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Friday, April 30, 2010

Plainfield mayor mean to baseball-loving youngsters




Robinson-Briggs aiming for 'Queen of Mean'?


Is Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs vying for the title 'Queen of Mean'?

If forcing the cancellation of one of two Queen City Baseball League games last night -- sending the affected youngsters home in tears-- is any indication, the answer is YES.

Despite appeals from the Council for the Robinson-Briggs administration to work out an accommodation between the Queen City Baseball League (QCBL) and the city's recreation division's much smaller copycat operation, last night's incident shows that Mayor Robinson-Briggs evidently has a mind of her own about how Plainfield's baseball-loving youngsters are to be accommodated.

And that is, NOT.

When four QCBL teams showed up at the Rock Avenue ballfields for their 7:00 PM ball games last night, the coaches found that the City had changed the locks to the equipment room WITHOUT NOTICE, leaving the youngsters with no access to the bases which make play possible.

While a parent was able to scrounge up a set of bases for one of the two fields, the other was left without them and the game was cancelled, the youngsters then being sent home in tears.

Although the lights were ablaze when I arrived about 7:30 PM, one of the coaches told me that QCBL was told by the City that the lights were not working. QCBL coaching staff was able to turn them on, and they certainly flooded both fields with light, so I am wondering what the ruse was about. (Besides, with the season getting under way, why wouldn't the mayor see to it that the recreation division had its fields -- all of them -- in tip-top condition?)

With more games scheduled Friday and Saturday, one can only wonder if the QCBL folks will be able to successfully work around the city's obstructionist maneuvers.

As one QCBL coach said to me, 'Regardless of how you feel about the adults working things out (meaning the QCBL and the Rec Division), why on earth would anyone punish the kids? They just want to be able to play baseball.'

Why, indeed?

Unless you had your heart set on being Plainfield's 'Queen of Mean'?

P.S. Think the Council can expect visitors at its agenda-setting session on Monday?




-- Dan Damon
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14 comments:

Rob said...

Well Dan... I think you summed it up quite nicely!
It's too bad the kids were affected by stupid adult politics. One has to wonder who the children in this scenario really are ??

Simone Says said...

I am one of the parents whose son plays for the Queen City Baseball League and I must say I am highly disappointed in the way these "adults" handle things. I am a lifelong resident of the City of Plainfield and have never experienced anything like this. I voted for Mayor Robinson-Briggs, but if she continues to allow her administration to treat our kids the way she is, she doesn't have to worry about my vote ever again. Oh yes I will be at the City Council Meeting on Monday night with my son in his uniforms!

Anonymous said...

With everything going on in this city - schools crumbling, lack of vision and direction from the administration, the fastest response we get from the mayor is kicking kids off a public field?

Hey mayor, can you get inspections to ticket people who put vegetation in the gutter weeks before pick up, people who have porches falling down, people who aren't cutting their lawns, landlords that are not taking care of their property and sidewalks that are dangerous? I'll even give you a week to respond?

Goddessamongmen said...

It really is just ridiculous that this is going on... But we need to get the word out and everyone speak up for any change to happen. In the interim we need to ensure our keeps have the best experience as possible.
See you at Opening Day!

Anonymous said...

Another indication of the decline in Plainfield. First the Seniors and the situation with the "Senior Center". I had to put that in quotes!!! Now the ruse with the children regarding usage of the ballfields. If the schedules are set so that is no conflict with the other "league", what is the problem?

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Hey, at least the locksmith is happy.

Anonymous said...

It's about time it came out that the buck stops with the Mayor. She is the one who ALLOWS or turns a blind eye to everything dave wynn does. The question is WHY IS THAT???? When someone who has power over others and is as arrogant and vindictive as he and no one can seem to do anything about it, it's time to go higher and louder. The City Council already told Recreation there should not be another baseball league. But he went merrily on his way to duplicate what QCBL already had in place. QCBL has suffered enough jumping through his hoops. He tried to monopolize all the ball fields which had to be struggled for. Now to lock up the field bases that are specifically for Rock Ave fields is going too far.
While Plainfield already is on the radar of Christie because of the arrogant PPS Superintendent, he might as well look at this situation as well. And believe me there are more dots to connect to this nonsense.

Anonymous said...

ITS LIKE THE OLD SAYING YOU GET WHAT YOU PAYED FOR
THIS CASE YOU GET WHAT YOU VOTED FOR SERVES YA ALL RIGHT

Rob said...

Simone Says: This is far from Mayor Sharon's first act to stoop so low. This time she swatted the children around..the only difference between now and every other time..it was the children this time. If you give her one more chance to have your vote after this, you really have to wonder why you wrote that in the first place. Do what you know is right...call her out for what she is and tell your friends and your friends friends. She isn't afraid of negative publicity so why not give her as much as you possibly can.

Anonymous said...

WELL like the sayong goes You Get What you Paid for but in this case You GET WHAT YOU VOTED FOR

Anonymous said...

The Queen has lost her crown folks!
She now rides a broom full time. And if you all dont change the way you vote,she will be robbing us blind next.

Anonymous said...

She's already robbing you blind!

Anonymous said...

To 11:15am and 11:30pm - you are absolutely right. I say to the person who voted for the mayor - why? I am still waiting to hear what the mayor did in her first four years that warrented another 4 years. Anyone??