Mayday, Mayday, Mayday

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Thursday, May 1, 2014, also known as Mayday.  This date has two significant meanings in the Western world.

One goes back to prehistoric times when people such as the Celts celebrated it as the rite of spring. Up to recently it remained the source of the traditional Maypole Dance once popular with women’s colleges.

The Encyclopedia Britannica describes the Maypole dance, as a ceremonial folk dance performed around a tall pole garlanded with greenery or flowers and often hung with ribbons that are woven into complex patterns by the dancers. Such dances are survivals of ancient dances around a living tree as part of spring rites to ensure fertility.

Another meaning of “Mayday” is the internationally accept call of distress since 1927. The word is repeated three times. It replaced the Morse code SOS.

At least two ongoing events suggest that “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday” should be sounded in Plainfield when it comes to the actions of our Council and political leadership.

One is JFK’s progressive plans for the Muhlenberg campus; the latest phase being the moving of the SER to the first floor of the old nursing residence, The Kenyon House. What is proposed is no more than any of the “urgent care centers” plus a money maker; a CT scanner. That move will eliminate any use of the hospital building.

Over the past 6 years any action by our political leadership to reopen a needed hospital has been conspicuously absent; indeed in Trenton legislation has been passed that could make such a happening impossible.

The other destructive event is the Council’s lack of action on the important PILOT resolution. It should be important to see how Reid, Rivers, Greaves, and Taylor vote at Monday’s Special meeting which was called by the Mayor and not the Council President.

There has been too much “crap” from those members about why they are against it. I have offered all of them this blog to explain their position. None have responded.  Without going into details these are my impressions.

Rivers wants to know the “fine print” and to force the prospective purchaser to improvements etc. before they own the property.  When has a home buyer made improvements before they owned the house? The fact that they will need a certificate of occupancy before they can legally “rent” the units means nothing.

Greaves repeatedly has remarked about her lack of knowledge about the agreement. There are many of the public that will agree with her. Some have even accused her of being unprepared for the meetings.

Taylor has made her position known by reiterating her allegiance to Jerry Green. That is despite the fact that she, a former teacher, is an intelligent person.

Reid’s comments and voting record since Mapp became Mayor reflects an ongoing vendetta against Mapp (and Williams) for their objections to the questionable financial practices of Robinson-Briggs whom he blindly supported.

How can an increase in revenue that the city receives from 6.25% of the rent to 10% for the next 20 years be a bad financial transaction? Yet those four have questioned it. If the deal is not consummated then the city will continue to receive only 6.25%.

Much of the objection comes from a Councilor who wanted to know how much money the city would get if the property was taxed since it needs more rateables. This from a person who recently had his property’s assessment reduced.

Incidentally from recent actions I believe from Jersey City it seems that the present going rate for PILOTS is 10%. Our Administration has acted to receive what is just.

In the primary that is just over a month away I will vote to reelect Williams, and if I could McRae in the 3^rd Ward and El-Amin in the 1^st.

The candidates on the party line do not even come close in quality and as Jerry’s choice experience has shown will reflect his agendas.