Unless there is something extraordinary relating to one of the Council Candidates occurring over the weekend, I shall make no further comments about the upcoming election.
10:30 addendum; I must note that the two videos mentioned in a commentary to today's Rucker's blog were sent to me as comments to be posted as part of my "Candidates" blog; They were of course rejected. If yesterday's Plainfield Today were emailed to me as a comment it too would have gone into the trash where it belongs.
The important races in this years primary besides the two Council seats is the selection of the Democrats City Community Members. Both factions are running almost full slates in each Ward and District. The results of this election will determine which faction runs the city for the next two years. Thus even 3rd Warders have a reason to vote.
Assemblyman Green has posted a response click to my defense of Board of Education member Abul-Haqq. Assemblyman Green knows that I'm not exonerating Mr. Abdul-Haqq for the criminal offense over 40 years ago that resulted in his incarceration. This obviously was by his own admission his third conviction. The nature of the previous two has not been stated but apparently did not result in a jail term.
I'm not denying that Mr.Abdul-Haqq's crime was a serious one. He paid the penalty. His rehabilitation has over the years mitigated the seriousness and significance of his crime, and for decades he has been a positive influence in the city.
Assemblyman Green has always been an advocate of the second chance. He should appreciate that there is no provision in AB 444 for consideration and appreciation of those who have returned to their community to became model citizens. It is flawed in that respect.
Many including myself, wonder why a standard imposed on members of a board that has no more direct contact with children than the average citizen should be subject to restrictions not applicable to other elected officials or even more important, those that have direct contact with youths. Is anyone involved in Recreation's youth athletic activities subject to background checks? Are they prohibited if there is any "record"?
Even astute politicians make stupid mistakes as Gov. Christi did with his Helicopter ride. Assemblyman Green who has proven his political savvy over the years must realize that since he is the lead proposer of this specific law that his relationships with a certain "victim" of the law would become a point of contention. Circumstantial evidence is just that; suspicion not proof. Given the benefit of doubt, he could have avoided any stigma by not being the sponsor.
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Right On! I think Jerry doth protest too much. His hands are dirty and like many of the laws coming out of Trenton, this one is terribly flawed. It should apply to all politicians and people involved with children and in other circumstances. Change it, allow for people who have shown their good citizenship over the years and it will be fair.
ReplyDeleteIsn't there such a thing as "paying your debt to society"? Trenton may have gone along with Jerry's bill not knowing it may have well been personal.
ReplyDeleteWhy does Jerry bring up doc's age? What's with people doing this?
and what "talent" would it be that God endowed Jerry Green with??? A
ReplyDeleteAs a member of quite possibly the 2nd or 3rd most corrupt State Legislature I don't think God would like being somehow BLAMED or given credit any State Legislator in NJ.
Mr. Abdul Haqq was caught with HEROIN. Do you know what heroin did to the black community during those times?
ReplyDeleteIn fact, heroin was mainly concentrated in the black community and was pushed by whites and Italians.
There is a difference between being a user and a dealer. Users dont usually go to jail and get convicted over a so called $5 dollar bag.
All of us are not that stupid to but that lame story. Those of us in the know know better, Abdul.
With all due respect to all who support Mr. Abdul Haqq, the law is the law.
ReplyDeleteHe must step down from the Board immediately.
The law requires him to do so. Not stepping down is once again breaking the law.
"The law is the law" is a nebulous declaration. It rings hollow and is an absolutist connotation. Laws can also be amended hence; Plessy v. Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537 (1896), is a landmark United States Supreme Court decision in the jurisprudence of the United States, upholding the constitutionality of state laws requiring racial segregation in private businesses (particularly railroads), under the doctrine of "separate but equal". Had that law not been amended where would our nation be today? There should always be an opportunity for people to reinvent themselves while I abhor illegal drug activity and its impact in the urban community the law proposed by Mr. Green is capricious and denies one an opportunity to make amends for a bad decision. The question that begs an answer is why didn't Mr. Green introduce legislation for ALL public employee's? Oh by the way, not long ago …. in May of 1973, New York's Governor Nelson Rockefeller pushed through the state legislature a set of stringent anti-drug laws. Among the most severe in the nation, the purpose of these laws was and is to deter citizens from using or selling drugs and to punish and isolate from society those who were not deterred. This law forced judges to discriminate between the type of drug and the length of the jail term. There was much more flexibility given to the sentencing guidelines of drugs which frequented urban America and those used in suburbia. The sentencing guidelines were biased and those same laws were amended under President Obama…because they were WRONG as is the application of Mr. Green's legislation!
ReplyDeleteKS your long reply is not being posted here as a comment. It is not related to this blog. You have your own blog . Howevber I am posting it as part of a series of comments on this issue.
ReplyDelete