Once upon a time in a world now beyond recall in ancient OZ the Queen City's (aka Plainfield NJ) 4th of July parade was the premier event in New Jersey. It was not just fire trucks and pseudo floats, but the real thing; military units and bands, all the works.
But that was also the age when the annual Art Show attracted commercial artists from all over the Mid-Atlantic States and the Northeast. The exhibition area was along Front Street from Central Ave. to Church St, with extensions down Park to 2nd , Somerset to the bridge, and Watchung Ave to both (The brook and 2nd).
For sales volume it attracted artists that would exhibit in prime locations in New York City's famed Washington Park shows.
Yes, unfortunately those days have gone perhaps forever and replaced by questionable shoddy events marked by questionable fiscal actions. Councilwoman Williams since being elected has asked annually questions about the 4th finances and contracts (http://rebecca4plainfieldcouncil.blogspot.com/) I am not sure that she and we have ever received a true answer.
The agenda for the Monday night Council meeting was e-mailed Wednesday night; apparently City Hall will be in absentia on Friday; a 4 day week end.
I will go over highlights if I can read the backup material Friday or Saturday at the Library. There are 36 Resolutions and 2 new Ordinances on the Docket. One resolution that I had thought had been buried previously from Public Affairs & Safety is for $82643.00 to hire The Rogers Group,LLC and companion agreements with Innovative Data Solutions, Inc. and Guarding Tracking,LLC to obtain certification of our Police Division as an "Accredited Law Enforcement Agency" by the NJ Chiefs of Police Association.
What an egotistic bit of crap! If we have a department that is not capable of doing its job the our Administration and the Department Director have been negligent over the years. The Police department is one of the biggest items on our yearly budget. Seriously this "accreditation" is self-serving and there are ongoing fees. If we have the money for this; should it not be better spent towards m ore patrolmen. Shades of ShotSpotter.
There are other Resolutions that merit review but this one is outrageous.
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Hello Old Doc, hope firstly you enjoyed your "forth." This note is to provide you a link that I think you will appreciate in light of your notes about health care.
ReplyDeleteThe link is from the Manhattan Institute website:
http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/mpr_15.htm#.UdYvGHbD-4M.
Angelo
The money is supposed to come from a Plainfield forfeiture account held by the Union County Prosecutor's Office in the amount of $405,946. The accreditation is done through the NJ Chiefs of Police association for $6,000 and the consultant would get the rest of the $82,643. Why not a plain $6,000 accreditation without software and ongoing training?
ReplyDeleteRebecca is out of her mind she do not have Plainfield residents at heart Horaay to the recreation department for doing a fins job last year and I know they will do a wonderful job this year. I took my chidlren tothe parade last year and the fire works and the concert, Rebecca give up the ghost.
ReplyDeleteComentary on thge above 3 comments;(1)Angelo, a most appreciated link to an interesting document which I do not entirely agree. All interested should read.(2) Bernice, what is teh forfeiture account? Because there is money available does not mean that it should be given away to line somebody else's pocket. I believe that there is a relationship between the "consultant" and the Police Chief's Organization.(3)10:23 am. I can only believe that you are intimate with the Mayor or a beneficiary of her largeness with our money other wise you would not blast any complaints about what may be in the vernacular "crooked" transactions. You will note that Rebecca gave you space on her blog; would you do the same?
ReplyDeleteNot giving up information from recreation is an old tactic that has been used since the spiraling downfall of recreation. There is only a secretary over there with seasonal workers and the director can't get information he requests for himself either. So I don't expect Rebecca to get any answers. Maybe the ghost of doom is not physically there but he still has the key to that fortress.
ReplyDeleteThis is why I am backing Mustapha Muhamad come November. The last thing we need in office is another hack owned by the Union County Machine.
ReplyDeleteDr. Yood, the forfeiture account comes from law enforcement taking possession of items or money linked to crimes. It is described here:
ReplyDeletehttp://ucnj.org/government/prosecutor/Departments#3
The last time someone asked the Sate of NJ to look into improprieties within the Union County Prosecutor's Office, the State of NJ assigned that task to the Union County Prosecutor's Office.
ReplyDeleteOld Russian Saying, "Fish Rots from the Head Down!"