Time for Dems to ponder post-Jerry era

 

Has it really been ten years? Plainfield's New Dems marked a decade of struggle to bring one of New Jersey's last old-fashioned brass-knuckle political machines into the 21st century by ensuring the presence of incumbent 2nd Ward councilor Cory Storch on the November ballot.

The New Dems also made a very respectable showing in the Wards 1/4 at-large race with candidate Dee Dameron, the first new candidate fielded by the organization for that seat in eight years.

As Plainfield Democratic party chair Jerry Green looks to have his leadership of the committee confirmed for yet another two years at next Monday's reorganization meeting, it is time for thoughtful Plainfield Democrats of all persuasions to contemplate the inevitably approaching post-Jerry era.

Word in the street is that Union County Democratic chair Charlotte DeFilippo has quietly let slip that this will be Green's final Assembly term, his 'last hurrah'.

Green will be nearly 75 when his next term ends (the 22nd District is still considered a 'safe' one for Democratic candidates, meaning his re-election in November is all but assured).

Some are also talking openly about the Assemblyman's health as a factor. He is rumored to be seriously unwell, with some even suggesting he may step down from his Assembly seat before his new term would be up, in order for his replacement to be made by the party without having to face a potential Primary challenge (similar to the appointment of Vera Greaves to the Plainfield City Council).

As the Assemblyman's base ages out, a younger generation is coming to the fore which has no great love for Green's addiction to the gutter politics of anonymous flyers, attacks on candidates' family members and 'bloody shirt' assertions that anyone who doesn't see eye-to-eye with the Chairman is 'a Republican'.

Add to that the inevitability of an increased Hispanic political presence. Though Hispanics will probably make up at least half Plainfield's population by the next census, Green has barely acknowledged their existence to this point.

Bearing all this in mind, thoughtful Plainfield Democrats will want to ponder whether they want Plainfield's Democratic future to be determined by outside forces, as it was when Green was transplanted from Roselle to Plainfield to be made party chair by fiat without so much as a by-your-leave from the County Democratic machine.

Then there is the question of whether an Assembly seat will continue to be 'reserved' for a Plainfield candidate.

Altogether, plenty for Plainfield Democrats to mull over.

And sooner, rather than later.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Campaign videos (brief): Cory Storch, Dee Dameron, The Green Team

Ethical...wouldn't that be nice?

Just what we need: Honest Ethical Leadership for Plainfield!

Check out these home-grown brief (about a minute each) vids of the candidates ... and The Green Team.

CORY STORCH

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DEE DAMERON

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THE GREEN TEAM

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Dan gets a flat tire, is it politics?

Two sharp pointy objects may be a coincidence. But three?

 

Are Plainfield politics getting physical?

Friends have teased me over the years that I should check under my car before starting it, especially after those times when I showed Assemblyman Jerry Green and Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs embarrassing themselves and Plainfield.

'Nah', sez I, 'this is America, ain't nobody gonna mess with somebody's right to free speech'.

Should I reconsider?

Sunday afternoon, I parked directly in front of City Hall while spending some time at the New Dems campaign headquarters (508 Watchung, where everyone is invited for the election returns tomorrow night -- it's next door to Blackberry's restaurant).

When I left, I drove to a convenience store to get a soda. Coming out of the store, I noticed my right rear tire seemed to be getting soft. The air pump at the store's gas station was out of service.

By the time I walked back to the car, the tire was flat. So, I pulled out the toy Toyota's dinky but serviceable jack, and exchanged the big flat tire for the tiny spare tire in the trunk.

When I pulled the flat off the axle, there were three perfectly spaced sharp metal objects puncturing the tire. Accidental?

In Plainfield, the weekend of a contested primary?

As I tidied up and started to get in the car to leave, a Union County cop parked next to me and ran into the convenience store briefly. Something about his squad car caught my attention.

Car 54, where were you?

Car 54, where were you when I needed you?

Meanwhile, I guess I have to start checking under my car before starting up the engine.

At least until Wednesday.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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UPDATED: Palin literally gets her wish; Congresswoman Giffords shot in Tucson

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot pointblank Saturday morning.

Plainfield may think it has seen heated political rhetoric, but nothing like that of Arizona, where Democratic Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head at a public event Saturday. More than 20 people were shot; six were killed outright, including a Federal judge.

Giffords was one of those targeted -- literally -- in a Palin poster.

Targeted in an ad by Sarah Palin's PAC -- literally, with a crosshairs graphic (above) -- Giffords was also the subject of violent language in a notice for an M16 shoot-off rally by her Tea Party opponent Jesse Kelly (see notice from the Pima County GOP website below). Then there is the 'Second Amendment Remedies' rhetoric of Sharron Angle of next-door Nevada (see clip here).

Gifford's Tea Party opponent used slogan 'Get on Target for Victory'.

Will more public figures face death threats and assassination attempts?

The irresponsible 'lock and load' rhetoric needs to be jettisoned, now.

UPDATE: MSNBC's Rachel Maddow reports on her blog (here) that Sarah Palin has pulled the plug on her 'Take Back The 20' website (see here) which targeted Giffords and others.

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• Mother Jones:  "Rage fueled climate blamed after Giffords shooting"
• Huffington Post:  "'Lock and load' rhetoric not just a metaphor"
• Associated Press, 3/29/10:  "Palin: Never retreat, instead RELOAD"
• NY Times:  "Bloodshed puts new focus on vitriol in politics"
• MSNBC:  "Video: Sharron Angle on 'Second Amendment Remedies'"
  

-- 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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A second thought on pay-to-play: Close that loophole

I'm having second thoughts about one of the pay-to-play 'reforms' posted on Plainfield Today on Wednesday: Raising the contribution disclosure level from $300 (to $1,000 is suggested).

When ELEC's chairperson Jerry Fitzgerald English put forward his reform proposals in the agency's July newsletter (see here, PDF), I thought the proposals would go a long way to helping free New Jerseyans from the excesses of the corrupt pay-to-play atmosphere.

Now that it seems legislation may actually be put forward, by State Sen. Tom Goodwin (see story here), I am having second thoughts about the fourth of English's points, raising the disclosure.

English argues that because this is New Jersey, the limit is unrealistically low.

Upon reflection, it seems to me that this would be a major LOOPHOLE to any effective reform.

As things stand now, non-cash contributions up to $300 are exempted from the requirement that the donor's name, address and employer be reported.

The way many vendors get around the pay-to-play restriction is to have spouses, relatives, in-laws, employees and other make contributions to the $300 limit, meaning that the donor information will not have to be reported.

These contributions are often 'bundled' into one envelope presented to the candidate together, just so the candidate should understand exactly how much money has been generated by the vendor.

It's been a loophole all along.

Raising the limit to $1,000 would simply make it easier for it to continue to be an even more effective loophole, making it possible to raise larger sums without any reporting requirement.

A more gutsy 'reform', in my mind, would be to eliminate the exemption and simply require ALL contributions to be reported (as is the current situation with CASH DONATIONS, for whom the donor must be reported no matter how small the cash contribution).

Will somebody propose it?

Hey! This is New Jersey, what do you think?

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• Plainfield Today:  "Will Robinson-Briggs lose favorite pay-to-play trick?"
• PolitickerNJ:  "Goodwin running with ELEC ball"
• ELEC:  "ELEC-tronic: July 2010" (PDF)

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Christie agrees with Assemblyman Green and vice versa

Plainfield's Democratic Assemblyman Jerry Green and New Jersey Republican governor Chris Christie have found something on which they both agree.

The first of April is a day on which to be particularly watchful.

It is even said that pranks might be played that could make confusing and ambiguous comparisons.

For instance, who is the real Joker, and who is the real King of Clubs?

On the other hand, it could be a day just like any other.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Van Blake dumped. Will Green put up with loss of Black Freeholder seat?

Freeholder Van Blake is being dumped.

Plainfield's Freeholder Rayland Van Blake is being dumped by the Union County Dems in favor of a white candidate from Linden; at least that's the likely scenario in an early story on PolitickerNJ (see here).

Assemblyman Jerry Green and Union County Dem chair Charlotte DeFillippo gave Van Blake the news Monday morning, according to the story. SEE POLITICKERNJ UPDATES AT END OF STORY.

The story originally broke on Plainfield Today last Friday (see here), where I pegged the issue being the question of a Freeholder slot for Linden, with Van Blake being vulnerable on account of his low public profile as a Freeholder, where public appearances and activities are a major part of the duties.

The issue comes up not just because Van Blake's seat is up this year, but also owing to the fact that Freeholder Nancy Ward has moved from Linden to Westfield. Evidently no consideration is being given to forcing Ward to resign so that her seat can be kept for Linden.

With no likelihood that DeFilippo will find an African American candidate from Linden (or that the Linden party organization would accept one), Assemblyman Jerry Green is put squarely on the hot seat.

The notion of 'switching years', with Plainfield being given a seat next year is pure fantasy.

Plainfield has experience of DeFilippo and the keeping of her word (just think about the Park-Madison ripoff -- after five years, terms of the deal still not met, PILOT payments still not set).

There is no question of trusting Charlotte; you just can't afford to gamble on it.

The only real question here is: Will Assemblyman Green put up with the loss of a seat at the table for an African American from Plainfield?

PolitickerNJ UPDATES --

• 4:39 PM, Monday: "DeFilippo: Van Blake disappointed as freeholder"
• 9:19 AM, Tuesday: "Scutari: New candidate will be from Plainfield or Linden - probably Plainfield"
  
  

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• PolitickerNJ: "Dems dump Van Blake in Union County"
• Plainfield Today: "County Dems dumping Van Blake from Freeholder slot?"
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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BOE, Plainfield politics: Is your Devil too large?

Comments on my Plainfield Board of Ed election post yesterday (see post and comments here) put me in mind of J.B. Phillips' classic Your God Is Too Small.

Or, rather, a mirror image metaphor: the intensity of demonizing -- of Dr. Gallon, Dan, various BOE candidates -- suggests to me that some folks' investment in the BOE race indicates their 'Devil is too large'.

In the first place, because some folks don't read me carefully word-for-word and just apply their cardboard-cutout view to a post, trying to make it sound like I say things I don't say.

Secondly, because the BOE situation -- and political life in Plainfield generally -- is no more and no less messy than the rest of life, generally speaking.

I believe we can get much farther, much faster and in much better shape if we think before we speak (or write), investigate the real world and real-world options, look for common ground and common-sense solutions, and resist the tendency to demonize everyone with whom we do not see eye-to-eye on every question.

As for J.B. Phillips, his book Your God Is Too Small was an eye-opener to this young whippersnapper when he entered college to prepare for ministry in the Evangelical United Brethren Church (of blessed memory; sometimes known as 'the German Methodists').

Converted at a Billy Graham rally in Toronto at fourteen, I became something of a sensation in the two yoked EUB congregations in Dunkirk and Laona, NY. For the local faithful, the thought of raising up a preacher from among them was enticing.

And preach I did, thanks to Pastor Byron Esch, a gentle steelworker-turned-preacher who saw something at work in this young kid, putting him in the pulpit on a frequent basis. (Unlike with the boy preacher Jimmy Joe Jeeter in Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, there was never any evidence of miraculous healings, and no radios falling into the bathtub.)

Having been imbued by these same congregations as articles of faith that card-playing, dancing and lipstick were sure signs you were on the road to perdition, it was quite a shock to find -- at one of the denomination's very own colleges, mind you! -- college-sponsored dances, all-night dorm dayroom card-playing, and preachers' daughters wearing lipstick!

J.B. Phillips had a remedy for that: stretching your ideas of God.

It would behoove us to stretch our ideas of the Devil, too.

PS: Eventually, I became a pretty good card player.

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• Plainfield Today: "Will Plainfield's BOE race focus on real issues or real distractions"
• NewChurches.com: "www.newchurches.com/mediafiles/YourGodisTooSmall-Phillips.pdf "
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Political machines going the way of the dinosaur?

The Chicxulub asteroid extinguished the dinosaurs.

Are political machines, including Plainfield's, going the way of the dinosaur?

Given the fiscal aftermath of the Great Recession in which we find ourselves, it is possible.

With the dinosaurs, it is thought the impact of the Chicxulub asteroid started worldwide fires that destroyed vegetation, set off mile-high tsunamis that swept all before them, ultimately causing a cloud of steam and smoke that covered the earth for up to a year, resulting in the extinction of the dinosaurs (for fascinating overviews, see here and here).

Dinosaurs did not die out overnight, but with their food supplies and the sunlight which provided life-giving warmth gone, they were goners long before they knew.

What has happened in the realm of political machines is akin to the dinosaurs' predicament.

Political machines have always had two aspects: first, the quid-pro-quo of jobs for votes; and second, the accrual of power and wealth to those who control the political process through a base built on the first aspect.

The Great Recession has sent shockwaves through the political system, resulting in a fiscal crisis like none any of us has ever seen.

It is likely that vast changes will result now that someone who is serious about attacking the matter is sitting in the governor's chair in Trenton.

Gov. Christie's moves to tighten oversight of authorities and commissions and to undertake a top-to-bottom review of public employee salaries, benefits, pensions and contractual parameters bid fair to become the fire and cloud by which the political dinosaurs may find their life choked off.

If so, we will see it played out not only on the stage of Trenton and the Statehouse, but in lowly communities like Plainfield where the seemingly endless supply of jobs for hangers-on -- whether directly through the City or indirectly through agencies such as the PMUA, the schools and the Housing Authority -- are being shut off.

And the perks for hacks -- low show jobs with benefits and pensions -- are under assault.

With taxpayers in no mood to absorb continuous increases, what is a political dinosaur to do?

The death throes of the dinosaurs must have made for some spectacular theater before their great thrashing tails were silenced.

Will we be treated to the same?

The asteroid plowed into the earth at Chicxulub,
in Mexico's Yucutan Peninsula

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Tea Party sentiment in Plainfield?

Tea Party sentiment: The Party of Hell No!

Are Plainfielders being infected with Tea Party sentiment?

Judging from the emotional temperature of comments to Plainfield Today blog posts in recent months, I wonder.

And Olddoc, in his Sunday 'Non Sermon' post (see here), touches on the issue of the temper (and content) of anonymous posters to Plainfield's active blogs.

What would Tea Party sentiment look like?

It's chief characteristics, in my humble opinion, are ANGER and OPPOSITION TO THE STATUS QUO, AS SEEN IN INCUMBENT ELECTED OFFICIALS.

In the beginning of its national expression at last summer's town hall meetings as members of Congress returned to their districts, I thought I saw the shadow of wingnut moneybags bugbear Richard Mellon Scaife hovering over the scene.

Over the weekend, I noticed a report that even mild-mannered and ever-so-decent Rep. Leonard Lance, the Republican who beat out Linda Stender for a Congressional seat, caught the dickens from some Tea Party types at a town hall meeting Saturday at Raritan Valley Community College (see story here).

The defeat of Jon Corzine can be understood with these two keys of Tea Party-ism.

As can, I think, a great deal of the commotion surrounding Dr. Gallon, the schools and the upcoming Board of Ed election.

Those who are angry are busy demonizing and sloganizing. The BOE is now the 'Board of Mis-Education' and you can forget about mentioning that Dr. Gallon has done some things right (he has! now watch me get slammed for that) as well as not-so-right.

You can also see it in comments on Plainfield Today in reference to Mayor Robinson-Briggs and her cabinet appointees. While I try to focus, as I have said before, on questions of PUBLIC POLICY and PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES, not all my readers restrict themselves to these points.

Anger is out there.

Annoyance at incumbents is out there.

Are the commenters just letting off steam, or will Plainfield experience a wave of Tea Party sentiment at the polls this spring?

First up will be the Board of Ed election in April.

Then comes the June primary race, in which the seats of Councilor Reid (Ward 1) and Councilor Burney (Wards 2/3 at-large) will be in play.

Will Plainfield have scenes of the village people metaphorically storming the castle with pitchforks and torches?

Maybe it's time to break out the chamomile tea.

Even Hillary Clinton is invoked on behalf of Tea Party-ism.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Making Lautenberg's seat safe for Corzine?

Something tasty is always being spun in NJ's political cotton candy machine.

Plainfield's Ward 2 Dem committee leader Rebecca Williams told me a fantastic tale a couple of weeks ago.

Loser of the governor's race Jon Corzine would resign his office early, making room for Sen. Richard Codey to serve the remaing weeks as acting governor. Frank Lautenberg, the aging U.S. Senator from New Jersey, would then resign his office, giving Gov. Codey the opportunity to appoint Jon Corzine to his old Senate seat.

'Hah!', I said. More from the ever-spinning New Jersey political cotton candy machine.

Lautenberg always struck me as a man who RELISHED being Senator, no matter that the years were advancing. I think it gives the man a reason to get out of bed in the morning.

Why would he give it up for another rich guy who tends to buy political offices the way other rich guys buy antique automobiles or yachts?

So, today we find that Dick Codey's West Orange pal Assemblyman John McKeon has introduced a bill meant to keep an potential U.S. Senate vacancy in the hands of the same political party (see stories in the Ledger here, and PolitickerNJ here).

Could Rebecca's wild tale possibly be true? Could the pols be twisting the old man's arm? Could they be salving Codey's leadership loss with a 'go out as Gov' ploy? Could Jon Corzine be preparing to whip out his checkbook for another donation to yet another worthy cause?

Or is it an attempt to pre-emptively snatch one of the spoils of victory from Chris Christie's outstretched hand?

Reminds me of when Al McWilliams told me of rumors that Jon Corzine was going to give up his U.S. Senate seat to run for governor. 'Why would he leave the world's most exclusive club to run a state beset with corruption and financial problems,' I retorted, 'Hah!'

Maybe it would be wise of me (and others...?) to pay more attention to what Rebecca has to say.

Sometimes the cotton candy in New Jersey is more than just cotton candy.

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• PolitickerNJ: "McKeon introduces U.S. Senate vacancy legislation"
  
• Ledger: "Proposal would eliminate special elections for vacant U.S. Senate seats"

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Political signs: A fine idea

Plainfield streets were bombarded with campaign signs.

Plainfielders who get annoyed at how long it takes for political signs to disappear after an election (even if taxpayer money is spent picking many of them up) may wish they had an elected representative like Montclair Assemblyman Thomas Giblin.

Giblin has offered to make a donation to charity for every sign that residents return to a trash bin outside his office.

Eva's Village, a nonprofit that works to shelter and feed the homeless and hungry, will get 10¢ per sign, according to a story in the Ledger (see here).

A thoughtful and helpful solution to a perennial problem.

Maybe someone will take it up in Plainfield some day.

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• Ledger: "Lawmaker to make charity donation for every sign returned"
• Eva's Village: "Home Page"
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Obama fearmongers hit Plainfield

Right-wing Obama-in-whiteface flyer
pasted to stop sign at Myrtle and Rock Avenues.

Plainfield has been immune to the nonsense fueled by wealthy right-wingnuts like Richard Mellon Scaife, who many suspect is behind the countrywide rash of town hall rudeness over healthcare reform this past August.

But no more.

While the wealthy wingnuts tapped into real fears some people have over whether changes would affect them adversely, there has been an added layer of racist hysteria, in particular with charges that President Obama is a 'Socialist', 'Nazi' and/or 'Fascist'. (Anyone with a sense of history will wonder how all that can be crammed in one bag.)

On her way to work Wednesday morning, reader Nancy P. called to report she saw one of the racist Obama-in-whiteface flyers pasted to a STOP sign at the corner of Myrtle and Rock Avenues, across from the Plainfield Health Center.

Hopping over, I managed to catch some snaps before the police came and scraped the flyer away.

But not for long.

Yesterday, Nancy reported the same flyer had reappeared -- not only on the STOP sign, but on a nearby Corzine campaign sign and on STOP signs in Green Brook Park.

Looks like Oz is part of the real world after all.

This time, unfortunately.

Send me an email (with photo if you can) or Tweet me at '@ptoday' if you spot any more, and let me know the locations.

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• Richard Mellon Scaife: "Funding Father of the Right" (Washington Post)
• Wikipedia: "Richard Mellon Scaife"

-- Dan Damon

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Politicians (mostly) skip Friends of Library gala

You'd scarcely know there was an important election in Plainfield this November, judging from the turnout at last night's Friends of the Plainfield Public Library (FOPPL) gala.

Although the Friends organization is strictly apolitical, as is the Library itself, its events are traditionally a low-keyed occasion for Plainfield's political establishment to come out and press the flesh.

Neither Assemblyman Jerry Green nor his protégé Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs were in evidence as about 150 library supporters gathered to munch sandwiches and salads, and chat with like-minded folks about the library and its programs, happenings in the community, and -- eventually -- who was and WAS NOT present.

'I am quite surprised that the only politicians who are not here are those who LIVE in Plainfield,' said Library board president Anne Robinson. She was making an oblique reference to the fact that though ALL of Plainfield's elected officials were sent invitations, only Republican mayoral candidate Jim Pivnichny (a Plainfield resident, though NOT an elected official) and Assembly candidates 'Bo' Vastine and Marty Marks were present. The three were very much in evidence and politely working the crowd.

FOPPL doyenne and caterer for the event Sandy Spector and her crew kept busy replenishing the buffet and the red and white wine punches, while in the pool area attendees could fill small paper bags with scoops of snack treats ranging from cheese puff balls or potato chips to party mix.

Guests sat at tables arranged around the fountain in the poolside patio and hopped from table to table as they saw old friends and caught up, or met new ones. The tables were lit with votives perched on small piles of books artfully arranged (I wonder where THEY came from!).

The gala was billed as a 'Thank You' to Friends and supporters and, unlike the very successful wine tastings of the past few years, was offered gratis.

A very nice touch in these times of tightened belts.

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-- Dan Damon

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Plainfield event for Corzine shows cause for concern

Host Gerry Harvey welcomes Gov. Corzine and Asm Green.

Gov. Jon Corzine joined about 150 supporters at the Plainfield home of Gerry Harvey Sunday afternoon. The event displayed both his platform and the cause for concern over his prospects.

Under a tent in the host's sun-dappled back yard, Corzine made the rounds, speaking to each person who attended, pausing occasionally for a photo with a guest (cellphone, of course!).

Harvey is to be congratulated for pulling off a classy event, the first 'official' Plainfield campaign event for Corzine, on relatively short notice (I got an email invite on August 28). Word has it that Harvey, who heads a Newark nonprofit, took on the assignment when several Essex County Democrats asked why nothing had been done in Plainfield to date.

That being said, the event unwittingly highlighted the challenges Corzine faces in his re-election bid.

As Corzine himself joked during his stump speech, 'I know I put life and limb in danger bringing up health care in Plainfield', and he did indeed.

Among the first to welcome the Governor were Muhlenberg activists, including Nancy Piwowar and the Revs. Jim and Sarah Colvin. Piwowar forthrightly told Corzine she thought an injustice had been done in the closing of Muhlenberg, and that health services delivery in Plainfield and the surrounding communities suffered as a result.

Corzine responded that he 'kept politics out of decisions regarding hospitals' and that (Commissioner) Heather Howard had researched everything carefully in making the final decision. (Piwowar and others point out that Muhlenberg did not meet the conditions for closure outlined in the state's own study of the issue, obviating the Governor's explanation.)

That was perhaps the rockiest moment of the Governor's afternoon.

Gov. Jon Corzine delivers his stump speech at Sunday's event.

Corzine made it clear in his remarks later that he understands some voters are angry with him, but pressed his point that this election is 'not about Jon Corzine...but about the direction in which you want the state of New Jersey to go'. (My guess is that the Muhlenberg question may cost the Governor 3,000 or more votes from Plainfield and the other affected communities.)

Once my eyes became accustomed to the shade under the tent, I tried to assess who was at the event. There were a lot of folks who just did not look familiar.

But among those who did, it seemed there were way more New Democrats and their friends than members of the Democratic City Committee, despite the fact that Chairperson Jerry Green had included invitations to the event in a mailing to committee members announcing the September 11 meeting and reminded everyone again AT the committee meeting.

Not only was the Regular Dem organization slimly represented, only two of seven Council members attended -- Council President Rashid Burney and Councilor Adrian Mapp. I did not spot Mayor Robinson-Briggs or any members of her Administration while I was there (I did not stay until the 6 PM ending time).

(Aside: Councilor Storch told me he was not there because he was NOT invited, and further that Committee Chair Green does not send him notices of PDCC committee meetings -- of which Storch, as with all elected officials is an ex-officio member -- or invitations to events such as party fundraisers. In my humble opinion, Green does his reputation and stature as a leader no good with such pettiness; it's time to move on and rally everyone possible.)

So, then. Who were all the other folks?

That became clear as Harvey thanked those who had come out, in particular Mildred Crump (president of Newark's City Council) and other Newark and Essex County Democrats; members of the board of Harvey's agency; and her Delta sorors.

Watching the applause and those who stood when called upon, it became clear that most of the group was NOT Plainfield Democrats.

And that underscores my concern over Corzine's prospects in the November general election.

If the very leadership team who should be his strongest local supporters chose not to attend Gov. Corzine's big Plainfield event, what does it bode for November?

The big worry, as Ledger columnist Tom Moran (see here) and PolitickerNJ analyst Alan Steinberg (see here) point out, is if urban Democrats (whose heavily Democratic votes normally cancel scores of small-town Republicans') decide to sit out the November election.

The lovely event in Gerry Harvey's back yard did nothing to ease those fears in my mind.

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• Tom Moran, Ledger: "On Dem turf, seeds of concern for Corzine"
• Alan Steinberg, PolNJ: "Message from poll: It's a GOTV election"
  

-- Dan Damon

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Green group snubs Green

Plainfield Assemblyman Jerry Green.

Sad news for Jerry Green, chairperson of the Plainfield Democratic City Committee and my pick for Assembly Speaker.

In a stunning snub the Sierra Club, New Jersey's pre-eminent 'green' group, chose not to endorse Green for re-election (see here). They did, however, endorse running mate Linda Stender of Fanwood.

Other area legislators endorsed include: Jon Bramnick (Plainfield hometown kid!) and Nancy Munoz, and South Plainfield's Patrick Diegnan.

Could it be because Green has not championed LEED certification for the projects of developers he has brought to the table in Plainfield?

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• "Sierra Club issues Assembly endorsements"

-- Dan Damon

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Jerry Green for Assembly Speaker

Plainfield Assemblyman Jerry Green.

Jerry Green, Assemblyman and chairperson of the Plainfield Democratic City Committee should be the next Assembly Speaker now that Joe Roberts, the current Speaker has announced he will not run for re-election in November.

Why not?

Jerry Green has served long enough -- since 1992, seventeen incredible years!

Jerry Green has risen high enough -- he has been Speaker Pro Tempore since 2008!

Jerry Green chairs an important committee -- Housing and Local Government.

Jerry Green oversees an important department -- The Department of Community Affairs.

The media are reporting today that in the wake of Speaker Joe Roberts announcement he will not run in November, candidates are lining up -- including South Jersey pol Donald Norcross, brother of powerhouse George Norcross; and three current Assembly members, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Joe Cryan and John Wisniewiski.

Beware! They are all pretenders and mountebanks!

None can trump Jerry Green's strongest suit -- being the representative of Greater Oz!

This would be the perfect cherry atop the banana split of public service.

Go for it, Jerry!

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• "Three NJ lawmakers eye Assembly seat"
• "Norcross announced candidacy by email"

-- Dan Damon

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Roselle Council & Corzine: With friends like this, who needs enemies?

Gov. Jon Corzine cannot be happy reading the news from Roselle this morning.

Besides illegally firing Plainfield councilor and Roselle CFO Adrian Mapp on Wednesday evening in a uproarious special council meeting, Roselle's council president Jamel Holley waived indictment to be charged by the Attorney General's office with vote-tampering yesterday.

The acres of ink spilled in the media this morning (see links at end of post) cannot but give the governor the heebie-jeebies, considering every vote he can muster in Union County will be precious this fall.

A four-member majority of the Roselle Borough Council has been carrying out the apparent will of Union County Dem chair Charlotte DeFilippo in trying to undercut Mayor Garrett Smith, who has been uppity enough to challenge the county Democratic machine.

Wednesday's special meeting at which the four fired Mapp (after Smith and councilwomen Sylvia Turnage and Samantha Dowe refused to participate, calling the proceeding 'illegal') is only the most recent maneuver in the protracted war-by-proxy DeFilippo is waging.

Previously, it came to light that Holley and the cabal of three had colluded in secret meetings with representatives from the neighboring, smaller and whiter borough of Roselle Park to dismantle Roselle's finance department and turn the running of both towns' finances over to the smaller of the two.

Turned down by the state, and decried by Roselle residents, the shared services plan came in for more public criticism when it was discussed at a recent Roselle Park council meeting (see here).

Roselle Park mayor Joseph DeIorio, who knew of the planning all along, never questioned why his opposite number in Roselle was not involved, thus giving away the game. He lamely tried to blame Roselle pols, saying 'if they didn't tell you, shame on them'.

Another plan has been submitted to the state by the Roselle council's attorney, another DeFilippo operative.

L'AFFAIRE HOLLEY

Complaints about council president Jamel Holley's conduct during the 2006 primary have been circulating ever since the election. No reason was given for why it took the Attorney General's office over three years to bring the charges. If convicted of the third-degree offense, Holley would have to give up his council seat.

Holley is a protegé of former Assemblyman and Roselle political heavyweight Neil Cohen, whose child pornography case is wending its way through the courts (a fifth count was recently added).

Cohen's office has yielded other embarrassments to the Democratic establishment, on which Corzine must count for getting out the Union County vote --

• Cohen's longtime campaign treasurer Rosemary McClave was indicted for stealing campaign funds and tampering with public records. McClave, close to DeFillippo, has served as treasurer of many Union County campaign committees, from county officials to legislators;
  
  
• Charlotte DeFilippo, herself a Cohen employee and chair of the Union County Dem organization for three decades has had her records subpoenaed by the Attorney General's office, which is said to be particularly interested in the affairs of the Union County Improvement Authority, of which she is the executive director, and the financial dealings of the Camelot Title Agency, in which she had an ownership interest.

Betting folks are wondering if charges will be levied against DeFilippo before the November election, or whether political considerations will win out and justice, such as it is in New Jersey, will be delayed until after the November general election.

With plenty of Democrats who are unhappy with the shenanigans of the County Democratic machine (Plainfield, Roselle, Elizabeth and Linden come to mind), Corzine has to worry not only that the conduct of political 'friends' such as Holley and his Roselle council cronies, will be an embarrassement, but that disgusted Democrats may either vote for his opponent or sit out the November election altogether.

Either way could be disastrous for Corzine.

What is he going to do to pull the fat out of the fire?

What CAN he do?

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• Council President Jamel Holley --
  
• NJ Newsroom: "Council president charged with illegally filling out ballots"
  
• PolitickerNJ: "AG charges Holley with violating absentee voting law"
• Ledger: "Roselle council president accused of ballot tampering"
• Philly Inquirer: "Roselle official facing ballot charges"
  
  
• Mapp Firing --
• "Council fires financial officer during contentious meeting"
  
  
• Shared Services Scheme --
• "Discord over shared services proposal arrives at Roselle Park"
  

-- Dan Damon

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Surprise demotions, omissions in 2009 'Power List'

Plainfielders who follow PolitickerNJ's annual 'Power List' will find some surprises in this year's ranking of the who's who of clout in the Soprano State (see story here).

Perhaps it is no surprise -- given the events of the past couple of weeks -- that crimebusters are prominent in the list. However, Jersey being Jersey, many of those most closely connected to the most recent corruption scandal are opined to still have plenty of political mojo.

Is the demotion of Union County Dem Chair Charlotte DeFilippo (down from Number 13 to Number 28) a sign of things to come?

PolitickerNJ thinks she has been hurt by the long-running probe of her activities by the Attorney General's office. Despite weekly whispers that an indictment is forthcoming, Charlotte-watchers are still left sitting on the edge of their seats, knitting needles at the ready, waiting for the tumbrels.

Even Henry Mendez, headwaiter at Trenton's in-eatery Settimo Cielo (you don't really need a translation of the name, do you?) makes the list (Number 98), beating out both Sen. Ray Lesniak and State Democratic Party chair Joe Cryan, who don't make the list at all -- though a dig is made against them in AG Anne Milgram's entry (Number 13).

You will want to check the list out, it's a great romp. And who has decided this is an appropriate advertising vehicle is also worth noting.

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• PolitickerNJ: "2009 'Power List'" -- The list itself is here (PDF).

-- Dan Damon

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