Pols are famous for pulling rabbits out of hats
as Election Day approaches.
As Plainfield's mayoral race comes down to the last week, it's time for Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs to start pulling rabbits out of hats, in the age-old incumbents' dodge.
My nomination for today?
MUHLENBERG.
Mayor Robinson-Briggs, who has never taken up her duties as a member of the Muhlenberg Board in her entire first term, cannot be oblivious to the sentiment among voters that the closure of Muhlenberg has been a disaster for Plainfield and the surrounding communities -- both with regard to the quality of healthcare delivery and the economic impact of the loss of 1,100 jobs (and their purchasing power) from the local economy.
What to do?
How about convening a meeting of the Community Advisory Group, set up to monitor Solaris Health System's compliance with the conditions set by the state in exchange for permission to shut down Muhlenberg?
And use the meeting to announce that Mayor Robinson-Briggs was working hard to find a buyer for Muhlenberg -- in fact, was (breathless gush!) IN TALKS AT THIS VERY MOMENT for a new (but unnamed) buyer for the hospital.
Never mind that the sale of Muhlenberg is NOT PART OF THE CHARTER of the Community Advisory Group (CAG), or that in this economic climate, with financing hard to come by, there is not a likely candidate for PURCHASE. But, given the makeup of the CAG**, Mayor Sharon might be able to flummox them anyway.
And just think of how some voters, upset over the loss of Muhlenberg but not really attentive to Mayor Robinson-Briggs' role in that loss, may be swayed by having THIS RABBIT pulled out of the hat, especially if they read it in the Courier or Ledger.
Or will they?
**Community Advisory Group (CAG) Rosterper Jerry Green's Page, 7/13/2009.1) Assemblyman Jerry Green
2) Sharon Robinson-Briggs, Mayor
3) Marc Dashield, City Administrator
4) Rashid Burney, Council President
5) Marc Collicchio, Municipal Health Officer
6) Jenny Purnell, Plainfield Rescue Squad
7) B.J. Fleming, Captain – Plainfield Fire Division (alt. Firefighter Sheldon Green)
8) Troy Edwards, Sgt. – Plainfield Police Division (alt. P.O. William Tyler)
9) Colleen Mahr, Mayor (Fanwood)
10) Carmen Salvarrietta, Community Activist
11) Dottie Gutenkauf, Community Activist
12) Jay Jimenez, St. Peters University Hospital
13) Lynn Kearny, Rahway Hospital
14) Dennis McGill, MD, Somerset Regional Medical Center
Leage of Women Voters Candidates' Forum
Wednesday, October 28 (Correct date!)
6:30 PM and 7:30 PM.
The Plainfield chapter of the League of Women Voters will present its candidates' forum
in two segments: at 6:30 PM, candidates for the 22nd District Assembly seats;
at 7:30 PM, candidates for Mayor and the Ward 4 Council seat.
At Emerson Community School, East Third Street at Emerson Avenue.
Wednesday, October 28 (Correct date!)
6:30 PM and 7:30 PM.
The Plainfield chapter of the League of Women Voters will present its candidates' forum
in two segments: at 6:30 PM, candidates for the 22nd District Assembly seats;
at 7:30 PM, candidates for Mayor and the Ward 4 Council seat.
At Emerson Community School, East Third Street at Emerson Avenue.
Posts
10 comments:
Who are these people on the JG council?
My guess is that Colleen and Rashid have both been promised that they will follow in JG shoes in the assembly. (Hopefully, he will not have that seat to give after November 3). What has he promised the rest of them? And where is their outrage that a meeting has not occurred. Dottie is rabid about Muhlenburg - why isn't she stamping her feet that there has been no action. And if there has been, what's the secret that no one knows. Wouldn't you think JG would have it in his blog at the very least?
Whoa... To Anonymous at 7:32AM: Watch throwing Dottie's name around toward any reference of Mayor Jerry and Assistant Mayor Sharon being incompetent and responsible for Plainfield folding like a cheap suit regarding the hospital. Mayor Jerry and Assistant Mayor Sharon have somehow convinced Dottie that they are the victims with the hospital closing not the complacent irresponsible permission givers that they are. Nothing has shocked me more than seeing Dottie supporting Mayor Jerry and Assistant Mayor Sharon after the fast one they pulled on Plainfield regarding the hospital. I am sure there was some "magic" worked her...per the voters in Plainfield. The vast majority are mindless party line voters so it doesn't take much skill to "win" them over.
Colleen Mahr is definitely being groomed to replace Stender, says a county worker and friend who is close to high ups at the UCDC. Burney doesn't have a chance at assembly given the racial politics the county likes to play. Green knows this and Burneys not popular in Plainfield. It might be the handsome young Van Blake who the county loves with maybe McWilliams to take his freeholder place although there are a long line of people ahead of her like Burney who paid their party loyalty dues and who might yell unfair if she was chosen.
A Rabbit ???? How about suggesting to combine PMUA and City for effective services ??
i.e. What goes around comes around.
Whoaaaa....Rob, Come on....Dottie & hubby have been Jerry's pimp or visa verso for years. She's a Union Organizer and would rather cut off her LEFT Hand (Get it! "LEFT") than vote for someone off the Party Line. Or course she had to come out in the paper supporting them. Her union card might be revoked otherwise.
To Anonymous October 26, 2009 2:10 PM -- SERIOUSLY...I just spit wine out through my nose... " LEFT, GET IT?? " Dying I tell you.. DYING that's so funny...!
hey Dan, not cool to print that anonymous rant against Dottie. She doesnt deserve that. That really should be deleted.
@ 7:32 -- don't know which 'rant' about Dottie you mean. Though a little OTT (over the top), the worst is hardly anything not commonly heard around Plainfield for years. Much more polite than the NJ Forums, don't you think?
Actually Dan, I don't believe the comment regarding Dottie was over the top at all. Many comments fill the blogs that are anonymous and are gushing over the glories of battles past by our dear Mayor Jerry and Assistant Mayor Sharon. And honestly, per the "Dottie Situation", were there one, you have someone who is and has been incredibly VOCAL and HARD WORKING to attempt to stop the hospital from closing and doing all she can to bring it back to life, if possible. Which is BEYOND COMMENDABLE for any private citizen to take upon their shoulders. And yet, she saddles on up to 2 of the main conspirators, and I do mean CONSPIRATORS through their callous disregard for the entire situation and refusal to do anything to prevent it from happening. Mayor Jerry and Assistant Mayor Sharon REFUSED to even comment on the situation at the half way point of the entire closure. Then they sudddenly jumped up screaming how they had been tirelessly working to prevent the closure...HUH??? Again, maybe Dottie saw this TIRELESS, VOCAL AND STRONG EFFORT to stop the hospital from closing. It's a shame she won't share with the rest of us what in fact that was. Because I saw 2 elected politicians whose job it is to care for and acts as stewards to this community who led us to the hangman's gallows and then apologized to us that we were being hanged at high noon. There is NOTHING Mayor Jerry and Assistant Mayor Sharon can say or support ( gay marriage for one example ) that can make me forget that both he and she,DUE TO THEIR COMPLETE LACK OF EFFORT or CARING, are responsible for that closure.
Dan, I meant the 2:10 comment calling her and Joe "pimp". As vocal as they might be, they are still private citizens, and you have been pretty good about not publishing anonymous comments about specific private citizens.
I, for one, cannot WAIT until this election is over.
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