A FINAL FOR NOW

Some thoughts after reading today's CN to express before the kids invade.

Read the editorial; It is to the point. One of the greatest dangers to our country, state, and community is the fact that our elected officials are politicians. Their agenda first and foremost is to blame the other party for all the ills that have befallen us. There is no honest attempt to work for the benefit of the people. This is not germane to Plainfield, Union County, New Jersey or the nation. A prime example is the budget crisis in New York. At least in New Jersey just enough Democrats made the sacrifice to vote to pass the budget while the rest like our Assemblyman are blaming the Republicans for the absolute needed cuts in expenditures.

If only the elected members from both parties were not primarily interested in staying in office by passing legislation designed to curry favor from various powerful blocks such as unions or various industries. Forgotten has been the welfare of the political unit. It has been easier to mortgage our future than to be practical. The body political is facing foreclosure which will be the start of a real economic crisis that may rival the 1930s.

If only our elected officials were statesmen/women rather than party liners.

In the local scene, since I missed the Mayor's rally I am not sure what the program to fight the violence and the gangs is. I have failed to note anything active other than words.

There is a call for a voluntary curfew. Who will it apply to and how will it be enforced? Why not a mandatory one and enforce it. That plus increased police presence even reinforced by National guard if needed would be a temporary partial solution.

However, everything our officials and all civic employees have done has not only evaded the issue but magnified it. The first answer is judicial allocation of expenses. Every cut the City and the BOE has made has aggravated the issue.

Gangs are a substitute for activities that we no longer offer. We have eliminated various recreational facilities or curtailed time. Post school activities have been the victim of financial problems. Community sponsored athletics have to be expanded to be available to everyone. Community sponsored clubs and the open facilities for them are a must. That of course includes the Library.

By "Community" are not only referring to City Recreation division or administration, but non profit organizations such as the "Ys" and religious groups. Importantly there can not be exclusions based on religion or membership. These agencies may need municipal financial support above that which they can generate and it must be found.

If there are conflicts in the police division which some have suggested exists, do they impact on efficiency? If so what remedial immediate action is being contemplated?

Where is the money needed to be obtained? There must be a strict review of all expenditures to make sure that they are necessary and also that the methodology of awarding contracts is one that will guarantee the desired quality at the lowest costs. Is the Administration or the PSS willing to do this. To date there has been no evidence that this is a goal.

On the other hand we are held hostage of annual contract wage and benefit increases for all employees including high level. How can the teacher's association members be expected to agree to a freeze or roll back when the number of high level school officials earning over $150000 n early doubled from 10 to 19, and similar percentage increase were mandated to other unionized employees? How can the city's union's members grant roll backs when there was no obvious effort from the upper level?

It is the self serving interests that are destroying this community. Until we get our priorities right, we will have no effective weapon s to counter the gangs. We must think long term not patch solutions.