A PLEA

On Monday I praised the efforts of several Plainfield bloggers in their attempts to make our city once again a viable and vibrant community. There is an ultimate hope that something will ignite a local “spring uprising” by concerned but reluctant residents who are disturbed by the present and near future dysfunctional government. Or perhaps the local powers that be will accept their fiduciary role.

Four bloggers continue to post knowing full well that their words when directed at local problems often fall upon the apparent deaf ears of not only those of the civil leadership, but also the potentially powerful media.  Never the less it is with knowledge that those individuals do monitor their blog.

Among those is the 20+ year Chairman of the Plainfield Democrat Party and “powerful member’ of the State Assembly, Jerry Green who often takes a swipe at those who find fault with him or "his" Plainfield. That is his prerogative and once again he does not miss that opportunity in his Jan. 3 New Year’s message.

To quote: “Unfortunately in politics you can’t make everyone happy. As I travel around the 22nd district and all over the state I see no other towns that have people who haven't done anything to move their towns forward but be so critical of what’s going on. That’s what I see going on in Plainfield.

Over the past years when they decided to be negative about Plainfield I have ignored their comments and focused on the job of being Assemblyman in the 22nd district. People come up to me all the time and tell me that the way they behave is a major embarrassment to the city of Plainfield.

They know who they are and how little they have done for the city of Plainfield. These individuals bring more harm to the city than any other outside negative force could ever possibly do.”

He concludes:” Negativity keeps good people from running for office in this city as they spread lies and hate”.      

I take umbrage with his broad statements since I cannot remember any blog by the four that has been deliberately false, nor has promoted racial or religious division and/or hatred. As I have remarked it is not a crime to find fault with political leadership especially when it seems to have strayed from the righteous path. That is not negativity, but rather a positive civic duty.

It is also although Green denies it; there is no person who has a greater impact upon the political life and office holders than the Chairman of the City Party. (Note that I did not say "Democrat" since for practical purposes there is no viable local Republican party.) Indeed there are some in his party that by comments to various blogs have accused him of dictatorial tendencies.

Be that as it may; the truth of the matter is that without Assemblyman Green’s willingness to take a positive intervention into the day by day Plainfield affairs; this city will always be a focus of derision by other communities. If he is unwilling or unable to do so it can only mean that the Mayor has become too politically strong for him. I doubt that, so the alternative is that he is happy with Plainfield.  

Let those vacant essential administrative posts be filled with responsible knowledgeable individuals. For a change let 2013 be memorialized as the year of functional legal government.                           

4:30 PM Note. Clarification; I do not expect Assemblyman Green to take an active part in city matters. However that is a role for City Party Chairman Green.