 |
Attendees held sign in support of R068-17, saying "America: Land of Immigrants" and "Yes to Sanctuary City". |
Not yet four weeks in office, President Trump has already cast a dark shadow over Plainfield's immigrant community.
SID vice president Maritza Martinez spoke at last week's agenda-setting session of how frightened the immigrant community is with the President's threats of mass deportation.
While most members of that community are naturalized American citizens or legal permanent residents (with "green cards"), there is a proportion that is undocumented. Tie of kinship and friendship weave all the strands together in Plainfield, as in many other New Jersey communities.
Monday evening's City Council business session was packed. Though we came early, Bernice and I were stuck in the outer hallway as the meeting got under way.
I was able to get a seat inside after ceremonial matters were attended to and some occupants left; nevertheless, the courtroom was standing-room only for the entire evening.
The mostly Hispanic audience was there for two items primarily: the first reading of the taxi ordinance revisions (allowing police to tow out-of-town taxis) and the "fair and welcoming" resolution.
The resolution (R 068-17) declaring Plainfield a "fair and welcoming" community was passed by unanimous voice vote. While it mentions neither President Trump nor the words "sanctuary city", it is a marker laid down by the Mayor and the City Council as to how the community will treat its residents and information about them. The resolution points out that such protections are offered without regard to immigration status.
As a resolution, it has force only for the current year (meaning until December 31st). A permanent stance would be taken by an ordinance.
The revised penalties section of the taxi ordinance was passed 5-2 on first reading, with Councilors Rivers and Toliver voting nay. (Rivers once again lobbied on behalf of North Plainfield's Soria Taxi, mentioning them by name in her remarks.
 |
Plainfield taxi drivers and their family members filled the right half of the Courtroom. |
The ordinance now must past second reading at the March business meeting before it will formally take effect.
Theresa Ann Moroney Teacher and Plainfield bookstore
owner was an avid reader and adventurous cook Theresa Ann Moroney
of Plainfield, N.J., died on Jan. 19, 2017, from complications of
breast cancer. Family and friends are invited to join together to
honor Terry's life at The Landing, 311 Amwell Rd., Hillsborough,
N.J., on Sunday, Jan. 22, for brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Terry
was born on March 24, 1944, in Summit, N.J., to Mary Gallagher and
David Moroney, the seventh of nine children. She graduated from
St. Teresa's Grammar School, Summit, in 1958, and attended three
high schools: Summit High for two years, followed by a year at
Madison High, before graduating from South Plainfield High in
1962. Terry attended Fairleigh Dickinson University while working
night shifts at her sister Catherine's diner, becoming the first
member of her family to graduate from college with a B.A. in
English in 1967. While at FDU she served as editor for the school
newspaper. After graduation, Terry and her sister Grace travelled
across the country. Terry began her teaching career at Westfield
High in 1967 and continued at Plainfield High. In 1972 the call of
the highway beckoned once more, and she and Grace continued their
cross-country exploration. Upon returning to New Jersey, Terry met
and married the love of her life, David Beck, and soon welcomed
two sons into her world. In 1980 she reentered the work force,
teaching adult education in Plainfield and New Brunswick, N.J., a
vocation in which she took tremendous pride. In 1992 Terry
returned to high school, teaching at North Plainfield until her
retirement in 2009. In 1997 Terry opened "Another Look Books" in
Plainfield. A labor of love, the used book store served the
downtown community until closing its doors in the early 2000's.
Terry was active in the Cook School PTA, and while at North
Plainfield she served as advisor for the school newspaper and lent
her aid to countless students; she took particular joy in helping
her ESL students apply to college. She was an active member of the
Plainfield Historical Society and the Democratic Committee in
Plainfield. Terry was an avid reader and adventurous cook; the two
pursuits birthed an extensive and lovingly used library of
cookbooks and personal recipes. Terry was predeceased by her
husband, David Michael Beck, in 2014. She is survived by her sons,
Andrew David and Richard Evelyn; her daughter-in-law, Christine
Beck, and grandsons, Damien Carter and Alexander David. The
seventh of nine children, Terry is survived by her sister,
Constance Costello Rooney. She was predeceased by her brothers,
David, Richard, and James, and her sisters, Margaret, Catherine,
Rosemary, and Grace. In New Jersey, Terry will be missed by her
sister-in-law, Kathleen Moroney; nephews, Charles Femminella and
his wife, Charlotte Ryden, Christopher (Gretchen), Sean (Karen),
and Mark Moroney (Kelly); nieces, Regina and Renee Femminella,
Maureen Pena (Joseph), Sandra Roberts (Steve Kosciolek), and
Jennifer McBride (Sean); in Virginia, by Moyra Moroney; in
Arizona, by her brother-in-law, Paul Beck and, in Hawaii, by John
Beck; and many grand-nephews and grand-nieces. - See more at: http://obits.nj.com/obituaries/starledger/obituary.aspx?n=theresa-moroney&pid=183660148#sthash.mSuRxaeS.dpuf
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment