Detail of a swastika image on an East Front Street wall.
Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs' community forum, despite its short notice and disregard of a longstanding block associations meeting, got about a hundred people away from the Democratic convention coverage last evening, by my reckoning. (Today's Courier has a page-one story here.)
Even as police director Martin Hellwig detailed dramatic drops in violent crime though, word was sweeping through my neighborhood of the brutal beating and robbery of an 82-year-old man after his home on a leafy street less than two blocks from mine was invaded by an unknown number of men.
Hellwig, anticipating the release of the FBI's Uniform Crime Statistics, usually done in September, was getting in a few pre-emptive, and favorable, stats.
Which is not to say that violent crime has not diminished. It has. But that is not the whole story.
What I hear from the cops on the street is that violent crime is being replaced with crimes against property -- breaking into homes and cars for valuables. Tough luck for you if you're home when these guys decide to rob you.
But violent crimes and property crimes aren't the only items that are tracked.
The swastika is just a step from Plainfield's main drag, East Front Street.
They are also interested in bias crimes. Which brings me to the picture above.
Spotted the other day on a wall in an alleyway between East Front Street and a city parking lot, what you see is a swastika -- the odious Nazi and skinhead symbol -- which someone evidently tried to cover up with paint.
Despite guidelines from the Attorney General that incidents such as this are to be treated as bias incidents on their face, I doubt you will find that this little artwork has been reported as such.
Residents' confidence in crime statistics is based on trusting that the data are not being misreported or manipulated.
What is to be made of the swastika image?
I don't know, but I do know that a neighbor told me they may get a dog -- a 'serious dog' was the exact phrase -- since the old man's mugging.
- "Muhlenberg, crime dominate Plainfield community forum"
- "Man, 82, beaten and robbed at home" -- Courier | Ledger |
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1 comments:
I would like to make a few casual comments/observations about Tuesday’s Community Forum. I will leave the heavy duty analysis to the pros.
First what I refer to as housekeeping items. 1. The Forum was advertised to start at 6:30 pm. All the presenters and moderator were there before 6:30 pm, the Mayor did not come into the room were the Forum was being held until 6:40 pm; and the Forum itself did not start until 6:50 pm. This meant those of us that arrived on time had to wait 20 minutes. This begs to question, where are your manners, common courtesy and respect for people’s time? 2. The other thing I found interesting was that other than the Mayor, only Assemblyman Green sat at the front table. Since this was a Community Forum and Assemblyman Green is not a Plainfield elected official, member of the Administrative Staff and as far as I could tell, not one of presenters then why did he sit there? Although it may not seem like a big deal, but his seat at Forum and his need to answer questions the where specific as to what did/is the city doing about an issue makes it very difficult for him to dispel the idea/notion/rumors that “he is running the city” Actions speak louder than words.
Other observations: The Mayor’s suggestions to use some of the Clean Communities (Cities) Grant money to give stipends to individual households to do minor improvements made me ponder (I hope I got the gist of the suggestion correct). Although if is a nice idea, it is not very far reaching and may not meet the requirements for a Clean Communities project. A suggestion, have the Mayor reach out to Maria Pellum. Maria has written several blogs regarding some great projects that would not only benefit the community at large but would get many residents involve in the projects. Please note, while speaking of Maria I will not even address the Mayor’s comment about the flyer for the Forum being in Spanish
Last observation, not once did Director Hellwig mention the “A Safer Plainfield” initiative (it was kicked off last month) which was publicized as one of the two major topics to be discussed at the Forum. During the brief Block Association Liaison meeting A.P. Tiffany Wilson and Councilwoman Linda Carter were asked it they knew anything about the initiative, unfortunately they had no information. This is sad not only because they both have been very involved with the City’s Block Associations and could have provided very valuable input, but A.P Wilson works directly with the Police Department and Linda is on the City Council. Block Associations do not fear, information will be provided at next Block Association Liaison meeting. So mark your calendars.. Block Association Liaison meeting , September 23, at 6:30 pm at the United Presbyterian Church
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