Mayor Mapp hosts public safety rally Friday

Public Safety rally Friday at 7:00 PM.

Plainfield Mayor Adrian O. Mapp will host a public safety rally on the steps of City Hall Friday evening (July 8) at 7:00 PM.

Titled "Finding Solutions", Mayor Mapp and public safety officials will provide first-hand information on what is being done to ensure public safety, new initiatives that are being undertaken and how residents can get involved.

As Mapp wrote in a recent blog post (see here), guns and gun violence are the scourge of the 21st century, and no city is immune -- including Plainfield.

But that does not mean we have to live in fear. It does not mean there is nothing that residents can do.

Come out, hear the Mayor and his staff and find your place among those working for solutions!

City Hall steps. Friday evening. 7:00 PM.

Plainfield City Hall is at Watchung Avenue and East 6th Street. Parking in the lot at the rear.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Council sets summer double-header

Notice of Special Meeting published by
Municipal Clerk "AJ" Jalloh.

Plainfield City Council will replace its scheduled July 11 agenda-setting session and July 18 business meeting with a SPECIAL MEETING combining both on Monday, July 18 at 7:00 PM. (Note the time change.)

Plainfield City Council meets in the Council Chambers / Courthouse at Watchung Avenue and East 4th Street. Parking available on the street or in the lot across from the police station.

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Does the Ledger have an anti-Plainfield agenda?

Chart adapted from that posted by reporter
Luke Nozicka with the Ledger story.

Does the Ledger have an anti-Plainfield agenda? Or is it just a victim of its own media management decisions?

A story ran on Sunday titled "Spike in homicides leaves NJ city reeling" (see article here). It details an effort by an Elizabeth activist, Salaam Ismiail, in conjunction with Councilors Gloria Taylor and Diane Toliver to form a grassroots anti-violence "coalition". (I put "coalition" in quotes because that suggests a group of organizations; the story does not detail any.)

The story is quite factual -- except for the omission of the fact that an arrest has been made in the killing of Willie Lee Major on West 4th Street, as reported by the Ledger itself here -- a major omission that might have changed the storyline.

What is bothersome is the quotes the reporter uses to characterize the situation. Councilor Gloria Taylor is quote as saying, "We're in a state of lawlessness."

Mr. Ismiail is quoted as saying he has asked for the city's police presence to be "beefed up", and further that "these shootings and murders are overwhelming" the city.

Police Director Riley's statement that "[the police] are working hard to combat all of these issues" was not given equal play or standing as the last word on the subject. And, on top of it all, the Ledger evidently never reached out to Mayor Adrian Mapp for his take on the issues.

Perhaps some of the problem is with the way "news" is approached these days.

Back in the day, the newspapers assigned "beat" reporters and Plainfield had one each from the Courier and the Ledger. The advantage was that these reporters got to know the community, its issues, and its players quite well through frequent interactions. They knew when someone was "telling it like it is" and when someone was blowing smoke.

Nowadays, the situation is much different. There are no longer beat reporters in the old sense. Instead, reporters are given enormous territories (like a whole county assigned to one person) into which they helicopter here and there to do a story when assigned by an editor who is even more unattached to the circumstances on the ground.

No one has in-depth knowledge of the facts on the ground or the context of local political situations. (In fact, separate Ledger reporters have filed Plainfield stories within the past two weeks.)

Is the situation in Plainfield serious? Yes. Is it being taken seriously? I think so, but you wouldn't know from this story.

It Plainfield in a state of lawlessness, as Gloria Taylor asserts? Or being overwhelmed as Mr. Ismiail holds? Nothing in the story supports those allegations, though they are left unchallenged.

To return to my original question: Does the Ledger have an "anti-Plainfield agenda"?

Perhaps not, but the effect of degraded journalistic practices is felt by readers who are looking for serious reportage.

As one of my favorite old American sayings goes, "It does not matter if the jug hits the rock or the rock hits the jug; it's the jug that suffers."

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Toons for today

Matt Davies, Universal Syndicate.

Some toons for Plainfield's July 4 --

Jim Morin, Miami Herald.

Matt Bors, Universal Syndicate.

Happy July 4th!

Back to axe-grinding tomorrow.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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New minister for FUSP

The Rev. Ann Marie Alderman will become FUSP's minister in August.

 

The First Unitarian Society of Plainfield (FUSP) has called a new minister.

The Rev. Ann Marie Alderman assumes the position on August 1,with her first Sunday in the pulpit being August 28.

Rev. Alderman came to the ministry after spending years managing her family's hardwood flooring business -- and a stint as an auto mechanic, which has to be a first for a Plainfield clergyperson!

In addition to her business experience, Alderman has served as a hospital chaplain and has served Unitarian Universalist congregations in Florida, Pennsylvania and North Carolina.

She comes to Plainfield after three years as the Developmental Minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greensboro, NC.

Rev. Alderman has a long history of community involvement, especially in women's, LGBTQ and social justice issues.

In Plainfield, she says, she is "committed to bringing the good news of this liberal faith and its message of love to those who have yet to hear it and be transformed by it."

She is drawn to justice work involving racial equality, civil rights for LGBTQ folk, and inter-faith work that advances freedom of religious expression and furthers the inclusion of marginalized groups into the mainstream of society.

In a unique double ministry, Rev. Alderman's wife, the Rev. Robin Tanner, will take up duties at the Unitarian Church in Summit in January 2017. They are the parents of 2-year-old twins.

Plainfielders will be looking forward to Rev. Alderman's arrival and her ministry at the 126-year old congregation and in the Plainfield community.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Enjoy Independence Day weekend!

Kids of all ages enjoy the long and the short of it.

ENJOY THE

INDEPENDENCE DAY

WEEKEND!

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Guns: A Plainfielder's perspective

Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (with glasses) took part in
the Democratic sit-in to force a vote on gun control measures
in the House of Representatives. (Image: Star-Ledger)

Aficianodos of Plainfield City Council meetings will recognize Iziah Thompson as a young resident who has spoken several times on issues facing the Council.

Thompson, who works for New York City tech startup Daily Clout (see here) is a graduate student at Rutgers in public administration. He is a graduate of Monmouth University, where he majored in political science and was a writer for The Outlook, the university's award-wining student newspaper.

Thompson recently had an opinion piece on the Democratic sit-in in the House of Representatives published by the website Fair Observer.

You can read his piece, "The House Democrats’ Sit-In Was a Joke, But No One is Laughing" here.

Thompson is critical of the sit-in, which he calls a "cruel joke,"  suggesting the tactic from the 1960s Civil Rights days is a distraction from real issues that need to be addressed by Congress members.

If you have been following the gun debate in Congress and the (evidently spontaneous) sit-in , you will want to keep abreast of more recent developments.

Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman is one of many who took part in the sit-in and returned to their home districts to rev up support. She recently held a forum in
Trenton on the subject which was reported by the Ledger here.

The New York Times also published an overview, reporting on other representatives' efforts to advance a vote on the pending gun control measures (see here).

I encourage you to read and respond to Iziah's piece and become part of the conversation.

(NOTE: While I am happy to recommend his article, I do not share its viewpoint.)

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Plainfield celebrates on Saturday with parade, concert, fireworks

Mayor Mapp distributing flags to youngsters
along Independence Day Parade route.

Onlookers enjoy the parade in the shade of their umbrellas.

Plainfield celebrates Independence Day on Saturday (July 2) with its annual parade, concert and fireworks. This year's theme is "Our Seniors, Our Foundation" and the grand marshals are Dr. Inez Durham and Mr. Robert Wilson.

The parade steps off at East Front Street and Johnston Avenue at 10:15 AM. The day is expected to be sunny, with temperatures around 80° -- perfect parade weather.

In addition to the marching units, there are always vendors hawking everything from Italian ices to (if you know where to look) delicious barbecue.

The free concert in the afternoon gets under way at 5:00 PM in Cedar Brook Park. The concert is headlined by famed soul group The Delfonics and hip-hop artist Rahzel (formerly of The Roots). Local acts will also perform. Food vendors will be on hand. Bring blankets or lawn chairs to enjoy the concert.

Fireworks get under way at about 9:25 PM, always a thrill for the young ones.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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(Board of Ed) Board needs to crack the whip on meetings, notices, agendas

C'mon!

A special meeting of the Plainfield Board of Ed is set for Thursday (June 30) at 8:00 PM in the Plainfield High School cafeteria.

As of Wednesday morning, the agenda is still not posted to the District's website.

The Board needs to crack the whip with the Superintendent.

The items to be taken up at the special meeting must be published in the notice for same, which appeared in the Courier on Saturday. There is no reason for the agenda not to be on the District website at the same time.

Also, members of the public are expressing dismay that the Board seems unable to correct the bad habit of starting its announced meetings late (past 9:25 PM last week).

I am told that one of the reasons the executive sessions are taking so long is that Board members are pressing the Superintendent with questions about, and challenges to, items she has proposed.

Former board members remind me of two practices from past board experience that could help the situation --

1. Questions about any proposed resolutions are relayed to the Superintendent in writing before the executive discussions; and
   
   
2. The Board always convened the public portion of the meeting on time, returning to closed session AFTER the public portion of the meeting if necessary.

These two practices would help greatly.

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Free outdoor movies begin Thursday

Mayor Mapp and the City Council once again make
this popular summer program available through
the Plainfield Division of Recreation.

Plainfield families will once again be able to enjoy free outdoor movies courtesy of the Recreation Division, beginning this Thursday evening at 8:30 PM (dusk).

Last year's movies were expanded by adding the front yard of United Presbyterian Church as a site, thus including residents from Richmond Towers in the program.

This year, the program is expanded further by adding an outdoor location on the Plainfield High School campus.

All the movies are shown on Thursday evenings, beginning at 8:30 PM and are free to the community. In case of rain, movies will be shown on the next night (Friday).

Here's the lineup--

June 30
AVENGERS Rushmore Field
West 3rd Street and Rushmore Avenue

July 7
MINIONS Rushmore Field
West 3rd Street and Rushmore Avenue

July 14
JURASSIC WORLD Seidler Field
North and Garfield Avenues

July 21
INSIDE OUT Seidler Field
North and Garfield Avenue

July 28
MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM United Presbyterian Church
525 East Front Street

August 4
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS Hannah Atkins Playground
West 3rd Street and Plainfield Avenue

August 11
SPONGEBOB: SPONGE OUT OF WATER Hannah Atkins Playground
West 3rd Street and Plainfield Avenue

August 18
DADDY'S HOME Plainfield High School
950 Park Avenue

Bring the kids, bring lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy!

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Congratulations to Olddoc and the PHS Hall of Fame Class of 2016

PHS Hall of Fame, Class of 2016
(l. to r.) Cliff Holmes ('78), Frank Coit ('65), Patricia Ann (Pompano) Malin,
Harold Yood, MD ('36), 'Geri' Agurs ('66) and Martin Cox ('79)
(Photo, Brian Cole for PHS Hall of Fame)

Congratulations to Olddoc (also known as Harold S. Yood, MD) on being inducted in the Plainfield High School Hall of Fame, class of 2016.

The banquet and induction ceremony was held recently at Giovanna's on South Avenue. You can read more and see other photos on Olddoc's blog (here).

This year's inductees include --

• Clifford R. Holmes, PHS Class of 1978
• (Nominated, Presented & Inducted by PHS Class of 1978 Classmates- Patricia Barksdale, Chandra Jackson and Robin Miller.
  
  
• Frank E. Coit, PHS Class of 1965
• (Nominated by Stone Square Lodge #38 Presented & Inducted by Martin P. Cox, PHS Class of 1979).
  
  
• Patricia Ann (Pompano) Malin, Non-Alumnus Staff (1967-1997)
• (Nominated by Mary Anne Lozak, Presented by Mary Anne Lozak & Kathleen Conroy).
  
  
• Harold Stanley Yood, MD, PHS Class of 1936
• Nominated & Presented by Johanna Marshall. Dr. Yood waited 80 years between his graduation from PHS to his election 2016 into the PHS Hall of Fame. This is the 2nd longest wait for living Inductees into our our HOF. Only Mills Barnes, PHS Class of 1919, Inducted in 2001 (82 years) was a longer wait for a living Inductee.
  
  
• Geraldine "Geri" Agurs, PHS Class of 1966
• (Nominated by Barbara Rubin-Presented & Inducted by Patricia Fields, PHS Class of 1964 & PHS Hall of Fame Class of 2004 Inductee).
  
  
• Martin P. Cox, PHS Class of 1979
• (Nominated, Presented & Inducted by Charlene (Giejda) Terraglia-PHS Class of 1965)
  
  

Not Pictured: Julie Hodge & Donald Jones. Julie Renee Hodge, PHS Class of 1979, Posthumously Honored. Nominated by Vincent Nelson, PHS Class of 1979, Presented & Inducted by Martin P. Cox, PHS Class of 1979. Donald Jones, PHS Class of 2006. Nominated by Anthony "Prince" Graham. Presented and Inducted by Martin P. Cox, PHS Class of 1979. Award accepted by Mr. William Worley, PHS Principal.

Congratulations to all this year's honorees!

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Enjoying the NJ State Bicycle Races Sunday (or not)

Route is outlined in red.
(Graphic, City of Plainfield.)

Beginning at 9:00 AM Sunday, Plainfield will be the site of the NJ State Bicycle Races. The route is shown in the map at top of story.

By dusk on Saturday, most of the route had been demarcated by yellow police tape strung from light poles, parking meters and trash cans to indicate both the race route and to prohibit pedestrian traffic across the streets.

Mayor Adrian Mapp is scheduled to present awards at an 11:00 AM ceremony, though the races are billed as running through 4:00 PM. The races are comprised of several categories and awards will be made in each.

The course starts in front of City Hall and goes north on Watchung Avenue to East Front Street, west to Park Avenue, south to Seventh Street, east to Watchung Avenue and ends at Ciy Hall. The course is 1.1 miles in length.

Spectators will be able to view the races from any point along the route, but the area near City Hall will be prime space. Those interested in the best camera angles may seek a little elevation, as perhaps the steps of the YMCA, the front lawn of the Friends Meeting House or the Raritan Valley Line rail embankments.

If the bike races are not your thing, you should avoid downtown. Traffic patterns will be affected by street closings to make the route possible. If you are not attending the races, plan on alternate routes.

Central Avenue will be open as well as Richmond Street. If you are traveling east or west, be sure to use 9th Street/Franklin Place, as Crescent Avenue will be closed off at 7th Street.

Also, be aware that vehicles parked inside the parade route after the roads are blocked will not be allowed through until after the races are finished (posted signs say until 5:00 PM).

The weather is expected to be perfect. Bring your camera along and enjoy!

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SID Block Party, Jazz at Shiloh, NJ Bike Races, more this weekend

Route of Sunday's NJ State Bicycle Championships
is marked in red. Downtown traffic patterns will be affected.

Saturday and Sunday will see Plainfield rocking with activities for all.

SID BLOCK PARTY

The SID's 8th annual Block Party takes place Saturday from Noon to 4:00 PM on Front Street between Park and Watchung Avenues.

This free event draws larger crowds each year.

This year's music will highlight a reggae group, a mariachi band, and Bolivian dancers as well as other groups.

More than 30 local vendors and nonprofits will have tents and tables, and the Army Recruiting Center will host the ever-popular rock-climbing wall.

QCBL CLOTHING DRIVE

Plainfield's Queen City Baseball League (QCBL) is holding a clothing drive on Saturday, from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM at the Rock Avenue ballfields.

This is an opportunity to clean out your closets of unwanted clothing, shoes, sheets, blankets and comforters. All items must be clean, wearable and usable. Put in large plastic trash bags.

This is an important opportunity to help support youngsters who want to learn and play baseball.

Queen City Baseball League is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Donors will be given a tax donation letter at the event.

ABC's OF BLACK ECONOMICS

Frontiers International is presenting the annual Westry Horne Lecture on Saturday from 1:00 to 4:00 PM at Washington Community School, 427 Darrow Avenue.

This year's topic is "The ABC's of Black Economics and Entrepreneurship," and will be presented by economist Richard Barber, and Jeffery Dunn, president of the Plainfield Chamber of Commerce.

The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided. Parking available in the Spooner Avenue parking lot.

JAZZ AT SHILOH

"Jazz in The Sanctuary" will be presented at Shiloh Baptist Church on Saturday at 4:00 PM.

This year will celebrate "Steelpan Jazz", featuring Victor Provost on steelpan (from St. John), Herman Burney on bass, Nasar Abadey on drums, and Anthony E. Nelson Jr. on reeds.

As always, admission is free. (A freewill offering will be taken; suggested donation is $20.)

Shiloh Baptist Church is at West 4th and Liberty Streets. Parking available on the street or in the 5th Street lot.

NJ STATE BICYCLE RACES

Plainfield will host the NJ State Bicycle Races on Sunday, beginning at 9:00 AM. Mayor Adrian Mapp will present awards at an 11:00 AM ceremony.

This is a special honor for the Queen City to host this statewide bicycling event. The races are comprised of several categories and awards will be made in each.

The course starts in front of City Hall and goes north on Watchung Avenue to East Front Street, west to Park Avenue, south to Seventh Street, east to Watchung Avenue and ends at Ciy Hall. The course is 1.1 miles in length.

Spectators will be able to view the races from any point along the route, but the area near City Hall will be prime space.

Notice to drivers: Downtown traffic patterns will be affected by street closings to make the route possible. If you are not attending the races, plan on alternate routes.

GAY PRIDE AT UCC

The United Church of Christ-Congregational invites all to its annual Gay Pride Worship Service at 10:30 AM on Sunday.

This year's service will be dedicated to the memory of victims of the Orlando shooting, says Pastor Damaris Ortega.

The United Church of Christ is at West 7th Street and Madison Avenue. Parking available in the church lot on Madison Avenue and in the street. The church is an accessible facility.

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Michael Popper dies in kayaking accident

Michael and Jenn Popper, active in Netherwood Heights Neighbors.

Word comes from Plainfield's Netherwood Heights Neighbors Facebook page that Michael Popper has died in a kayaking accident in Maine. Jennifer was rescued by the Coast Guard, suffering from hypothermia. She is in a Maine hospital. (The news was reported briefly in the Boston Globe and more fully in a local newspaper -- see here.)

Here is the post from the Facebook page --

Post from Netherwood Heights Facebook page.

I will post more information as details become available.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Why Christie's school funding plan should alarm Plainfielders

Gov.Christie's proposal would reduce per-pupil funding
for the Plainfield public schools by 59%.

Plainfield taxpayers should be alarmed over Gov. Christie's proposal to change school funding. Very alarmed.

Christie is proposing a flat per-pupil allocation of state aid to school districts of %6,500 per pupil.

The Star-Ledger estimates this would REDUCE state aid to the Plainfield public schools by 59% (see story here).

The gross state aid for the Plainfield school district was slated to be slightly over $124M for the fiscal year 2017.

Even though Christie says that funds for special needs students will not be cut, you can see that Christie's proposal would be disastrous for the Plainfield schools.

In the event Christie's plan succeeds, making up the difference by raising local property taxes would be on the table.

You may express your concerns or raise questions with members of Plainfield's legislative representatives --

PLAINFIELD'S LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION

Senator Nicholas P. Scutari Democrat
1514 E. Saint Georges Avenue, 2nd Floor,
Linden, NJ 07036
(908) 587-0404
Email: senScutari@njleg.org

Assemblyman Jerry  Green Democrat
200 West Second Street, Suite 102
Plainfield, NJ 07060
(908) 561-5757
Email: asmGreen@njleg.org

Assemblyman James J. Kennedy Democrat
34 East Cherry Street
Rahway, NJ 07065
(732) 943=2660
Email: asmKennedy@njleg.org

Tip: When emailing legislators, always 'CC' or 'BCC' yourself so you keep a record of when and what you wrote.

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PAAAS praise reprised by Council

PAAAS Principal Angela Bento (r.) and valedictorian
Tammia Rosero at Monday's Council meeting.

The Plainfield Academy for the Arts and Advances Studies (PAAAS) was praised at Monday's Council meeting for receiving a bronze award from US News in its annual ranking of best high schools in the United States.

The council action follows on a recognition ceremony by Mayor Adrian O. Mapp a month ago (see my post here) that drew throngs of students, teachers and parents to City Hall for a ceremony and reception.

Monday's resolution on behalf of the City Council reprised the points made by Mayor Mapp in his prior proclamation.

On hand Monday were many students and their families, as well as current members of the Board of Ed and several who had voted for the creation of the school in 2011 under then-Superintendent Steve Gallon III.

Principal Angela Bento and valedictorian Tammia Rosero made brief remarks. The resolution on behalf of the entire City Council was read aloud by Councilor Bridget Rivers.

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Council 'discussion' items: Would better questions give better answers?

A hobby-horse that really goes somewhere?
An idea whose time has come?

About an hour of Monday's Plainfield City Council meeting was taken up with three 'discussion items' put on the agenda by Council President Cory Storch. At the end of it, I was left wondering if better questions would give better answers?

Under former Council President Bridget Rivers, these 'discussion items' were used to harass Mayor Adrian Mapp or his initiatives. So, under new and more friendly Council leadership, one could be forgiven for expecting such 'discussions' to advance Mapp's policies and programs or at least to shed light on an important subject.

In my mind, last night's 'discussion' failed to deliver the goods on either count.

Let's take a closer look --

WATER QUALITY

Representatives of NJ American Water made a brief presentation about the quality of the utility's water supplied to Plainfield residents.

They pointed out water quality is regulated by NJ DEP and the federal EPA requirements, all of which the company (and its predecessor Elizabethtown Water) have met ever since there were government requirements.

As for lead contamination -- which was prominent in the news a few months ago with regard to water in NJ public school buildings -- the issue is not with the water supplied by the company, but with lead pipes and lead soldering in older homes, which can leach into the home's water. Solution: Run the water a few minutes every day to clear the pipes.

(Aside: When I asked a couple of months ago about whether the water had  been tested in the school district's buildings, I was told that it has been, recently, and that there are no issues with lead. The District has yet to make any public statement on the matter.)

Councilor Taylor took the opportunity to engage in a rant about sewer rates, which are set by the PMUA and have no connection to NJ American's supplying the water for the system. Councilor Goode sought clarification on the switch of billing from quarterly to monthly. (Answer: Cash flow; the practice squares up with other utilities such as gas, electric and landline telephone service.)

While the segment presented useful information, I couldn't help but think that it would make a far better presentation at a Town Hall meeting, where NJ American could also have an informational table and answer resident questions on a one-to-one basis. I also wondered if they have informational videos on the issues, whether these are being run on PCTV as standalone public service announcements.

All in all, the need and benefit of this 'discussion' item struck me as underwhelming.

BROWNFIELDS

Ms. April Stefel, Plainfield's longtime -- and sole -- brownfields honcho was next up. Billed by Council President Storch as 'a brief update', it looked to become anything but as Stefel worked her way into a PowerPoint presentation she nicknamed 'Brownfields 101'.

Stefel made a point of clarifying the difference between 'brownfields' and toxic sites -- they are not the same.

With hundreds of brownfield sites in the city, it was impossible to make out any detail in the maps that were projected. Storch, who had come down from the dais to sit in the audience for the presentation, eventually seemed to whisper to Stefel to cut it short and focus on the maps.

It seemed that Stefel had interpreted her assignment in one way and that Storch had something different in mind. Working on sharpening the question in the first place would surely have made for a more focused presentation, to the relief of both parties.

At the end, I don't know that the audience (or the Council for that matter) learned anything substantial from the presentation. While the 'discussion' may have been well-intentioned, it failed to deliver the goods, in my humble opinion.

AT-RISK YOUTH

This 'discussion item' appeared to be an opportunity for Councilor Taylor to ride one of her favorite hobby-horses.

Despite the fact that Mayor Mapp has taken the lead in establishing Youth Summits to gather young people together to deal with issues as they perceive them, and has expanded recreation programming throughout the City, as well as developing community outreach efforts by the Police Division under Police Director Carl Riley, Taylor continues to imply nothing is being done.

When pressed however, she brings no new ideas to the table.

Director Riley pointed to the dramatic drop in both violent crime (27%) and shootings (40%) since Mayor Mapp has taken office. He also noted that the Police Division is planning 'Community Cookouts' between the Division and residents to be held in all four wards. This is in addition to a summer program (later explained by Officer Bernal Harrison) that is taking place at the Plainfield Public Library.

Bottom line: These 'discussion items' would be much more useful if they were better planned and more pointed.

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'Discussion items' added to Council agenda

Council President Storch has added some discussion
items to tonight's Council agenda.

 

'Discussion items' are a normal feature of Plainfield City Council's agenda-setting sessions, but it is a little unusual to find them placed in the agendas for the business meeting. That said, it is the Council President's prerogative to do so.

Council President Cory Storch has added three items to tonight's Council agenda --

• Water safety and quality
• Brownfields
• Youth initiatives

Storch has asked NJ American Water (formerly locally owned Elizabethtown Water) to present on the quality and safety of the city's drinking water. While lead contamination has been in the news in recent months, the issue has been one of lead from pipes within buildings (especially schools), rather than the mains of the water company.

Plainfield has been at work on brownfields remediation for over a decade now, but there is always more to report on cleaning up these former industrial sites where toxic substances (often oil and heavy chemicals from manufacturing processes) have seeped into the soil.

The third item is rather vague -- "Initiatives in support of at-risk city youth" -- and may provide an opportunity for the Mapp administration to highlight ongoing youth efforts, and looking to more cooperation with the school district. Those interested in what Storch has in mind will have to attend the Council meeting.

City Council meets for its business session this evening at 8:00 PM in the Courthouse / Council Chambers at Watchung Avenue and East 4th Street. Parking available on the street and in the public lot across from the police station.

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Photos from Friday's Orlando Vigil

City Hall cupola in the twilight as the Vigil begins.

Here are some photos from Friday's Plainfield vigil for the Orlando shooting victims. You should also check Bernice, David and Jackie's blogs for more.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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