PMUA Environmental Fair - An Album

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PMUA Environmental Fair - September 16, 2006 The Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority's 7th Annual Enivronmental Fair was held at Library Park on Saturday. Here is a selection of photos from the well-attended event -- educational and recreational at the same time. (As always, click on any picture to enlarge)

Rock-climbing drew the adventurous crowd.

PMUA Chairperson Carol Ann Brokaw (left) chats with an attendee.

A caricaturist made quick sketches of attendees.

Councilor Linda Carter and PMUA Commissioner Jo-Ann Sloane

The Team Challenge was the busiest spot!

Freeholder Adrian Mapp at the Bungee Pull.

Face painting -- a perennial treat.

The Grill was smokin'

Cotton Candy - The trick is NOT falling in!

Remember Little John & Robin Hood's cudgel fight?

-- Dan Damon

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And ANOTHER thing...

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Have you noticed how ABSENT the city's department heads and administrator are at COMMUNITY EVENTS these days?

PT was struck again by this at the opening event for Hispanic Heritage Month on Thursday evening.

PT remembers department heads and administrators as far back as Hank Kita showing up at important community affairs -- just because they were IMPORTANT COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.

These community-minded public servants -- not all of whom lived in Plainfield -- didn't think of themselves as 9-to-5ers. PT especially remembers Hank Kita, Walt McNeil, Tom Morrison, Norton Bonaparte, Pat Ballard Fox, Tracy Bennett, Priscilla Castles, Mike Lattimore and Jiles Ship.

The new crew doesn't seem to share the same perspective. If it doesn't deal directly with their job duties, they're outta here at 5 PM.

Progress, I guess.

-- Dan Damon

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HITS: 9/15/06 - Roundup...

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HITS: HEARD IN THE STREET...

HISPANIC HERITAGE OPENER -- If you missed it, you missed it. About 70 people came out for a program of reminiscences about Plainfield's Latino settlement and history and a talk by Dr. Jose Adames, provost of UCC's Plainfield campus. The BIG HIT of the evening was undoubtedly the food -- we were hungry by then! -- a delicious sampling of specialties from North Avenue restaurants and bakeries. Many thanks to Mike Ramos, North Avenue merchant, for organizing the food!

PT felt ESPECIALLY SAFE for the first half hour or so of the program -- while Mayor Robinson-Briggs, her confidential assistant Barbara James and the mayor's police escort were in attendance. Assemblyman Jerry Green graciously stayed for the entire program and seemed to enjoy himself schmoozing the crowd over food after the event. PT and the Assemblyman even exchanged pleasantries. Other elected officials in attendance were Councilors Rayland Van Blake, Cory Storch, Rashid Burney, Harold Gibson, and Don Davis.


BIG QUESTION: WHAT IS THE $900K FOR? -- Reaction to yesterday's post about the online auction by the City of $12.6M in Anticipatory Notes ("$12M notes sale today is a puzzle") centered mainly on two questions: 1) What accounts for the $900K difference between last year's and this year's auctions? What is the excess for? Is somebody trying to pull a fast one?... and 2) Why does the Council appear to be OUT OF THE LOOP? One person said they could envision Ray Blanco giving the Administration a severe tongue-lashing this coming Monday evening in the manner of the one he gave in July. We REALLY DO miss him, don't we?


JOHN LYNCH'S PLAINFIELD CONNECTION? -- Now that former Sen. John Lynch, the New Brunswick powerhouse, is 'fessing up to corruption and tax evasion (see stories in today's CLIPS), PT can unburden himself of a kvetch. Way back in 1998, when Plainfield was a contendah for designation as the site of the state's RAIL & TRANSPORTATION MUSEUM, the enthusiasm with which the touring state team reacted to Plainfield's proposed site VANISHED OVERNIGHT. PT always suspected Alex DeCroce, Morris County GOP powerhouse, who openly favored a Morris County location. But PT later heard gossip that the REAL OPPOSITION came from then-Sen. Lynch, who was said not to have wanted the museum located in a majority minority community. Were we stabbed in the back -- by a DEM who was at that time representing the community?

BOOKER SHOWS THE WAY -- In a scene reminiscent of The Godfather's Don Corleone, Cory Booker yesterday launched what is planned as a regular series of face-to-face one-on-one sitdowns with constituents to discuss their issues. It all sounds very well planned out. Anyone may come to the City Hall rotunda. They fill out a contact form with their information and the substance of the matter they want to discuss with the Mayor, and wait their turn. They are assured of 3 minutes of face time -- it seems often to have gone to more -- with Booker referring the visitor immediately to one of several staff persons sitting at tables outside the conference area to take follow-up steps. It all sounds well organized and like a very workable scheme for improving the sense of trust between mayor and constituents. Would an idea like that work in Plainfield? Why not, if improving constituent relations was an object of desire?


TIME TO BE OUT & ABOUT --

TONIGHT:

• EXHIBIT: Local Latino artists, Union County College, East 2nd & Church Sts. Reception, 6:30 PM. Free.
  
  
• TALK: "After cheap oil" by Councilor Burney, Unitarian Society, 724 Park Avenue. 6 PM potluck, 7 PM program. Free.

TOMORROW:

• ENVIRONMENTAL FAIR: Sponsored by the PMUA. Library Park, 11 AM - 3 PM. Bungee, rock climb, Moonbounce, entertainment, more.
  
  
• FILM: "A day without a Mexican" part of Hispanic Heritage Month. Public Library, 2 PM. Free.

SUNDAY:

• WINE DISCOVERY: Join the Friends of the Library for a sampling of red, white and sparkling wines. Food & music. Benefits Library programming. $45 per person, checks to 'FOPPL' to Library TODAY or bring to door on Sunday. At Belle Lawn, 1050 Rahway Road. 3 - 6 PM.

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

$12M notes sale today is a puzzle

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Late Tuesday evening, PT received an email from a reader inquiring about a curious document they noticed on the city's website: A Notice of Intent to Sell $12.6M in Anticipatory Notes, and wondered what that was about. The document is a one-page PDF outlining who will be doing what THIS MORNING in the online auction of these notes.

PT recently visited a nun friend whose convent has been sold. The sisters gave a 'going-away' party for friends and supporters. PT judged the sisters were fond of jigsaw puzzles, seeing several in various stages of solution on adjacent tables in their parlor.

A perfect metaphor for the Anticipatory Notes sale? PT will let you decide, gentle reader. Here are the pieces PT has found. How do YOU think they fit together?


Why Anticipatory Notes? When borrowing money, as PT understands it, a municipality may either commit the town to paying bonds at an upfront interest rate over a long term or use anticipatory notes (which must be rolled over annually or converted into bonds) as a bet that future interest rates will be more favorable to the community and can be locked in at a better time.

How did this all get started? The online sale of $11.7M in anticipatory notes last November was the genesis of Plainfield Today, as you can see from the first posts ( "Plainfield offers $11.7M in notes online, a first") and ( "Online Notes Auction Goes Without A Hitch"). The money was earmarked for a new Senior Center, road improvements and various capital purchases. The Senior Center money is still 'parked' in a designated account -- or WAS, last PT knew.

Why not bonds? Good question. When the new administration took office in January, there was a great deal of disparagement of Mayor McWilliams' administration -- and Administration and Finance Director Ron West in particular -- for having used the tool of anticipatory notes INSTEAD OF bonds. The buzz at the time was that the new City Administrator, Carlton McGee, who had previously been Business Administrator in Jersey City, was dead-set against them, supposedly vowing he would NEVER use anything but bonds. West was not carried over to the new administration, the dustup over the anticipatory notes cited as the reason.

Why $12.6M? Last November's note sale was for $11.7M. Why is today's sale of notes for $900,000 more? If this is just a 'rollover' of last year's anticipatory notes, wouldn't the dollar amount be the same -- $11.7 million?



Why wasn't the offer online as stated? The city's Statement of Intent said that the information package would be online "on or prior to Tuesday, September 12." This is what got PT started. First thing after reading the city's statement was to look for the online documents. This was Tuesday evening, about 10:30 PM. Nada. Waited until 12:30 AM. Nada. Captured a screen shot for file. On Wednesday, PT called the number in Chicago given for Charlotte Knight-Marshall, listed as the city's financial adviser. Many ringy-dingies later, got a recorded message. PT left word that the online documentation could not be found and would someone please call back. No callback, but PT noticed about 8:30 PM WEDNESDAY that the documentation was finally online. Only a day late. Giving investors about 15 hours or so to decide on the investment. Does that mean investors don't rely on this stuff, and that it's all smoke-and-mirrors? The documents are available as a hefty (6+ MB) PDF file at the Munios website. You will have to register (free) in order to read or download them. Easiest way is to use the map to locate NJ, then scroll through the alphabetical listings to 'City of Plainfield.'

So who is TKG? The city's financial adviser is given as TKG & Associates, 440 North Wabash Avenue, Suite 3909, Chicago, IL 60611. Not finding the documents online Tuesday evening, PT turned to...Google. What else! The devil finds work for idle hands. Googling TKG turned up a few interesting bits of information:

• The current Chicago business listings website has a different address from Plainfield's Letter of Intent;
  
  
• The firm is listed in Houston and San Francisco as having LOCAL business addresses, but calls to the listed phone number get a disconnect after one ring;
  
  
• The firm is listed with the San Francisco Human Relations Commission as not only WOMAN and MINORITY owned, but as a LOCAL business;
  
  
• The firm has participated in several governmental bond issues as an adviser to the issuer in various locations around the country: Kansas City, Houston, St. Louis, San Francisco, and Jersey City.

JERSEY CITY?! Ding! Or maybe ka-ching!? Turns out that Ms. Knight-Marshall was the financial adviser to Jersey City when Carlton McGee, as Business Administrator, was involved in trying to arrange an enormous restructuring of Jersey City's debt -- blocked at the time by Mayor Cunningham's opponents from the Hudson County Dem machine.

So how did TKG get selected for Plainfield? Assuming the Council approved the selection of TKG, were they apprised of the prior working relationship between Mr. McGee and TKG? And is the current relationship an 'arm's length' one?



When did the Council approve the Notes auction? No one seems to recall a public discussion at any Council meeting of this Anticipatory Notes auction. We may have missed it. But if there was a discussion, did the Council adopt a resolution? Wouldn't they have to in order to commit the City to a deal, especially if the dollar amounts year-to-year do not match up?


Why no bond issue (2)? So, if Mr. McGee believes BONDS are the better way to go, why hasn't the City gone down that road instead of rolling over the notes? If indeed that is what is being done. Some suggest that the process -- which PT knows is lengthy, maybe needing 3 or 4 months of preparation -- just escaped the administration's notice until it was TOO LATE to bond. Or is there another explanation?

So, there are the puzzle pieces. Good luck!

Let me know how you make out.

-- Dan Damon

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You'll NEED the wine-tasting after this...

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Before we get to the WINE-TASTING, get in the mood with the following...

CITY HALL CUSTOMER SERVICE? AGAIN? -- A reader forwarded the following message concerning a TAXPAYER'S recent adventures at City Hall

I went to pay my (increased yet again) taxes today [originally dated 9/5 -- DD], and ran into (literally) a large desk in the lobby of City Hall, with 3 people behind it. They claim to be 'giving information on city events and signing people in'. Three people !! Just sitting there, talking to yet a 4th employee.

I asked how much the budget for this new thing was. Of course, they didn't know. I went into the mayor's inner sanctum only to find a party in progress and no one really able to answer my question. Finally, the 3rd person they referred me to said I'd have to put a request in writing. No one had any idea what the "desk" would be listed under in the budget.

I'm furious, as always happens when I go there. I'd also love to know who was paying for the party-in-progress, something I'll never know. There were balloons bigger than truck tires!! Grrrrrrrr..........

Well! Where to begin? This is the same gang of three we have encountered before. Granted, they are probably doing what they have been told to do, if anything. One wonders why it takes THREE people to do whatever.

The administration should also be aware that the taxpaying public is highly resentful of having to SIGN IN to pay their taxes. And think how indignant they might become when they realize that ANYBODY can put in an OPRA request and get copies of all the sign-in sheets -- detailing who has been at City Hall, when, and what office they visited. Whose business is that, anyway?!

And to tell a taxpayer that a simple question must be PUT IN WRITING!? Just exactly where IS the Information Desk and crew listed in the budget? PT has been told it's under the City Administrator's budget. Enquiring minds would like to know...

Balloons the size of truck tires? Partying on the taxpayers' time and dollar? Hmm........

BIZ OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL...NOT -- On August 12, PT posted that the Information Desk was sporting business cards and flyers from several businesses. And to make the opportunity available to ALL, put the word out, suggesting business people might want to hotfoot it down to City Hall with their promotional materials and take advantage of this opportunity. And several people did.

When PT was in City Hall the other night, I noticed that once again ONLY A SELECT FEW were on the counter. Word has it that the gang of three routinely trash materials as they see fit -- apparently not just out-of-date materials, which previously had been noted by PT.

You'd think the administration would put out a POLICY NOTICE OR FLYER, wouldn't you? I mean, what leg will they have to stand on if someone sues over preferential treatment?

MORE (MIS/NON)INFORMATION -- Checking back on the website progress, we find that PCTV-74 is still showing the program list for July 19-26. So, it's now September 13. Knock, knock. Is there anybody home here? And PT was told that the city's PRESS RELEASES were now being put online -- and that they would make INTERESTING reading. If only one can find them. I've poked around and poked around, and I can't come up with them. A LARRY'S DELI SANDWICH of your choice on me to the first one who emails me a link to the actual page...

MAYBE THE PERFECT PROBLEM-SOLVER? -- But be not afraid, neither let your heart be troubled... help may be just a phone call away. According to a NEW PAGE on the city website, the mayor's confidential assistant, Barbara James, is there working 'to resolve complaints.' Her partial contact info -- no one at City Hall (with ONE exception) seems to think email addresses should be offered to the public -- is on the page. If you have an issue to resolve, her phone is (908) 753-3310. Don't fail, however, to check out her page on the website.

NOW YOU'RE READY FOR THE WINE, RIGHT? -- You will not want to miss the WINE-TASTING event this coming Sunday. Sponsored by the Friends of the Plainfield Public Library, the 6th Annual Wine Discovery will let you sample a variety of red, white and sparkling wines for the benefit of the Library's programming. This is ALWAYS a fun event -- plenty of good company, scrumptious food, and music. This year's event is at Belle Lawn, the gracious home of Vicky and Charlie Rappold, 1050 Rahway Road. Tickets are $45 per person, and checks payable to 'FOPPL' may be dropped off at the Library in advance or brought to the door the day of. You OWE it to yourself to unwind with this friendly crowd -- especially after the opening of this post above...

COUNCILOR BURNEY ON CHEAP OIL, TONIGHT -- Councilor Rashid Burney will kick off the 2006-07 Social Justice series tonight with a talk entitled "After Cheap Oil: Planning for Plainfield's Future." The series is sponsored by the Social Justice Committee of the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield. All events begin with a potluck at 6:00 PM, and the program at 7:00 PM, at the Society's Parish Hall, 724 Park Avenue. Use the public parking lot up the driveway across the street from the church.

ANTICIPATE TOMORROW -- Check back to learn whether your tax dollars will be going to work for a $12.6M Anticipatory Note online auction...

-- Dan Damon

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Planning, flags, wine & heritage...

War Memorial Flagpole
East 7th and Watchung

Roundup mode...

9/11 FLAG PICTURES -- Spent most of the day snapping flag pictures around town. There are 113 raw pictures which need culling and editing -- translation: it's gonna take me a while. But I found an amazing variety from one end of the community to the other. Many thanks to those who emailed me and put up with my coming up their driveways or on their lawns to get a better shot. Question for you FLAG PROTOCOL MAVENS: Was yesterday officially a 'half-mast day'? The city seemed somewhat conflicted: Police and fire flags were at half-mast; City hall and war memorial were at full height. Enlightenment awaited...

WEDNESDAY: SOUTH AVENUE CONDOS -- Redux. The long-awaited continuation of the Zoning Board hearing(s) on the proposed South Avenu condos. You remember, the $400,000 units next to the Public Works garage and backing up to the NJT tracks. Crime scene Venue: City Hall Library, 8:00 PM. Need a brush-up? Here are past stories by Bernice (7/1: "Hearing Wednesday On South Avenue Four-Story", 7/24: "Zoning Board Continues Hearing", 7/27: "South Avenue Hearing Continues") and PT (7/27: "Development Puzzle: First pieces on table", 8/21: "TW3 - Aug 14 - 20: Development section")...

THURSDAY: LATINO MIGRATION - PLAINFIELD & CENTRAL JERSEY -- This year's Hispanic Heritage Month is being dedicated to Ray Blanco, the late councilor, filmmaker and friend. The month kicks off Thursday evening with a RECEPTION and a presentation on the history of Latino migration to Plainfield and central Jersey by Dr. Jose Adames, Provost and Vice President of Union County College. In the Plainfield Public Library Meeting Room, 7:00 PM. Also check out the blog listing the complete month's activities in English and Spanish.

FRIDAY: LATINO ARTISTS EXHIBIT -- All are invited to the OPENING AND RECEPTION of an exhibit of the works of Latino artists of the Plainfield area. Featured are artists Jose Cruz and Pedro Fermin Gonzalez and photographer Louis Rivera. The exhibit, co-sponsored by UCC and the UCC-Plainfield Student Government Association, will hang through October 15. UCC Plainfield, East 2nd & Church Streets, 6:30 - 8:00 PM.

The WINE?... Check back tomorrow...

-- Dan Damon

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House Tour a smashing success -- even without Her Honor

(The home of Councilman Burney and his wife, Wendy, was on the tour.)

Hundreds of visitors and residents crowded the city's sidewalks Sunday for the first House Tour to include homes in ALL of the residential historic districts, as well as the 1788 Friends' Meeting House. The Meeting House on Watchung Avenue is located in the North Avenue district, the city's only commercial historic district. (Photos of homes on the tour are posted on PT's Plainfield page at Flickr, the online photo hosting serivce.)

The tour also included two examples of classic 1920s Tudor Revival homes which will soon meet the age requirements for historic properties. (Remember the delicious anticipation of turning 12 and paying for an ADULT ticket at the Saturday afternoon movies? It cost more, but it meant you were no longer a CHILD. It's THAT kind of feeling if you own one.)

A committee composed of representatives of FOSH (Friends of Sleepy Hollow) and the various districts worked for months to organize, publicize and staff the day. Councilman Rashid Burney and his wife, Wendy, opened their home to the crew for the after-party.

Proceeds, after expenses, will be divided among FOSH and the historic districts to be used for projects such as beautification and community outreach.

The big question among organizers and docents at the after-party was where was the Mayor?

Her Honor's absence was particularly striking as house tours are a vital part of drawing new residents to the community. With the prices of homes in Plainfield's historic districts buoying property prices throughout the city, this is no small potatoes.

(NOTE: PT was notified by an email received at 10:50 AM Monday that the mayor was indeed seen at one of the homes, being photographed by a man with a camera, presumably the city information officer.)

As one could deduce from seeing the large numbers of people walking the streets with TOUR MAPS in hand and pointing at other homes as they went along, many of the attendees were visitors not familiar with Plainfield.

And these people are prime prospects for buying a home in the city, as PT's experience both with Plainfield house tours and as a real estate professional attest. (In fact, PT decided to move here after being invited out from Brooklyn by a Plainfield friend for a house tour in 1982.)

One committee member remarked, "There are only TWO kinds of people who come out for house tours -- VOTERS, and POTENTIAL voters."

This is a point that was not lost on mayors McWilliams and Fury, who never failed to attend a house tour, visiting all the homes, and schmoozing with visitors and volunteers alike.

Perhaps Her Honor had something better to do.

-- Dan Damon

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All-District House Tour Today

Today. 1l:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Tickets $25, Available at
NETHERWOOD STATION


Self-Guided Tour of 11 Historic Homes
Plus
The Plainfield Friends' Meeting House
In Continuous Use Since 1788
(Located in the North Avenue Commercial Historic District)

Presented by the
Plainfield House Tour Committee

RESIDENTIAL HISTORIC DISTRICTS
Broadway · Crescent Area · Hillside Avenue
Netherwood Heights · Putnam-Watchung
Van Wyck Brooks
and
The Friends of Sleepy Hollow (FOSH)

Proceeds, after expenses, will be divided between the cooperating Historic Districts and FOSH (Friends of Sleepy Hollow) which is co-sponsoring the event, and will be used for district-wide activities, including beautification and community outreach.

-- Dan Damon

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IT WOULD BE A PERFECT TIME TO FLY A FLAG
AS A REMEMBRANCE
AND OUT OF RESPECT

PT WILL BE PHOTOGRAPHING FLAGS
DISPLAYED THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY ON MONDAY
TO ASSEMBLE A PHOTO ALBUM

"PLAINFIELD REMEMBERS 9/11"

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR FLAG DISPLAY PHOTOGRAPHED
SEND ME AN EMAIL WITH THE ADDRESS.

THANK YOU. DAN

dandamon@comcast.net

Hispanic Heritage Festival Today

Today. 10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
East Front Street Between Watchung and Park Avenues

FOOD · FUN · ENTERTAINMENT

Presented by the Latin American Coalition

SPONSORS

PNC Bank · The Plainfield Foundation · Investor's Savings Bank

-- Dan Damon

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HITS: Connecting the dots...

HITS: HEARD IN THE STREET...

Boy! Are there a lot of dots to connect...

Development plans...Council...Groups organizing... where will it all take us?

NORTH AVENUE REDEVELOPMENT -- PT had to choose between three offerings last evening and went with door 3: NORTH AVENUE MERCHANTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS. A dozen or so gathered at the YM last evening to lay plans for organizing the North Avenue merchants, owners and residents to deal with the development issues that are in the air.

To a person, the group had stories of puzzling or dismissive behavior on the part of City officials as they have tried to get their own plans for their properties and businesses up and running.

The concern now is that the City is preparing to redevelop the area by EXCLUDING them, using EMINENT DOMAIN if necessary in what would be an effort at PUBLIC TAKING FOR PRIVATE PURPOSES.

You can be sure more will be heard from this quarter, and it will hardly be surprising that the lead is being taken by LATINOS, who have gotten short shrift from a Democratic establishment that seems to take their goodwill and acquiescence for granted.


THE GREAT EAST 3rd STREET LAND GRAB? -- Meanwhile, across the street, Bernice was keeping tabs on DEVELOPMENT SKULLDUGGERY in regard to the proposed East 3rd St/Richmond St/Cottage Pl 'study area.' You will recall that PT said on August 24 ("Problems with the Cottage Place study area") that THE FIX IS IN.

You will DEFINITELY want to read Bernice's post this morning ("Planning Board Surprise") to see all that was UNEXPECTEDLY revealed. What you CAN bet on is this: BIG PLAYERS have been planning their steps as if Plainfield were merely supine and waiting. Some surprises seem to be in store.

The Planning Board made two moves the PLAYERS may not have expected: recommending to the Council that the study area be expanded (score one for PT?) and that the PMUA be included in any future talks (you'd a thunk it would have been done already).

Mark your calendars for Sept. 21, when the REVELOPMENT PLAN is up for review. By the way, the study is being done by a Haddonfield firm? Remember your NJ geography lessons? That would be South Jersey, Norcross territory. Are political debts being repaid? Remember Deep Throat's advice to Woodward and Bernstein: FOLLOW THE MONEY...

Gone -- LONG gone -- are the days when you could keep tabs on what's going on around town by yourself just by going to meetings spread out over a leisurely period of weeks...or by reading the Courier or Ledger coverage. With so much going on in one evening, the mainstream media can surely use an extra hand. Could the BLOGS actually be useful?...


CRIME & MEDEVACS -- Meanwhile, Hub-Stine has been busy with medevacs. About 11:30 Tuesday, PT heard the helicopter low over the back yard and heading toward RWJ. Found out it was a stabbing, young man, West 3rd Street. The Ledger ("Plainfield teen mends following stabbing") and the Courier ("Teen stabbed in Plainfield") covered it today. Perhaps more disturbing, as one cop pointed out to PT, is the number of shootings, stabbings and muggings about which we hear ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Meanwhile, got an email last night about MORE medevac activity LAST NIGHT...


CEDAR BROOK LAKE UPDATE -- It is no secret I think Cedar Brook Lake is one of the most attractive and restful spots in town. So I have been waiting for its overhaul with bated breath. Thank God I have not been HOLDING my breath, or I'd be long gone.

Just as I was thinking of rattling some chains, word arrived from Freeholder Mapp that the project had run into unexpected delays but should be getting back on track shortly. The DREDGE SPOILS from the lake bottom had to be piled up to dry out so it could be transported to a DEP-approved facility or landfill. Mid-project, the contractor learned the planned-on site is no longer accepting this type of material. A search is on for a new site. Meanwhile, the project is snared in the RED TAPE you can expect in dealing with the DEP.

Once over this hurdle, the dredge spoils will be trucked away, the lake's clay liner will be improved, an aeration system installed, and fishing access points constructed. Add new plantings, let the Lake fill back up, and -- VOILÀ -- we're back in business. Won't be this Fall, though, PT bets. But THANK YOU Freeholder Mapp for staying on top of this important project...


BUDGET CRUNCH & NEW FURNITURE? -- PT got word of new furniture being lugged into City Hall Annex on Wednesday -- and you're looking at a tax increase, right? PT has never understood the frequency with which some offices replace their furnishings. And this stuff is not cheap, you should know. And STUFF is the operative word, in PT's humble opinion. The office furnishings these days are all chipboard with a plastic woodgrain veneer.

PT was viewed as an oddball for retrieving classic 1940s steel desks and steel and naugahyde chairs from the discard pile to furnish his office. Maybe PT was imagining himself as some noir detective waiting for a luscious blonde to sidle in, sit suggestively on the edge of his desk while taking a drag on her cigarette, and turn him on to...SHENANIGANS AND WASTE IN PLAINFIELD? Say it isn't so!


THE JOY OF UCIA -- One of the selling points a few months back in getting the Council to quickly adopt interlocal service agreements with the Union County Improvement Authority giving it the lead in Plainfield's redevelopment process was what a joy it is to work with the UCIA. And the brevity of the agreements was supposed to be just a sign of how wonderful things will be.

Well, tenants of the Park-Madison development may be giving people a reality check soon. Word has it the SPANKING NEW OFFICE BUILDING leaks like a sieve. And just as bad, the tenants evidently can't get anybody to heed their woes. (What?! What an UNUSUAL situation! Quick, round up the usual suspects!) Maybe they should call the REPORTERS and get them in there on a rainy day -- WITH cameras.

Meanwhile, what ever happened to the building's CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY? Last PT knew, they were granted a TEMPORARY C.O. a year ago May, if memory serves me. That would be for 45 days? And NON-RENEWABLE? So, if there is no VALID PERMANENT C.O., what gives? And are all those people and businesses in there PROPERLY covered by their insurance should there be, say, a FIRE or a TERRORIST ATTACK and there is no valid C.O.? Enquiring minds want to know...


FLAG FLAP -- Speaking of spanking new things, there is a spanking NEW FLAG on the pole in front of City Hall. Would have posted a picture, but to spank, a flag must have breeze. Breezes have been non-existent the past couple of days, but PT will get around to it. Meanwhile, a tip of the noir fedora to John Louise and the whole crew! PT's criticism was not of John and the Public Works gang but of that OTHER gang, who are really responsible for what goes on -- or doesn't.


HERE'S A GODDESS FOR YOU! -- PT had the excellent -- and unmerited -- good fortune to study both Classical and New Testament Greek under F. Wilbur Gingrich, the man who co-compiled the standard** Lexicon of New Testament Greek, then simply referred to as Arndt & Gingrich. While rummaging in my Greek closet last week, PT ran across a fascinating article on Nemesis in Wikipedia.

Nemesis, as everyone remembers, "is the spirit of divine retribution against those who succumb to hubris, vengeful fate personified as a remorseless goddess."

In ancient Greece, every city-state had its patronic deity. PT humbly submits Nemesis as our own.


**"A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament" -- Revised in 1979 by F.W. Danker (gives you an idea of how long ago PT studied Greek -- way before 1979), which can be had for a mere $140.00 list. PT paid $35 in 1950s currency -- and got it autographed.

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

Doubleheader tonight: Council, Planning Board

Two important public meetings tonight:

CITY COUNCIL - 8 PM, Council Chambers/Courthouse, 4th & Watchung

• Ordinance on sex offender-free zones scheduled for tonight.
  
  
• Budget: Why the $6M decline in tax assessments in last year? -- Does this deserve an in-depth explanation, giving the rising residential and commercial markets over the last 3 years?
  
  
• The public may speak TWICE at meetings: Before business begins with questions on matters on the agenda; at the conclusion of business, on any matter of interest to the speaker.

PLANNING BOARD - 8 PM, City Hall Library, 515 Watchung

• Discussion of proposed East 3rd St./Richmond St./Cottage Place study area.
  
  
• Public will be allowed to ask questions.

-- Dan Damon

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GUVGAB: Singing in the rain?...

You might be forgiven if you don't know that new Plainfielder Jim McGreevey is a hot media property, but he is. And NOT just for his new book, due out next week.

With an upcoming Oprah appearance and the announced participation in Joan Rivers' new show, you'll be able to see a lot of the former governor even if you don't bump into him at Rapp's Pharmacy.

PT hears that among the other things happening during yesterday's on-and-off rain was the taping of a segment at the ex-Gov's new digs. Did he sing in the rain?

What?! You weren't invited?!

Neither was PT. Guess we'll have to stay glued to the boob tube.

-- Dan Damon

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2007 Budget: Act I, Scene I...

Well, the FY2007 budget proposal made its debut last night. FINALLY.

It would be unkind to start with questioning WHY the Administration is so late bringing it to the table (state regulations require its introduction by early August), so PT will not.

Now the annual docudrama begins to unfold.

The Council will conduct hearings over the next few weeks to pore over every nook and cranny of the proposal. PT hears that they -- as well as many taxpayers -- will be keeping an eye peeled for where all the new hires (the paybacks of one sort or another for last year's campaign assistance) will be funded.

(It pays to keep in mind that while the Administration PROPOSES the budget, it is the Council which SETS THE ACTUAL BUDGET. It is one of their prime responsibilities as the governing body, and they can mush things around as they see fit. EVERY BUDGET is always the result of a negotiation between the Council and the Administration. It will be instructive to compare this year's final product with the original proposal.)

A couple of bumps in the road are visible right away:

1. The nearly $65M budget is based on the assumption the state will kick in the $2.9M in requested extraordinary aid. Plainfield has never gotten its full request before. Why would it now? So what is Plan B? Does that mean the tax increase will be more than the average $305? Or that the Administration will have to trim some of the new hires? Or sacrifice programs but keep the padded payroll? That will be interesting development NUMBER TWO.
   
   
2. Interesting development NUMBER ONE is likely to be missing the target action date of October 5. Why? Well, first the state has hardly ever gotten the figures for extraordinary aid out before late October/early November in the best of years. Secondly, after reviewing the budget, the DCA could come back to the city -- as it did to Newark with Sharpe's last budget -- and demand the city either square up the income side or reduce the budget.

In any event, it will be a drama worth paying attention to. Especially so, if you think your taxes should NOT go up.

The full budget, by law, is available for public inspection in the Clerk's office. Some towns across the country actually have their budgets on their websites for free, instantaneous download.

We can live in hope, can't we?

N.B. Though we'll be discussing the budget over the next few weeks, none of the discussion is meant as a criticism of CFO Pete Sepelya, who labors mightily WITHOUT a Director of Administration and Finance, and is only responsible for COMPILING THE NUMBERS, and NOT on deciding the priorities, etc. The buck stops -- as Harry Truman would say -- at the Mayor's desk.

-- Dan Damon

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TW3 - Aug 28 - Sep 4: Murder, but what number?... Escorting Her Honor...

GOVERNMENT / POLITICS

MURDER SHE WROTE - BUT WHAT NUMBER? -- Joel Whitley was gunned down on East 6th Street after a fight at a party early Sunday morning, according to the Courier ("Police report slaying in city") and the Ledger ("Man, 26, shot dead at party in Plainfield") in Labor Day editions. The Courier ran a follow-up today ("Suspect sought in city slaying").

Both days, the Courier identified the murder as the 7th of 2006. PT however, has been keeping count ("2006 murders charted") and thinks this is Plainfield's 8th murder in 2006 ("Murder Number 8 - PT counts EIGHT"). Could the blog possibly be right in the face of the mighty fact-checking powers of the mainstream media? Remains to be seen...

Meanwhile, it's all about GUNS. GUNS are everywhere. Here are two Plainfield-related GUN stories from the past week -- "Police nab teen with loaded gun on Drake House property" and "Two Plainfield men arrested in Berkeley Heights traffic stop". And PT had several people relate stories recently -- gunshots in the neighborhoods at night, bullet holes in the windows of public buildings. Operation Cease-Fire is supposed to bring GUNS under control in the community. Let's hope, but when...


ESCORTING HER HONOR -- As if CRIME weren't enough, NON-CRIME got its 15 minutes of fame this past week also. The Courier, after weeks of travail, on Monday delivered its big piece ("After gossip on blog, Plainfield mayor gets police escort") on Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs' police 'escorts.' This was followed up on Tuesday with an editorial ("Mayoral bodyguards unnecessary in Plainfield") concluding the 'escorts' are unnecessary.

On Saturday, PT was thrashed in the Courier editorial ("Responsibility has a place in blogs, too"), which led to PT's response ("Courier soundly canes PT").

But something funny happened on the way to the forum. In the course of the conversation, a NEW FOCUS has emerged. PT started by needling the Administration because it has not spoken out after the daytime shooting on the Library's steps to reassure the community and the Library's staff and patrons. The Courier has changed the focus into the question of WHY and WHEN the Mayor's police escort was assigned. WHY indeed! And WHEN indeed!

PT has been deluged with comments from people from around the community who are puzzled that the Courier let the Administration off the hook with the assertion the duty assignment was made in July, ONLY AFTER THE BLOG POST. The recollection of all these people is that the officers in question have been escorting Robinson-Briggs since the Democratic Primary a year ago last June. Long before there even WAS a Plainfield Today. This should be simple enough to get to the bottom of. After all, an order would have had to be issued...officers don't just assign themselves. And there IS a protocol for how it's done.

So, we can thank the Courier for leaving us with more questions rather than fewer...


Last Friday's H.I.T.S.: "HITS: Any way to treat a lady?..." -- Pray for our grants... Your tax $$$ at work?... La Raza rising?... The unkindest cut of all..."
Last Monday's TW3: "TW3 - Aug 21 - 27: Digest of past week's Plainfield news" -- Blanco leaves surprise legacy as Council begins to move on...

[Will finish up tomorrow, have to go to a funeral this morning.]

-- Dan Damon

2006 murders rise to eight

PLAINFIELD MURDERS - 2006
	Date: September 3, 2006 Victim: Joel Whitley, 26, of Burlington County Circumstances: Shot after dispute at party on East 6th Street, shooter pulled up in silver van Suspect: Bryden Williams, 29; AT LARGE as of 9/4/2006 Drugs Involved: Unknown
	Date: July 6, 2006 Victim: Robert Clayborne Circumstances: Shot, Hallway of Viola Aptmts., across from Crescent Ave. Presbyterian Church Suspect: Unsolved Drugs Involved: Yes
	Date: July 1, 2006 Victim: Frank Puri Circumstances: Beaten, found under Liberty Street underpass Suspect: Unsolved Drugs Involved: Probable
	Date: June 18, 2006 Victim: Lonnie Phillips Circumstances: Stabbed, daylight, East Front at Church Street Suspect: Dennis Thomas, arrested minutes later Drugs Involved: No
	Date: April 12, 2006 Victim: Sergio Suarez Circumstances: Shot, Innocent bystander, West Front across from McDonald's Suspect: Shaun D. Oatis, arrested April 12, 2006 Drugs Involved: No
	Date: March 24, 2006 Victim: Michael Gregory Circumstances: Shot, broad daylight, Green Brook Park Suspect: Jeremy Watson, arrested March 24, 2006 Drugs Involved: Yes
	Date: March 14, 2006 Victim: Robert Cody Circumstances: Shot, Liberty Street underpass Suspect: Donald Johnson, arrested Staten Island, April 23, 2006 Drugs Involved: Suspected
	Date: February 16, 2006 Victim: Antwine McAllister Circumstances: Shot, broad daylight, 6th & Park Suspect: Shawn Wafi-Long, arrested May 19, 2006 Drugs Involved: Suspected

Plainfield's 1998 Tornado

*
CORRECTION: Sharp-eyed reader LM caught the erroneous reference to a 2001 Labor Day tornado in last Friday's HITS (see section "THE UNKINDEST CUT OF ALL" near end).

LM is absolutely right. Plainfield's tornado hit on LABOR DAY 1998.

Hundreds of trees were downed -- 125 city trees among them -- many damaging homes and cars. Sections of the city were without power for days as crews -- including mutual assistance from surrounding communities -- worked to clear the streets and get power restored.

Here are two pictures:

(Above) A large tree hit the home of longtime community activist Al Jackson at West 9th Street and Central Avenue.

(Above) Tree was uprooted and fell across Central Avenue between Stelle Avenue and Randolph Road.

-- Dan Damon

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Murder Number 8

Murder Number 8 - PT counts EIGHT. See summary at "PLAINFIELD MURDERS - 2006 - DETAILS"
	Date: September 3, 2006 Victim: Joel Whitley, 26, of Burlington County Circumstances: Shot after dispute at party on East 6th Street, shooter pulled up in silver van Suspect: Bryden Williams, 29, at large as of 9/4/2006 Drugs Involved: Unknown Ledger: "Man, 26, shot dead at party in Plainfield" Courier: "Police report slaying in city"

Enjoy your Labor Day weekend!

A 1959 view of Labor Day, courtesy of your favorite blood pressure medication!

-- Dan Damon

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Courier soundly canes PT

Today's Courier editorial ("Responsibility has a place in blogs, too") soundly canes PT for the initial posting concerning GOSSIP ABOUT RUMORS OF DEATH THREATS against Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs.

The Courier took care to note the differences between the blogosphere and the mainstream media. Bloggers are, indeed, as the editorial points out, "left to their own devices and consciences in deciding what is tossed out TO THE MASSES." (Was that a whiff of elitism PT just detected?)

The Internet is bringing about a clash of paradigms.

Recently, Slate magazine's Jack Shafer reviewed W. Joseph Campbell's "The Year That Defined American Journalism: 1897 and the Clash of Paradigms".

In his review, "The Great Press War of 1897", Shafer notes three paradigms Campbell outlines:

• The New York Times' "just the facts m'am" (Ochs)
  
  
• The New York Journal's "journalism of action" (Hearst)
  
  
• The New York Commercial Advertiser's "story behind the story" anti-journalism (Steffens)
  

Lincoln Steffens and the Advertiser are long forgotten, but Shafer argues, Ochs' "grey lady journalism" and Hearst's "yellowish journalism" survive all around us.

PT pleads guilty to being "yellowish" as Shafer describes it, and assumes the Courier is proud to take the mantle of "grey lady" journalism in Central Jersey. Everyone should find Shafer's piece an enjoyable and thought-provoking read, and PT heartily recommends it.

While the "controversy" has given the Courier the opportunity for a juicy story and some high-minded editorializing, many people express to PT an incredulity that the Courier would have settled so meekly for the Administration's explanation of the TIMING of the assignment of the mayor's 'escorts.'

There was constant comment throughout the course of the mayor's election campaign over the accompaniment of the candidate at every turn by the very officers who are now officially her 'escorts.' The feeling is that the Courier's investigation has not gotten to the bottom of this.

The Courier also refers to "two officers assigned by Hellwig to on-call duties." This can hardly be the case as the Director makes policy and is forbidden by law from usurping the Chief's role, the Chief alone being responsible for the disposition of police assignments. Unless, of course, IT IS TRUE, in which case more remains to be explained.

So, from PT's thoroughly caned point of view, the Courier STILL has work to do on THIS story.

And it also needs to reflect on how to refer to online presences other than its own. This is a topic that has been debated throughout the mainstream media. Websites and blogs were in the past often referred to as if they were offstage actors -- talked about, but never brought "on stage" so to speak.

The entire "controversy" as reported in the Courier has never pointed readers to the blog by citing its name or online address.

Even the greatest "grey lady" -- The New York Times -- has repented of this stylistic tic and in its online stories now actually links the reader to the cited source, whatever and wherever it is. They seem to have concluded that it is actually GOOD FOR BUSINESS to do so. Kind of makes them the online SOURCE OF RECORD. Not too shabby.

In addition to being "yellowish" journalistically, PT will also plead guilty to the use of IRONY.

Irony, as PT -- along with countless others -- has learned, is sometimes missed by the reader. In fact, the post that started this whole business was intended as IRONIC.

That being said, PT proposes to give readers a heads-up by developing an icon to indicate "irony ahead" sort of in the manner of those "falling rocks", "slippery when wet" and "bounding deer" caution signs one sees along the roadside.

Three drafts are shown below, and PT invites readers to recommend their choice.

Finally, PT would like to thank the Courier for even the INDIRECT attention. My guess is that PT has picked up more subscribers over this "controversy" than has the Courier.

PT doesn't know HOW to fix that!

-- Dan Damon

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