One Rucker/Greaves/Green campaign mystery solved?

What's with the inconsistency?

 

Several Plainfield Today readers have mentioned the disparity between the campaign signs of Tony Rucker and his running mates Assemblyman Jerry Green and Councilor Vera Greaves.

If you note above, Jerry's and Vera's signs have a consistent look, while Rucker's stands in contrast.

Hmmm. Why's that?

Is it a sign of that 'independence' from Jerry that his supporters claim? (See the comments on my blog post yesterday from Rucker supporters here.)

I was curious about that sign, and happened to catch some snaps yesterday on Belvidere Avenue in front of the home of the late Dr. Gerald Lee, one of Assemblyman Green's first appointments to the PMUA board.

Here are the pix.

The '7' looked a little odd.

Odd indeed! What's that about?

Here's what the other side looks like.

The '7' in the date caught my eye, because it was a bit wimpish in comparison to the rest of the text. Turns out it is taped over something else.

The other side of the sign revealed what the 'something else' is -- June 5.

Could the Rucker/Greaves/Green team have gotten the date right on two of their signs, but not the third? Did Jerry not check them before letting them be put out?

Is there another possibility?

How about this: Primary Day in Rucker's previous challenge of Storch was TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2007.

Could it be the signs are ... recycled?

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• Plainfield Today:  "Rucker's team is Jerry's team, with all that implies"

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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PMUA: Rejected PMUA nominee Eke attacks Storch

Mr. Eke had no problems with New Democrats when Al McWilliams
was mayor, as shown here at the 2000 Ethfest.

Charles Eke, whom the Plainfield City Council declined to confirm to a seat as a PMUA commissioner after his nomination by Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs, has a letter to the editor in today's Courier attacking Cory Storch and endorsing Storch's opponent in the Democratic primary (see here).

I am rubbing my eyes with disbelief!

Is this the same Charles Eke who, as Mayor Robinson-Briggs' nominee for a PMUA commissioner's seat, came before the Council and in his public interview had NOTHING NEGATIVE TO SAY ABOUT THE PMUA (see Bernice's report in Plaintalker II here)? The record shows that Rev. Tracey Brown was the ONLY nominee who offered to look at the PMUA with a critical eye.

Is this the same Charles Eke who would have been eligible, as a Commissioner, for health benefits FOR HIMSELF AND HIS FAMILY and made no offer to forego same if appointed?

Is this the same Charles Eke whom I have never seen at a Council meeting except when his nomination was on the agenda for the evening? Whom I have never seen at a PMUA Commissioners meeting ever?

Is this the same Charles Eke who, after failing to be appointed, came to the February Council meeting to harangue the Council over his rejection, labeling those who failed to vote for him as 'unfit for public office' (see Bernice's report here).

Not only is this the same Charles Eke, he displays a level of ignorance about the Council's role which only confirms their sound judgment in not appointing him. Eke proposes --

...[t]he City Council could have taken bold steps towards reform of the PMUA. They could have put out the entire city's garbage collection out to bid. Let Waste Management, let Grand Sanitation and other garbage collection companies bid on this work. Let the PMUA bid on this work and may the best company win.That is the way I would have done it. That is the way any sound businessman would have done it. It's very clear...

Eke completely misunderstands the Council's power.

The Council has no authority whatsoever, given the agreement that established the PMUA, to 'put the city's garbage collection out to bid'.

It has jawboned the PMUA to no visible effect.

It can dissolve the PMUA agreement, but would need some findings of fact to do so -- which the task force to which Eke objects could report back to the Council as findings.

Eke only shows what an ignorant and foolhardy appointee he would have been.

As for Eke's endorsement of Storch's challenger, Tony Rucker, if Rucker doesn't publicly object to this idiotic proposal, you should chalk it up as one more reason to vote for Storch.

P.S.: In the 2009 City Committee races, in which Eke ran for a District seat against New Dem Kieran Anderson, he was beaten 127-23. Can this have anything to do with his antagonism toward the New Dems?

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• Courier, Letter to Editor: "Charles Eke: PMUA reforms moving too slowly"
• Plaintalker II --
• "Special meeting yields only one PMUA appointee"
• "Rejected PMUA candidate shows ire"
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Annie McWilliams endorses Storch and Dameron

Council President Annie McWiliams endorses Storch and Dameron for Council.

 

Before a room full of New Democrats for Plainfield candidates for the Democratic City Committee and their supporters, Plainfield City Council President Annie McWilliams endorsed the group's City Council candidates -- Cory Storch, who is running for re-election as Ward 2 Councilor, and 'Dee' Dameron, running for the Wards 1/4 at-large seat (read the endorsement on her blog here).

Thursday evening's 'friendraiser' event highlighted the 55 candidates running for seats on the Democratic City Committee.

McWilliams lauded the candidates as bringing the kind of 'independent and balanced judgment' and 'honest and ethical leadership' for the challenges the city and the City Council face.

Storch addresses attendees at 'friendraiser' event.

New Democrats are fielding 55 candidates for City Committee seats.

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• Positive Change:  "Storch and Dameron for Plainfield City Council"

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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New Dems 'friendraiser' event tonight

New Democrats headquarters is at 508 Watchung Avenue.

New Democrats for Plainfield will host a 'friendraiser' at its Watchung Avenue headquarters this evening, to which all are invited, according to chairperson Adrian Mapp.

The event provides an opportunity to mix and mingle with the slate's candidates for City Council and the Democratic City Committee as well as to make a campaign contribution, Mapp continued.

City Council candidates Cory Storch, running for re-election to the Ward 2 seat, and 'Dee' Dameron, first-time candidate for the Wards 1/4 at-large seat will be on hand, as well as the organization's 55 candidates for the Democratic City Committee.
 

Candidates for City Council and Democratic City Committee.

Councilor Rebecca Williams, who is managing Storch's campaign and former Board of Ed member Dr. Inez Durham, who is managing Dameron's campaign said they are looking forward to the event which will energize supporters in the final two-week runup to the Primary election on June 7.

Mapp said an important endorsement of the candidates will be made at the event.

New Dem campaign signs will be a familiar sight over the next few weeks.

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New Democrats for Plainfield
FRIENDRAISER EVENT

Thursday · May 19 · 6 - 9 PM

New Democrats Headquarters
508 Watchung Avenue
(Across from City Hall, between Blackberry's and City Hall Annex)

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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All invited to New Democrats' 'Friendraiser' Thursday evening

New Democrats headquarters is at 508 Watchung Avenue.

 

New Democrats for Plainfield will host a 'friendraiser' at its Watchung Avenue headquarters Thursday evening, to which all are invited, according to chairperson Adrian Mapp.

The event provides an opportunity to mix and mingle with the slate's candidates for City Council and the Democratic City Committee as well as to make a campaign contribution, Mapp continued.

City Council candidates Cory Storch, running for re-election to the Ward 2 seat, and 'Dee' Dameron, first-time candidate for the Wards 1/4 at-large seat will be on hand, as well as the organization's 55 candidates for the Democratic City Committee.

Candidates for City Council and Democratic City Committee.

Councilor Rebecca Williams, who is managing Storch's campaign and former Board of Ed member Dr. Inez Durham, who is managing Dameron's campaign said they are looking forward to the event which will energize supporters in the final two-week runup to the Primary election on June 7.

Mapp said an important endorsement of the candidates will be made at the event.

New Dem campaign signs will be a familiar sight over the next few weeks.

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New Democrats for Plainfield
FRIENDRAISER EVENT

Thursday · May 19 · 6 - 9 PM

New Democrats Headquarters
508 Watchung Avenue
(Across from City Hall, between Blackberry's and City Hall Annex)

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Chairman Green contests New Dem city committee petitions

Is Jerry making a serious challenge?

Plainfield Democratic City Committee chairperson Assemblyman Jerry Green challenged eleven city committee candidates running on the New Dems slate. Is Jerry being a vicious pit bull or a toothless old dog past his prime?

With the entire 68 seats on the committee (one female and one male for each of 34 voting districts) up for re-election on June 7, Green is attentive to the need to minimize the chances of the New Dem candidates electing a majority to the committee, which would endanger his control.

Five Hispanic candidates in Wards 1 and 3 and one non-Hispanic were challenged for either not being registered Democrats or having the signatures of those who are not registered Democrats on their petitions.

In a letter to Chairman Green dated April 15, City Clerk 'AJ' Jalloh, writing as Plainfield's Chief Election Official, denied Green's objection, citing Lesniak v. Budzash (1993), in which the court ruled unaffiliated voters may declare party membership by SIGNING A NOMINATION PETITION.

Green challenges two other Ward 1 committee candidates as not having enough signatures and for an alleged discrepancy in a candidate's signature in two section of the petition. City Clerk 'AJ' Jalloh denied the challenge to the required number of signatures, and held that he has no way of verifying the validity of the challenged signature, to which the candidate swore under oath before a notary.

Lastly, Green challenged the petition of Ward 2 candidates Dave Beck and Lois Mattson, alleging two signatures appeared on the line indicating the petition's circulator.

This City Clerk 'AJ' Jalloh denied on the basis it was clear the notary had signed the line in error and corrected the error by crossing their name out and signing in the correct location, with the circulator writing their name above the crossed out line.

Chairman Green's only option at this point would be to take his challenges to Superior Court in Elizabeth. He has done this before, with less than happy results. Will he do so again?

That would cost money. With less than $241 in the City Committee treasury, Green would have to either find a pro bono lawyer or fork out the cash himself.

I'm betting on the toothless old dog in this one.

Thursday at 3:00 PM the ballot positions for the June Primary will be drawn at the County Clerk's office in Elizabeth.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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All invited to MLK Potluck Party and Food Drive

 

Plainfielders of all political stripes and none are invited to the 3rd Annual MLK Potluck Party and Food Drive tomorrow evening at the home of Councilor Adrian Mapp and his wife Amelia.

For the third year, Plainfield's New Democrats club will host the affair as both a celebration of the life and contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and an opportunity for collecting canned goods and nonperishable food for StarFish, one of Plainfield's local feeding programs.

Soup kitchens and food pantries have been particularly stressed over the past two years, and with unemployment still high, they continue to try and meet the needs of the hungry. 'We are inviting everyone to join the war on hunger in America that Dr. King addressed nearly fifty yearsago,' says Adrian Mapp, chair of the New Dems political club.

As King said in his acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize (see here) --

Today, therefore, the question on the agenda must read: Why should there be hunger and privation in any land, in any city, at any table when man has the resources and the scientific know-how to provide all mankind with the basic necessities of life?

Hope to see you all at Adrian and Amelia's!

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New Dems Potluck Supper and Food Drive

Saturday · January 15
7:00 PM
At the home of Adrian and Amelia Mapp
535 West 8th Street
Mix and mingle with new friends and old!
Bring a dish to share and canned goods or nonperishable food items
for donation to Plainfield's StarFish feeding program.
Food, fun, music -- partying as only Plainfielders can.

---

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Have New Dems put out a 'hit' on Jerry Green?

Susan Douglas as Kathy Roberts in the long-running soap opera 'The Guiding Light'.
Posters are available here.

Plainfielders often find that dealing with Assemblyman Jerry Green is like being in a soap opera -- say 'Misguiding Light' or 'As the Cuckoo Turns'.

It's even more so if you're a New Democrat.

The latest buzz is that Jerry is telling folks the New Dems have put out a 'hit' on him.

You know, as in a rubout. Going to sleep with the fishes. Concrete overshoes. A 'Jimmy Hoffa'. You know.

This is an odd turn of events, coming as it does just days after the general election in which the New Dems moved mountains to get an outstanding turnout in Wards 2 and 3 for 6th Congressional District Congressman Frank Pallone, who won over Tea Party favorite Anna Little by a margin of 15,000 votes -- over 8,000 of which came from Plainfield. And for which Jerry said he was pleased. (But that was last week, this is this week.)

The current accusation puts me in mind of the flap over the DEATH THREATS  (non-existent, as Director Hellwig ultimately confirmed) against Mayor Robinson-Briggs.

She got bodyguards, I got a friendly visit from someone in the Prosecutor's office. It all went nowhere when I told the Prosecutor's folks my source for the 'death threats' was none other than (drum roll) -- Assemblyman Jerry Green.

So, what are we to make of this current rumor?

Is it a story of 'no good deed (getting Pallone re-elected) goes unpunished'?

Or a case of early onset dementia?

Demented? Jerry? Surely, you're kidding.

But it IS like a soap opera.

So, be sure and tune in tomorrow afternoon, same time, same station, same wackiness, same pay-to-play sponsors, for the next installment in the long-running Plainfield soap opera.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Is Jerry sabotaging Dem campaigns in Plainfield?

One Green stalwart snubs part of the local Dem slate.

With three concurrent Democratic electoral campaigns in Plainfield -- Congressional, county and City Council -- questions are arising about the quality of the Regular Democratic Organization's campaign effort and whether it is being sabotaged.

New Dem city committee member shows support for local slate.

CITY COUNCIL

While the New Democrats have announced the opening of their campaign hub in support of candidates from Congressman Pallone down to county and local candidates (see InPlainfield story here), the Regular Democratic Organization has yet to announce its plans for the general election campaign endgame.

The New Dems will operate out of their former space in the Scott Drug building at 7th and Park. A space adjacent to Assemblyman Jerry Green's legislative office that was previously used for RDO campaign activities has a few signs propped in the front window, but the metal gate has been locked and no lights have been seen in the evenings.

Meanwhile, City Committee members who carry out the 'retail' campaign activities of walking their districts to make face-to-face contact with voters are complaining that Green's subordinates have given the campaign information to unknown individuals, leaving them out of the loop.

When one committee person did finally get their list, it was accompanied by a walking map for the WRONG DISTRICT.

Comedy of errors or sabotage?

There is some question whether Assemblyman Green is really taking a hands-on role in the campaign, or whether, for health reasons, he has delegated the responsibilities to underlings who don't know the complexities of managing an effective campaign.

The Democratic City Committee is sponsoring a fundraiser reception for candidates Bill Reid (Ward 1) and Rebecca Williams (Wards 2/3 at-large) tonight at Cafe Vivace. Monies raised will be spent on the local Democratic City Council campaign, covering the cost of signs, mailings and election day support.

Plainfield's 4th Ward will vote only for Congress, county candidates.

COUNTY SLATE

City Council member Linda Carter is the hometown candidate for Freeholder, along with incumbents Dan Sullivan and Betty Jane Kowalski. While Carter has walked in Plainfield's 2nd and 3rd Wards with council candidate Rebbecca Williams, Kowalski and Sullivan have not been seen doing the door-to-door work so fundamental to electoral success.

Though there is no doubt that the county Democratic ticket will cruise to victory in Plainfield, the question that must worry County Democratic strategists is whether Assemblyman Green's organization will put real oomph into getting out the vote to bolster the Freeholder numbers, which sagged noticeably in the face reform Democrats' challenges in the June primary.

Some Plainfielders find it hard to curb their enthusiasm, displaying signs for North Plainfielder
Ed Potosnak, who is in the 7th District race, in which Plainfielders cannot vote.

CONGRESS

Plainfield is unique in being the only Union County municipality included in the gerrymandered 6th Congressional district, where Congressman Frank Pallone is -- for the first time in the ten years we've been in his district -- in a REAL race for his seat against Tea Party favorite Anna Little, mayor of Highlands.

An online article at PolitickerNJ yesterday (see here) pointed out how close the race is according to a poll commissioned by the GOP, but at the end of the article was rather dismissive, suggesting it was a ploy to get Pallone to dump money into the campaign.

Whether or not that is true, I have noticed the COMPLETE ABSENCE in the past month of stories trumpeting polls in favor of Pallone. Longtime political activists know that this probably means the internal polling done by the Democrats shows negatives for Pallone and the better part of wisdom is to remain silent (this has been the experience when the Union County Dems polled in relation to Assemblyman Green in the past).

One Plainfield campaign worker asked about Pallone's green campaign sign, whether that was a wave in the 'O' in his name. When told it was a wave and was suggestive of the Congressman's excellent record on the environment, it seemed to make sense. Especially in the light of the BP oil spill, the promise of renewable energy programs for New Jersey, and the nagging presence of SuperFund sites throughout the state, there is good reason not to want to lose a champion in Washington to an angry anti-government Tea Party candidate who would not have -- or WANT -- any clout in the Congress.

So there you have it, three complex campaigns in our little city. Will the 'Green Team' manage not to sabotage the effort needed for hefty numbers across the board?

Check back on November 3rd.

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• InPlainfield: "Plainfield's New Dems open campaign hub"
• PolitickerNJ:  "Poll: Pallone barely ahead of Little, 44-43%"
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Dave Wynn playing politics with July 4 Parade?

Image from New Dems banner.

Is Plainfield's rec division director Dave Wynn playing politics with the July 4 Parade (which steps off TOMORROW, Saturday July 3, at 10:00 AM)?

That's the question that comes to mind when I found out that New Dems chairperson Adrian Mapp received a call from the Rec Division (but not from Wynn himself) late yesterday afternoon, advising him that the New Dems were being moved from position 28 in the 54-unit parade to position number 48.

(UPDATE, Noon: I am told by Adrian Mapp that the reason given by the caller from Rec for the shift in position was 'to put you in the more patriotic section' of the parade. Excuse me? The Independence Day Parade, and the 'more patriotic' section is at the rear instead of the front?! You might also want to read the rules and regulations pages of the document posted online and see just how patriotic everyone is expected to be. These people can't even lie creatively. Wait a minute! Could it be they're not lying?)

Here's a portion of the June 24 letter from Wynn to Mapp, assigning the group slot number 28 --

Wynn's letter assigned the New Dems slot #28.

Politics?

In Plainfield?

Please, Dave, say it ain't so.

Meanwhile, I'll be out with my camera tomorrow as usual, looking for you enjoying the parade, whatever position you find yourself in.

Here's the entire document from the Rec Division:

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Plainfield July 4 Parade - New Dems Lineup

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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VIDEO: The New Democrat votes

Plainfield's New Democrats not only backed Rebecca Williams in her successful bid for the Democratic nomination for the Wards 2/3 at-large seat, they also supported Linda Carter in her bid for one of three Union County Freeholder Democratic slots on the November ticket.

Here is a video made by a supporter on her iPhone, showing a typical New Dem casting their vote --

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Did New Dems make a difference?

Consider that Linda Carter, in her FIRST TIME EVER running for a county office, was top vote-getter both in Plainfield (Carter 1,300, vs. 967 for Sullivan and 917 for Kowalski) and in Union County (Carter 13,601, with 13,119 for Sullivan and 12,901 for Kowalski).

How's them apples?

Also consider that Sheriff Ralph Froehlich, exposed as a double-dipper during the campaign, fell in Plainfield to Democrats For Change candidate Charles Mitchell, 922 to 862.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Burney's un-truthiness disappoints

In Plainfield's Democratic primary race, one has to wonder whether Councilor Burney is taking a page from the playbook of the late Bob Ferraro.

In two recent blog posts he has bent facts beyond recognition in his efforts to portray his council service positively and to cast one of his opponents (Rebecca Williams) in a negative light (interestingly, he has never mentioned his second opponent, Don Davis, at all).

REBECCA AND THE CABLE CHANNEL

Never one to be deterred by facts, Bob Ferraro often inflated the so-called salaries of those in his political crosshairs, as Burney has done in his attack on Williams (see his post here, and Rebecca's spirited retort here).

So, Burney starts by alleging Williams was paid $50,000 for a part-time job. Simply not true, as Rebecca rebuts (see here).

Next, Burney boils the whole complicated business of getting Plainfield's public access channel up and running (assessing equipment needs, buying equipment, developing policies and procedures, reaching out to the community for programming, setting up a community calendar and broadcast schedule) into a SINGLE issue, that of broadcasting Council meetings.

Never mind that there were significant technical issues with such broadcasts (including where a station would be physically located) and that the Council itself was not of one mind about the speed with which live broadcasts should be gotten up and running.

In spite of crowing that HE got broadcasts done (seemingly alone), Burney admits it took a further two years, and though the quality of the broadcasts ranges from execrable to mediocre, we still do not have LIVE broadcasts.

Unmentioned is any reference to scandals that have plagued the station under Burney's term in office: no mention of the tens of thousands of dollars in equipment that went missing after Williams was replaced by the Robinson-Briggs administration (what the station had when she left was carefully documented and receipted), and the failure of the Council under Burney's leadership to fund the station's operations with the franchise fees that Comcast pays the city, instead dumping them into the general fund.

DUDLEY HOUSE

Burney says that he discovered the Dudley House rehab center was costing the city almost $100,000 a year, and that 80% of the clients (shocking!) were not from Plainfield (see his blog post here).

Completely missing from his discussion is that the program has always been grant-driven and there have been reimbursements for provision of client services by the 'sending' county -- including Union County for Plainfield clients.

Burney also avoids any discussion of the embarrassment that the program lost its certification under his watch, that the Robinson-Briggs administration improperly transferred its workers to the Division of Public Works for over a year (about which Burney did not complain), and that when he had a clear opportunity to say that Plainfield should simply get out of the social services business altogether, Burney took the politically less challenging route of looking for a third party operator.

Why wouldn't he rather see Plainfield done with the whole business altogether, including owning the building?

I, for one, am disappointed that Burney has sunk so low in his efforts at getting re-elected.

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• Burney: "One glaring difference"
• Williams: "Honest, ethical leadership: Setting the record straight"
• Burney: "Having your cake and eating it too!"
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Why Jerry Green should be thankful for Plainfield's New Dems

Mapp, McWilliams, Carter, Storch and Van Blake in 2004.

Jerry Green should be thankful for Plainfield's New Dems.

Every day.

Had it not been for the New Democrats for Plainfield, it is doubtful when, if ever, able and talented newcomers ever would have had a chance at public service. Or whether the Council would have the fortitude necessary to face the challenges daunting Plainfield today.

Just look at the record of New Democratic candidates elected to the Plainfield City Council --

• Rayland Van Blake (Ward 1)
• Linda Carter (Wards 1/4)
• Cory Storch (Ward 2)
• Rashid Burney (Wards 2/3)
• Adrian Mapp (Ward 3)
• Ray Blanco (At-large)
• Annie McWilliams (At-large)

Both Van Blake and Mapp had subsequent turns as Union County Freeholders.

Both Van Blake and Mapp were passed up on a chance for a second term as Freeholder.

Mapp was deemed not acceptable to UC Dem chair Charlotte DeFilippo (a badge of honor in some quarters) and subsequently reclaimed a seat on the City Council.

Van Blake -- personally selected by Assemblyman Green for his first Freeholder slot, despite knowing of Van Blake's commitment to an acting career -- is being cashiered by DeFilippo and Green this time around.

Besides probably halving the average age of the Council, New Dems have brought a new level of openness in government, willingness to innovate and commitment to a long-term perspective on improving Plainfield.

What's not to be thankful for?

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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UPDATE: New Dems Potluck aids Haiti relief, food programs

Upwards of a hundred folks gathered for the New Dems potluck and food drive at Councilor Adrian and Amelia Mapp's home Saturday evening.

A mountain of bags and boxes containing canned goods and nonperishable food items took shape on the sunporch as guests arrived with their contributions, all of which will aid Plainfield's feeding programs, which are struggling to meet the unprecedented demand cause by the hard economic times.

In addition, guests were invited to contribute to the Haitian relief effort by texting the word 'Haiti' to 90999 -- which makes a $10 contribution to the Red Cross relief fund (the amount appears on the donor's next phone bill). While there is no way of knowing exactly how much was raised, I saw twenty or thirty fiddling with assorted cellphones, Crackberries and iPhones when the announcement was made.

Tables groaned under the load of homemade dishes and desserts. (The baked fish was excellent -- and gone when I went back for seconds; and Pat F's carrot cake was scrumptious.)

Music was provided by Joe Bonini, making a perfect backdrop for animated conversation taking place throughout the house.

Many thanks to Adrian and Amelia Mapp for opening their home and to all who came and made the party such a success.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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MLK Week: New Dems Potluck and Food Drive set for Saturday

Plainfield's New Democrats will hold a Potluck Dinner and Party Saturday at the home of Councilor Adrian and Mrs. Amelia Mapp.

Originally scheduled for December, the date was changed as the result of last month's snow storm.

The party is open to all in the community, and attendees are asked to bring nonperishable food items such as canned goods or dry food and pasta products, which will be donated to the city's feeding programs.

"All of Plainfield's food pantries and feeding programs have reported experiencing an extraordinary demand for services," says New Dem chairperson Adrian Mapp, "and it seems particularly fitting that we have an opportunity to help during the week of celebrations commemorating the life and service of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr."

While we justly honor Dr. King as a civil rights leader and martyr of enormous stature, we would do his memory a disservice if we failed to recall that he was also keenly aware of the need to overcome poverty and hunger. As King said in his acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize (see here) --

Today, therefore, the question on the agenda must read: Why should there be hunger and privation in any land, in any city, at any table when man has the resources and the scientific know-how to provide all mankind with the basic necessities of life?

Hope to see you all at Adrian and Amelia's!

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New Dems Potluck and Food Drive

Saturday · January 16
7:00 PM
At the home of Adrian and Amelia Mapp
535 West 8th Street

Mix and mingle with new friends and old! Bring a dish to share and one or two nonperishable food items for donation to Plainfield's local feeding programs. Food, fun, music.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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UPDATE: New Dems Holiday Potluck tonight CANCELLED

UPDATE: 10:00 AM -- The Holiday Party has been canceled owing to the expected record-breaking snowfall. Sorry!

Snow or no, Plainfield's New Democrats will host their annual Holiday Potluck and Food Drive this evening at the home of Amelia and Councilor Adrian Mapp.

Plainfield residents are invited to come out and mix and mingle with new friends and old, celebrating the Holiday season.

Bring something to share and one or two canned goods or other nonperishable food items (which will be donated to Plainfield's local feeding programs).

There will be plenty of food, fun and maybe even caroling.

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New Dems Holiday Potluck and Canned Food Drive
At the home of Adrian and Amelia Mapp
535 West 8th Street

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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