DYSFUNCTIOAL PUBLIC

This coming week the Council plans to vote to move the BOE elections to the November date of general elections. The idea is to increase citizen participation over the abominable 10-12% that elect that Board.

It is apparent that Planfield's school district from the BOE and Administration continues to be dysfunctional and failing our children. The basis for that remark comes from media reports and the outstanding investigative work of Maria Pellum ( click HERE)

Plainfield also has a dysfunctional City Governance; the Mayor acts as if she was not bound by the provisions of the City Charter or State regulations. The Council seems powerless to control her; and although some progress has been made in the past year there seems not to be a willingness to act forcibly against a member of the dominant political party.

In Plainfield if one is not a registered Democrat that person will in actuality have no valid choice in selecting the local government. On the other hand, although the BOE elections are non-partisan there has been except for the past two years a close relationship between the candidates for the Board and the local Party as evidenced by the number of former Board members selected to run for the Council or as Mayor.

The interpretation of New Jersey's closed primary laws is; "Only voters registered with a given party can vote in the primary. Parties may have the option to invite unaffiliated voters to participate. Typically, however, independent voters are left out of the process entirely unless they choose to sacrifice their freedom of association for the opportunity to have their say in who represents them. Closed primaries may also exacerbate the radicalization that often occurs at the primary stage, when candidates must cater to the "base," yet the "fringe" of the party are typically more motivated to turn out."

Both the Republicans and Democrats have chosen to keep their primary elections closed. This of course is the way a political boss (or a dictator) retains power.

Although for the past few years there have been two slates on the Democrat ballot; the Regular (City Committee nominees) Democrats and the New Democrats. There are questions about this year's election if there will be such a distinction.

There is another but most improbable alternative; the vats number of Independents registering as Democrats and posting their own slate for the primary. Improbable because those who consider themselves as Independent have divorced themselves from municipal affairs. If such a collation could be organized the deadline for filing for the Primary is May 15.

Unless there is a complete change in public attitude towards patronage and nepotism in the operation of the City Government, its School System, and its Authorities especially the PMUA; Plainfield is doomed to be a failed city. In other words; as long as the public is dysfunctional we can expect no improvement.

The school scores have been just released and Plainfield's except in a few rare exceptions are below average. The one bright spot is one class in Cook school that is above average in both Language and Math. you can navigate to the system. Check out scores here.