HATE GRPOUPS

Thursday, March 10th, was a dark and dreary, depressive day Not only was it windy, rainy, and cold but my ancient alma mater for the second time this year managed to blow in the last 90 seconds a 7plus point lead to the same team and lose in overtime.

However it was several items in today's the mail that triggered this remembrance for March and why there is an interrelationship.

For me there are at least three memorable events during March. Two are personal; one the birth of my second daughter who when I returned from the ETO 10 months later, I saw for the first time . The second was on the 25th and I shall mention that later this month.

However, the third event should be meaningful for all of us. That occurred 46 years ago has and has changed all our lives for the better. The following excerpt is from a government publication: "The Selma-to-Montgomery March for voting rights ended three weeks--and three events--that represented the political and emotional peak of the modern civil rights movement. On "Bloody Sunday," March 7, 1965, some 600 civil rights marchers headed east out of Selma on U.S. Route 80. They got only as far as the Edmund Pettus Bridge six blocks away, where state and local lawmen attacked them with billy clubs and tear gas and drove them back into Selma. Two days later on March 9, Martin Luther King, Jr., led a "symbolic" march to the bridge. Then civil rights leaders sought court protection for a third, full-scale march from Selma to the state capitol in Montgomery. Federal District Court Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr., weighed the right of mobility against the right to march and ruled in favor of the demonstrators. "The law is clear that the right to petition one's government for the redress of grievances may be exercised in large groups...," said Judge Johnson, "and these rights may be exercised by marching, even along public highways." On Sunday, March 21, about 3,200 marchers set out for Montgomery, walking 12 miles a day and sleeping in fields. By the time they reached the capitol on Thursday, March 25, they were 25,000-strong. Less than five months after the last of the three marches, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965--the best possible redress of grievances."

In the mail came an invitation to the 40th anniversary of the Southern Poverty Legal Center which will be held in April in Montgomery. About a quarter of a century ago I became aware of the SPLC and in its role in fighting hate groups at that time in the South. It has exposed the principles in many of the Ku Klux Klans including those responsible for torching the churches and the deaths of children.It has brought them to justice and has expanded its scope nationwide.

In addition SPLC has actively promote campaigns and videos teaching tolerance. Many have been made freely available to school systems and although I know that in the past the local schools have been advised of the availability of these teaching tools which would be of value in a community like Plainfield, I am unaware if they have been used.

Needless to say I have been more than a minimal supporter of SPLC all the past years. I am well aware that there are many others in Plainfield who also know and support this organizations work to preserve the constitutional rights of all Americans.

In today's mail there was also a special issue of SPLC's "Intelligence Report" devoted to the more than 1002 active identifiable "Hate Groups" in the US. They are broken down into national groups and by states. Of that number there are 47 active groups located in New Jersey some in Union,Somerset, and Middlesex Counties. communities named include Plainfield!

The classification of the groups , the national; and state numbers follow:

• KU KLUX KLAN-............................ US;221 NJ:2
• NEO-NAZI....................................... US:170 NJ:5
• WHITE NATIONALIST................ US:136 NJ:4
• RACIST SKINHEAD....................... US:136 NJ:23
• CHRISTIAN IDENTITY ............... US:26 NJ:0 (a religion that is fundamentally racist and anti-Semitic)
• BLACK SEPARATIST..................... US:149 NJ:12 (organizations whose ideologies includes tenets of racial based hatred)
• NEO-CONFEDERATE.................... US:42 NJ:0 (wish to revive the racial issues of anti-bellum South)
• GENERAL HATE.............................. US:122 NJ:1 (breakdown US)

1. ANTI-GAY .............................. US:17
2. ANTI-IMMIGRANT.............. US:13
3. ANTI-MUSLIM...................... US:5
4. HOLOCAUST DENIAL........... US8
5. RACIST MUSIC....................... US:15 NJ:1
6. RADICAL TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC--US:17
7. OTHER (a mixed bag of various hatreds) US:47

This is a true cause for concern . Not included in the above lists are the "PATRIOT" and "MILITIA" groups which since the recession onset have risen from 132 to 824, and from42 to 330 respectively. They ALL represent a threat to our way of life out freedom of thought, speech, liberty, and life partnerships. We must do everything we can to prevent their venom entering legislation and/ or public acceptance. It should be our duty to support organizations such as SPLC and the authorities to contain all these groups.


True leaders be they secular politicians or religious leaders of all faiths must actively denounce these groups and their hatreds, not encourage or even turn the other cheek. It is ironic that these groups all survive and are protected as long as they commit no criminal act by the very constitutional rights they would deny others.

It is disturbing that powerful politicians like Rep King would try to single out American Muslims for special attention as potential terrorists and ignore instead those groups identified above.

Terrorists can be white American origin as well as any other ethnic or religious group. The Oklahoma City bomber was not a Muslim. Nor was the recently apprehended man in Detroit with explosives outside a mosque, or the unknown who planted a bomb along the MLK parade route in Spokane. The mentally affected man who shot Rep.Gifford and killed six others including a young girl was influenced by the radical rhetoric. These are the ones that must be neutralized by exposure.

MARCH MADNESS

March Madness -the round ball type- has arrived. Somehow even at the conference level games between schools that one has no beholden interest can suddenly take up valuable time. Two examples the last five minutes of Rutgers last two games. And Wednesday night LIU a name  from the past went overtime with Robert Morris.

I have no idea where Robert Morris is located what it is known for except annually losing in the first round of the NCAA.

The LIU Blackbirds were once along with St. Johns and CCNY teams to be feared in collegiate basketball. Only St Johns locally has remained a power and they too have had  almost a decade  of being a non entity.

This is one of the moments when unless there is breaking news a serious hopefully thought provoking column is not justified.

Go Hoos!

COUNCIL MEETING #4

It must be obvious that most of the bloggers comments  relating to the Agenda Setting Session of the Council is directed more to discussion and items that will not be on  the Business meeting's agenda.  There will be adequate time once that agenda is posted  for such discussion.

Also Ordinances proposed for first reading merit on a superficial look to assure that further clarification and/or investigation is needed. Some may be dropped before they are on the agenda, others aroused public opinion  which results in pro and con comments before the second vote.

Once again, that which doesn't get out of the "talk meeting" is of more interest. We have already covered several eye opening  matters but there are others. One was a proposed resolution from the  Safety Director that in its self sounded routine  and money saving until the Councilor's questioning opened a can of worms which  sent the Resolution Designating EZ CAR TITLES as the agent to obtain the titles for abandoned vehicles so that they could be auctioned off. This was to be at no cost to the city.

At present an officer in the traffic bureau does the paper work. It may be of sufficient time consuming that he could be better used in "police work". However no specific time and prorated costs were available. When questioned who would pay EZ Director Hellwig said they would charge the towing/storage operator. Further questioning revealed that the City may receive a total of $25.00 for each car sold at auction. The rest of the money received goes to the tower for storage fees.

Once again the City gives away money that would be useful for our budgetary needs. There is a consortium of towers who the police use in rotation to tow vehicles in return for that vendor to work the accident. Storage fees post accident while the Insurance Carrier is determining damages is acceptable although those fees added to the towing fee may seem excessive.

Since there are only a few designated towing companies the accident calls can be very productive in generating income.There seems to be at present no Administration/ Council  input in selecting the lucky towers. Years ago the Council approved a list submitted, but it seems that the PD is making the panel selection its function.

Could not the City make an agreement with the towers for a set towing and storage of abandoned vehicles. Then the total net proceeds  from the auction" would belong to the city.

There were no written "committee reports" as none  had met. Councilor Mapp stated that his Finance and Administration Committee had not been able to meet with Administration. Perhaps that is why they have still not met with the new CFO.

Councilor Storch gave a verbal report on Planning Boards plans for zoning changes to permit multi use buildings in the commercial area.Since many og the older stores downtown have several floors above the ales floor is not the area already zoned for multi use?

Although only the Council sub Committees report are to be submitted in writing for distribution  before the meeting  Councilwoman Rivers objected to Storch's  unscheduled  Planning Board report not being printed.

COUNCIL MEETING #3

That which is broached and never reaches the business agenda is often of greater interest than matters acted upon.

One such matter was a request and later with drawn by the Acting City Administrator for  resolution approving the appointment of a special legal counsel for the mayor to protect her interests in the investigation of the $20,000.00 paid  to a radio station for publicity and presence  at last year's "town hall meeting" against crime.

Th 2010 Council had voted for an investigation to rule out any irregularities in the payment of funds that the Council had never approved. It was later revealed that  after the City's check had been issued an anonymous donor   had given $15,000.00. towards the station's fee.

The Council had selected an attorney who was a former Corporation Counsel and an active supporter of local candidates as the independent investigator. She subsequently withdrew since there could have been some question of a conflict of interest. No one else has been appointed by the Council to date to be the investigator.

Council members raised a question of the appropriateness for the City to provide legal aid to the Mayor who has not been accused of any criminal action.  After a prolong discussion by the Acting City Administrator that the Mayor was entitled to legal advice in an investigation the matter was not acted upon.

At one point Councilor Reid and supported  by Councilor Rivers argued that the amount the city paid was only a paltry $5,000.00. Unfortunately that is not the point. A check for $20,000.00 was issued from City funds without sanction by the Council. The subsequent $15,000.00 gift does not ameliorate the action.

This observer has a parliamentary opinion that would in effect make the matter moot. A resolution passed by the 2010 Council was only of interest to that Council and is binding only on that Council.  When the body ceases to exist that resolution if not activated no longer is valid. To have such an investigation now, the 2011 Council should have to pass a new resolution.

COUNCIL MEETING #2

Monday night's Council session has been forced to take a subordinate position in today's news.
However although this was a working session not an action taking meeting that which transpired during the course of the meeting had an importance that will continue to impact on the city and its residents.

Union County Board of Elections Administrator ;Dennis Kobitz explanation of the Congressional and State redistricting process based on registered voters and the city ward and districts configurations based on residents-the 1 voter 1 representative format was informative. Because of time restraints, there will be no impact on local elections for the June primary. All 4 Wards must be equal i the number\ of residents with a 10% leeway. That is 5% more or less than the median. The districts will be redrawn after the ward configuration is decided. They are based on voters and any present district that has had less than 250 voters the past two years will be absorbed into other districts. It is the ward vote that counts.

Of the Mayor's recommendations for appointments to authorities, commissions, and committees the recommendation to appoint two "Constables" was deferred for further consideration. There seemed to be confusion as to what the duties of a " Constable" was and who made the appointment. It may be that it belongs to the Sheriff's office and thus the County would make any appointments. There seems not to have been anyone in that role for years.

Without question, the best most important innovation in the format of the Agenda Setting Session
is the inclusion of a public commentary period before the Council starts its consideration of resolutions and ordinances to be included in nest Monday's business agenda.

Since one of the subjects will be action on the Mayor's veto of the Ordinance creating a Recreation Commission there were the usual and some new shills for preserving the position of Recreation Superintendent. Unfortunately one became vituperative when the Council president reminded him that he had exceeded his allotted time and loudly blasted the Council's "New Democrats" for another 3 minutes. During the meeting he had sat next to the Mayor and has been a constant defender of the status quo. This observer has no knowledge of what his relationship is to the Recreation department is but hew as one of the organizers of the Recreation sponsored baseball league that opposed the existing volunteer Queen City Baseball League.

Council President McWilliams tried to explain that no one was being "fired" but that a Commission was being formed and would have to appointed a director who would coordinate all recreation activities from youth athletics to Senior Citizen's programs. Funding for activities has not been reduced in the new budget. What may change is the programs' administrator and the focus away from youth outdoor sports.

Just a thought; would it be practical to adapt the armory into a multipurpose recreational facility that could offer youth groups as well as adult interests meeting space and indoor youth recreational activities including basketball as well perhaps a revival of the old rollerskating rink?

Question, are the school gymnasium available to the Recreation Division for Basketball leagues?

The Mayor explained that she had vetoed the "Commission" Ordinance because there were legal irregularities present. Since Ordinances are either drawn up or reviewed prior to presentation by the Corporation Counsel it would be interesting to learn what language is illegal. There may be a possibility that on this issue one of her usual Council Supporters who has expressed a great deal of concern over the failures of the present setup to adequately provide for the youth will vote to override the veto. 5 votes are needed. at present there are 4 sure.

THE PUMA BOMB

Where to start? The Courier today , Bernice's Plaintalker, and yesterday's Dan's Plainfield Today have covered the PMUA situation in a manner that repetition would be superfluous.

Just a few thoughts; The sudden resignations of the oligarchic management trio which is blamed on "relentless negative (public) criticism" IA: "unjustified" as stated in the press release appears to be an attempt to jump ship to avoid a potential State Investigation of the Authority. If that were to occur and unconscionable use of authority funds such as routinely booking most expensive hotel suites instead of regular rooms for top executives, expensive meals on the tab, personal time reported as convention expenses, etc. be found resignation today would not preclude legal and perhaps criminal action against guilty parties.

The Commissioners continued violation of the Intra-local agreement should negate that agreement and also permit the Council to vote their removal from office. The perks in health care and pension plans etc. received by these individuals besides their "salary" has helped make the appointments a benefit of political favoritism. It is true that the Mayor "recommends' and the Council "approves" , but despite cries of anguish we have a realistic suspicion where these appointments originate.

Article 2.8 of the city charter gives the Council the right to investigate any commission and to fine or subpoena any official (Commissioner) who refuses to meet with the Council. Does the Council have the will to go that route remains to be seen.

POST MEETING #1

There will be a delay in comments about the Council meeting which was over early before 11:30. Noteworthy was that one Councilor left at 9pm and another shortly after 10.

The blockbuster news of the resignations of the top executives in PUMA plus the Commissioners thumbing their noses at the Council by again refusing to meet with the Council will merit a blog of its own.

Will be back later today