Brooks Historic District -- reported on a police chase which ended in their back yard late one night, with a suspect cuffed and taken away. Told there was possibly a weapon dropped in the yard, the resident never heard back from the police either that it was or was not the case, and is worried about even going in the rear yard. What's going on with that?!


EMERGENCY COOLING SITES?

Wednesday's Ledger had a brief item listing cooling sites throughout Union County designated by the UC Dept. of Human Services. When I stopped by the YMCA -- Plainfield's ONLY designated site -- to check it out, the YM was comfortably cool indeed. But neither the staff nor the city's Emergency Management coordinator -- who happened to be there at the time on other business -- were aware of the County's designation until PT informed them. So the County bothered to tell the world. Did it tell ANY of the agencies?...


SOUTH AVENUE CONDO PROPOSAL

An attendee reports that at Wednesday's regularly scheduled Zoning Board meeting, it came out that someone who reports to Jenny Wenson-Maier, director of Public Works and Urban Development, contacted at least four Board members** about setting up a meeting with the South Avenue condo developer on August 9th. After some discussion and a review of the Open Public Meetings Act as well as advice from Board attorney Richard Olive, it was decided NOT to attend. Chairperson Sally Hughes volunteered that she would communicate the decision to Jenny Wenson-Maier by email.

Question for you: If the general public is not supposed to lobby individual Board members about cases before them, how is it that an applicant can ask for a private meeting on a matter that is already under review by the Board?

As for the Board, PT says give it an A+ for gumption.

**Those who acknowledged receiving phone calls are: Chairperson Sally Hughes, and members Bill McNeill, Frank Johnson and Mel Cody.


FROM THE MAILBAG -- Two interesting communications from readers:

• Yesterday was August 3, and when taxpayer TT called the Tax Collector's office to try and pay the August 1 taxes, he was told the tax bills are not ready yet. TT's comment: "This happens almost every year. WASTED MONEY!"
  
  
• Woodland Avenue resident BE reported that a crew recently painted over the double yellow [NO PASSING] lines eastbound on Woodland Avenue in front of the Woodland School, replacing them with dashed [PASSING ALLOWED] lines. Passing allowed in front of a grade school?! If you drive Woodland Avenue at all, would you please drop a line and let PT know what's up? Many thanks.

Still turning things over with a pointy stick....with a little help from friends...


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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Dem doubleheader tonight

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CORRECTION

Congressman Pallone is the ONLY game in town tonight.

7:30 PM, City Hall.

-- Dan Damon

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City Dems, Pallone schedule conflicting meetings?

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Rep. Frank Pallone is bringing the Congressional Democratic agenda for 2006 to Plainfield at a town meeting tomorrow, Thursday, at 7:30 PM at City Hall -- heat or no. You can check out the "New Direction for America" agenda here.

Word has it the City Democratic Committee will also be meeting Thursday evening to consider names to submit to the City Council for the vacancy created by the sudden and unexpected death of Councilor Ray Blanco. That would be at the YWCA.

-- Dan Damon

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Library closed by ruptured electrical transformer

Plainfield Public Library Emergency Transformer Replacement - July 31, 2006 Workers arrived after the weekend to find much of the power out and the air conditioning not functioning. All the Library's clocks were stopped at 5:30 noted Library Director Joe Da Rold, adding that that could have been any 5:30 between Saturday afternoon and Monday morning. The Library was closed at 10:00 AM on Monday, and is expected to reopen Wednesday, August 2, at 10:00 AM. PSEG&G crews arrived and worked through the day and into the evening, remediating the spilled oil and replacing the burned-out transformer, and were expected to be there at least until midnight. Photos below by PT. (As always, click on any picture to enlarge)

Trucks and crane from PSE&G and vacuum equipment from Allstate PowerVac

Schematic of an underground transformer vault (OSHA) -- larger than the Library's

Library and remediation personnel consult

Feeding hose into transformer vault

Remediating oil spilt by ruptured transformer

Allstate PowerVac vacuum truck

New transformer. This one transformer will replace three in the vault, thought to be original -- which would date them back to the mid-1960s, when the Library was constructed.