FRIDAY AM

A little more than 2 weeks before elections. This has been a very quiet pre-election campaign to date. That is because of the voter population involved locally, with the exception of the Freeholder races there is unfortunately truly no contests.

The 22^nd Legislature district was made a safe Democratic district in 2001. That was the result of the gerrymandering when the lines were redrawn.  According to Wikipedia:

“In the 2001 redistricting following the 2000 United States Census, several of the suburban, Republican-leaning municipalities in the district were replaced by Linden, Plainfield and Rahway, which gave the district a distinct Democratic tilt. Bagger and Kean were relocated to the 21st District and the three legislative seats were taken by Democrats Joseph Suliga in the Senate and Jerry Green and Linda Stender in the Assembly.

The district has the 8th highest percentage of African American residents of all 40 districts statewide. The municipal tax rate is 11th highest and school taxes are 12th highest leading to one of the highest overall tax rates, after including rebates, which was the 7th highest in the state. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by a 5-2 margin.”^[

With only Greenbrook having a substantial Republican registration the only chance of change lies in the involvement of the large numbers of Independent voters; those who never declared a party affiliation.

 Don't forget Special Council Meeting Wednesday 19th at 8pm City Hall. Will there be a open session? Most likely NO.

There may be more items added in the final notice.

REFLECTIONS ON THE COUNCIL MEETING

 Tuesday night Council meeting has been covered adequately by other bloggers.

 As expected there was a 4 to 3 vote on further funding the independent attorney conducting the investigation on the source and any improprieties relating to the $20,000 spent in the WB LS radio station.  Thankfully the three negative voters did not again repeat their complaints of wasting city funds.

On that subject, it is not clear who is paying for the Mayor’s attorney. It seems to me that it would be incongruous for the City (Council) which is investigating a miss application of funds should also pay for legal expenses of a City Official who has not been charged with any malfeasant. However the Mayor has been hindering the investigation and thus driving up the expense.

Two add-ons not in the preliminary agenda were the Public Hearings for the SID budget and also for the 2011 Temporary Municipal Operating budget. Amendments to the municipal budget were approved later in the meeting.

I thought that I heard some remark made at the Council level that there were irregularities in SID funding for the previous year which were being looked into. However that is something I cannot confirm.

Part of the discussion in the mysterious Executive Session (which took over an hour) was supposed to have been about the position of City Administrator. In early November David Kochel, the  very professional Acting City Administrator, will have finished his second 90 day term and cannot continue in office. When the public meeting reconvened no mention was made about any discussion relating to the City Administrator.

Apparently the subject of the meeting was devoted to discussion with the County Prosecutor and his staff and the Mayor about Plainfield's crime problems as well as the Director of Police Position which is vacant and ever since the police chief's position was eliminated has been filled by the Director Public Safety. 

It is still this observer's opinion that change was an ill-advised political action to the detriment of the public welfare.

Once again in the person of Mr. Eric Jackson we again have an experienced Director of Public Works & Urban Development aboard. Perhaps the divisions including the Recreation Department will be more responsive to the Council and the public. Perhaps Superintendent of Public Works John Louise will get the support he needs to maintain the City’s infrastructure including preparation of the roads for winter.

Sadly this administration has been marked by questionable or unfilled important Directorships including fiscal controls. The personality cult of operation has not resulted in an efficient or cost effective operating city.

About Nothing Plus

An early am appointment equates to a delay in posting.
Last night's Council meeting was "as expected" and covered in Plaintalker this  morning. I have little to add.

3pm: FU: Both Dan and Bernice cover d  the Council meeting  in detail; therefore there is little factual for me to add today. Tomorrow is another day!.. 

NOSTALGIA

In  the 50s Newark airport consisted  of a long terminal building parallel yo the access road to the turnpike .
there were two long wings with ground level gates and  steps were used to load the Planes. Pan Am did not use Newark but such great airlines like  Capitol, Eastern with its South America Routes, TWA, United, American, and BOAC all flew out of Newark.

These old Snapshots were take in the pre- 707 days. Capital did fly  I believe a  Comet Jet which I took to a meeting In New Orleans. Most flew the DC3 and DC4 a Boeing build on the B29 frame and of course the famous Lockheed Constellation with its  tripe  tail stabilizers. This was Eastern's workhorse.
When the early jets appeared on the scene Eastern had purchased a fleet of prop-jet Lockheed Electra's. That plane was notorious for its 'flapping wings" when air born. There was enough lay to make a passenger apprehensive.

In those days Newark Airport was the site of  a 5 star Restaurant the 'Newarker" On a special night out one could always find Plainfielders dinning there.

Lockheed Electra's

POLITICS AND RELIGION

Although it is about three weeks before local elections and the election of a new state assembly those campaigns have been relatively quiet.

Not so the Republican campaign for the nomination of a Presidential candidate in November 2012. Barring any catastrophe the Democrat candidate will be as customary; the incumbent president, Obama.

The Republicans have been in full force on the trail and there are nine avowed candidates. The selection of delegates to their national convention will begin in January. By April it is most likely that we will know who the Republicans are going to run. In the meantime those campaigns are becoming nasty. Religion has entered the race and most likely either overtly or indirectly will continue to be an issue.

Just the other day Pastor Robert Jessress of Dallas after introducing Gov. Perry at an evangelist Christian conference remarked that Mormons were not Christians but a "cult". This was an attack on Romney.

The evangelist Christian right would enforce their beliefs on all of us. They would make this country their Christian equivalent of the Taliban Afghanistan or the Ayatollah’s Iran. They would have us live under theocracy not a democracy.

Unfortunately this is a periodic trend that takes place throughout this world in all societies. Sunday there was an article in the newspaper about a Coptic Egyptian girl who was refused admission to a village school because she would not wear a headscarf. In our country there have been many attempts to eliminate the study of science as being contrary to the Bible. There have been attempts to prohibit the wearing of a head covering by those whose religion mandates it or to be excluded from the public school.   There are also been attempts by school leaders for mandatory religious Christian prayer for all no matter what their faith.

It is not inconceivable that that something similar would occur here if certain groups control government power; or there could even be an organized attack on members of another religion. Certainly since 9/11 there have been incidents of local or state legislation aimed at those who practice Islam.

There are those who would delete the First Amendment which I am reproducing here:”Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Even among Christians the religious preferences of some have been attacked by others. It may just be coincidental that with the exception of JFK there has never been a Catholic nominated for the presidency. Certainly, no one else of another faith has ever been nominated by a major party

If we are to be true Americans and live under the freedoms granted to us by our Constitution we must reject forcibly any attack on anyone's religion or on anyone's race, be it by a Protestant, Catholic, Jew, Muslim, white, black, or oriental. 

One final thought; when you go to the polls do not vote for a candidate because of political party, or ethnic,racial, or religious orientation. Vote for the person who you honestly feel can best serve the people.

COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY 10/11/11

The Council's meeting will be Tuesday night at 8pm instead of Monday due to the Columbus Day Holiday.I have not been able to view the Agenda support documents, but the items scheduled to be on the Agenda  have been well covered by Dan Damon and Bernice Paglia in their blogs this past week.

There are 5 Resolution that were  not discussed at the Agenda setting meeting. 3 were submitted  by Information Technology  rejecting bids for (1)Media Services,(2)Photographic Services and (3) Videographic Services. R362-11 authorizes a professional services agreement with Remington & Vernick for design and inspection services for the reconstruction  of Watchung Ave. from Hillside to Leland..

R351-11 on the agenda is to authorize the submission of an Grant Application and Execute a Grant Agreement with NJDOT for the resurfacing of  that portion of Watchung Ave. Given that we are approaching mid-October and bids will still have to be solicited I would expect that this project will not be accomplished before spring 2012 at the earliest. Once more the Mayor's lack of assuring Administrative leadership and  "Grant Writers" has worked against the interests of the people.

MY TRANSGRESSION ?

“On Rosh Hashanah will be inscribed and on Yom Kippur will be sealed, how many will pass from the earth and how many will be created; who will live and who will die...who by water and who by fire...Who will rest and who will wander, who will live in harmony and who will be harried, who will enjoy tranquility and who will suffer, who will be impoverished and who will be enriched, who will be degraded and who will be exalted.

 In a sense the meaning of Yom Kippur is to ask forgiveness from G*d for the sins against him I and of equal importance to forgive those who have sinned against you. One hopes that those whom you have sinned against will find it in their heart to forgive you I If you have a clean soul you then will be inscribed in the “Book”.

 Despite my complaint Friday, the fact that Assemblyman Jerry Green in his role as Chairman of Plainfield City Democrat Committee called for a meeting of that committee on Yom Kippur eve; in the overall matrix motivating our life the matter is the no importance. Indeed, the playoffs game between the Phillies and the Cardinals impacted on more people. It too was of little importance except to observant Jews who could not participate.

 My anger was directed rather at the fact that if there were any Jewish members to the City Committee of which I am unaware, then Jerry Green's action deprived them of their civil rights.

 Plainfield before 1968 was the thriving commercial and business bastion of Central Jersey  fueled in a substantial degree  by a large  liberal thinking (and voting) Jewish population despite this area’s traditional solid Republicism until the coming of Pete Williams. That core has gradually moved away into the suburbs.   Indeed with the exception of Scotch Plains and Fanwood this ethnic group has little political impact in his district

 My transgression was against G*d from who I hope for forgiveness, to wish that Green not be inscribed in the Book of Life for 5772.  Actually I really do wish him every one a year of Peace, Prosperity, and Good Health, Happiness, and also for he and our political leaders a year Dedicated to Good Service to all constituents.

 One anonymous commentator did accuse me of being insensitive to complain about the City Committee’s meeting on the most sacred Jewish High Holy day. Since I have no desire to participate in that body’s function, I could care less about when and where it takes place. Not with standing I have always objected to any action that could discriminate against any ethnic religious or racial group. If our political leadership ignores that principle then they represent a danger to our way of life.

 My intention is to exploit that statement relating to our National politics in the very near future.