DOC'S POTPOURRI

LIBRARY BOOK SALE

2012-02-02T10:58:00.002-05:00

The "Library" has requested posting this announcement on my blog. It is a pleasure to do so as a service for one of the few remaining Plainfied Gems.

The Plainfield Public Library will be holding its Annual Book Sale starting Friday March 9, 2012 at 12 noon. There will be a preview on Friday March 9^th from 9 AM to noon. Entry cost will be $5.00 for preview admission. Friends of the Library members will be admitted free of charge.

General public sale starts at 12 noon on Friday March 9, 2012 and will continue during regular Library hours through Saturday March 17^th at 5 PM.

The Library is accepting donations of gently used books in all fiction and non-fiction genres. We do not accept textbooks, encyclopedias and magazines for the book sale. All funds from the sale will go towards the support of departments in the Library including Children’s, Literacy, and Local History as well as programming and collection development.

Please support the Library at during these critical economic times.

Contact Mary Ellen Rogan at 908-757-1111 x132.

Visit our website at www.plainfieldlibrary.info

DYSFUNCTIOAL PUBLIC

2012-02-02T09:41:00.004-05:00

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.

GROUNDHOG DAY

2012-02-02T09:24:00.003-05:00

Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow and prognosticated that winter was not over. On the other hand lesser lights like Staten Island Chuck and minor leaguers Nabrun(?) Ned and some place or other "Al" did not and spring is here. Phil is being outvoted 3:1; but this is like the Republican primaries.

If you would like to read a great article on the groundhog's ability to forecast the weather enter the eNature address in your address line. I tried to make a link but could not. If you have the time it is worth reading; increases your font of inconsequential knowledge.

BOE ELECTIONS PLUS

2012-02-01T18:37:00.004-05:00

Chalk up one for the Council; good move

CORPORATION NOTICE
CITY OF PLAINFIELD

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING

PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 2, SECTION 2:2-10(A) OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF THE CITY
OF PLAINFIELD, 1971, A SPECIAL MEETING IS HEREBY CALLED BY THE PLAINFIELD CITY
COUNCIL AT 7:00 P.M. ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012, PRIOR TO THE SCHEDULED AGENDA
FIXING SESSION TO BE HELD IN THE CITY HALL LIBRARY, 515 WATCHUNG AVENUE, CITY OF
PLAINFIELD, FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERING AND ACTING UPON THE FOLLOWING:

COUNCILMANIC RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE
PLAINFIELD BOARD OF EDUCATION AS THE FIRST TUESDAY AFTER THE FIRST
MONDAY IN NOVEMBER.

FORMAL ACTION MAY BE TAKEN.

BY ORDER OF THE PLAINFIELD
MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
ADRIAN O. MAPP, PRESIDENT

/S/S/ ABUBAKAR JALLOH, RMC
MUNICIPAL CLERK

PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY
FEBRUARY 1, 2012.

And from Jerry Green's Page an Assembly bill that is a move in the right direction. click (here)
If Passed will wonders neer cease.

FACTS NOT CONTROVERSY

2012-02-01T00:05:00.003-05:00

"In politics, absurdity is not a handicap." -- Napoleon Bonaparte

Tomorrow is Ground Hog Day and Punxsutawney Phil will be counted upon to tell us if we will have 6 more weeks of this(?) Winter or if Spring will be just around the corner;

Phil’s prognostications have as much validity as rules of conduct by politicians from Newt down to the lowest elected office in a municipality.

None the less the world will continue to rotate for in 4 more days the first great earth shaking event of the year 2012 will take place. That is the Super Bowl and from the media we get the impression that anything that occurs the rest of the year will be an anti-climax.

That may not be true about the selection process for the Republican nominee for President. Although Romney won a significant victory in Florida by at the time I wrote this beating Gingrich by about 17 percent points the road to Convention is still not assured.

This Saturday there are caucuses in Main and Nebraska with caucuses in Colorado and Minnesota with a non binding one in Missouri taking placed. Then the world goes activity silent for about two weeks until February 28^thwhen Michigan and Arizona hold primaries. The first two weeks of March will be busy with Super Tuesday the first Tues day in March when 10 states hold their primaries. That date is the target that the also ran’s and Gingrich are shooting for and hope to be able to make a significant impact at the Convention.

This year the Republican Party has changed its ground rules on delegate selection an already in many states it is no longer winner take all but the delegates are divided proportionally according to results in the primary selection process.

That change may allow candidates who have received a lesser number of committed delegates to assume a role of power brokers. Certainly that seems to be Paul’s goal and Gingrich feels that he will be able to dictate the Republican Platform. Indeed he has asked Perry (who is he?) to help he write a proposed platform.

Since New Jersey will have no say in the selection of the nominee until primary day early June we can only sit and watch knowing that somewhere along the line the GOP will commit political suicide

FYI-PMUA/COUNCIL METING

2012-01-31T09:14:00.002-05:00

As is my custom the first newspaper(?) I read at breakfast is the Courier since it contains local items and obituaries. I scanned the legal notices and to my surprise was a small one from the PMUA announcing a meeting of the Commissioners with the City Council at the Agenda Setting Session this coming Monday.

This is long forthcoming having been resisted by the previous PMUA Administration. I have never in the past seen a legal notice announcing a joint meeting. It should be an interesting evening and perhaps a long one with other items under questioning that should be up for discussion.

I have just read Bernice's blog and she has r reproduced the notice.

LETTER AFTERMATH

2012-01-31T07:00:00.001-05:00

"Nothing brings out the lower traits of human nature like office seeking." -- Rutherford B. Hayes, 1878 19th President of US.

Today 1/12th of 2012 passes. Unlike last year it has been a mild winter to date but two more months including February which is traditionally the worst is still to come, Of course Ground Hog day will soon be upon us and we will have the benefit of two independent prophets to give us a choice of prognostications. Thus one will be right and its forecast will be remembered as proof of the importance of that day.

Today is also the Primary Elections in Florida. Unlike the others this is a "winner take all affair"; no proportional allocation of the delegates. The Republican campaign has turned dirty; fueled by Gingrich. However Romney counter attack both at the Debates and in the media have severely hurt Saint Newt.

At this point Santorum is not and I do not believe will ever recover to be a true factor in the race. Ron Paul will not be accepted by the majority of the party leadership and I believe that he is only desiring to have a major input in the Party Platform at the convention.

Campaigning for local office has already begun and it appears that it will mirror the Republicans in nastiness.

Although we will have to wait to see if Roland Muhammad will file to run against either McWilliams or Mapp it appears that as of this date "harmony" reigns in the local Democrat family.Indeed recent events suggest that there may be some meeting of the minds. However, if Muhammad follows through in his threat what will be Robinson-Briggs' support? We will have four interesting political months in Plainfield.

The " New Democrats" and "Slam" supported by "kingmaker"(Bernice's terminology) John Campbell have tried in the past to usurp Jerry Green's power and almost succeeded in the early 2000s. We are aware that JG as assemblyman has no input int o the City's governance nor the PMUA nor the candidates for the BOE therefore he can have no ulterior motive in desiring that the BOE elections be held with the general election except to have a greater public participation. In fact he has repeatedly said that his local interest is solely as Party Chairman to support the candidates running for office.

In that Party role he has found the non-politically elected BOE members to be a source for future Councilors. In other words it has been the minor league for many present politicians.

Note; as I have opened a can of worms by posting Burney's letter I will give my post space to any one or one consortium of New Democrats to post a rebuttal. Since all have their own blogs that may not be necessary.

Rashid Burney's Communication

2012-01-30T07:15:00.003-05:00

"Getting a lecture on morality from a politician is like getting a lecture on chastity from a whore." -- Perry de Havilland

Former Councilman Rashid Burney has sent the following email to me and I suppose numerous others. Since Plainfield politics often leaves one bewildered, and since politicians are politicians although not all are "Newts" I have acceded to his request (see comments to yesterday's blog) and am posting the email in toto.

Received 1/28/2012

"You cannot make this up folks.

I keep trying to tune out Plainfield's status-quo politics, and things keep coming up that honestly, make me sad for Plainfield and I cannot keep quiet. With every new face, change is what you are promised. Blame is the excuse you are presented at the end of every 4-years.

"It's Jerry's fault". "Jerry is keeping us from moving forward". "Jerry will not allow progress". Haven't you been told that over and over again? Yet four years later, more promises to fight Jerry Green and more excuses.

By now you all know that after years of telling you that Jerry Green is bad for Plainfield and Jerry Green is the root of all problems in Plainfield, the New Democrats went out and campaigned for Jerry Green this past election cycle. Put out signs for Jerry Green. Made phone calls for Jerry Green. Helped him get elected.

The New Democrats excuse when such a reversal is exposed: "We always do this". Really? You always campaign for Jerry Green? Why didn't you tell us this in June every year when you tell us he is evil? And bad for Plainfield?

Everyone in the New Democrat machine was involved in this support for Green. Even the spin master, Dan Damon himself encouraged you to vote for Jerry Green on his blog, and showed up at Green's campaign HQ to support Green as did Storch, Mapp, Williams, Bicket and many other prominent New Democrats.

But it does not end there. When New Democrats Mapp and McWilliams campaigned for Council is 2008 they promised and pledged that they would not take ANY money from Plainfield vendors. A good idea it was! Some might even have believed it.

They told you pay-to-play was bad and only mean, bad politicians do this. Storch in his campaign told you the monies taken by the New Democrats was "over 10 years ago...." and thus implying they have changed their ways. They told you it that their politics were "new" and not "old".

Behind the scenes the opposite has been true. You see, the New Democrats have a strong history of frisking Plainfield vendors for money everytime they are in power. Happened in 2003, 2004 and 2005. Now that New Democrats once again are controlling the council, what happens?

Well, don't wait for Dan Damon to tell you. Because he will not. Nor will any other New Democrat. I doubt if you will see this on any of the blogs either.

Attached please find New Democrat leader, Adrian Mapp's first election report filed with the State of NJ for his 2012 Council run. What this shows is Mr Mapp is taking monies from Plainfield vendors. He has already accumulated almost $5,000 in campaign contribution including $500 from Remminton Vernick. Remmington Vernick is Plainfield's engineering firm who has received over $3 million dollars from the city in engineering work in the last few years.

The rest of the rest were probably also contributions from Plainfield vendors, but they were all $300 or less, and thus not required to be reported individually.

How do you accumulate so much money overnight? Simple! Announce that you will ascend to the role of Council President for 2012 (hint...hint.... Council controls budget and contracts..hint...hint) and that you are hosting a wine and cheese reception at your home. Make the card read "Monetary contributions of $300 will be accepted".

As long as you have been a loyal "yes" vote, pay-to-play money will flow to you.
But why do the fund raiser in 2011 when election is actually in June of 2012? Here is why: Do your fundraiser in 2011, so that you can start a fresh clock in 2012 and hit the vendors up again in 2012. Thus you bypass annual contribution limits.

Do it quietly. Damon will not report it in his blog. So how will you know?
Just for extra measure, introduce an ordinance that appears to ban pay-to-play at the very time you are frisking the vendors. And tell everyone how this is honest and ethical leadership.

I am not making this up folks. This is the playbook. So while my comments may be sarcastic, the facts speak for themselves.

The New Democrat's leader, Mapp and the New Democrat organization owes you an explanation. From campaigning for Green, rubber stamping votes for board and commissions that are not good for Plainfield, to secret fund raisers to frisk money from Plainfield vendors. These are all "old" politics. Nothing "New" about this.

The problem here is political ambitions have simply exceeded the needs of the city. Politicians have convinced themselves and their close circle that doing the very things they vowed not do do is necessary to step the very things they promised to stop. It's a warped and twisted logic. Now more time is spent on spin control, and keeping everyone toting the same line, rather then doing what is good for the city. Ordinances are put up that are really meaningless.

You are left hold the bill for all if this. Many of you have invested time, effort, and even money. You are also left with the emotional bill for this also. You have invested your own name, reputation and walked door to door for causes that are now essentially road-kill.

How you choose to act on this is obviously up to you. I am not running for anything and I don't want to run for office again. I am not supporting or opposing any faction or side in Plainfield and I am really busy with my business and family.

But because the information you are getting on the blogs is so one-sided, you are not getting all the truth. Since no one else is presenting you all the facts, I just feel I have to point these out and you can decide what to do with this.

thank you!

Rashid Burney"

On Jan.27 I received an email with the following attachment which confirms Burney's charge.

Mapp20120115.pdf
97K View Download

JUST STUFF

2012-01-28T23:52:00.003-05:00

Sunday without football and more than a month before Baseball camps begin.It will be also two months before the BOE elections unless the Council i its fiduciary role passes a Resolution mandating the change to the November date.

If the City chooses to hold the BOE?budget election coinciding with the General election; we will be committed for four years. That will give us time to judge is it was a wise move.

While we wait perhaps someone will take the time to give us an update on the "Shotspoter" program. Have we signed a contract? If so what are the terms/provisions? Is the Administration and Council aware that Trenton backed off expanding its one square mile trial application. The reason; a man was serendipitously found shot dead it the middle of the covered area; an obvious failure.

Other questions that need an answer or explanation at the next weeks Council meeting include;(1) when did the Council approve the appointment of a Special Corporation Council to represent the Mayor, and (2) how much compensation including miscellaneous expenses did he received,(3) where in the Charter is legal representation authorized for the Mayor if it is an in house investigation?

I am sure by next Monday I will remember more open items.

BOE ELECTIONS CHANGE

2012-01-27T09:19:00.003-05:00

Thanks to Maria Pellum I have learned that the LAW states that either the Council or the BOE can pass a Resolution moving the School Board elections to coincide with the November general election. The link is Here . click on it to read the entire law.

The election is to occupy a special section of the ballot and is still to be non-political(?).

Since there is an early February deadline for the application the Council must take appropriate action at Feb. 6, meeting.

FRIDAY; JAN. 27, 2012

2012-01-27T07:05:00.001-05:00

I took a "sort of " sabbatical Thursday to reflect that a year ago that date we had one of the biggest snow storms in my memory, and that is a long time. Well, one excuse is as good as any other when there is little positive material for a blog.

I am pleased to read that Jerry Green the Chairman of the Plainfield Democrat Committee as come out in favor (Dec. 26) of moving the School Board elections to the November General Elections.

One of Plainfield's glaring tragedies is its dysfunctional BOE/PSS. Perhaps the blame can be leveled at the public's lack of interest at the annual School Board/Budget spring election. Yes combining that election with the significant general election should ensure a more representative turnout. That will be most true this year; a Presidential election year.

Maria has been doing the community a great service by aggressively pointing out backed with facts the failures of this and past boards to compile with mandated State DOE requirements. She has reported on hidden expenditures that have digested large sums of funds that would be better used for our children's education.

SLAM has proven to be o better than its predecessors. The promise of transparency and a positive direction have proven to be no more than words.

Assemblyman Green calls for the Council to take action in moving the BOE election date , but doesn't the BOE have to recommend changing the election date?

STATE OF MY UNION

2012-01-25T07:00:00.000-05:00

Two great speeches; the President' s State of the Union address and the Republican response. Agreed that they are dissonant but both make critical points that should be accepted by both parties.

The President's talk covered too many facets to analyses quickly, and I am not a paid pundit who must make a pronouncement within 24 hours. They also have the advantage of receiving a copy to study beforehand.

I do hope to write something in the days to come but don 't sit on the end of your seats. However, at this moment several things struck me as noteworthy; At times the President sounded like a "liberal Republican". He even in the discussion of reforms in Education sounding like Christie when he said we should reward the good teachers and get rid of the bad ones. That may be a crux to the failure to keep children inter ested in leaarning and school.

His remark that it should be mandatory for children to stay in school until age 18 doesn't solve the problem of educating those unwilling to learn. Our BOE's must provide the wherewithal that will create an atmosphere in which even the poorest studebt wil wish to learn. That also includes the teachers that provide a reason for schooling.

On another subject; Tax Reform he is right thatthe present system has mutated through loopholes into one that puts an abnormal hard burden on the middle class as well as the senior citizen living on retirement plans.

A simple graduated scale or even equal scale over all income levels including the billionaires is a must. One must note the income from government bonds should remain tax free in the political unit sponsoring them. Those bonds are essential for a government to work, and the incentive to invest in them with their low rater of return is the tax benefit. Likewise the existence of many of our nonprofit and cultural organizations is dependent on the ability to deduct contributions from gross income. That must be preserved. Federal aid to various business should be on an individual basis and free from political manipulations. Of course when that day comes and the two parties agree on anything related to taxes especially in an election year it will probably be the day the Mayan Calendar ends.

Finally for today; Governor Daniel's observation that no country or person can avoid financial disaster if they spend more than they earn. Bankruptcy does not work for nations and it impoverishes its citizens.

CELL PHONE INTERNET PROBLEM?

2012-01-23T20:21:00.002-05:00

If you have trouble with your Internet be advised that it is not the residue of the Republican Debate but may be due to a solar flare. (Click this link.)

Christian Science Monitor

After solar flare, massive storm speeds Earthward

POLITICAL MONDAY

2012-01-23T10:01:00.003-05:00

Alan, thank you for recalling that blog about Gingrich click here to read. When I reread it I became amazed by how perceptive the author ( I) was about Gingrich and his chances. My comments about the rest of the Republican Candidates still seems valid.

Columnist Maureen Dowd in Sunday's Times discusses the weaknesses and failures of the Obama Presidency to date. For an avowed Democrat she is frank about why he will be extremely vulnerable this election.

The reactionary movement that embraced Gingrich in South Carolina perhaps best reflects her analysis.

In the same issue notable Columnist Thomas Friedman writes about the issues that will determine who will be our President in 2013. He also reports why 2/3 Americans polled would vote for a Third Party (not Paul I hope) Candidate who would promise to act on all their concerns.

Monday was a very foggy day; locally weather wise and nationally politically. The best advice is to enjoy the melt and prepare for winter later this week. Some clearing although I doubt it ; may result from the Florida primary a week from Tuesday which may determine the future of the Republican Party and perhaps a Draft Christie movement.

That noted tonight (Monday) the four debated in Tampa Florida. My impressions:

Romney was on the offensive against Gingrich blasting his record in DC. He accused him of being a Lobbyist for Freddie Mac &Fanny May receiving over a million dollars in salary as a "Historian". Gingrich of course denied influence peddling claiming he received on $30,000.00 total for his consulting services; the rest of funds went to his company for expenses. Romney will provide Tuesday 2 years tax return stating he paid everything due to the government. The fact that it was only about 15% of his income is the smoking gun.
Gingrich continues to be the ultimate debater. he can shift subject smoothly without truly answering the question. His aggressive stance on Foreign Policy. and National Economics will attract many voters. His stand on Social Security and health care will appeal to Florida's massive number of retired senior citizens . He pitched to the many "Cubans" in Florida by stating that he would aggressively try to terminate the Castro regime. He would forcefully react against Iran. He makes it sound good but is there substance present?
Ron Paul presents a most appealing national program especial relating to economics. Once again and he admit ed it, he has no concept of foreign policy except to lift the embargo against Cuba and Iran as being war provocative.
Santorum was largely ignored by the moderator but he repeated his domestic financial "program and his opposition to Federal Health Care. Since I am prejudiced against him in part because he did use his position in the Senate t o grant "favors" which have been reported (without my being able to confirm) to have benefited him when he lost a reelection bid.

All in all of the two leaders ; Gingrich scares me because I consider him to be dishonest and Romney likewise does not appeal because his positions sway with the wind and are dependent on the direction it is blowing at that moment.

JUST STUFF

2012-01-23T06:37:00.001-05:00

A weird weekend to say the least. My snow plower is happy since he was beginning to worry that he would not make any money this year. Forgotten is the fact that most years it is February and often March for the big snows. Also there are most years a storm about Easter time.

One year in the 60s I believe Helen and I had been in New York on Palm Sunday to play in a major Duplicate Bridge tournament. When we left to drive home it had been snowing for several hours in what turned out to be a major storm. As we drove back on 22 there were cars that were stuck all over the place. However through the grace of *** we manage to reach our house on Kenyon Ave safely. Our luck ran out in the driveway where there was a bend to the left at the back of the house; there the car was unable to go any further.

There was also one winter;I think in the 70s when it started to snow in late October and the ground remained snow covered until late March. That was the year we went to a meeting in Miami at the Fontainblau and the conference hall was so cold that they brought in portable heaters and the speakers gave their presentation wearing their overcoats. True story. Oh yes it did snow in Miami while we were there.

We had two dogs at that time. One was a Wired Hair Fox Terrier, a fun dog. The other, Bambi, was a Minature Pincher who though she had to consume all the food she could steal.

For our trip our daughter Paula and Ron who lived in a house in South Plainfield agreed to care for the dogs while we were away. Their house had a back stoop with steps down to the ground. The snow was up to the level of the stoop.

One day Bambi in her hurry to go outside fell off the stoop into the snow and disappeared, She had to be dug out.

How can there be any comment about the South Carolina Republican primary results? There can be no logical explanation how a State that proclaims itself to be a bastion for “true American family values” etc. could so overwhelming support Gingrich.

How about them Giants???

Potpourri for a Snowy Day

2012-01-21T07:27:00.000-05:00

At 11PM Friday no excuse for not having written a blog for Saturday. I can blame being lazy on the expected snow storm or on the South Carolina primary elections.

It will be interesting to see how Newt does in that Bible State. If we believe that Gingrich was not an advocate of open marriage-that is having your cake and eating it too- the perhaps the Captain of the Costa Concordia really did trip and fall into a lifeboat.

Just as an apology here is another JAMA cover

Monet Painting in His Garden at Argenteuil

NOT CONTROVERSIAL

2012-01-20T08:01:00.003-05:00

I watched a good college basketball game last night on ESPN3 the Internet "station" instead of the last Republican debate prior to tomorrow's South Carolina primary election.

The hour ended late and I have not prepared and wisdom to share. There are three viable Republican s still running and each represents a different segment of the party. If the philosophical split remains at and after their convention; President Obama's reelection will b e assured.

Instead. from JAMA two interesting and different portraits. The text beneath is in JPG (photograph) format and clicking on it will enlarge it to readable size.

DAYS IN OZ

2012-01-18T22:22:00.005-05:00

I have often referred to our Queen City as Oz. Recent happenings in the Municipal Government field, the PMUA, and the BOE/PSS have confirmed that this is the land of wonderment.

The Mayor has been found to have illegally used $20,000.00 of municipal funds. However one Councilor has belittled that finding by saying that it was only $5,000.00 of City money and much more was spent to investigate that sum. It does not matter what the amount was it is the legality of the action that is important. All elected officials are sworn to uphold the law not ignore indiscretions by colleagues.

In fact that Councilor is dismissing the $15,000.00 that was restricted for Fourth of July expenses as being inconsequential and not an improper usage of funds.

That citizens have spoken as well as anonymous comments to the blogs against the Council's action in pursuing an investigation as a waste of money implies the existence of a segment of our society who believes that anything you do as long as you can get away with it is OK. Some of these individuals would aspire to be an official part of our government.

No one on the Council has even explained why we taxpayers had to provide the Mayor with an attorney. The investigation was only to find out if there was an illegal action. If so, then if a legal process followed and the Mayor became a defendant it would be then that she would need an lawyer. It would not be the city's responsibility to defend her if it were it fact the injured party.

But, weirdness is not only limited to the Municipal government; according to the findings of another blogger the BOE has been hiding from the public not only expenditures of large sums of monies on claims of unknown nature against the PSS but also failing to conform to many State procedural regulations in various fields.

To compound they have threatened Mrs. Pellum with arrest for attempting to videotape the meetings for not conforming with conditions they have made policy that could make it impossible for any member of the public to to exercise his legal rights implicit in OPRA. WE elected SLAM to correct the fiduciary abuses of the then sitting board. Instead, we have had what seems to be more of the same.

And finally there is the PMUA's Commissioners who having turned a blind eye to the improper use of funds by their administrators are rewarding them with a Million Dollars for "resigning" not for termination without cause. How can they justify this outrage?

What is more bewildering is that various agencies and even the top administration of the State have ignored all these incidents of misgovernment in the land of Oz.

8:00 AM Addendum; It is very disturbing to read in the Courier that Assemblyman and City Party Chairman is quoted to have remarked that the whole investigation was "POLITICAL GRANDSTANDING", and also he called it "A JOKE". In other words he finds nothing wrong in an elected official misusing (illegally) public funds. Green should explain the meaning of his remarks , I am sure that as a respected and long standing leader in State politics he is not condoning the Mayor's actions.

First Reportt.

2012-01-17T22:37:00.003-05:00

This is a preliminary report about the Council meeting. The Council went into a 50 minute Executive Session immediately after convening the meeting to further discuss Resolution 36-12 which reprimanded the Mayor-see earlier post.

When that Resolution came up for vote it was passed unanimously to my surprise. However Councilor Read after the vote, once again was critical of the Council Majority for spend time and legal fees for what he called only $5000.00 of City Money. Apparently disregard of the law is of no consequence if the sum is small.

After the Council's vote on the Resolution; the Mayor's attorney asked for a few minutes to make remarks about the WBLS report and Council's action. . For the first time we learned, as I have questioned in earlier Public Comment segments,, that we the tax payers were also paying for his services when he was refereed to as Special Consul for the Mayor.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FYI- THE RESOLUTION

2012-01-17T14:06:00.003-05:00

This is the Resolution reprimanding the Mayor for the WBLS funding. It is self explanatory and represents the limit the Council can go. If it is not tabled or amended which is unlikely it will pass by a 4:3 vote., or 4:0 if there are three abstentions.

The copy is JPG form and clicking on it will enlarge it to readable status.

If the last Resolve is included it will be interesting to note the reactions of "higher authority".

2012-01-17T13:57:00.001-05:00

BERLIN-PARIS 1945

2012-01-17T09:20:00.003-05:00

No real local or national news today. There is the Council meeting at 8pm at the Court House" . If the resolution resulting from the WBLS is v oted on there will be much news for tomorrow. Meanwhile let us retrn to 1945.

While in Berlin, the 82^nd Division medical officers were given a chance for a week’s leave on the Riviera. The supposedly less fortunate ones, including myself, received temporary duty at a hospital in Paris. Many of the Paris hospital’s medical officers had been rotated back to the States for discharge. I was fortunate to be assigned for six weeks to the 23rd General Hospital, the only American hospital inside the city of Paris, The 23^rd occupied the Hopital de la Pitié where Charcot had been chief. It was located right opposite a metro stop on the Blvd St. Michael. Thus all of Paris was within easy reach.

I flew from Berlin to Paris in a C47. I am sure that the pilot was using visual navigation, following railroad tracks and flying just over the tree tops all the way to Paris. The day I arrived in Paris the European Command had decided that the occupation marks would no longer be exchanged into dollars. However, we were lucky that the airport bank had not received that notification. I was able to exchange all my occupation German marks for a money order to be sent home.

My duty with the 23rd General Hospital, which was the University of Buffalo unit, was a great one. Their Chief of the Venereal Disease Service had just left. Therefore, I became the head of that service I did five to ten lumbar punctures every morning, and administered medications, penicillin and intra-gluteal bismuth.**

The Army required that any referral from other services had to be formal, I was fortunate that the chief of the Medical Services was Dr. Brown head of medicine at the University. He would send me a referral complete with all the answers, which I used in my “consultation response”.

All afternoon I was free for sightseeing the city. In the evening, we doctors met at the Hospital’s small officer’s club’s bar for a few drinks before going to bed. It was here that I was introduced to aged Armagnac which the bar tender rightly professed to be better than a similar aged cognac. One of the other doctors came from Omaha and wanted me to join his medical group when I was discharged. However, although tempted I felt that because my brother was career Navy; I should return to Plainfield since my parents were getting on years and my sister was an invalid.

Any visitor to Paris should go to the opera. Unfortunately, at that time the Opera was closed for the season. However, the Opera Comique was in session. We obtained tickets for Lakme. While the tenor almost looked the role, the soprano was ungodly fat. A French man sitting behind us kept tapping our shoulders, saying that we should have heard Lilly Pons in that role. I had heard her on radio and knew it was her signature role. That was the only time to this day that I have been to the opera.

**One of the most severe forms of Tertiary Syphilis involved the Brain and Spinal Cord. The lumber punctures were to test spinal fluid for presence of infection and in those infected to inject penicillin. In 1945 the Penicillin was only in aqueous form, Bismuth also was effective in treating syphilis. It is a heavy metal in base form but this was in a chemical combination much like the form in Pepto-Bismol. Since it did not dissolve it was injected in the “butt”. It never was absorbed and left a deposit for life that showed up on x-ray. It was amazing how often a “leading citizen” had evidence of Bismuth on lower abdomen x-rays.

JAMA iNTERLUDE

2012-01-16T06:50:00.000-05:00

En joy MLK day. For a change two JAMA covers with accompanying explanations. If you click on the text it will enlarge and be readable

Catching White Bait at Nakaumni
Oda Bkazauma 1882-1956

Point Lobos-Guy Brose 1867-1925

TUESDAY'S AGENDA

2012-01-15T06:43:00.000-05:00

In as much as in the absence of backup material for the Resolutions on Tuesday night's Agenda there is little for comment. There is one exception; that is a Resolution not discussed at the Agenda Setting Session.

Resolution 036-12 per agenda; "COUNCILMANIC RESOLUTION REPRIMANDING MAYOR SHARON M. BRIGGS-ROBINSON AND REFERRING RESULTS OF WBLS EXPENDITURE INVESTIGATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND THE UNION COUNTY PROSECUTOR (RESOLUTION FORTHCOMING).

There can be no commentary on an unknown Resolution; however by its nature I would anticipate that if it is adopted as written it will be by a 4:3 vote. The report itself recommends a "reprimand" which would be difficult for all Councilors to reject. However, I can conceive that there will be a concerted effort by the minority members to amend the resolution to delete the referral to higher authorities.

It would be logical for any such referral to request an investigation to rule out any other fiscal irregularities due to the lack of a proper CFO.

RARITAN VALLEY HOSPITAL AND MORE

2012-01-13T15:55:00.005-05:00

This came today(Friday) in my email. the posting was one of two in April 2008. The subject matter was suggested by the imminent plan to close Muhlenberg'.

"Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Saga of a Hospital Closing Part 2":

It is great to hear this story form an insider. My mother worked in the ER from 1973 until its closing in 1981. She made some never ending friendships and it was one of her favorite jobs. "

For those who may be interested in the story of Raritan Valley Hospital here are the links.
The Saga of a Hospital Closing Part 2
THE SAGA OF A HOSPITAL CLOSINGl

It was a very patient friendly and except for the Chairman of the Board of Governors a pleasant place for the staff.

A further history of RVH can be found in this link.
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School - Wikipedia, the free ...

It is ironic the influence politicians have had in health care in New Jersey. The Medical School in New Brunswick was formed as part of Rutgers University. For unexplained reasons it was later combined with the Medical School in Newark and the Osteopathic school in Camden as the New Jersey Medical University completely separate from Rutgers.

There has been financial scandals related to officials in the State medical university and now the State plans to separate some of its units including New Brunswick and again make them part of Rutgers. Politicians act in mysterious ways.

POLITICAL MAVEN II

2012-01-12T23:26:00.000-05:00

Factors that will impact on the primary in the Bible Belt States will be the “religious question” as well as the economy and gun control.

All three are very important in South Carolina especially the status of the economy. South Carolina has been one of if not the state suffering the most from the economic downturn. Romney’s opponents will be hitting at the major job losses in some of the corporation his venture capital group acquired. They will make no mention of the new jobs resulting from the successful ones his group created. All the candidates follow a script stating that they will create jobs, but none have specific programs.

It goes without amplifying that in the more rural states the right to have a weapon is a very sensitive issue. All the candidates must address this issue in some manner.

It is possible that more important that the religious question may be of significant importance. Although in 1960 Kennedy was able to defuse the “Papist fear “and Catholics now can seek office without this being an issue, there is the position taken by some evangelistic Christian movements that Mormons are not Christians. They will use this sentiment to attack Romney and Huntsman.

Although the fact that Gingrich is in his third marriage and his third religion as a new dedicated Catholic probably will not concern most of this group. From past history the “Religious Issue” will become a prominent if only a sub rosa part of all primary election campaigns in these states. This may be especially true in South Carolina which is notorious for its ‘dirty election campaigns”