Is Pension Deferral Plan Mayor Sharon's Hail Mary Pass?

Is Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs trying to put Plainfield taxpayers on the hook for 30 years worth of payback for a one-time budget gimmick?

Writing in today's Courier (see here), reporter Mark Spivey quotes Robinson-Briggs front man Marc Dashield as saying --

...[E]mbracing the state's three-year [deferral] plan would result in the city paying approximately $600,000 more per year over a 30-year period, although he warned that figure would likely increase as the cost of the pension payments themselves rise...

Dashield added that the deferral could be limited to one year in a best-case scenario.

"We definitely need to take it this year," he said, "but next year, our goal is to fund 100 percent."

Increasingly, this whole budget fiasco, with the Robinson-Briggs administration resolutely refusing to bring a seriously modified budget proposal to the table and instead shooting for a one-time gimmick that saddles any future administration with the onus of paying off the current Mayor's bill (shades of Christie Whitman!), looks like a 'Hail Mary' pass.

Not only that, Robinson-Briggs has the nerve to ask the Council to ADD NEW EXPENSES by hiring an IT director AND A 'SMALL' SUPPORT STAFF -- to the tune of what, a quarter of a million dollars or so? -- in this current budget.

Not to worry, it's only taxpayers' money.

More on that later.

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• Courier: "City urges deferring pension payment"

-- Dan Damon

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Mayor Sharon: Another promise made. Another promise broken?

From the Mayor's press release of 2/2/09 (click to enlarge).

For Plainfielder's wondering about Mayor Robinson-Briggs' support of the proposed pension deferral plan, a mystery emerges.

Has the Mayor broken her promise to Plainfielders that 'the community will be fully apprised about this proposal and recommendation'?

After Robinson-Briggs gave effusive verbal remarks in support of the plan at the Council's February 2 agenda session, Her Honor's ace staff posted a press release on the City's website (see here, PDF), telling the whole world that the Mayor would provide a document 'to address any questions' at the Council's next meeting.

That would have been February 9. Yesterday's Council session at Washington Community School.

No document I could spot.

Meanwhile, checking back at the City's online calendar -- where Her Honor had her already publicly announced February 25 Community Forum hastily posted after I noted it was NOT on the calendar -- I discover that is has now been 'RESCHEDULED' (see here) -- I will refrain from saying CANCELLED.

From the City's online calendar 2/10/09.

What gives, promiser-in-chief?

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-- Dan Damon

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Paying more for less. Much less.

For Plainfield's hard-news freaks (count me in), the times are hard.

And getting harder.

This morning, I was startled from my autopilot newspaper ramble when the clerk said, "That'll be $3." Up from last Friday's $2.75.

For what?

The Courier News has joined the Star-Ledger with a 75¢ cover price for the daily paper.

In the A section, Page One had four area stories (including Plainfield's first homicide of 2009, above the fold, thank you!), and page 3 had three, all by staff reporters. The rest of the section had 6 AP stories and 2 from USA Today.

The Star-Ledger disappoints in its own unique way.

Monday's edition comes in four sections, of which hard news is only in the first section.

Page One has 3 stories by Ledger reporters, plus Bob Braun's column. Page 3 has a Newark story by a Ledger reporter. The balance of the section has 1 Jersey Journal story, 7 AP stories, a global roundup with 6 items from unidentified wire sources, and a New Jersey roundup of 4 items from unidentified sources (including the Plainfield homicide).

The news business is in tough times.

Gannett, the Courier's parent company, recently avoided being downgraded to 'junk bond' status -- just barely (see here).

The Star-Ledger, once the darling of the Newhouse publishing empire (with Plainfield connections, yet) is said to have lost $40M last year, precipitating the nasty buyout which has decimated its reportorial staff -- both news and columns (see here).

A recent OpEd by the New Jersey ACLU in Editor And Publisher (see here) sums up the effects of all this quite succinctly --

The people of New Jersey rely on reporters to let us know what is going on and use that information to form opinions, take action and determine how they want to vote. Reporters sit as our proxies and do our homework, attending council meetings until 2 a.m. They uncover political corruption and work with whistleblowers to release information that can protect the public. They put pressure on officials simply by doing their jobs, compelling our leaders to fix their mistakes.

Reporters bring important issues into the public square. Sometimes the press ignites a fire from a nonprofit’s fuel, and sometimes organizations discover new causes to rally behind because of a paper’s reporting. ...

Without paid reporters on the ground it’s almost impossible to hold our government accountable. While the prospect of having no one to look over their shoulders anymore could make a New Jersey politician or two giddy, it’s at the public’s expense. ...

With an even smaller number of overworked reporters forced to cut corners, more and more, our news sources only scratch the surface. Participatory democracy is much weaker without people who have the time and expertise to sniff out stories, wait out meetings and bring out credible information. ...

A vacuum in the newspaper industry sucks away democracy. Television news specializes in the sound bite. Bloggers specialize in commentary and speed. And newspapers specialize in the original reporting that governments, other reporters -- including bloggers -- and society rely on to understand the inner workings of government.

This blogger says 'Amen' to all that, and thinks that bloggers help by complementing the print media, not supplanting it.

As coverage of local politics thins more and more (the Plainfields have been lucky so far that the Courier still dedicates resources in a way the Ledger no longer does), the public is less well-served, though asked to pickup more of the tab left over from the disappearing ad sales.

And for this retiree, trying to get by on a meager pension and Social Security, the prospect of shelling out $102 a month for print editions of the Courier, the Ledger and the NYTimes is giving me deep pause.

What are your thoughts on this business? Log a comment!

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-- Dan Damon

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Former Plainfield Councilor Bramnick wants public comment brought to the Legislature

Jon Bramnick served as Plainfield councilor from 1984-1991.

Former Plainfield councilor Jon Bramnick, now an Assemblyman representing District 21 and the GOP's Assembly Whip, introduced a bill Thursday to introduce REAL public comment into the state's legislative process.

The legislation would allow public comment ON THE FLOOR OF THE LEGISLATURE for the first time.

The proposed bill would require the state Assembly and Senate to set aside specific times to listen to the public.

Bramnick's press release points out that in opening the floor for remarks, the Legislature would be adopting the good government principles used by every town council and school board, where the public is already invited to speak.

“As a former Plainfield councilman, I recall quite vividly how citizens would take the microphone on a weekly basis. They would ask questions and request answers to issues facing their city and neighborhood,” said Bramnick.

“Citizens regularly attend meetings and they express their views during what some municipalities call privilege of the floor. We need to allow New Jerseyans the same right in the statehouse,” he added.

Under the existing rules, public comment is permitted ONLY DURING COMMITTEE HEARINGS and then ONLY ON TOPICS LISTED ON THE AGENDA.

The proposed legislation allows the public to bring ANY ISSUE to Trenton. Each house would determine how much time is reserved for comment and any rules governing the speaker’s conduct. In addition, the proposed legislation recommends the public comments session occur at least four times a year.

“Politicians say they rely on public input to guide them. What better way to tap public opinion than to invite comment on the floor. Too often, the state capitol is a remote and isolated territory, where only the special interests can wield influence,” Bramnick said.

If the bill is enacted New Jersey would be a pioneer in public outreach. Officials at the National Conference of State Legislators know of no other state where the public is allowed on the floor of the legislature. Most states elicit comments through e-mails or provide hotlines to gather public opinion.

Bramnick said “if we set aside time for the public to address our lawmakers, we will be emulating one of the best parts of local government and helping build trust in government.”

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• For more information, contact Assemblyman Bramnick's office directly at (908) 400-4214 or by email to AsmBramnick@njleg.org.
  

-- Dan Damon

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Plainfield could use red-light cams, too

Recent accident at 7th & Central.

Plainfielders may well wonder where the line forms for the new red-light cameras the State is funding to monitor traffic intersections (see story here).

There are many intersections around town where I have seen accidents, but Seventh Street seems particularly prone -- especially at Central Avenue (as in the photo above) and Plainfield Avenue.

Since Seventh Street is also County Route 601, one would hope that City officials have asked Union County for consideration at some point.

Wouldn't one?

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• Courier: "State project gives towns cams to monitor red lights"

-- Dan Damon

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Is Boss Green throwing the Mayor under the bus?

Plainfield is swirling with rumors that Assemblyman Jerry Green is about to throw Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs under the bus.

Green, acknowledged in a Courier News article of July 2007 as the 'King of the Queen City', handpicked Robinson-Briggs as his mayoral candidate in 2005, exercising his power as head of the local Democratic party.

To that point, Robinson-Briggs was a relative political newcomer serving on the Board of Education, whose residency qualification for that seat was the subject of a lengthy and heated challenge.

Not long after Robinson-Briggs began her term in 2006, Green was quoted as envisioning his protegé taking over his Assembly seat at some future date.

Robinson-Briggs made a 'soft launch' of her re-election campaign at last summer's National Night Out program, where staffers were spotted handing out 'Re-elect Sharon' buttons to attendees. The buttons were also handed out at a community forum at Washington Community School later in August.

At the rally at Plainfield Democratic headquarters on the night of President Obama's electoral victory, Green summoned Mayor Robinson-Briggs forward to address the crowd by launching a chant of 'Four more years! Four more years!' Four more years!'.

As recently as this week, as the Plaintalker blog noted (see here), Plainfield's public access cable TV station (Ch 74) was running footage of a Green/Robinson-Briggs lovefest at the Assemblyman's Obama Inauguration dinner-dance.

Now, rumor has it, Boss Green is willing to ditch Robinson-Briggs in favor of an as-yet-unnamed candidate.

Word is that an internal poll conducted in recent days showed Robinson-Briggs as having high negatives for her management of the City over the past three years.

So, despite being the team player that she is (and which Boss Green touts as the ONLY way to go), the Assemblyman is poised to throw Plainfield's hugger-and-kisser-in-chief under the bus.

Will he?

And will Robinson-Briggs go gentle into that dark political night?

CAST YOUR VOTE ON THE QUESTION AT THE TOP OF THE RIGHT HAND COLUMN ON THIS PAGE!

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-- Dan Damon

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A flummoxing message from Plainfield's mayor

Transcribed below is the press release from Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs concerning her advocacy of the pension deferral plan currently being discussed. (It is also available as a PDF file on the city's website here.)

I am posting it in its entirety, EXACTLY AS PUBLISHED, as I find it flummoxing.

It seems to have been posted to the website AFTER her verbal presentation to the Council on February 2.

FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION AND PUBLICATION

Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs supports pension deferral strategy

Plainfield, NJ: February 2, 2009

After participating last week on a conference call with representatives of Governor Corzine's state financial team and various Mayors from New Jersey, and after discussing this with her City Administrator Marc Dashield and Corporation Counsel Daniel Williamson, the Mayor has renewed her recommendation tonight to the Plainfield City Council for the City of Plainfield and strongly urged them to participate in the Governor's Proposal for temporary deferral of local pension contributions as a means of helping Plainfield maintain the 4% tax levy.

Per Mayor Robinson-Briggs, "this appears to be the only available viable solution to an economic situation which currently exists in the City of Plainfield, Union County and the State of New Jersey." This deferral proposal would ease the property tax burden right now and allow more residents to be able to afford home ownership. This would also help our City avoid raising taxes to an unbearable high level. It will help us to avoid any critical cuts which could result in sacrifices to our public safety and public health.

Per Governor Corzine's proposal, this proposal helps to support service delivery, control property tax levies and minimize the impact on the pension system while providing an alternative investment option for those communities that have a less severe tax issue.

Mayor Robinson-Briggs further indicated that "this proposal also has the support of Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr, other Mayors statewide and that Assemblyman Jerry Green is in discussions with other State Legislators about this proposed legislation."

"Although my administration and I realize that our budget belongs to our City Council, we are respectfully requesting that they take a good look at this proposal which could be a savings for our taxpayers, particularly at a time when it is needed the most. My administration and I are very happy to introduce this proactive initiative to the Council. I am requesting City Council Members to spend time reviewing this concept which could actually save significant tax payer dollars, keep more people in their homes and assist with balancing our budget to the 4% tax levy or possibly lower."

In the interim, a document will be provided to the City Council and community at the next City Council meeting to address any questions. Additionally, a Community Forum has been scheduled for February 25, 2009 6:30pm, Washington Community School, Darrow Avenue, Plainfield, New Jersey. The community will be fully apprised about this proposal and recommendation.

END

Some of the assertions are just plain puzzling --

• What does it mean to 'maintain the 4% tax levy'? The state does have a 4% ANNUAL CAP ON SPENDING INCREASES. Is this what the Mayor means?
  
  
• How will this deferral help 'avoid raising taxes to an unbearable high level'? Especially if there will be NO Extraordinary Aid. Would the pension payment deferral more than make up for the missing aid? By how much?
  
  
• Is stating that 'our budget belongs to our City Council' a way of ducking the Administration's responsibility to make a good-faith budget proposal that addresses the fiscal situation with all the inside knowledge the Administration has? After all, while it is true that the Council must STRIKE THE BUDGET, it is also true that it cannot -- even with diligent probing -- know as much about the situation on the ground as the Administration is supposed to. A cop-out?
  
  
• As for the Community Forum on February 25, maybe someone should tell the person who updates the online calendar -- the forum was not included as of late Wednesday evening --
  
  
  
  
  
• Lastly, Mayor Robinson-Briggs promises that the Council -- and the public -- will be supplied at the next Council meeting (February 9) the information necessary to answer any questions.
  

Would be nice if were posted on the City's website, too.

It could be right next to the Spanish version of the Mayor's State of the City Address which she promised (in her speech) would be available on the website 'later in the month'.

Oops!

I forget -- the State of the City Address is not yet online, in Spanish or English.

Oh, well.

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-- Dan Damon

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State Aid to Plainfield: Is Zero the number?

Since I haven't been swatted for being a rumor-monger for at least two days, I'm kind of feeling withdrawal symptoms.

Herewith, three quickies of Plainfield interest that are floating in the air --

1. IS ZERO THE NUMBER?
   
   Plainfielders have been waiting for months for the Robinson-Briggs administration to get its budget act together. The reason given for the delay has been 'we're waiting for the State's Extraordinary Aid figure' (in the previous year, Plainfield had received $800,000). As the old gag goes, 'That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it'. Now, I hear rumors that the State aid figure will be ZERO, as in $0.00. And the Robinson-Briggs administration proposes a 1-person layoff plan?
   
   
2. 'GREATER FOOL THEORY' CONFIRMATION?
   
   I'm also hearing word in the street that Mayor Robinson-Briggs may have a live one on the hook for the vacant Director of Finance and Administration slot, to which Plainfielders will recall Mayor Robinson-Briggs has made FIVE previous appointments in three years. With less than 10 months left in her term, what kind of candidate would take the job? And will the Council require Plainfield residency?
   
   
3. YOU'RE GONNA DO WHAT I SAY, OR ELSE!
   
   Though many folks doubt the fiscal wisdom of the pension plan contribution deferral proposal that Mayor Robinson-Briggs is hawking (having painful memories of the last such 'holiday' -- see here), it just may be that municipalities will have NO SAY in the matter. Seems the plan is part of Gov. Corzine's I'm-from-the-government-and-I'm-here-to-help-you plan, which some wags view as an election-year ploy to impress voters/taxpayers. How cynical is that?!

At any rate, those are three I've heard.

What, me repeat gossip?!

Never!

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-- Dan Damon

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No light at the end of Plainfield's fiscal tunnel?

What IS the benefit to Plainfielders of Gov. Corzine's proposed pension payment deferral plan?

That was the question asked by Councilor Storch at last night's Council session after Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs verbally asked the Council's support of the payment deferral plan.

(I'm afraid I can't understand why the Mayor made a VERBAL request, since her conference call with Gov. Corzine and the state treasurer took place last Tuesday, January 27, the day after she told us about it at the Council's agenda session. With the Mayor's staff of three, and the City Administrator and his staff to turn to, Her Honor couldn't get a WRITTEN communication to the Council in six days? Never mind.)

The City Council is right to be sceptical of this 'fix' to local communities' fiscal problems.

As if we hadn't learned our lesson from the 'holiday' from pension payments granted under Gov. Whitman, which we then had to recover from with mandatory annual tax increases to restore our contributions to the plan to the 100% level. Talk about pain! Why would Plainfield knowingly get itself into this boat again?

Unless, of course, the thought is to get out of this year's difficulty and postpone the pain to another year -- and maybe another Mayor and Council?

While Plainfield's City Council wrestles with this issue, it would do well to keep another on its radar: state funding of the mandatory preschool program.

While the City is not responsible for the school district's budget or expenses, the schools are a major component of Plainfield taxpayers' bills and ought, at least, to be eyeballed when dealing with Plainfield's long-term fiscal issues.

BUF's new preschool (pictured above) is on target for completion by May or June, according to a foreman I spoke with when I took the picture in January.

You may have noticed in the press recently that the state had warned school districts that funding -- including that for the mandatory preschool program -- might be cut in the next year (see Asbury Park Press here, and Press of A.C. here, and a Ledger editorial here.)

The BUF building at Grant Avenue and West 6th Street is being built with a $7M Union County Improvement Authority (UCIA) bond issue, which I noted at the time (see here and here) that Plainfield -- per Union County's corporation counsel -- may be responsible for if BUF defaults.

As noted elsewhere, the UCIA gets the money back for its bonds by building the project then leasing it back to the entity for payments to cover the bond (see here).

So, if the State lifts the FUNDING of the preschool initiative but maintains its MANDATORY nature, where will the money come from to cover the additional expense?

Raise the Plainfield school district's levy in the next budget year? Hmmm...

If the State eases the MANDATORY nature of the preschool, what happens to the BUF program's expansion?

Will it come at the expense of the mom-and-pop preschools that have previously been serving the District's needs? (Read: More vacant properties and people out of work.)

It would be unthinkable that the new BUF structure would NOT be used, right?

But the Council may want to inquire about who backstops that bond issue, just in case.

---

• Press of A.C.: "NJ urges schools to freeze spending"
• Asbury Park Press: "Districts try to put brakes on spending"
• Ledger, editorial: "Schools get lesson in thrift"
• Plainfield Today: "$7M BUF bond may leave Plainfield on the hook"
  
• Plainfield Today: "Mayor pledges City's support for $7M UCIA bond you never heard of"
  
• CountyWatchers: "The UCIA: Understanding its budget"
  

-- Dan Damon

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New Senior Center/Condos: Butterfly emerging from cocoon?

The Monarch at Plainfield.

Plainfielders will want to trundle down East Front Street and check out the progress on the new Senior Center/condos which is being marketed as 'The Monarch at Plainfield'.

Since I hadn't noticed any butterflies in the marketing materials or signage, I had been somewhat perplexed about the 'Monarch' moniker and had wondered whether it referred to local royalty.

Checking on the progress of the recently-installed sales trailer at East Front and Westervelt, I noted a website. Though not online last week, it finally came up over the weekend (see here) and the marketing is in full bloom.

Here are some pix of the sales trailer, which of course is the 'face' of the sales effort to most people.

The sales trailer is on the corner of Westervelt Avenue.

The sales trailer is presentable enough, as these things go, and even has a handicap-access ramp along the back of the structure which can be reached from the Front Street side.

The signage is a little more questionable.

The billboard angled toward the street features the word "CONDO'S" in large letters. (I will leave it to Bernice to submit a photo to the website chronicling unnecessary apostrophes. Don't teachers teach possessives and plurals any more?)

Billboard featuring "Condo's" for sale.

The handsome landscaping on the side places what will be a very leafy shrub once Spring arrives directly in front of the signage on the structure's front. Never let the left hand know what the right hand is doing may be the motto here.

Is this shrub strategically placed to hide the sign?

The units are now listed as starting at $199,000 -- a 55% (correction) 45%
reduction from the offering price of $360,000 that was tossed around when ground was broken in the summer of 2007. Truly a sign of how far and fast the market has fallen.

With real estate sales sluggish everywhere (a similar Dornoch project in Rahway -- The Savoy -- has been stalled due to finance problems and may be converted to rentals), one has to wish the Fishman organization well, but Plainfielders may be well within their rights to worry whether this project will be turned into rentals if the units fail to sell.

There is plenty of the usual marketing hyperbole on the website --

...Masterfully crafted to maximize space, style, and value, the residences at The Monarch afford fabulous low-maintenance living for every home buyer. Each condominium home features two bedrooms and two baths in 1,120 to 1,289 luxurious square feet. Whether the Monarch home of your choice overlooks one of the surrounding serene street scenes or faces inward toward the community’s private courtyard garden terrace, from your private balcony you’re sure to enjoy your view—and sense of privacy.
...
As part of the developer’s commitment to providing luxurious living, everyday convenience, and uncommon value, an array of thoughtful features have been included at The Monarch at no additional cost.
...
includ[ing] the building’s host of features that safeguard your family and your investment, such as community entrance protection with limited access and outer entrance locks...

Is it cruel of me to note that one of those 'surrounding serene street scenes' is a view of the habitués of the Ben Franklin liquor store in the strip mall next door?

On yet another page we find this market-speak --

...A secluded sanctuary offering a bold new standard of luxurious living, these 63 sophisticated condominium homes blend quality craftsmanship with spectacular design...
...
Don’t miss your opportunity to invest in a home of your own located near shopping, dining, parks, golf courses, and transportation corridors...

Secluded? Near parks and golf courses?

Hmmmmm...

You can check out the many floor plans on the website, but I will post two samples. The 'A' plan appears to be the smallest and is presumably the one that would be offered at the $199,000 price point.

Example of an 'A' unit floor plan.

The 'C' plan includes a 'den' and is considerably larger. Presumably, this would be one of the highest-priced units. (Note that in NJ, a room without windows cannot be advertised as a 'bedroom', as every sleeping room must have a means of egress -- read 'window' -- besides the door into the room.)

Example of a 'C' unit floor plan, including a 'den'.

Meanwhile, it is uncertain how the Seniors will react to the new quarters once they realize how small it is and that part of their space is dedicated to vets-only use. Will the parking arrangements be adequate, given that projections are based on condo owners being out working during the day? Then there is the ludicrous curb-cut, presumably for the pick up and discharge of Seniors from their bus. You have to see it to believe it.

It is certainly going to be interesting to see who buys these units.

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• Website: "The Monarch at Plainfield"
• Rahway Rising: "Savoy at a standstill" | "Still quiet at Savoy" | "Savoy seeking financing"
  

-- Dan Damon

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'Devil's Cave' story inspires homeless outreach

Many readers know Margie Sanchez, formerly of the SALT program housed at St.Mary's School (she now has karate classes at the YWCA).

Margie forwarded an email from her niece Lucy, who was moved by the CNN story on the 'Devil's Cave' to begin an effort for food and lightly-used clothing.

I am reprinting Lucy's email in its entirety below. (You may also want to check my previous post on supporting the FoodBank of New Jersey HERE).

---

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."

- Barack Obama

Hello Everyone:

In light of the current economic crisis, and recent article about a group of homeless men that was run on CNN.com regarding the "Devil's Cave," in Plainfield, I think we should be pro-active and do a city-wide food and clothes drive for Plainfield Families. I am hoping we can spread the word and over the next two weeks through the Fire Department, Police Department, City Hall, School System, local Businesses, etc. and we can hopefully make a difference to a few families. I think it's important to counter any story that negatively affects the city with a positive activity or approach. So it's a small step but again, will hopefully provide a few meals for children and adults who are without the basic necessities fo life right now.

IDEAS FOR COLLECTING CANNED GOODS and LIGHTLY WORN CLOTHING:

• Forward the email to friends and family
• If you are hosting or attending a SuperBowl Party, ask people to bring canned goods or lightly worn coats AND clothing
• Provide your business location as a drop-off point for food
• Spread word through your website, if available
• Please TAKE PICTURES AND COUNT of your collected goods. This will inspire others to also make a difference if they can see that everyone is joining together.
• If you are going to participate, please let me know, as I would like everyone to receive some type of recognition AND thanks for their work. I believe again, it will serve as inspiration. If you forward the email on, please just let your friends and family know to make you aware of their efforts, so the community can know we are rallying together for a good cause. There is POWER IN NUMBERS!
• Contact me at 732-397-4693 if you have any other ideas or have questions.

I believe, collectively, we can make a difference and even teach our youth the importance of being grateful for what they have, and instilling in them the foundation of caring for our community.

RESOURCES:

Here is a list of other organizations, in case you were interested in donating to them instead: http://www.plainfieldlibrary.info/rt_cgSS.html

CNN Article: http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/01/29/porch.cave/index.html

FLIERS: If you are interested, let me know, and we can have a flier with all of the businesses and local organizations on it to show we have come together to make a difference. I will make it.

PLACES WE CAN SEND IT TO: (some of the organizations will also stop by and collect the items if you don't have time)

El Centro Hispano Americano 525 E. Front Street Plainfield, N.J. 07060 (908) 753-8730

Primary purpose is to advance the rights and help meet the requirements of immigrants and expatriates through affordable legal, and social services.

The Salvation Army 615 Watchung Avenue Plainfield, N.J. 07060 (908) 756-2595

All Salvation Army facilities in New Jersey and the Army's Service Extension Program are able to provide assistance for basic needs

Fish Hospitality Program 456 New Market Road Piscataway, N.J. 08854 (732) 968-595

The FISH Hospitality Program is a shelter program, which serves homeless women and families by providing shelter and basic needs while assisting them to return to independent living in the community.

Meals-On-Wheels 305 E. Front Street Plainfield, N.J. 07060 (908) 753-3506

Information on senior meals programs.

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-- Dan Damon

Kensington Avenue: Dear world, America is back!!!

Well put thoughts on our new President and America's role in the world, caught at the corner of Kensington and Thornton Avenues.

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-- Dan Damon

CNN's 'Plainfield's 'Devil's Cave' story raises questions

In the 'Devil's Cave'. Image: CNN.

Yesterday evening, CNN ran a heart-rending story on a group of homeless immigrants living under the porch of an abandoned Plainfield house which they had dubbed 'the Devil's Cave' (see here).

After describing the horrendous conditions into which the men were forced as the result of the economy's downturn, and how they 'propped up their dignity' as a group, the story turns to how their situation was discovered and alleviated.

Carmen Salavarrieta, planning a Christmas party at El Centro, learned from some of those wanting to attend that they were living under the porch.

The rest of the story is how this latter-day Lady Bountiful worked her magic to rescue the men and how Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs chipped in to help.

And that is where the questions start to come up.

As CNN puts it --

"'I came to take them out of the cave and put them in a shelter. They were allowed to stay there only for three days. So we gave them clean clothes, food and they looked like honorable people. But the three days were over and I did not know what to do, I can not let them out in the street again,' [Salavarrieta] said.

"She was able to put some of the men in a small apartment she owned. Others found places with friends. Plainfield's mayor even chipped in, Salavarrieta said, footing the bill for some hotel rooms."

Those familiar with the provision of emergency housing services will recognize the 'three days' as what is offered to those in obviously emergent need, pending their enrollment in one of the existing, government-funded, assistance programs.

Standing silently behind Salavarrieta's consternation is the possibility that the reason these men could not be further accommodated is that they are undocumented persons and hence not eligible for these services.

[The matter of undocumented persons in this country is a vexed question, one that we all can hope President Obama will take up with more success than Bush was able to muster. In the meantime, I consider this a story of a HUMANITARIAN response to persons in dire need. Christian, Jewish and Muslim traditions ALL lay a burden on their adherents to care for 'strangers among you'. Be forewarned: I will not post comments that contain any anti-immigrant rants. Period.]

Salavarrieta found creative solutions for the men (for at least long enough to get media attention) and even involved Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs, who '[footed] the bill for some hotel rooms'.

But getting a one-time, heart-tugging story in the media has a troubling aspect: it leaves those who have been charged with doing something about the matter out of the picture and off the hook.

Plainfield probably has hundreds of daylaborers in similar circumstances as the men in this story. Who knows how many of them are living in similar situations? (I have been told that some are in a vacant building on North Avenue directly across from the train station.)

Who is watching out for these people?

Assemblyman Green and Mayor Robinson-Briggs set up a task force to address immigrant issues with great fanfare a year or so ago. Two meetings and that was the last we heard of it.

What is that task force doing about the problems daylaborers are facing?

Assemblyman Green also noted on his blog (see here) that two Plainfielders had been appointed to Gov. Corzine's 'Task Force on Day-Laborers' -- one by the governor, and one at the request of the Assemblyman. Since then, we have heard nothing from the Assemblyman on the matter.

Do we have to wait until what is found under the porch of an abandoned Plainfield house are not disheveled men but frozen bodies?

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• CNN: "Recession lands immigrants in 'Devil's Cave'"
• Jerry Green's Page: "Governor Corzine establishes task force on day-laborers"
  

-- Dan Damon

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Robinson-Briggs on Plainfield and Stimulus Plan: Stimulus? What stimulus?

Will Plainfield benefit from President Obama's economic stimulus package, which is on a fast track to final passage?

Probably not, given the lack of leadership by Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs, who has evidently fluffed a major opportunity to get in line for help. This, despite her unique position to benefit from the stimulus bill.

Expecting the passage of the bill and a scramble to get some of the funding, the NJ League of Municipalities launched a campaign IN DECEMBER (see here) to get municipalities to submit proposals by January 6 to get in line for funding.

Mayors were sent a letter and details on submitting a proposal as well as having the information put on the League's website.

Can you guess where this is going? Check the list of 132 towns and their submissions here (PDF). What you will NOT FIND is a submission from Plainfield.

What is particularly painful is that Assemblyman Jerry Green recently crowed about Mayor Robinson-Briggs' election in November to the EXECUTIVE BOARD of the NJ League of Municipalities (see here).

Speaking of the impact of the national crisis on local governments, Assemblyman Green says --

What touched me particularly was the fact that the conversations regarding these [national] issues revolved around the truth that we ALL have to work TOGETHER to progressively conquer and overcome the crises that was birthed on the federal level, and has poured down to the state and local governments. These blunders, as we all can see, are negatively affecting our ability on the state and local level, to deliver services to our communities.

Further, Assemblyman Green notes how important Mayor Robinson-Briggs will be in representing the interests of New Jersey's 566 municipalities (including her own) to all levels of government --

I would like to take this time out now to share with you a portion of the press release announcing Mayor Robinson-Briggs’ nomination:

On Friday, November 21, 2008, New Jersey’s mayors elected Sharon Robinson-Briggs, Mayor of Plainfield in Union County to serve on the Executive Board of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities.

As a member of the League’s Executive Board, Mayor Robinson-Briggs will help lead the Association of New Jersey’s 566 municipal governments. Mayor Robinson-Briggs will represent the interests and needs of New Jersey’s local elected officials to county, state, and federal governments.

When asked at Monday's City Council agenda session about a submission for the stimulus funds, Mr. Dashield said there was no submission by Plainfield to his knowledge.

With the passage of the bill by the House on Wednesday (without a single Republican vote), the stimulus package will now be debated by the Senate (see story here).

Across the country, the rush by state and local governments and other institutions in preparing submissions for consideration in allocating the precious resources once the bill is finalized is in full swing.

The Press of Atlantic City headlines its story: "Early towns may get check from Obama stimulus funds". The Bergen Record headlined its story: "Municipalities angle for Obama stimulus funds".

Time is of the essence.

Except, it seems, in Plainfield, where Mayor Robinson-Briggs evidently doesn't find this stimulating enough to get on board.

Report Card on Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs.

Like the report cards we used to take home for our parents' review and signature, Mayor Robinson-Briggs will be earning grades ranging from A to F (plus E for effort) --

ITEM	GRADE	LINK	COMMENT
01/29/09: Stimulus Program? What stimulus?	F	See story HERE.	Failed to submit proposal.

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• Jerry Green's Page: "Our Mayor To Serve On The Executive Board of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities"
• NJ League of Municipalities --
• Letter to Mayors: "Federal Stimulus Package - News and Survey"
• Links: "Federal Stimulus Package Page"
• Press of AC: "Early towns may get check from Obama stimulus funds"
• Bergen Record: "Municipalities angle for Obama stimulus funds"

-- Dan Damon

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Council calendar changes: Looking before leaping always a wise policy

Plainfield City Council President Rashid Burney has put a revision of the Council's 2009 calendar on the front burner, as noted in today's Courier (see here).

One has to sympathize with his stated wishes for more public participation and more transparency on the Council's part.

But, as with all things in life, looking before leaping is highly recommended.

This is especially the case if it is true, as I was told, that one of the proposed new meeting dates would land on the date prescribed for the bi-annual reorganization of the Democratic City Committee (the two parties elect and reorganize their committees in alternate years; 2009 is the Dems' turn).

One agenda and one business meeting per month makes sense to me (haven't we had this conversation before?).

As for increasing the public's participation, a little history review should be helpful.

We should remind ourselves that Council sessions -- agenda and business -- were VERY WELL ATTENDED before the last, and unfortunate, rejiggering of the Council calendar.

Under that misbegotten policy, the all-Mondays schedule which had been in place for at least 80 years was abandoned for a higgledy-piggledy Monday-Wednesday schedule that 1) ignored the fact that many residents would have a conflict with Wednesday Bible study groups, and 2) left the City Clerk and Council in an exhausted heap on the week that had both Monday and Wednesday meetings.

We should also remind ourselves that the public has ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEM FINDING TIME TO COME OUT WHEN ISSUES OF PERCEIVED IMPORTANCE ARISE. Just recall the turnout for the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee report and the take-home car policy discussions as recent instances, not to mention Dudley House and the Tsunami Track Club.

Implicit in this history are two points, it seems to me: 1) the less jiggering the better, 2) the public's idea of what's important may differ from the Council's.

As for hopscotching around town to hold meetings in various school buildings, my question is: How is the public at large going to know what's going on? (Not an issue when meetings are always held in the same places.)

Legal notices? We all know those are 'lightly' read, to say the least.

The city's official website? Even Mayor Robinson-Briggs' ardent supporters find it frustrating to use and generally behind the curve on public information (a recent example was the posting ON THE MORNING OF CHRISTMAS EVE that offices would close at 12:30 PM THAT DAY).

Channel 74, Plainfield's public access channel? How about the people that don't have cable? Or who use satellite or FIOS?

One must consider the possibility that using public schools for Council meetings may have exactly the opposite effect from that intended -- that attendance and participation would be driven DOWN.

Are there things that could be done to encourage greater public attendance and participation, other than those already proposed?

I have TWO MODEST PROPOSALS that address the two complaints I hear the most from attendees:

1) FOCUS ON COUNCIL BUSINESS, NOT EXTRANEOUS MATTERS. Often, presentations made to Council on topics concerning upcoming business are over-long, ill-prepared and poorly delivered. Additionally, the public is often shut out with regard to handouts, charts and maps. When this business is necessary, require that presenters keep to strict time limits and provide materials for the public as well as the Council. Banish huffery and puffery and cutesy bits and the public will praise you for it.

2) AMEND THE RULES TO ALLOW PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE AGENDA-SETTING SESSION. Allowing the public to have input on items on the proposed agendas AT THE BEGINNING of the meeting would do more than almost any other measure to reassure the public of the Council's desire for transparency. There is plenty of evidence the public is not stupid and can raise important and valid questions the Council should take into consideration as it sets the agendas for its business meetings. The general procedure for comments used at the business meeting could be applied, and might actually SHORTEN the meetings and reduce the level of frustration among the public in attendance.

As Council President Burney has said, "Why not give it a try?"

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• Courier: "Plainfield council looks to revamp calendar"

-- Dan Damon