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Sunday, March 29, 2020

Johns Hopkins' tips on dealing with coronavirus


A representation of the coronavirus.

A tip o' the hat to retired Muhlenberg Hospital physician Ted Turner, MD, for forwarding this useful information sheet from Johns Hopkins University.



The virus is not a living organism, but a protein molecule (DNA) covered by a protective layer of lipid (fat), which, when absorbed by the cells of the ocular, nasal or buccal mucosa, changes their genetic code.  (mutation) and convert them into aggressor and multiplier cells.

* Since the virus is not a living organism but a protein molecule, it is not killed, but decays on its own.  The disintegration time depends on the temperature, humidity and type of material where it lies.

* The virus is very fragile;  the only thing that protects it is a thin outer layer of fat.  That is why any soap or detergent is the best remedy, because the foam CUTS the FAT (that is why you have to rub so much: for 20 seconds or more, to make a lot of foam).  By dissolving the fat layer, the protein molecule disperses and breaks down on its own.

* HEAT melts fat;  this is why it is so good to use water above 25 degrees Celsius for washing hands, clothes and everything.  In addition, hot water makes more foam and that makes it even more useful.

* Alcohol or any mixture with alcohol over 65% DISSOLVES ANY FAT, especially the external lipid layer of the virus.

* Any mix with 1 part bleach and 5 parts water directly dissolves the protein, breaks it down from the inside.

* Oxygenated water helps long after soap, alcohol and chlorine, because peroxide dissolves the virus protein, but you have to use it pure and it can irritate your skin in the pure form.

* NO BACTERICIDE SERVES.  The virus is not a living organism like bacteria;  antibiotics cannot kill what is not a bacteria.

* Although debates are present it is best not to shake used clothing, sheets or cloth exposed to the virus .  While the virus is glued to a porous surface, it is very inert and disintegrates only between 3 hours (fabric and porous), 4 hours (copper, because it is naturally antiseptic; and wood, be
cause it removes all the moisture and does not let it peel off and disintegrates); 24 hours (cardboard), 42 hours (metal) and 72 hours (plastic).  But if you shake it or use a feather duster, the virus molecules float in the air for up to 3 hours, and can lodge in your nose.


* The virus molecules remain very stable in external cold, or air conditioners in houses and cars.  They also need moisture to stay stable, and especially darkness.  Therefore, dehumidified, dry, warm and bright environments will degrade it faster.

* UV LIGHT on any object that may contain it breaks down the virus protein.  For example, to disinfect and reuse a mask sun is perfect.  Be careful, sun also breaks down collagen (which is protein) in the skin, eventually causing wrinkles and skin cancer.

* The virus CANNOT go through healthy skin.

* Vinegar is NOT useful because it does not break down the protective layer of fat.

* NO SPIRITS, ie VODKA, serve.  The strongest vodka is 40% alcohol, and you need 65%.

* The more confined the space, the more concentration of the virus there can be.  The more open or naturally ventilated, the less.

* you have to wash your hands before and after touching mucosa, food, locks, knobs, switches, remote control, cell phone, watches, computers, desks, TV, etc.  And when using the bathroom.

* You have to Moisturize HANDS from so much washing of them, because the molecules can hide in the micro cracks.  The thicker the moisturizer, the better.  Coconut butter and oil is perfect.


* Also keep your NAILS SHORT so that the virus does not hide there.


  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Coronavirus leads to innovations in Plainfield politics


Plainfield Progressive Democrats will hold a virtual
Town Hall on March 31 using ZOOM.


As Plainfield enters the 2020 Primary political season, the coronavirus pandemic is bringing with it changes in the way politics are being done.

Under New Jersey's stay-at-home and social distance rules, campaign events, in-person fundraisers, and door-to-door canvassing are out.

As of the moment, candidates are in the signature gathering phase for their petitions. Candidates must meet signature requirements to be on the ballot in June.

At least one candidate is gathering signatures online. Robert Graham, the PDCC's First Ward leader, has announced his run for the citywide at-large seat. He is gathering signatures via online service DocuSign -- a first as far as I know.

Graham will be running against Steve Hockaday, currently Ward 4 councilor, who has the party line for citywide at-large. Hockaday is running with Ward 3 incumbent Charles McRae, who seeks reelection.

In addition, the Plainfield Progressive Democratic candidates are holding a virtual Town Hall on March 31, at 7:00 PM.

The Plainfield Progressive Democratic candidates are David Rutherford for citywide at-large and Emily Morgan for Ward 3.

The Town Hall is being held on the Zoom platform, and will have a 100-person limit.

Interested parties may register here --

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_y4buPwGPQfm6oap2hzY6yw

Those who register will receive a confirmation email with login information for the event.

Gov. Murphy is considering whether to make the June Primary a vote-by-mail only election. More on that later.



  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Plainfield Business Administrator Wayne Clarke is gone


Mayor Adrian O. Mapp congratulates Wayne Clarke on his
appointment as Business Administrator, August 2019.


For the third time in three years, Plainfield is without a Business Administrator.

BA Wayne Clarke is no longer with the City as of Monday morning (March 23). There are conflicting stories over whether Clarke was fired outright or offered a chance to resign.

The move comes as Plainfield and the nation face an unprecedented public health crisis with the Coronavirus pandemic.

Mayor Mapp announced on Monday that Plainfield now has ten people diagnosed with the Covid-19 virus. That number is expected to rise dramatically as New Jersey heads into the surge phase of the pandemic.

Recruited by Mayor Adrian O. Mapp after the sudden departure of City Administrator Carlos Sanchez in July 2019, Clarke was appointed at the City Council meeting of the following month.

A Certified Public Accountant who had a career with Prudential, some eyebrows were raised at his appointment as Clarke had never worked in government before.

After a bumpy start where Clarke is said to have remarked at a staff meeting, by way of introducing himself, "I'm here to straighten things out," he seemed to have settled in to the job and the endless meetings it entailed.

With a tenure of just over eight months, Clarke was Mapp's shortest-serving administrator. (The Business Administrator position was created with the charter revision and replaces the former City Administrator.)

I am told that Clarke was on vacation at the time he was let go -- unusual for an employee in their first year, and an almost unthinkable circumstance given the dire crisis the City and the nation are facing.

Municipal Clerk "AJay" Jalloh is serving as the Acting Business Administrator.

Mayor Mapp's mettle is going to be sorely tested trying to find a qualified replacement in times like these.



  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Sunday, March 22, 2020

Muhlenberg may be reopened to accommodate Coronavirus patients


Demolition at the former Muhlenberg Hospital in
preparation for conversion to apartments
began in December 2018.



Projected number of daily cases under
current Social Distance conditions.
Chart appeared in nj.com.



Twelve years after closing it down, the State of New Jersey is looking at the possibility of reopening Muhlenberg Hospital to accommodate Coronavirus patients.

Judith Persichilli, the NJ Commissioner of Health, said on Friday that an unnamed hospital in Plainfield was being considered for reopening to meet an expected crisis in hospital facilities as the Coronavirus pandemic crests in New Jersey.

As long and hard as residents of Plainfield struggled against the closure, the irony of the current situation is not lost on anyone. It's a shame that Dottie Gutenkauf did not live to see this day.

Persichili and a delegation from the Army Corps of Engineers were supposed to tour the facility on Saturday.

The former Muhlenberg Hospital site has been under development for more than a year now as part of a deal to bring 120 apartments to the former hospital buildings and a medical arts center to the Park Avenue side of the campus.

According to Persichilli's statement, the building has been gutted in preparation for conversion to apartments. She estimated it could be converted to a 200-bed hospital in 4-6 weeks (this sounds optimistic to me).

Under the current level of social distance in effect, the projection of active daily cases would be expected to peak at over 150,000 about the beginning of June. This would far outstrip the ability of hospitals to accommodate these patients.

Mayor Adrian O. Mapp has videotaped comments on the possibility of Muhlenberg reopening -- view his video here.




  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Joe goes!


Joe Biden, whose campaign was moribund
three weeks ago, now leads in delegate counts.


Joe Biden had an outstanding night in the Super Tuesday II Democratic primaries.

Minutes after the Missouri and Mississippi polls closed, the contests were called by AP for Biden.

This was followed not long after by Michigan. Idaho came in much later -- for Biden.

North Dakota and Washington State will not be called tonight. North Dakota has mixed caucus and primary voting. Washington State is all mail-in ballots. These are the only two that may break for Sanders.

The delegate counts won't be known until the polls are 100% reported, but Biden has taken on a lead that may be impossible for Sanders to catch up to.

Reporters covering the exit polls were finding that Sanders' youth base failed to materialize in large numbers for him and that he had failed to grow his coalition -- both keys to a path forward for him.

I can understand if Bernie wants to hang on through the next debate and the next couple of primaries, but if they don't go his way, he needs to consider bowing out graciously.




  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Monday, March 9, 2020

Plainfield schools prepare for Coronavirus -- and possible shutdown


The CDC test kits are in short supply as the Trump
administration tries to get its act together.


While in the chair at the barber's on Saturday afternoon, a Latino man and his two young sons took seats and waited for me to be finished.

The man and my barber, Oscar, chatted in Spanish while the boys were squirmy. But soon I heard the older boy -- he looked to be maybe 5th grade, 6th at most -- telling his father about the coronavirus and that the schools were getting prepared for its arrival.

He recited in detail all the cleanliness tips that are becoming ubiquitous -- don't touch your face, wash hands for 20 seconds, cough or sneeze into your elbow, and use hand sanitizer. Pretty amazing, I thought. Clearly he had been paying close attention. His delivery was matter-of-fact and he did not seem to be upset, just reciting a new regimen that we all must follow.

Then he told of the school's preparation for lessons to be continued at home, so that no days will be lost. He knew that the state required 180 days of instruction for the school year.

His little talk paralleled closely the letter released by Schools Superintendent Dr. Diana Mitchell this past Tuesday (March 3) and posted on the District's website here.

I thought this all remarkable and if his fellow classmates are taking the crisis as seriously as this young man, we will be in good shape when the time comes.

The media were full over the weekend with updates on the (growing) numbers of cases in New Jersey, plus efforts by the State Education and Health Departments to mobilize schools statewide for possibly having to shut down if things get critical (see more here).

The call lies with the local Health Officer, Dr. Atif Nazir, and/or the state agencies.

Presumably, if we reach the point where the schools are closed, there will be other constraints on Plainfield residents --

  • canceling of sporting events and other large public gatherings;

  • voluntary quarantining of those who have been exposed to the virus, and

  • possible restrictions on the mobility of residents.
Then there is the matter of disruption to workplaces by the kids being home and someone having to care for them.

This all could have a serious impact on economies from local to national.



  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Monday, March 2, 2020

PILOTs, people power plentiful Plainfield Council agenda meeting Monday


Gateway project at Park Avenue and Randolph Road
calls for a standalone drug store with drive-thru window.


Plainfield City Council has an extraordinarily full docket for its agenda setting session Monday (March 2).

PILOTs

Ordinance MC 2020-06 enshrines a PILOT for the residential project at 926-1019 North Avenue, immediately next to the Netherwood Station.

The Gateway project in the 1200-block of Park Avenue is up for a redevelopment agreement with 1204 Park Avenue Associates, LLC. The proposal is to subdivide the block -- currently a genormous parking lot -- into two lots, with a standalone drugstore with drive-thru lanes on one parcel and continue parking on the other (the lost serves for parking for at least a hundred students of JFK's Snyder School of Nursing. Though no PILOT is mentioned, expect one to be sought when the time comes.

Netherwood Village (825-855 East Front Street) is up for a PILOT. The owners plan to remodel the baths and kitchens and do exterior work to refresh the 75-year-old apartment complex. This project reminds us that once a PILOT is granted, it is likely to be in existence many years beyond the initial 30 granted as new owners take over, with new mortgages and plans to renovate. In fact, the city keeps a list of PILOTs, there are so many.

Lastly, a PILOT is being granted with Ordinance MC 2020-11 to Todd West Urban Renewal, LLC, for projects on the block bounded by Central Avenue/West Front/Madison Avenue/West 2nd Street. Plans include an 11-story building with a rooftop restaurant, a catering hall and retail space.

PILOTs have long been considered an essential tool in the economic development toolkit, but it is worth noting that Jersey City has decided to stop granting PILOTs going forward.

PEOPLE

City Council will be busy with matters concerning the appointment of people.

The Citizens Budget Advisory Committee is on tap. Each Councilor selects one member. The group shadows the budget process, making recommendations to the Council on improvements to both the budget process and the budget itself. Some are actually adopted.

Maher Janajri, owner of Queen City Coffee Roasters is being appointed to the SID's District Management Corporation.

Leslie Uslan is up for the Shade Tree Commission and Vicky Brown is being reappointed to the Alcohol Beverage Control Board.

Over at Municipal Court, Nidara Rourk is being appointed public defender. Ms. Rourk has an amazing resumé. She will certainly add to the city's legal staff.

A residency waiver is up for Brittany Claybrooks -- who also has an impressive resum
é -- in the Economic Development Department, where she will be an Economic Development Representative.

ODDS AND ENDS

The Council will be considering two contracts for grant writing, totaling $100,000. The larger of the contracts comes with a professional, detailed account of the work done and grants booked. The other one not so much.

The Finance Department is stashing $200,00 away in an Accumulated Absences Trust. This will help guarantee the City has fewer rude surprises when employees retire with large payments due for unused sick and vacation time.

The City will be bonding $408,500 for the purchase of radios for the Fire Department.

And to top it all off, the Council has ten resolutions honoring various groups and individuals -- including one to Dr. Harold Yood, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday.

City Council meets in an agenda-setting session at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers / Courthouse at Watchung Avenue and East 4th Street. Parking available on the street and in the lot across from Police Headquarters.




  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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