WWHY DID I GO?

What a mistake. I went to the Council meeting last night along with perhaps at the most 15 public attendees.

Dan and Bernice have already reported on this rubberstamp meeting in which as expected Rivers and Tolliver voted against the Ordinance creating and finding the position of Motors Manager. As well as a resolution awarding funds to administration’s good boys, Pennoni Associates, for the Rushmore Ave. Playground.

The only true interesting remarks was when two members of PRAAR, speaking against the awarding of a new contract to Associated Humane Societies of Newark for animal control services. The table resolution which was to be reintroduced had been already withdrawn by administration.

Unfortunately the one question asked if the contracts were awarded by bid solicitation and how many had responded was never answered.

A LIGHT MOMENT

A little laughter in these stressful times  is good for the soul. These are the directions that came with a toothpaste dispenser. No wonder Trump is having trouble communicating with the Chinese about North Korea.  What do I after I follow(??) them?

RANDOM OBSERVATIONS

Tuesday night was a good night not to go to a meeting. According to reports the Council meeting was almost a throwback to the Gibson era; read the item and OK the business session. No discussion

According to Dan’s blog the BOE ran true to form; Start the scheduled meeting time in executive session. Next convene and immediately go back in to executive e session while the public cool their heels. His report is not clear if any action took place or if everything is still up in the air until the next scheduled business meeting.

That is why years ago I stopped attending any BOE meeting.

Another example of municipal in sensitivity is that the Planning Board’s scheduled meeting Sept 21 is on the 2nd night of one of the two most Jewish holy days; Rosh Hashanah. And we complain about Trump’s sensitivity over minorities. Two comments to yesterday’s blog “Serious Posting” and two to Sunday’s blog on slavery; Subject Final” are worth reading and further commentary.  
The Senator Menendez trial on corruption is important. Not only is he the second New Jersey Senator to be so charged and may also be found guilty as was Plainfield’s “Pete” Williams, but if before the end of the year NJ’s Republican Governor Christie will appoint a Republican to replace Menendez thus increasing the Republican majority in the Senate. This could prevent another Health Care fiasco.

The late night comics as well as the cartoonists are still having a field day with DACA which plus the presence of three hurricanes have pushed North Korea out of focus for the present, but that will change soon. .

 

 

SOUNDS FAMILIAR

Remember "I never had sex with that woman"?  This is today's version!
 

SERIOUS POSTING

We are between two natural catastrophes, hurricanes Harvey and the second strongest storm on record, Irma.

Just as worrisome are two happenings of this week.

The first is Trump’s action today to end DACA. Actually he waffled and threw the ball I n to the hands of Congress. None the less he has heartlessly left the fate of innocent individuals who except for their birth place have been Americans all their life into the hands of politicians who are more interested in (a) retaining their jobs, and (b) following indefensible party lines.

The second and very dangerous concern is the North Korea threat. There is no doubt that he will continue to blackmail the civilized world and especially South Korea, Japan, and ourselves with the threat of atomic bombs. His goal is first and foremost to protect his dictatorial rule, and perhaps accomplish the absorption of wealthy industrial South Korea.

I who lived in the 30s and 40s remembers the appeasement of Hitler’s land grabs which became larger each time including Austria and the Czechoslovakia’s Sunderland which led to Chamberlain’s “Peace in our time” surrender. Fear of war and its deaths prevented any action that would have been limited and minimal

Instead a year later a military unprepared Western Europe became enmeshed in a fight for survival in which the death total of civilian s and combatants rose into the 10s of millions.



Negotiations will not stop Kim Jong-un. As Putin warned the US;” Speaking to reporters Tuesday morning, Putin predicted that any military action to stop North Korea's continued nuclear aggression would result in a "massive" loss of human life.

"In this situation, pressing on military hysteria will not bring anything. This may end up in a global catastrophe and huge amount of human life lost," the Russian leader said Tuesday.
Putin added that efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula would be a futile effort, as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has learned the lessons of previous dictators.

"Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein abandoned weapons of mass destruction, everyone remembers how he ended up," Putin added. "North Korea remembers this too." (The Hill & CNN)

Concurrently our President is fighting with South Korea, Japan and alienating China. The one positive is that he I s permitting South Korea to add nuclear capable ballistic missiles for their defense.

I think that sooner or later there will be armed action in the Korean peninsula.

FOR A CHANGE

There will be an Agenda Setting Session Tuesday night at 7:30 in the City Hall Library. Since the printed agenda does not seem to contain too many contentious items I may not attend especially if the weather is threatening.

Items of interest include renewing retroactively to 9/1/17the lease of Plainfield Community Action Partnerships for 1 year with optional extension for another year. This time they will be responsible for utilities. Why this should have to be retroactive is inexcusable.

I find the Ordinance for the sale of 400 Grant Ave to Habitat for Humanity interesting since this is across the street from where I grew up. At one time the Grant Ave from West 4^th St. to 6^th St. was a miniature medical row with 3 or 4 Doctor’s offices and a Dentist in the house at 400 Grant.

 
The 2^nd reading of the Ordinance creating the position of Manager of Motors should get two no votes