$800K state aid sets stage for budget closure

Word circulated Tuesday afternoon that Plainfield's aid from the state for this fiscal year is pegged at $800,000.

Though about thirty days late and more than $2 million short of the amount for which the Green/Robinson-Briggs administration asked, it will at least lay the groundwork for the Council to strike the FY2008 budget, on which is has held hearings throughout the past couple of months.

A special budget hearing is scheduled for Monday, December 17.

One has to wonder about how things will go after this year, in which the city asked for MORE than previously and received LESS. Especially when the new police contracts (3.5% per year over three years) are factored in, along with the final instalments of the state's offloading of full pension and benefits costs to local communities.

Add to this the expected outcome of the firefighter union's contract negotiation -- next up, and which traditionally follows the path broken by the police settlements -- and we are looking at continued severe budgetary pressures on the Administration.

Once upon a time, there were hopes that Plainfield's way through this morass would be both to bring residential and condo development to fruition AND to expand the business and light industrial bases along with bringing in new high-tech companies (that was the thought behind having an important fiber optic Internet line running through the city).

That was then, this is now.

The Green/Robinson-Briggs administration is focused only on residential-retail mixed use development.

Will the policy of putting all its eggs in one basket succeed?

Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, do not expect tax relief any time soon.

---

• Ledger: "State aid flows to Democratic-controlled districts"

-- Dan Damon

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Redevelopment: Did Jerry Green miss the brass ring?

The elevator shaft at Dornoch's Plainfield project:
Doorway to nowhere?

Plainfielders may well ask themselves whether, in the great redevelopment sweepstakes, Assemblyman Jerry Green has missed the brass ring.

After the difficult negotiations surrounding the redevelopment of the Park-Madison parcel into a new County office building and retail shops, the possibility of Assemblyman Green and then-mayor Al McWilliams reaching a modus vivendi over redevelopment receded from view -- even as developers continued to show interest, especially in the West Front Street 'Marino's' area and the historic North Avenue area adjacent to the main train station.

It appeared that Green was happy to see projects stalled or sidelined (remember the Council flap over having a gas station as part of the Marino's project that caused it to tank?) until he could get McWilliams off the scene.

But did he miss the chance of a lifetime?

Already by October 2006, there were signs that things were not going well in the residential market and questions about the timing of the Green/Robinson-Briggs initiatives (see my "Development as Russian roulette?").

And then there was the question -- raised by the Planning Board and the Council -- of marketing studies -- or should I say the LACK of marketing studies (see my "Lots of smoke, no magic in development plans"). But it's beginning to look like marketing studies, even if they had been done and done well, would not have prepared us for current market conditions.

News comes down today that outfits to which the Fishman interests had sold off portions of the Asbury Park waterfront they owned have suspended, scaled down or asked to alter the projects in which they are engaged (see "Esperanza halts beachfront condo construction" in today's Asbury Park Press). You will recall that the Fishmans are the masterminds of Dornoch at Plainfield, developing our senior center/condo project on East Front Street.

Down payments for 70 of the units for the 224-unit Esperanza high rise are in limbo. You can be sure, though, if the developer attempts to downscale the project from its 'luxury' label, that buyers may go to court to get the money back -- leaving the developer with ZERO sales.

This comes just days behind news of an even more intense retrenchment in Perth Amboy, Carteret, and East Brunswick (see "Real estate slump has developers stymied").

In this case, more than $2 billion in condo, retail and office construction projects have been halted or shelved.

Consider the viewpoint of one of those developers, as reported in the Ledger here --

"'I thought we'd just be going downhill, but we went off a cliff,' said Jason Kaplan, president of Kaplan Cos., a developer with multimillion-dollar projects planned in Carteret and Perth Amboy."

The signs of pulling back were already apparent in Plainfield back in July of this year, when Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs reviewed redevelopment plans for the Courier (see my story "Development: Plainfield taxpayers should read the fine print" of July 17).

Speaking for herself and her mentor Assemblyman Green, the mayor opined that both the North Avenue and Marino's area projects were 'years away' (see archived Courier story here). This came only days after a Flemington developer had asked to be let out of age restrictions on a large condo development in that community because of 'changed market conditions'.

So, where are we today in Plainfield?

The Dornoch Senior Center/condos project is currently the only one under construction, though there is no sales office and rumors abound that the $350,000 prices dreamed of when ground was broken have faded into the mists. Replaced by what? $250,000? -- we shall have to see.

Meanwhile, the Capodagli proposal for the East Third/Richmond/Cottage Place area has been unheard of in months -- ever since they managed to wreck the PMUA's plans for its new headquarters. Shelved? Withdrawn?

If you've been following the financial markets, you know that we are just getting into the scary part of the woods, not out of them. And that more nasty surprises are coming in the banking, mortgage and securities arenas. The next front you may hear about could be major defaults on construction loans, the loans used to build all these condo and retail projects.

So, while 'The Monarch,' Dornoch's Plainfield senior/condo project continues to go ahead, careful observers have to ask themselves if Assemblyman Green missed the brass ring.

And if Plainfield's taxpayers will have to foot the bill.

Asbury Park's Esperanza condos,
on which construction has been halted. (Photo, APP)

---

Asbury Park: "Esperanza halts beachfront condo construction"
Perth Amboy, Carteret, E. Brunswick: "Real estate slump has developers stymied"
Plainfield Development and Redevelopment --

• "Development as Russian roulette?" (10/26/2006)
• "Lots of smoke, no magic in development plans" (10/18/2006)
• "Development: Plainfield taxpayers should read the fine print" (07/17/2007)

-- Dan Damon

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Dial against the death penalty

Plainfield's death penalty activist Dottie Gutenkauf emailed an urgent message over the weekend, which I am quoting in full below --

The State Senate will vote Monday on the bill to abolish the death penalty and substitute life without parole. The session begins at 2 pm.

Our State Senator, Nick Scutari, needs to hear from you personally!

Please call him as soon as possible--today, if you can--at 908-587-0404. If you can't reach his office, please email him today at SenScutari@njleg.org to urge him to vote YES on Monday.

It's been a long, hard slog, I know--but if we don't stop now, we can win this!

Thanks for all your help,

Dottie

This is a watershed moment for New Jersey.

Take a moment to phone or email your opinion. You do not have to be lengthy, or support your opinion with loads of backup detail.

At this point, the legislators have heard about every opinion, fact and theory out there. That is not what counts right now. What legislators will be paying attention to today, is what their CONSTITUENTS are saying.

Though the session is this afternoon (2:00 PM), and Sen. Scutari may well not be in his office, you can be sure that his staff will be monitoring both the phones and the email to relay voter sentiment to him right up until the session starts.

Your voice can count, but only if you take action now.

Call the Senator's office -- (908) 587-0404 -- email Sen. Nick Scutari now.

Dottie thanks you, and so do I.

-- Dan Damon

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Monday: Be an angel for the YWCA's kids

Plainfield holiday activities continue Monday with an opportunity for you to be an angel for the Holidays.

The YWCA continues it celebration of 100 years of service to Plainfield and the surrounding communities with the annual Hanging of the Greens festivities on Monday evening. The YWCA's holiday tree will be decorated with angels signifying contributions to the agency's preschool and after-school programs. Your angel can be there.

The annual event harks back to the days when single women lived at the YWCA, and gathered together to decorate the striking 2-story octagonal reception area with greens, a tree and ornaments, according to Executive Director Jackie Glock.

Several years ago, I had the honor of meeting one of those 'YW girls' who met her husband -- then the organist at Grace Episcopal Church -- while she was living in the facility in 1944, during WWII. They had returned to Plainfield to celebrate the couple's 50th anniversary by renewing their vows at the church.

Though the YWCA no longer serves to house young working women, the tradition of hanging the greens has continued as an opportunity for supporters of the organization to make a contribution and to socialize.

The Hanging of the Greens reception will be held at 7 PM, Monday, December 10 and is free and open to the public.

For more information, call the YWCA at (908) 756-3500 x112.

---

-- Dan Damon

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Sunday Holiday Activities: House Tour, Recital

This weekend is packed with holiday activities for the whole family. Here is what you can do on Sunday.



Van Wyck Brooks District 2007 House Tour:
An Old-Fashioned Christmas
Sunday - December 9. 2-7 PM. See the Courier video preview here.

Check out the Van Wyck Brooks Historic District's Tour page here. Tickets: $20 in advance at Swain Galleries, East 7th and Watchung or $25 day of tour at 935 Central Avenue, tour starting point.

---

Organ Recital: Mark Miller at Wilson Memorial Church
Sunday - December 9. 7 PM.

Mark Miller, minister of music at Covenant UM Church in Plainfield, will preside on the Wilson Memorial Church's organ for a recital you won't want to miss. Wilson Church is just off the Watchung Circle on Hillcrest Road and has generous parking. Refreshments follow the recital. A free-will offering will be taken.

---

-- Dan Damon

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Saturday Holiday Activities: Wagon Ride, Concerts

This weekend is packed with holiday activities for the whole family. Here is what you can do on Saturday.



Holiday Horse and Wagon Rides
Saturday - December 8. Noon - 3 PM.

The SID's 3rd Annual Horse and Wagon Ride gets even bigger. Thrills for kids of all ages taking rides in horse-drawn, straw-filled wagons. An old fashioned winter treat. Two staging areas: West Front Street, near McDonald's and Plainwood Square Park on South Avenue. Treats for the kids, coupons and drawings for prizes -- including two TVs and an 8-foot stuffed stocking -- as well as hot cocoa for all and a visit by Santa (at Plainwood Square Park).

Info: Visit the SID website or call (908) 756-1088. FREE.

---

Heritage for the Holidays Concert
Saturday - December 8. 7 PM.

H.E.R.I.T.A.G.E. Youth Chorus -- winners of Mcdonald's GospelFest contest -- present a concert of holiday favorites, with the theme 'Help for the Homeless'. At Shiloh Baptist Church, West 4th and New Streets. Canned good donations welcome and will benefit area food pantries. Tickets: $25/adult, $15/Seniors, $10/Children. Info: (908) 222-1722.

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Holiday Choral Concert: Our Family Celebration
Saturday - December 8. 8 PM.

A concert by the NJ Gay Men's Chorus. Attendees are invited to bring a donation of canned goods, which will be donated to a local food bank. $25 at the door. Discounts in advance -- see their website here or call (609) 396-7774 At Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church, East 7th Street and Watchung Avenue.

---

-- Dan Damon

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Weekend Holiday Activities

This weekend is packed with holiday activities for the whole family. Check them out and make your plans now.




13th Annual Drake House Christmas Tree Lighting
Tonight - December 7. 7 PM.

Stories, carols, refreshments -- and many decorated trees throughout the house. Drake House, 602 West Front Street (at Plainfield Avenue). Info: (908) 755-5831. FREE.

---

Holiday Horse and Wagon Rides
Saturday - December 8. Noon - 3 PM.

The SID's 3rd Annual Horse and Wagon Ride gets even bigger. Two staging areas: West Front Street, near McDonald's and Plainwood Square Park on South Avenue. Treats for the kids, coupons and drawings for prizes -- including two TVs and an 8-foot stuffed stocking -- as well as hot cocoa for all and a visit by Santa (at Plainwood Square Park).

Info: Visit the SID website or call (908) 756-1088. FREE.

---

Heritage for the Holidays Concert
Saturday - December 8. 7 PM.

H.E.R.I.T.A.G.E. Youth Chorus -- winners of Mcdonald's GospelFest contest -- present a concert of holiday favorites, with the theme 'Help for the Homeless'. At Shiloh Baptist Church, West 4th and New Streets. Canned good donations welcome and will benefit area food pantries. Tickets: $25/adult, $15/Seniors, $10/Children. Info: (908) 222-1722.

---

Holiday Choral Concert: Our Family Celebration
Saturday - December 8. 8 PM.

A concert by the NJ Gay Men's Chorus. Attendees are invited to bring a donation of canned goods, which will be donated to a local food bank. $25 at the door. Discounts in advance -- see their website here or call (609) 396-7774 At Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church, East 7th Street and Watchung Avenue.

---

Van Wyck Brooks District 2007 House Tour:
An Old-Fashioned Christmas
Sunday - December 9. 2-7 PM. See the Courier video preview here.


Check out the Van Wyck Brooks Historic District's Tour page here. Tickets: $20 in advance at Swain Galleries, East 7th and Watchung or $25 day of tour at 935 Central Avenue, tour starting point.

---

Organ Recital: Mark Miller at Wilson Memorial Church
Sunday - December 9. 7 PM.

Mark Miller, minister of music at Covenant UM Church in Plainfield, will preside on the Wilson Memorial Church's organ for a recital you won't want to miss. Wilson Church is just off the Watchung Circle on Hillcrest Road and has generous parking. Refreshments follow the recital. A free-will offering will be taken. More info on the church website here.

---

-- Dan Damon

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Police: Gilliam, O'Brien promotions Friday

There will be a promotional ceremony on Friday, December 7, 2007 at 10:30 am in the City Hall Library.

The following Police Division officers will be promoted:

Lt. Michael Gilliam will be promoted to Captain
Det. Kevin O'Brien will be promoted to Sergeant

The public is invited.

Plainfield faces court challenge on 'blighting' for parking deck

Plainfield's City Council appeared surprised on Wednesday evening by the announcement of a prominent land use attorney that he represented several property owners who will challenge the city's attempt to include the parking lot on East Second Street in the expanded North Avenue redevelopment plan.

Peter Dickson, of the Princeton firm of Potter and Dickson, successfully argued before the New Jersey Supreme Court in the landmark Gallenthin v. Paulsboro case last spring. The high court unanimously ruled a municipality cannot condemn a property simply by declaring it not fully productive, thus raising the bar on proofs for 'blighting' an area to further redevelopment.

(The Planning Board meets at 8 PM this evening in the City Hall library to hold a public hearing on the 'reduced' -- and poorly named -- Netherwood area redevelopment plan. This plan was reduced from 93 to 16 properties in response to the eminent domain case at the heart of the parking lot challenge. The public is invited.)

For those who have observed the Planning Board's struggles with its own consultant, George Stevenson of Remington & Vernick, Mr. Dickson's comments seemed well-aimed.

Stevenson has repeatedly been challenged by the Planning Board, its attorney, and members of the public on the lameness of his research and attempts to frame compelling reasons for blighting -- not only in regard to the parking lot, but other areas as well.

Some observers have thought Mr. Stevenson a hapless and lackluster researcher. Others, perhaps more seasoned, have surmised that he knows exactly what he is doing and that he is marching to a different drummer -- decidedly NOT the Planning Board -- and that the unconvincing material he dredges up as arguments for 'blighting' are simply the best that he can do because they are the best available.

In any case, if Mr. Stevenson suffers any pangs of trepidation as he drives up to Plainfield twice monthly, they are not likely to be eased by the prospect of duking it out with such heavyweight eminent domain attorneys as Mr. Dickson and his partner, R. William Potter.

Corporation Counsel Dan Williamson was quick to reply to Mr. Dickson's comments, asserting confidence in the Planning Board having done its homework.

Councilor Cory Storch leapt into the breach -- while his colleagues sat slackjawed -- stating forcefully and eloquently his belief that the Planning Board, which had gone back to review and revise the study after the Supreme Court ruling, had done its homework and could withstand a court challenge.

Whatever the outcome, Assemblyman Jerry Green is greatly in debt to Councilor Storch for coming to the defense of the plan, which is part of Green's larger vision for downtown redevelopment.

"Fasten your seat belts," as Bette Davis said in All About Eve, "it's going to be a bumpy ride."

---

• Law.com: "N.J. Court Sets a Tougher Test of 'Blight' for Using Eminent Domain"
• NJ Eminent Domain Law Blog: "Gallenthin Realty v. Borough of Paulsboro"
• Philadelphia Inquirer: "An Owner Fights Paulsboro's Plan to Develop a Site"

-- Dan Damon

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PMUA: Mitch it is, is it?

Plainfield City Hall was bubbling with gossip Wednesday afternoon that Assemblyman Jerry Green had picked former mayor and Fourth Ward councilor Harold Mitchell to replace William Reid as a commissioner on the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority.

Reid must resign the seat upon being sworn in as a councilor, which is scheduled for tonight's Council meeting -- to which I am headed now.

More later.

- - - - - - - -
9:30 PM - Update

Mr. Reid was duly sworn in, though the Council did not appear to take any sort of public vote on appointing him to the seat. This is unlike previous situations of the same sort, where the vacancy was filled by voting to elect one of the three names submitted.

In any event, the more dramatic event of the evening was the announcement by Peter D. Dickson, Esq., who is representing several property owners impacted by the proposed expansion of the North Avenue Redevelopment plan and informed the Council that he had notified Corporation Counsel in the afternoon of the intent of his clients to sue over the study for the proposed plan.

I am sure we shall be hearing more on this matter.

-- Dan Damon

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Geraud Avenue bridge: One strand in a spaghetti bowl

Map showing Geraud Avenue area. (Click to enlarge.)

After years of pressure from Somerset County on Plainfield to eliminate the Geraud Avenue bridge -- even dangling a million-dollar lollipop before a cash-hungry city -- it looks like this brook may flow uphill.

AST, the developer of the Marino's tract, which is supposed to be anchored by a supermarket, opines that the existence of a bridge over the Green Brook at Geraud Avenue to funnel traffic from the north to the site is essential to its viability.

Add to that support from South Plainfield, and it looks like the bridge could have another chance, especially if the Plainfield Council adopts a resolution of support.

Not without some wrinkles, of course.

Hence the spaghetti metaphor.

Geraud Avenue, view toward North Plainfield. (Click to enlarge.)

First, there is the question of whether Somerset County will want another bridge closed. That's a serious matter.

You may have noticed that traffic in Plainfield has increased dramatically over recent years, especially in the downtown business district. The nineteen north-south bridge crossing over the Green Brook have all been impacted by the opening a few years ago of the Watchung Square Mall and the intensification of businesses along 22.

So, while Somerset County (which maintains the bridges, but shares the cost with Union County) has in the past said it would want to close the Sycamore Avenue bridge if Geraud is reopened, my hope is that the City would press for a complete DOT review of all nineteen crossings, their role in the general north-south flow of traffic in the metro Plainfield area, and any impacts closing any bridge(s) would have.

That's the least the City should hold out for.

The DOT would also become involved (it has not been previously) as Front Street is a state highway at that point and a traffic control design would need state approval.

Then there's the question of the Geraud Avenue bridge itself.

Plaque on the Geraud Avenue bridge.
(Click to enlarge.)

Built in 1904 (not 1804 as I had previously misread the bridge's plaque), it is said to be historic -- not only for its age, but for its construction technique. If the state regards it as historic, the replacement process could become more complicated.

And, if we plan for success, the question of the bridge's width will need to be taken into account.

Then there's the question of keeping commerical traffic out of a residential neighborhood if Geraud Avenue becomes a popular route.

Spaghetti anyone?

-- Dan Damon

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Plainfield police contracts: A gamble won

Salary ordinances to implement the contracts negotiated with Plainfield's police rank-and-file and suprerior officers are ready to roll.

While the coverage has focused mostly on the salary ranges involved (see links below to previous stories), my eye was caught by a different detail.

I heard rumors last summer that a deal would probably be reached without going to arbitration.

The reason?

It was widely believed by union members that the extra medical plan, the fate of which had inflamed the negotiations over the previous contract, was a goner if these negotiations failed and an arbitrator was named to make an award. That was regardless of any salary award.

Looks like the cooler negotiating temperature paid off for the unions in another way.

The negotiated settlement with the city proposes to give union members an annual pay increase of 3.75% each year for the three-year contract.

Meanwhile, Union Township police -- after two years of mediation and arbitration -- finally landed a contract. The last two years of their contract award, which align with this year's and next year's Plainfield contract, give the Union Township cops increases of 3.35% and 3.5%. That's in contrast to Plainfield's 3.75% for each year.

I'd say the cops' gamble paid off.

---

• Plaintalker (11/18): "Police Contracts Top Council News"
  
• Courier (11/19): "Plainfield, police union reach deal on 3-year contract"
• Ledger (11/20): "Police union reaches contract agreement"
• Ledger (11/28): "Union Twp. police have a contract at last"
  

-- Dan Damon

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Hoboken's 'cowboy' cops and Plainfield's 'true blues'

Hoboken SWAT team leader Lt. Angelo Andriani having a hoot in LA.

Who knew New Jersey's response to the Katrina devastation would play out the way it recently has?

Plainfield police were part of the EMAC response team from New Jersey that was sent down to Jenner, LA, and put to work providing security and disaster assistance under the leadership of a proper chain of command.

How different, we are learning, were Plainfield's team from the 'cowboy' behavior of Hoboken cops who were in the same town of Jenner. (See links to online stories at end of post.)

First, we learned of the Hoboken cops' shenanigans with some Hooters babes -- pictures of which caused national embarrassment for the hapless police department, which subsequently disbanded the SWAT team.

Now, we learn that these Hoboken cops were 'freelancing' -- that is, they were not sworn or deputized as part of the EMAC operation and would have exposed Hoboken to liability if they had made any arrests while in Louisiana. And prosecution in Louisiana for 'impersonating' officers, to boot!

And, as if all that were not enough, there is now an emerging dispute as to who paid for them to go.

Plainfield's responders shine next to these guys.

---

• Jersey Journal: "Officials say cops were 'freelancing'"
• Hudson County Now: "Who paid for SWAT team trips? Depends who you ask."

-- Dan Damon

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Reid will make an interesting Council choice

Word in the street is that of the three nominees to the Council to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Freeholder-elect Rayland Van Blake, PMUA Commissioner William Reid is the pick.

Per state law, three names were forwarded by the Democratic City Committee to the City Council -- Reid, Alex Toliver (also a PMUA Commissioner), and activist Hattie Williams (a Housing Authority Commissioner) -- who must choose one within fourteen days of Van Blake's resignation.

Mr. Reid, who has been a long-time and well-respected commissioner of the PMUA, was reappointed to that board by Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs last year after a brief hiatus.

By all accounts, Mr. Reid is a diligent board member, always having read his packet and comes to meetings well-prepared. He is also known as a no-nonsense person with high levels of expectation that people will perform competently and that procedures will be adhered to.

Demanding competence and proper procedures could be a winning combination in dealing with an Administration in which both are matters at stake.

Reid would serve in Van Blake's seat until next November's election, at which time the remainder of Van Blake's term would be filled -- presumably by Reid, who in the normal course of affairs would be tapped for the ballot by the Democratic City Committee this spring.

In any event, we can expect a decidedly more activist councilor.

-- Dan Damon

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Corzine's thin skin guarantees Turnpike story has legs

Seems we've had a rash of thin-skinned pols recently, but I never thought we'd add Governor Corzine to the list. Color me wrong.

Last Sunday's Asbury Park Press had a front page story as part of a package of stories on the governor's proposal to 'monetize' the Turnpike. It's been in the news so much lately, it's been kind of a snoozer. I mean, when will we get real details?

So anyway, the APP illustrated it with a delicious sendup of Corzine, as if he were selling hot watches or naughty French postcards, holding his overcoat open to show his wares. Cute.

But the guv, who I cannot recall reacting to these visuals ever before, sent out his flacks to protest.

They called the image 'a tremendous disservice'.

Which made the photo -- and the story -- news.

Blue Jersey, the Democratic blog, scanned the APP front page and posted it on Flickr on Monday.

Editor and Publisher, a widely read media trade journal, picked the story up on Tuesday, and the Asbury Park Press ran an item it picked up from the In The Lobby blog on Wednesday.

AND the New York Times capped off the week by putting it in the Jersey section this morning!

How's that for putting legs on a clever, but not unforgettable, visual pun?

---

• NY Times (today): "Aide Criticizes Paper Over Corzine Illustration"
• Blue Jersey (11/26): "Asbury Park Press editorialized Corzine" (Flickr)
  
• Editor & Publisher (11/27): "'Asbury Park Press' Corzine Toon Draws Statehouse Complaint"
  
• Asbury Park Press (11/28): "Complaining about news coverage makes it a story"
  

-- Dan Damon

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Angela Perun memorial service this morning

The memorial service for Angela Perun, the late Assemblywoman, City Councilor and community activist is this morning.

Memorial Service for Angela Perun
Saturday, December 1, 2007
11:00 AM

First Unitarian Society of Plainfield
724 Park Avenue

Princeton dog taking a bite out of Assemblyman Green's dog law?

A number of years ago, after several maulings of Plainfielders by vicious dogs, Assemblyman Jerry Green proposed -- and got passed -- legislation toughening the laws regarding vicious dogs and penalties their owners face.

Now comes a story from Princeton -- picked up today by the NY Times -- of an incident in which a landscaper, an undocumented laborer from Honduras, was severely bitten by a German shepherd named 'Congo' and four other dogs belonging to the owner of a property where he was working.

The gardener underwent three hours of surgery and endured 65 painful rabies shots as a result.

Giovanni Rivera after being attacked.
Photo by Kevin Riechelson.

A judge has ordered the German shepherd put down.

Animal lovers are rallying around the owner, and the victim's legal status has become a major part of the public discussion.

Even Union County Assemblyman Neil Cohen has gotten into the act, proposing legislation -- nicknamed 'Congo's Law' -- to give judges more latitude in declaring a dog vicious.

Thus putting the bite on the law previously championed by his Union County colleague Jerry Green.

The AP story was previously run by both the Courier and Newsday. Curiously, the Courier cut the mention of Cohen's legislative maneuver when it ran the story.

---

NY Times: "Landscaper mauled, and sympathy goes to dog"
Newsday: "Immigration debate ignited after gardener mauled by dog in N.J."
Courier: "Princeton dog attack sparks immigration debate"

-- Dan Damon

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Assemblyman Jerry Green between a rock and a hard place

Plainfield Assemblyman Jerry Green did not return calls from the Ledger concerning proposed changes to the state's county tax boards, I learned from a story that was tucked out of the way on the Ledger's website yesterday. (You can read it here.)

County Tax Boards, you say?

Each county has a tax board that hears appeals on property tax assessments. Appointees are mostly political apparatchiks. In Union County, they receive a modest (?) stipend of $21,000 for their efforts -- a monthly meeting -- and state health and pension benefits.

Camden County Sen. John Adler in 2005 sponsored legislation that expanded the size of the boards. He now thinks they should be cut back -- AND that the benefits should be eliminated, estimating a savings of $1 million.

Where does Jerry Green fit in? Well, as chair of the Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee, it would be his job to schedule hearings of the bill before his committee and then report the bill on to the Assembly floor.

The Ledger says Green previously said he would schedule hearings, but has yet to do so.

That's the rock.

The hard place?

Former First Ward councilor and Democratic City Committee member Liz Urquhart sits on the Union County Tax Board.

Courtesy of the Assemblyman.

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Ledger: "Lawmaker proposes to scrap tax board benefits"

-- Dan Damon

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Clinton School gun incident: Superintendent's, Principal's letters

Letters from Interim Superintendent Peter Carter and Clinton School Principal Christy Oliver-Hawley were distributed after the gun incident Tuesday morning at the Clinton Avenue school. The superintendent's letter is on the district's website (here, PDF format). I do not find the principal's letter on the district website.

Since both are referenced in news reports, I am reprinting them in full below, along with links at the bottom of the page to the media stories.

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SUPERINTENDENT'S LETTER

November 28, 2007

My dear Plainfield Community,

Little did I know that you will be reading a letter of mine twice within five days, but the reality of yesterday has forced an early letter. Worry not! Monday’s letter shall still appear.

So to yesterday! A young boy, about nine years of age, a fourth grader, made a mistake. Indeed it was a most serious and grave mistake, and we shall be dealing with it as such. As of the writing of this letter what motivated this young lad to place a loaded 9mm handgun in his backpack and bring it to school is unclear and unknown to me, but we shall certainly know soon. What is certain is that a quick acting grandma, upon hearing of the situation from a classmate of the student, took the best action she knew how to take. She removed the weapon from her grandson’s backpack, left the Clinton School and went directly to Plainfield Police Headquarters. We have since learned that there was a single bullet in the chamber. “Grandma” had come to the school to check on her grandson’s academic progress, and was told by a classmate that the child had a revolver in his backpack. DIVINE PROVIDENCE at work!

No school official was informed of this serious infraction of school security and safety by the grandparent. It was the Plainfield Police Department who notified our Director of Security, and in turn notified our Interim Assistant Superintendent who then notified me. Both the Assistant Superintendent, Mr. Walter Rusak, as well as the Interim Supervisor of Special Programs, Mr. Robert Burkhardt responded to the scene, assessed the situation, afforded the grandparent, parent, and child DUE PROCESS, and the Principal suspended the student for the maximum 9 to 10 days, pending further investigation and a hearing before the Superintendent and/or the Board of Education.

AT NO TIME WAS THE WEAPON DISPLAYED OPENLY BY THE STUDENT, NOR WAS ANY CHILD OR ADULT EVER IN DANGER. The Principal sent a letter home yesterday, the 27th to all the parents of the children who attend the Clinton School. Since the weapon was removed from the building even before of our learning about the infraction, and this was clearly an isolated incident, there was never a need to “lock down” the building nor search the elementary students and their possessions. School continued as usual, since very few people even knew of the incident until we informed the parents and guardians by letter that very afternoon. Plans are in the making for addressing this unavoidable incident directly with the parents of the Clinton School and other district schools in the immediate future.

Sincerely yours,
Peter E. Carter
Interim Superintendent of Schools

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PRINCIPAL'S LETTER

November 27, 2007

Dear Parents/Guardians:

This letter is to inform you that during the school day, a weapon was discovered which had been brought to school by a student. This was discovered by the student’s guardian during a visit to the classroom. The guardian immediately notified the police department, who in turn contacted our director of security and through their combined efforts, promptly addressed the situation. Please know that all students in the school were safe AT ALL TIMES, and at no time was anyone at risk. Furthermore, all disciplinary action, as per the Plainfield Board of Education policy, has been fully implemented.

In order to further emphasize the dangers of weapons, we will be holding one or more special assembly programs here at Clinton School as well as in all schools to highlight and discuss this very important topic. The importance of having a safe school environment is one that we take very seriously, and will continue to emphasize to all of our pupils.

Your continued support of our school and all of our programs is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Christy Oliver-Hawley
Principal

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"District suspends boy accused of taking gun to school" -- Courier | Ledger | NY Times |

-- Dan Damon

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Thin-skinned pols seek blogger's ID

Should Plainfield bloggers beware?

The intrepid Kelly Heyboer, the Ledger's point person on all things blogish in Jersey, landed a front page story this morning on the maneuvers by Manalapan's township attorney to force Google to divulge the identity of the blogger behind the 'daTruthSquad' blog.

Now, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a national organization dedicated to protecting First Amendment rights on the Internet, has involved itself in the case. EFF is taking up the case of former mayor and township attorney Stuart Moskovitz, whom Manalapan officials suspect is behind the blog.

Moskovitz is also embroiled in a nasty court case with the township over a land deal gone bad. But it seems likely that the pols are interested because the unnamed writer seems to know a lot of inside dirt about Manalapan politics.

Who ever thought pols had thin skins?

A reader emailed me with concerns about whether Manalapan's tactic would spread northward to Plainfield.

Should Plainfield bloggers beware?

Nah! None of us is a 'venomous blogger'.

Besides, everyone knows who we are.

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Ledger: "Shielding face of N.J. blogger"
Blog: "daTruthSquad"
The Transcript (local paper): "Manalapan case draws Google into the mix"
EFF: "Electronic Frontier Foundation"
EFF: "Manalapan vs. Moskowitz"

-- Dan Damon

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