Jerry's attacks on Estevez: Is Jerry losing it?

Would a spy-catcher be useful?

Plainfield Assemblyman Jerry Green has attempted to slime Board of Ed member Christian Estevez for three days this week.

Estevez posted a measured response on his blog yesterday, asking why Green doesn't respect the privacy of the District's students and employees (see here).

Reasonable people might wonder whether the Assemblyman is going around the bend.

Let's see if we can sort out any facts from his increasingly hysterical rants.

On Monday, the day BEFORE the Board of Ed's weekly meeting, Assemblyman Green wrote (see here) --

I am researching the policy on the books regarding the criteria for security at the high school for searching students, female students in particular. It is my understanding that ...School Board member Chris Estevez [is] trying to cover up such activities at the high school, situations where student’s rights are being violated.

On Wednesday, the day AFTER the BOE meeting, he had this to say (see here) --

A few days ago, I brought to the attention of the public an issue dealing with a young female whose rights may have been violated by a security guard at the Plainfield High School. Because the Mapp team controls the Board of Education, their point person, Christian Estevez, who is running on the New Democratic slate as a Committee person, is working very hard behind the scenes to not allow this to become public knowledge.

Thursday, the Assemblyman continued his attack (see here) --

Secondly Dan, Adrian Mapp, and Christian Estevez: Was a young, 15 year old female’s rights violated in the Plainfield High School recently, yes or no?

Leaving aside the tortured grammar, what can we parse from all this?

1. Assemblyman Green evidently knows something about a search of a 15-year old female PHS student by security staff.

Questions for the Assemblyman: Was it drug-related? Was it weapons-related? Was it theft-related? Was it justified? Jerry doesn't enlighten us.

2. Assemblyman Green asserts a cover-up.

Questions for the Assemblyman: Why aren't you accusing Dr. Gallon of a cover-up, since he is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the school district? Or are you -- indirectly? What makes you think Estevez was even aware of the search when you wrote? As a matter of fact, I am told the matter was brought FOR THE FIRST TIME to the Board on TUESDAY evening, the day AFTER Jerry wrote about it. Now, if Estevez didn't know about it until Tuesday, why didn't Jerry accuse Board President Bridget Rivers (who might be expected to know more in advance than other Board members) of a cover-up? Or why not accuse Jerry's own handpicked Board member, Lisa Logan-Leach? Jerry doesn't enlighten us.

3. Assemblyman Green fails to mention any Police Division involvement.

Questions for the Assemblyman: How is it that you come to know so much before the matter is even brought to the Board of Ed's atttention at a Board meeting? Were the police involved? Was a police report on the incident submitted? Did Lisa Logan-Leach, who processes incident reports in the Police Division have improper contact with Assemblyman Green, supplying confidential details about the incident? Jerry doesn't enlighten us.

4. Does Assemblyman Green have an anti-Hispanic agenda here?

Questions for the Assemblyman: Does Jerry have an anti-Hispanic agenda here? I have noticed that Assemblyman Green has gone out of his way to go after Christian Estevez ever since Gov. Corzine had the temerity to appoint Estevez to a statewide Hispanic (correction) immigration affairs panel. It bothered Green so much that he pulled strings to get a nominee of his own appointed -- Carol Ann Brokaw-Boles, PMUA chairperson and currently a candidate in the mayoral primary. Jerry doesn't enlighten us.

5. Doesn't Assemblyman Green believe in the rule of law?

Questions for the Assemblyman: If incidents such as the one Jerry refers to are to be handled by policies set up by the school district, in accord with New Jersey law, shouldn't Jerry point out where the rules have been broken or the law transgressed? Instead of slinging mud? Jerry doesn't enlighten us.

6. Do these attacks on Estevez have anything to do with Jerry not being able to pick the new Board president?

Questions for the Assemblyman: Jerry made phone calls on behalf of having his candidate Lisa Logan-Leach elected BOE president at the recent reorganization. A majority of the Board resisted and Bridget Rivers was re-elected. Did he make the phone calls as a 'citizen'? (I am reminded of Orwell's distinction that all citizens are equal, it's just that some are 'more equal'.) Jerry doesn't enlighten us.

7. Where does Jerry Green get his 'inside' information about the Board of Ed and the School District?

Is Lisa Logan-Leach the source of all his knowledge of confidential school district matters? If so, is that an ethics breach? Should an ethics complaint be filed? Perhaps the first thing to do is bait a trap. George Smiley would have been most adept at that. Maybe Dr. Gallon and the virtuous Board members should take a look at Alec Guiness' portrayal in the two BBC series featuring the famed spy-catcher.

So, dear reader, is Jerry losing it? Or is he a wily slimer?

Or perhaps a little of both?

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-- Dan Damon

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