DYSFUNCTIOAL PUBLIC

This coming week the Council plans to vote to move the BOE elections to the November date of general elections. The idea is to increase citizen participation over the abominable 10-12% that elect that Board.

It is apparent that Planfield's school district from the BOE and Administration continues to be dysfunctional and failing our children. The basis for that remark comes from media reports and the outstanding investigative work of Maria Pellum ( click HERE)

Plainfield also has a dysfunctional City Governance; the Mayor acts as if she was not bound by the provisions of the City Charter or State regulations. The Council seems powerless to control her; and although some progress has been made in the past year there seems not to be a willingness to act forcibly against a member of the dominant political party.

In Plainfield if one is not a registered Democrat that person will in actuality have no valid choice in selecting the local government. On the other hand, although the BOE elections are non-partisan there has been except for the past two years a close relationship between the candidates for the Board and the local Party as evidenced by the number of former Board members selected to run for the Council or as Mayor.

The interpretation of New Jersey's closed primary laws is; "Only voters registered with a given party can vote in the primary. Parties may have the option to invite unaffiliated voters to participate. Typically, however, independent voters are left out of the process entirely unless they choose to sacrifice their freedom of association for the opportunity to have their say in who represents them. Closed primaries may also exacerbate the radicalization that often occurs at the primary stage, when candidates must cater to the "base," yet the "fringe" of the party are typically more motivated to turn out."

Both the Republicans and Democrats have chosen to keep their primary elections closed. This of course is the way a political boss (or a dictator) retains power.

Although for the past few years there have been two slates on the Democrat ballot; the Regular (City Committee nominees) Democrats and the New Democrats. There are questions about this year's election if there will be such a distinction.

There is another but most improbable alternative; the vats number of Independents registering as Democrats and posting their own slate for the primary. Improbable because those who consider themselves as Independent have divorced themselves from municipal affairs. If such a collation could be organized the deadline for filing for the Primary is May 15.

Unless there is a complete change in public attitude towards patronage and nepotism in the operation of the City Government, its School System, and its Authorities especially the PMUA; Plainfield is doomed to be a failed city. In other words; as long as the public is dysfunctional we can expect no improvement.

The school scores have been just released and Plainfield's except in a few rare exceptions are below average. The one bright spot is one class in Cook school that is above average in both Language and Math. you can navigate to the system. Check out scores here.

GROUNDHOG DAY

Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow and prognosticated that winter was not over. On the other hand lesser lights like Staten Island Chuck and minor leaguers Nabrun(?) Ned and some place or other "Al" did not and spring is here. Phil is being outvoted 3:1; but this is like the Republican primaries.

If you would like to read a great article on the groundhog's ability to forecast the weather enter the eNature address in your address line. I tried to make a link but could not. If you have the time it is worth reading; increases your font of inconsequential knowledge.

BOE ELECTIONS PLUS

Chalk up one for the Council; good move


CORPORATION NOTICE
CITY OF PLAINFIELD

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING

PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 2, SECTION 2:2-10(A) OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF THE CITY
OF PLAINFIELD, 1971, A SPECIAL MEETING IS HEREBY CALLED BY THE PLAINFIELD CITY
COUNCIL AT 7:00 P.M. ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012, PRIOR TO THE SCHEDULED AGENDA
FIXING SESSION TO BE HELD IN THE CITY HALL LIBRARY, 515 WATCHUNG AVENUE, CITY OF
PLAINFIELD, FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERING AND ACTING UPON THE FOLLOWING:

COUNCILMANIC RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE
PLAINFIELD BOARD OF EDUCATION AS THE FIRST TUESDAY AFTER THE FIRST
MONDAY IN NOVEMBER.

FORMAL ACTION MAY BE TAKEN.

BY ORDER OF THE PLAINFIELD
MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
ADRIAN O. MAPP, PRESIDENT

/S/S/ ABUBAKAR JALLOH, RMC
MUNICIPAL CLERK

PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY
FEBRUARY 1, 2012.

And from Jerry Green's Page an Assembly bill that is a move in the right direction. click (here)
If Passed will wonders neer cease.

FACTS NOT CONTROVERSY

"In politics, absurdity is not a handicap." -- Napoleon Bonaparte

Tomorrow is Ground Hog Day and Punxsutawney Phil will be counted upon to tell us if we will have 6 more weeks of this(?) Winter or if Spring will be just around the corner;

Phil’s prognostications have as much validity as rules of conduct by politicians from Newt down to the lowest elected office in a municipality.

None the less the world will continue to rotate for in 4 more days the first great earth shaking event of the year 2012 will take place. That is the Super Bowl and from the media we get the impression that anything that occurs the rest of the year will be an anti-climax.

That may not be true about the selection process for the Republican nominee for President. Although Romney won a significant victory in Florida by at the time I wrote this beating Gingrich by about 17 percent points the road to Convention is still not assured.

This Saturday there are caucuses in Main and Nebraska with caucuses in Colorado and Minnesota with a non binding one in Missouri taking placed. Then the world goes activity silent for about two weeks until February 28^th when Michigan and Arizona hold primaries. The first two weeks of March will be busy with Super Tuesday the first Tues day in March when 10 states hold their primaries. That date is the target that the also ran’s and Gingrich are shooting for and hope to be able to make a significant impact at the Convention.

This year the Republican Party has changed its ground rules on delegate selection an already in many states it is no longer winner take all but the delegates are divided proportionally according to results in the primary selection process.

That change may allow candidates who have received a lesser number of committed delegates to assume a role of power brokers. Certainly that seems to be Paul’s goal and Gingrich feels that he will be able to dictate the Republican Platform. Indeed he has asked Perry (who is he?) to help he write a proposed platform.

Since New Jersey will have no say in the selection of the nominee until primary day early June we can only sit and watch knowing that somewhere along the line the GOP will commit political suicide

FYI-PMUA/COUNCIL METING

As is my custom the first newspaper(?) I read at breakfast is the Courier since it contains local items and obituaries. I scanned the legal notices and to my surprise was a small one from the PMUA announcing a meeting of the Commissioners with the City Council at the Agenda Setting Session this coming Monday.

This is long forthcoming having been resisted by the previous PMUA Administration. I have never in the past seen a legal notice announcing a joint meeting. It should be an interesting evening and perhaps a long one with other items under questioning that should be up for discussion.

I have just read Bernice's blog and she has r reproduced the notice.

LETTER AFTERMATH

"Nothing brings out the lower traits of human nature like office seeking." -- Rutherford B. Hayes, 1878 19th President of US.

Today 1/12th of 2012 passes. Unlike last year it has been a mild winter to date but two more months including February which is traditionally the worst is still to come, Of course Ground Hog day will soon be upon us and we will have the benefit of two independent prophets to give us a choice of prognostications. Thus one will be right and its forecast will be remembered as proof of the importance of that day.

Today is also the Primary Elections in Florida. Unlike the others this is a "winner take all affair"; no proportional allocation of the delegates. The Republican campaign has turned dirty; fueled by Gingrich. However Romney counter attack both at the Debates and in the media have severely hurt Saint Newt.

At this point Santorum is not and I do not believe will ever recover to be a true factor in the race. Ron Paul will not be accepted by the majority of the party leadership and I believe that he is only desiring to have a major input in the Party Platform at the convention.

Campaigning for local office has already begun and it appears that it will mirror the Republicans in nastiness.

Although we will have to wait to see if Roland Muhammad will file to run against either McWilliams or Mapp it appears that as of this date "harmony" reigns in the local Democrat family.Indeed recent events suggest that there may be some meeting of the minds. However, if Muhammad follows through in his threat what will be Robinson-Briggs' support? We will have four interesting political months in Plainfield.

The " New Democrats" and "Slam" supported by "kingmaker"(Bernice's terminology) John Campbell have tried in the past to usurp Jerry Green's power and almost succeeded in the early 2000s. We are aware that JG as assemblyman has no input int o the City's governance nor the PMUA nor the candidates for the BOE therefore he can have no ulterior motive in desiring that the BOE elections be held with the general election except to have a greater public participation. In fact he has repeatedly said that his local interest is solely as Party Chairman to support the candidates running for office.

In that Party role he has found the non-politically elected BOE members to be a source for future Councilors. In other words it has been the minor league for many present politicians.

Note; as I have opened a can of worms by posting Burney's letter I will give my post space to any one or one consortium of New Democrats to post a rebuttal. Since all have their own blogs that may not be necessary.

Rashid Burney's Communication

"Getting a lecture on morality from a politician is like getting a lecture on chastity from a whore." -- Perry de Havilland

Former Councilman Rashid Burney has sent the following email to me and I suppose numerous others. Since Plainfield politics often leaves one bewildered, and since politicians are politicians although not all are "Newts" I have acceded to his request (see comments to yesterday's blog) and am posting the email in toto.

Received 1/28/2012

"You cannot make this up folks.

I keep trying to tune out Plainfield's status-quo politics, and things keep coming up that honestly, make me sad for Plainfield and I cannot keep quiet. With every new face, change is what you are promised. Blame is the excuse you are presented at the end of every 4-years.

"It's Jerry's fault". "Jerry is keeping us from moving forward". "Jerry will not allow progress". Haven't you been told that over and over again? Yet four years later, more promises to fight Jerry Green and more excuses.

By now you all know that after years of telling you that Jerry Green is bad for Plainfield and Jerry Green is the root of all problems in Plainfield, the New Democrats went out and campaigned for Jerry Green this past election cycle. Put out signs for Jerry Green. Made phone calls for Jerry Green. Helped him get elected.

The New Democrats excuse when such a reversal is exposed: "We always do this". Really? You always campaign for Jerry Green? Why didn't you tell us this in June every year when you tell us he is evil? And bad for Plainfield?

Everyone in the New Democrat machine was involved in this support for Green. Even the spin master, Dan Damon himself encouraged you to vote for Jerry Green on his blog, and showed up at Green's campaign HQ to support Green as did Storch, Mapp, Williams, Bicket and many other prominent New Democrats.

But it does not end there. When New Democrats Mapp and McWilliams campaigned for Council is 2008 they promised and pledged that they would not take ANY money from Plainfield vendors. A good idea it was! Some might even have believed it.

They told you pay-to-play was bad and only mean, bad politicians do this. Storch in his campaign told you the monies taken by the New Democrats was "over 10 years ago...." and thus implying they have changed their ways. They told you it that their politics were "new" and not "old".

Behind the scenes the opposite has been true. You see, the New Democrats have a strong history of frisking Plainfield vendors for money everytime they are in power. Happened in 2003, 2004 and 2005. Now that New Democrats once again are controlling the council, what happens?

Well, don't wait for Dan Damon to tell you. Because he will not. Nor will any other New Democrat. I doubt if you will see this on any of the blogs either.

Attached please find New Democrat leader, Adrian Mapp's first election report filed with the State of NJ for his 2012 Council run. What this shows is Mr Mapp is taking monies from Plainfield vendors. He has already accumulated almost $5,000 in campaign contribution including $500 from Remminton Vernick. Remmington Vernick is Plainfield's engineering firm who has received over $3 million dollars from the city in engineering work in the last few years.

The rest of the rest were probably also contributions from Plainfield vendors, but they were all $300 or less, and thus not required to be reported individually.

How do you accumulate so much money overnight? Simple! Announce that you will ascend to the role of Council President for 2012 (hint...hint.... Council controls budget and contracts..hint...hint) and that you are hosting a wine and cheese reception at your home. Make the card read "Monetary contributions of $300 will be accepted".

As long as you have been a loyal "yes" vote, pay-to-play money will flow to you.
But why do the fund raiser in 2011 when election is actually in June of 2012? Here is why: Do your fundraiser in 2011, so that you can start a fresh clock in 2012 and hit the vendors up again in 2012. Thus you bypass annual contribution limits.

Do it quietly. Damon will not report it in his blog. So how will you know?
Just for extra measure, introduce an ordinance that appears to ban pay-to-play at the very time you are frisking the vendors. And tell everyone how this is honest and ethical leadership.

I am not making this up folks. This is the playbook. So while my comments may be sarcastic, the facts speak for themselves.

The New Democrat's leader, Mapp and the New Democrat organization owes you an explanation. From campaigning for Green, rubber stamping votes for board and commissions that are not good for Plainfield, to secret fund raisers to frisk money from Plainfield vendors. These are all "old" politics. Nothing "New" about this.

The problem here is political ambitions have simply exceeded the needs of the city. Politicians have convinced themselves and their close circle that doing the very things they vowed not do do is necessary to step the very things they promised to stop. It's a warped and twisted logic. Now more time is spent on spin control, and keeping everyone toting the same line, rather then doing what is good for the city. Ordinances are put up that are really meaningless.

You are left hold the bill for all if this. Many of you have invested time, effort, and even money. You are also left with the emotional bill for this also. You have invested your own name, reputation and walked door to door for causes that are now essentially road-kill.

How you choose to act on this is obviously up to you. I am not running for anything and I don't want to run for office again. I am not supporting or opposing any faction or side in Plainfield and I am really busy with my business and family.

But because the information you are getting on the blogs is so one-sided, you are not getting all the truth. Since no one else is presenting you all the facts, I just feel I have to point these out and you can decide what to do with this.

thank you!

Rashid Burney"

On Jan.27 I received an email with the following attachment which confirms Burney's charge.

Mapp20120115.pdf 97K View Download