POST CLINTON BLOG

Last night one of this generations greatest orators and demagogues held sway at the Democrat Convention. In a hour long nominating speech for President Obama; ex-President Clinton waving his famous "I did not have sex" index finger presented point after point why there should be "Four more years". It was a effective and powerful indictment of the Romney/Ryan promises as well as a recounting of the positives of this administration.

The only problem was that he talked too long and may have lost some of his non-partisan audience.

I had heard earlier this week that Dave Wynn had resigned his position as head of the Recreation Division. It should be hoped that there will be a complete and honest investigation of the rumors of irregularities in that office. There were too many to sweep under the rug.

COUNCIL MEETING

I figured that my Son-in-law and Daughter were able to amuse themselves so off to the Council meeting I went.

Obviously their presence for this week will cut into blogging time; so don’t expect too much in the way of meeting reports. Other attention grabbers include the Giants/Cowboys’ game, the Democrat Convention, college football etc.

However, since the Council meeting being held on an unusual night, Tuesday was over before 9PM; I can dash off this brief note.

At 7:55 the meeting convened with 3 bloggers, 3 citizens, and 3 Councilors physically present and Councilwoman present by speakerphone making the quorum. Council President Mapp’s new position required him to be at that community’s regularly scheduled Tuesday night Council meeting

There were no items for discussion to prolong this meeting.

In the Public comment session in response to a question by Bernice Paglia on Resolution G for a request for a $37,500.00 grant from Recreation; it was learned that this was for painting lines and repairs of outdoor asphalt courts. The $37,500.00 is to be matched by the City. The County will have to approve the vendor. One proposal was over $100,000.00 with additional cost for asphalt repairs.

Director of Public Works; Eric Jackson who was sitting in for City Administrator Berry remarked that the city’s liability could not be for more than equal to the Grant.

As expected, three Councilors voted not to place item C on the agenda. This was to seek a collection agency to attempt to recoup some $700,000.00 in outstanding Court fines and fees. The Councilors feared that such an agency would harass those that owed money.

Their motives are admirable since collection agencies are notorious for such practices. However, they ignore that these are individuals who most likely are flouting their transgressions against the law; in fact some are likely multiple offenders.

Also disregarded that even given the collection agency’s fee of about 20%; if all funds were recovered the City would be $560,000.00 richer. That is an overstatement since some of those fees/fines are earmark for Court costs, but whatever is recovered lessens the load on the taxpayer.

There was time to tune in the Democrats. I was impressed by the Governor of Massachusetts and of course by Michelle Obama who is a gifted public political speaker. Unfortunately I catnapped during the Keynote Address so I can’t comment.

TWO OBITUARIES

Two Obituaries in today's Courier merit especial mention:

Pres. Henry was "Rapps". It is impossible to adequately describe his presence in the community. All who knew him considered him to be their friend. He also involved himself in Community affairs including the Neighborhood House. He and his wife Corliss a dedicated nurse educator represented the type of citizens that every community needs.

Dr. Harrison Fertig was one of the great physicians that made the staff of MRMC the equal of any university medical school hospital. His tradition of excellency continues in the Central Jersey Cardiology Group which he and Dr. Lomnitz founded.

Both passings reflect once again the loss of the past glory that was Plainfield.

SUMMER IS OVER

The fall season starts with Labor Day. The pools are closed. In the olden times whites and/or seersucker slacks and short sleeve shirts went into hibernation till next Memorial Day.

Now-a-days there is a month of baseball before the “Post-Season play”. College football has started and the pros this week. Hockey preseason will not be far behind.

There will be three days of silliness in Charlotte NC and the name smearing will be on in earnest for the next eight weeks. In Plainfield normal (?) life will return with the Council Agenda Setting Session Tuesday night setting the pace.

With the Library closed over the long weekend there is no opportunity to research the background material for the items on the short agenda. Thus any comments are purely speculative.

There are 6 Ordinances to be presented for second and final reading; two have to do with “union contracts” and one creating if I recall a position of Financial Officer in lieu of CFO.

Three that I do not remember being on any agenda in August are for ‘re-adoption” of Bond Ordinances relating to the street repavement projects. All are presented as “(State Local Finance Board Requiring Re-Adoption)”. No reason is given but I would assume that the original Ordinances were either improperly written or enacted. Either should be inexcusable since Plainfield has an extensive high priced Corporation Counsel department with full time staffing.

On the short list of 12 Resolutions to be considered most are of routine nature. However of the 3 that are of interest two require clarification that should be in the support material.

“B” is for submitting a Grant application for the implementation of the “Plainfield Municipal Ailiance Programs”. The amount requested and the nature of the programs is not evident on the agenda.

“G” is to authorize the submission and acceptance of a “Kids Recreation Trust Fund Grant Application for Open Space Improvements and Recreational Improvements in the amount not to exceed $37,500.00. Again to particulars but this recalls a reject Resolution last month to authorize engineering fees for a ‘Concession Stand” purchased by Recreation that did not meet the expectations of the Council as originally approved. Perhaps there is a better explanation.

“C” should be a no brainer; authorizing competitive contracting for a vendor to collect nearly a million dollars in outstanding Municipal Court fees/fines. Last month thee of the Councilors objected to the concept that the collector would “harass’ the debtors in order to attempt to collect money. TS . Sometimes I wonder about priorities.

THE MAYOR'S MEETING

Since none of the bloggers were able to attend the Mayor's Town Hall Meeting I have in the interest of public information taken the liberty to post this letter which I received from an attendee.

Dear Doctor Yood:

As the expression goes, YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP.

Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs called a forum for residents of the Third and Fourth Wards for tonight (Thursday, 30 August) at 6 p.m. Because I was out of town last Thursday when the mayor held the comparable meeting for the Third and Fourth Wards, I went over to Washington Community School at the appointed time.

This morning on Plainfield Today, Dan Damon had said, “See you there.” He wasn't. Bernice wasn't. You weren't. Maria Pellum wasn't. Nor any of the periodic bloggers, Jackie, Nat, Renata, the Councilors (where did that term originate, anyway?), DaShon, Ronnie, on and on.

So pen and paper in hand, I took notes, initially to grab the info about upcoming events that should interest people who receive the FOSH email newsletters – the art show, the PMUA Environmental Fair, the Historic Plainfield Run, and, yes, good news, the extension of brush and yard waste drop-off at the City Yard on South Avenue, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. To 2:30 p.m., through 7 September..

Now, here's why I want your readers to stay tuned as I natter on. YOU CANNOT MAKE THIS STUFF UP. Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briss, who has announced she will seek her third term as our HEAD OF GOVERNMENT, told us we were lucky that in 2010 “If they (the bad guys) could shoot better, we would have bodies all over the City of Plainfield.” (This reporter asked Martuin Hellwig to confirm this statement. His answer, “You're not going to use that?”)

Resident Roland Johnson pointed out that in 2010 there were shots fired every day and two people shot each week. Asked to confirm this, Hellwig said, “There was a lot of shooting.:

Oh, did I mention that Washington School was locked tight at the start time, and the custodian who answered the door expressed surprise there was a meeting taking place. Peter Briggs had knocked on the door; Dottie G and I were there at 6 p.m. Dottie speculated that I had grown up elsewhere, since I don't function on “Plainfield Time.” Well, Dottie is right that I don't operate on Plainfield time, but wrong on the other statement: I did grow up in Plainfield, as did my Mon and Grandmother.

Others showed up through the evening. By my count, there were 13 individuals in the audience at one time or another.

The Mayor arrived not too long after the starting time, and announced she would wait a few minutes for the crowd to swell (my word, not hers.) She started at 6:15, and promised we would finish at 7:15. (The conclusion came about 8.) The Mayor read through the material I gather from the blogs she delivered a week ago: streets paved, Planning Board passed a capitol budget, Fourth of July Celebration (on 7 July) came in about $400 under budget, the Administration wants to provide a concession stand at Milt Campbell Field (has grants for some of the costs, but there will be City money needed), (no mention of concession stand at Rock Avenue ball fields – my interjection.) Community garden in boxes on Lee Place. Mapping of Brownfields. New data on homes in the flood zones. Drop in Part One crimes.

Public Safety Director Martin Hellwig listed the seven categories of Part One crimes, the most serious, and said they are down 116 from the same date last year, or 8-9 percent. “Last year there were 10 homicides” at this point on the calendar, this year there have been three. Hellwig said the City is installing “several new sensors” to the SpotShotter system, he will take part in a webinar on new software for SpotShotter (my question – increased cost?) Hellwig said CCTV (closed circuit television) is coming to the Downtown; that 10 police recruits have graduated from the Police Academy and will finish their training by the end of the year, another six are entering the Academy.

The Mayor said Jim Spear, president of Netherwood Heights Neighbors, had asked at the previous forum about “traffic-calming devices” in conjunction with the South Avenue reconstruction project; he received a call from Eric Jackson, city head of all that stuff. (Not there last night; represented by Cynthia Smith for the Engineering Department.) (Other administrators on hand: City Administrator Eric Berry, and City Solicitor David Minchello – whose firm is in Union. Smith spoke briefly. No word from Berry or Minchello – got to wonder how much Minchello bills per hour to sit mute at Washington School. He does smile, though.)

The Mayor said another question at the previous forum concerned the PMUA study committee: the Administration has done its part; waiting on the Council. (Where was Annie or Adrian or Rebecca or Corey, or, for that matter, Bill or Bridget or Vera?)

Mayor Briggs touted the clean-up of City Hall, and urged everyone to visit.

The Mayor asked the administrators present to comment. Responding to my announcement about the FOSH Celebration of Animals on 30 September at Leland Avenue Park, Director Hellwig said he was glad to know there would be spiritual leaders blessing the animals as he has a demonically-possessed bird.

OK. Time for public comment. Made me wish I had brought a stopwatch: my rough guess, without one, is that the Mayor spoke 80 percent of the evening.

Dottie G poimted out that the meeting about the closing of Muhlenberg Hospital – the Mayor had announced this vaguely – is at City Hall Library on 13 September at 6:30 p.m. Dottie urged everyone to attend..

Roland Johnson asked what the City's Economic Development staff is doing to replace the 1100 jobs lost with the hospital's closing. He then asked if City contracts require hiring Plsinfield residents. After some verbal tap-dancing, the answer wss “no.”

Having drunk Martin Hellwig's Kool-Aid on the decrease in crime, one woman asked why the City “doesn't get the word out” about this vast improvement. The questioner said she doesn't read the papers, doesn't look on the Internet (hyper-local blogs, like yours), but does look at the local cable TV channel. Hellwig said this was his responsibly – he needed to communicate better. (Hullo Director, you were quoted on the front page of The Courier today asking to the public for help in solving a particularly nasty sexual assault, “out in the open on Madison Avenue” (his words.) John Stewart, president of the VanWyck Brooks Historic District, asked why the public, or, at least, the neighbors, hadn't been approached for assistance earlier.. (John also spoke about the positive publicity generated by the VanWyck Brooks Historic District through “This Old House” magazine and TLC on cable.

When a City resident and local Realtor named Robin Bright (spelling uncertain – I'm not paid for this) asked about outsiders' perception of crime in Plainfield, the Mayor talked about the Queen City's “couple of museums,” (news to me – what in addition to Drake House, Mayor? ) ,“the lawns, the mansions, two train stations.”

It was when the issues were crime and gang violence that the Mayor ventured into the thicket of the August, 2010, three-hou4 radio broadcast, - she called it “a wonderful forum” - for which, she said, the City Council had “slammed her.” She noted that the bulk of the cost came from a “donation” (intended for the Fourth of July Parade) .That's when Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs told us we were lucky the bad guys couldn't shoot straight, or, when you woke up and looked out the window, you would have found a dead body in the lawn

.

Reporter's. Note: For That I Should Pay almost $10,000 in property taxes? No body on the lawn when I go out to pick up The Courier, The Ledger and The Times?

The Mayor returned several times to the success of the radio forum, ably assisted by Martin Hellwig, who seemed to confuse the time line between the August, 2010, Al Sharpton Show and the Great North Plainfield IHOP “gang truce” meeting.

Nonetheless, in the year of the GREAT RADIO BROADCAST, the were 10 homicides. Then two years later, Plainfield has experienced the three. Inn my opinion, three is too many (Check out Director Hellwig's pride that Plainfield has suffered fewer homicides than Chicago. Plainfield has a census population of fewer than 50,000; Chicago has almost 3 million residents and 45 million visitors. Plainfield is six square miles; Chicago is 227.63 square miles. Maybe Plainfield needs Elliott Ness, rather than Martin Hellwig. And where is it Director Hellwig lives, where his City Car spends the night? It aint Plainfield. Too much crime, Director?)

There was some unhappiness about the “loiterers” on Front Street (i.e. Latinos). The Mayor, to her credit, said they were “day laborers,” guys looking for work. Someone asked whether “loiterer regulations” could solve the problem. Stewart asked if the people cruising to pick up cheap help might be prosecuted.

To her credit, Her Honor spoke up about the need for people to find work, and the City's efforts to provide an alternative location for these transactions, And she refused to blame any ethnic groups, although this reporter saw no “little brown ATMs” in the audience,

There was more, Old Doc, but I have exercised my opinion., and will stop. Yup, OZ.

Pat Turner Kavanaugh

Thanks Pat; this blogger believes that an informed public is the best bastion of Democracy.

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ROMNEY'S TALK.

The mob arrived at 21.15 hours (that is 9:15 pm for the non military and non European folks).

For at least the next few days it is unlikely there will be a blog, although I will try to opine Mitt's speech. At this moment all I can say is impressive.

Unfortunately I had turned on the TV when Clint Eastwood took over the rostrum. What a ridiculous move. At best it was baaaad comedy.

FYI

Since I posted some of Ryan's statements critical of the President's Administration; I am surprised that I have not heard from that Plainfield "from birth to death Democrat Anonymous" who condemns any blog that contains material which is anti-Obama as racist, bigoted , and the ultimate insult for the writer; a "Republican".

His remarks and those of other speakers in Tampa as will those this coming week in Charlotte should be taken with more than a grain of salt. As Tony Blankley remarked; "The closer one gets to elections or wars, the further one gets from the truth."

With that in mind I am posting this from the Internet: FactCheck.org, the respected veracity project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center, had a succinct roundup of most of Ryan’s most significant “false claims and misleading statements.”

The congressman from Wisconsin and chairman of the House Budget Committee accused Obama of funneling money away from Medicare “at the expense of the elderly.” The website noted that Medicare’s chief actuary says the law “substantially improves” the system’s finances. It also noted that Ryan’s own budget had “embraced the same savings.”

It was a nice rhetorical twist when Ryan called the Medicare plan “the biggest, coldest power play of all.” He didn’t leave any national TV time for his own plan, which eventually would try to move many Americans onto a system of vouchers, would avoid reducing health benefits, as many analysts believe it inevitably would.

Ryan also accused Obama of doing “exactly nothing” when his own bipartisan debt reduction commission came forward with recommendations. What most of the audience couldn’t have known, until the fact checkers set to work, was that Ryan voted against the commission’s plan and encouraged his fellow Republicans to do the same.

Multiple news outlets were particularly dismissive of Ryan’s attempt to hold Obama accountable for the closure of the Janesville, Wisc., auto plant — which he had hoped during the last campaign would remain open for another 100 years. Politifact.org was among the many to rate Ryan’s barb "false," since the plant closed a month before the Democrat took office.

There were other misdirection plays, like when Ryan made it sound like Standard & Poor's downgraded U.S. debt solely because of the president, when the agency actually cited the inability of the two political parties to work together — something Ryan played at least some role in as a GOP leader. The new veep candidate also made it sound like not a dollar of stimulus spending had gone back to any taxpayer, when FactCheck.org pointed out that “more than a quarter of all stimulus dollars went for tax relief for workers."

More long-term inconsistencies — matching current words to past actions — will crop up for Ryan in the coming days. Already on Wednesday, NBC host David Gregory accused the VP pick of “ideological amnesia” for not expressing nearly the same level of deficit concern when President George W. Bush was prosecuting two wars (among other things) at the time of major tax cuts.

Former anchor Tom Brokaw added that there was a time when the same Ryan seemed to have no problem with stimulus spending and expanded government. He voted for both the auto industry bailout and the TARP legislation to bail out financial institutions.

The question is whether the public even accepts the findings of these truth squads anymore. Too many in the audience simply shuck off findings they don't like -- and troll for a Internet, or corner of the Web, that suits their fancy.

Recent days have already seen umpteen outlets knock down a Romney falsehood — that Obama would end work requirements that came with welfare reform. But the GOP ticket and its surrogates have just kept on flogging the claim.

Since the debunking source may be a Democrat I hope there will be similar material after the Democrat Convention.