Mayor 86's Piv, you can hear his side tonight

Piv towers over his opponent in downtown Plainfield.

Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs has ignited a furor by having Senior Center member Jim Pivnichny forcibly thrown out of her monthly meeting with the Seniors Tuesday morning.

Piv gets his chance to explain the events at a meet-and-greet tonight, TO WHICH ALL ARE INVITED (see details at end of post). Residents will also get a chance to quiz the Mayor and Piv at a candidates' forum tomorrow (also at end of this post).

Piv, who is running against Mayor Robinson-Briggs in the general election, says he WAS NOT CAMPAIGNING, but merely asking questions as a member of the Seniors organization.

You can read Bernice's full report on the meeting (at which I was not present) here, and the Courier's report here.


Also, I am printing in full and unedited the email Piv sent around (including to the media) after the incident --

To all interested:

Just before noon I was forcibly ejected by the Plainfield Police from the Senior Citizens Center at the end of the mayor's address.  The reason given by the police was for "disturbing the peace". I was only asking questions as other members of the audience were doing, and attempting to make a personal defense to the mayor's statement that the local bloggers sometimes do not tell the truth.  I did not leave voluntarily because I firmly believed that there was no legal reason for me to leave.

I was told that I was campaigning and that campaigning was not allowed.  However,

(1) I did not introduce myself as a candidate.
(2) I only asked specific questions in response to the mayor's specific statements.
(3) I did not ask anyone to vote for me.
(4) I did not present any statement on any issue related to the campaign.

Apparently my being a candidate prohibited me from speaking anything at the meeting.  I was not told of this in advance.

Although I raised my voice to be heard, I did not shout, and I made no threatening statements or motions toward anyone, including the officers ejecting me.

As a final note, I am a member of the organization.  Also, I was told by the police that it was a private organization.  I do not agree with this since it is funded almost completely by city revenue.

Bernice Paglia was present for at least part of the meeting, but I don not know if she was there when I was ejected.

Jim

With all the witnesses on hand, and given Piv's statement, there seems to be a prima facie case against his removal.

This is the SECOND TIME the police have been used by elected officials against attendees at a meeting (the first was in connection with the Dem City Committee reorg, see here).

One of the questions raised at the time the Police Chief's position was abolished was whether the administration of the Police Division would be politicized.

We now have TWO INCIDENTS that raise the alarm in that regard.

Montclair is jokingly referred to as 'the Peoples' Republic of Montclair' for its left-leaning, ultra-democratic ways.

What can we do for a mayor whose behavior would make Benito Mussolini's chest swell with pride? Perhaps, if she can use the police on her personal whim to deny residents their rights as citizens, we should drop the 'Queen City' moniker in favor of something like 'the Fascist Republic of Plainfield'?

ASIDE: Questions around campaigning at the Senior Center have been in the air for years. When Jerry has had the upper hand, campaigning has gone on unabashedly, notwithstanding the Center being technically 'city property'. When he hasn't had the upper hand, the guise has always been that of him or his proxy providing a 'lunch' for the Seniors in the closest possible proximity to Election Day, and then taking the spotlight to slyly campaign. As for Robinson-Briggs' electioneering, one has only to recall her aides handing out 'Re-elect Sharon' buttons at August's National Night Out celebration and the banner over City Hall's front door which was crudely doctored to remove an image of the same button after attention was called to it.

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Pivnichny Meet And Greet Tonight .

7:30 - 9:00 PM
At the home of Susan Keller, 1126 Martine Avenue.

Meet and talk with Republican mayoral candidate Jim Pivnichny
and get to hear more about the Senior Center incident.
Coffee and light refreshments. Free, but please RSVP to (908) 753-1802.

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Local Candidates Forum.

Tomorrow, 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Plainfield Public Library
8th Street and Park Avenue

Candidates for Mayor (Sharon Robinson-Briggs, Deborah Dowe and Jim Pivnichny)
and Ward 4 Council seat (Bridget Rivers).
Sponsored by Women for Progress in Plainfield.

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• Plaintalker: "A Senior Center visit" -- Piv is bounced, Jerry is allowed to campaign.
• Courier: "Mayoral hopeful escorted from meeting by police"
  
• Plainfield Today: "More unanswered questions on police conduct"
  

-- Dan Damon

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