Plainfield hits the magic number

Figures from the Census Bureau's latest population estimates show Plainfield
topping 50,000.

 
Plainfield has hit the 'magic' number, but will it do any good?

When the U.S. Census released updated population estimates for New Jersey a few days ago, a table was included so you could look up your municipality (see Ledger story here).

Plainfield's estimated population in 2012 clocks in at 50,244, an increase from the 2010 Census count of 49,912.

50,000 is the 'magic' number for communities to gain control over how their Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) will be allocated.

As things stand now, with Plainfield's official count below the threshold, Plainfield solicits grant applications from local nonprofits and others and a committee reviews and ranks these proposals, which are then forwarded to a Union County committee that makes the final allocations.

A longstanding complaint has been that Plainfield feels it doesn't get the actual monies returned to local programs as if it were in control of the allocations itself.

The problem is that HUD sets the CDBG thresholds based on the decennial Census numbers, meaning Plainfield won't see a change in the distribution pattern until after the 2020 decennial Census.

But at least we can look forward to the positive impact the change will have. Some of us suspected all along that Plainfield was undercounted in 2010. Whether Plainfield has grown or whether the count is just more accurate, we should do better the next time around.

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• Ledger:  "Census: NJ's population greyer, more ethnic, more urban"
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Vonshea Johnson services and memorial

Vonshea Johnson, the Plainfield Area YMCA worker who was killed in a traffic accident on Hillcrest Road in Watchung, will be remembered Tuesday (see report in Ledger here).

A viewing will be held at Christian Love Baptist Church in Irvington at 10:00 AM, with services at 11:00 AM.

Vonshea was one of the YMCA's foster care graduates, and was living independently and continuing her education. She was a counselor in the YMCA's after-school youth program.

Memorial gifts may be made in her memory to the Vonshea Johnson Memorial, Plainfield YMCA, 518 Watchung Avenue, Plainfield, NJ 07060. Mark the check for 'After school program'.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Painting from Shakespeare In Bloom

Artist Austin Tabor painting during 'Shakespeare In Bloom'...

...and the finished work.

Young artist Austin Tabor painted a scene of Plainfield's Shakespeare Garden during the Plainfield Garden Club's annual 'Shakespeare In Bloom' festival on Saturday, June1.

The finished painting is below, and Mr. Tabor advises it is available for purchase -- along with other of his works, which can be seen on his blog at austintaborart.blogspot.com/ or artsbyaustin.tumblr.com/. Contact him at austin.tabor989@gmail.com.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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PHS teacher fights back against 'conduct unbecoming' charge

Roni (r) was a contestant on the 'Dr. Oz Show' this past December,
where her team won a prize.

 
Plainfield High School teacher Veronica (Roni) Taylor is fighting charges of 'conduct unbecoming' being brought by some members of the Plainfield Education Association's Executive Committee, on which she sits as an elected 2nd Vice President of the local union organization.

Roni, who is well known throughout the community as a longtime Democratic activist and past president of the Plainfield chapter of the League of Women Voters blogs at 'Roni T's Work Matters' (see here), where she writes about the matter --

...as a teacher in the Plainfield Public Schools, I am a member of the district's bargaining entity for teachers, support staff and security personnel, the Plainfield Education Association (PEA).

I am proud to be a member and an elected officer (2nd Vice President) of an organization that speaks up for the interests of these employees of the public school system with reference to working conditions, pay and the protection of our rights of free association and speech in pursuit of the community's common goal of educating and nurturing our youth and preparing them to be informed, skilled and active participants in society at large.

All this being said, I am disappointed that some leadership members of the PEA have chosen to bring charges of "conduct unbecoming" against me. Without any details about the exact nature of the complaint(s) or who is making them, I am being faced with a hearing before a Review Committee which has the power to recommend my removal from this elected office by the general membership.

Alternatively, I can resign and everything will go away.

I am ready to defend my conduct as a member and an elected officer of this union. I am going to insist on due process, decency and fair treatment. Too many members have suffered embarrassment and harassment in violation of their rights as PEA members and American citizens.

So, why am I fighting charges of "conduct unbecoming'? It's about Justice For All!

Arguing that her rights as a union member to due process have been violated, Roni says she will be posting emails from the leadership and other materials to explain her case and the fight she thinks is important for all members of the union.

Check back on her blog Monday for more on this issue.

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• Blog:  "Roni T's Work Matters"
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Has Council stumbled on a secret to marketing Plainfield?

Garcia's Fiesta drew huge crowds in its second year.

Sitting through a long -- and sometimes confusing -- Plainfield City Council last evening, I had plenty of time to contemplate the deeper significance of some agenda items.

While the Councilors got themselves (and their very capable consultant Dave Kochel) tangled in the review, discussion and voting on two pages of single-spaced budget amendments, my mind wandered to the significance of the sudden popularity of parking lots as venues for summer festivals.

In my thirty years in Plainfield, no one ever gave them a thought until Faraone's owner Edison Garcia put together the first extravaganza celebrating Central American Independence way back in 2009 (see my first post here). In 2010 it drew many more attendees (see here). Garcia had hold of something here.

Then the festival spread to include the U.S. Independence Day weekend. Others noticed and in 2012 there were dueling fiestas, Garcia's in Lot 8 (between Somerset Street and Watchung Avenue)and that organized by Rodney Maree of Chez Maree in Lot 9 (between Watchung and Roosevelt Avenues). The big Council debate at the time of last year's street closure applications was whether Plainfield police and fire divisions could handle both events at the same time and whether parking would be an issue. Everyone from Director Hellwig on down said it would work out, and it did.

In 2012, there were 'dueling' Fiestas.

This year, however, officials had had time to mull it over and concluded two festivals at the same time was a bit much.

Accordingly, Garcia was approved for a festival during the weekend nearest July 4th, but not in September. Maree's application for a September event was discussed at last night's Council meeting.

In both cases, the revised $2,500 per day fee for use of the lots was an issue. Rodney Maree expressed last night that he was surprised it was for each day. While he did not ask to be relieved of the extra $5,000 in fees, it was clear to those paying attention that Councilor Bill Reid had erred in advocating the extra $5,000 be waived for Garcia when he applied for the earlier event.

Last night Reid came around as the Council members realized they had set themselves a trap and were going to be besieged with pleas for fee waivers.

But there was a third application on last night's agenda, also by Valuntad Productions, for use of Lot 9 on an August weekend for the '1st Annual El Salvadoran Heritage Festival'. (Again with the fee waiver request.)

Hmmm...

Seems ethnic food and vendors, carnival rides, plenty of loud music, and rivers of cerveza are an irresistible combination!

And if Salvadorans want a fiesta, what about Mexicans, Colombians, Guatemalans, Hondurans ... you get my drift.

If Plainfield had an administration that gave things any thought -- which we do not at the moment have, but expect to come January -- some folks would be trying to decide if this was a phenomenon to be promoted by the City and how it could be made most beneficial to both the City and the private businesses promoting such events.

In the meantime, we can only hope Mr. Mapp's team is paying close attention to this development.

Two further thoughts, one on Lot 9 and some suggested improvements.

Sitting as it does between Watchung and Roosevelt Avenues, Lot 9, is less remunerative to the city than Lots 8 and 8A, which are directly behind Plainfield's busiest downtown shops. In Lot 9, there are only a handful of meters, and very little permit parking activity now that a charter school has moved from Watchung Avenue. Even on weekend nights when Chez Maree and the nearby The  Bridge (in North Plainfield) bars are hopping, there is little use of parking in Lot 9. But, it is a steady thoroughfare for those wishing to shop at Supremo Supermarket as it feeds directly into their lot, and for taxis which use Lot 9 as a shortcut to Orange Place and points east and north. So, closing off Lot 9 altogether is something of a burden to the business community. Maybe OK one weekend per year, but questionable if it were to become a regular hassle to be endured.

The other is to give some thought to improving these Festivals by drawing in Plainfield's nonprofit community organizations, as I suggested way back in 2009 --

...one of the strengths of the Outdoor Festival of Art always was that the triangle of grassy area in Library Park nearest 9th Street was reserved for Plainfield's cultural and nonprofit organizations to display their programs and solicit volunteers and participants. It was the the one-stop-shop for all sorts of activities from the Plainfield Symphony to the Friends of the Library, from the League of Women Voters to Habitat for Humanity, a true marketplace of community activities.

Adding something like this to the ... Fiesta(s) would have a two-pronged benefit: first, organizations could get the word out to a large audience, and second, Plainfield organizations would learn how to adapt to Plainfield's newest -- and growing -- population...

Again, this is something that would benefit from some helpful guidance from the City, which is not likely to become a reality until there is a new Mayor in place.

Life, as they say, is something that happens while you're making other plans.

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• Plainfield Today --
• 9/22/2009:  "Latin American Fiesta could become 'THE' Plainfield event"
• 9/20/2010:  "2nd Annual Hispanic Fiesta draws bigger crowds"
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Green elected Union County Dem chair, rips Dems endorsing Christie

Assemblyman Jerry Green was elected Chair of the Union County
Democratic Committee last night by acclamation.

Assemblyman Jerry Green, already longtime chair of Plainfield's Democratic City Committee, was elected chair of the Union County Democratic Committee at its biannual reorganization meeting last night at L'affaire. 'This is a high point of my career', Green told the audience.

Green succeeds the legendary Charlotte DeFilippo as the leader of one of New Jersey's strongest County organizations and began immediately by joining the fray surrounding Chris Christie's run for re-election.

The banquet hall was cleared of tables and set up auditorium-style. Even so, the 455 county committee members who attended and were credentialed to vote overflowed the seating arrangement and lined the walls on either side three- and four-deep. Guests were in a roped-off section at the rear of the room, and that section was also packed.

Remarks by outgoing chairperson De Filippo, Sen. Ray Lesniak (D-20) and Sen. Nick Scutari (D-22) warmed up the crowd. Each lauded Charlotte and praised the incoming chair, and several dignitaries in the audience were acknowledged.

Sen. Lesniak set up the theme when he asked the crowd 'Who says the Democratic Party is in trouble? Not in Union County', in response to which the room rocked with cheers and applause.

He pointed out that though Buono's candidacy is faced at this point with a 30-point lead by Christie, Florio's beginning was even less auspicious (at 17%) as was McGreevey's (at 25%).  Both came from behind to win, and Lesniak expressed confidence Buono will, too.

After the speechifying, the meeting finally got down to its main business.

Green was nominated by the chair of Rahway's Democratic Committee and seconded by Roselle Mayor Jamel Holley (who noted Roselle was Green's home town). There being no further nominations, Green was elected by acclamation amidst a long burst of applause.

Green's inaugural remarks as county chair were gracious. He told De Filippo not to rest too easy in her 'retirement' because he would be calling her for advice 'every day'.

He also urged everyone to get solidly behind Buono's candidacy, which Green said he supports '100 percenbt', adding that there was no room in Union County for any Democrat to be endorsing Chris Christie. The remarks had particular resonance in light of the defection of several Essex County mayors that very afternoon.

The Plainfield delegation, with most of its 68 members in attendance, arrived to find that they had been given an honored place down front -- but initially just 32 chairs. After some adjustments, the entire group was seated. 'Quite a change,' one said to me, 'from the last re-organization two years ago, when Plainfield had been assigned to a rear corner of the room'.

Quite a change, indeed.

Perhaps some of Jerry's good fortune will also rub off on the city.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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As sun sets on Sharon era, everyone recalibrates

In the early days, a test pattern helped you adjust your set to receive
images as they were actually broadcast.

Lame duckery is a part of the American political process, and Plainfield is no exception.

Once it becomes clear that a change in the executive is imminent, the Forces Of Entropy assert themselves. Wheels which once rolled smoothly now become sticky and perhaps stuck altogether. Levers which used to allow things to happen may have no effect at all, as if they were disengaged. Commands may be listened to ... and then ignored.

Projects which once were all the rage and demanded the attention and efforts of everyone in the organization may suddenly languish as those responsible look for clues as to whether the Novus Ordo Seclorum ('new order of the ages' -- check a dollar bill) will bless, or even pay attention to, whatever was being promoted and advocated.

Partnerships suddenly look more tenuous, as those on one side begin to wonder whether those on the other side can (or will) deliver on past promises made. Already, some have concluded that the mojo of some has vanished and have realigned themselves accordingly (as in former backers of Sharon showing up at the Democratic City Committee reorganization last evening; Sharon was nowhere to be seen).

Those who tied their careers to a star that has fallen must now make other plans. Is their position secure? Will they be expected to perform to different (and higher) standards? Is their career path safe and secure? Is there even a future for some?

When I was a kid and TV was in black and white and only broadcast for ten or twelve hours a day, every broadcast day began and ended with the broadcast of a test pattern which ran for a few minutes.

It contained various kinds of lines and shading and was designed to reveal whether or not your screen was distorting the image being broadcast and needed recalibration. By adjusting the various knobs at the bottom (or sometimes, less conveniently, at the back) of the set, you could restore an accurate representation of the original test pattern residing on an easel in the broadcasting studio.

As the sun sets on the Sharon era, everyone is recalibrating their test pattern.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Mapp asks state intervention on Muhlenberg SED's closure

The closure of the Muhlenberg SED would be devastating.

Plainfield's Democratic mayoral nominee Adrian Mapp wrote to NJ Commissioner of Health Mary O'Dowd a few days ago concerning the upcoming expiration of the agreement which keeps JFK's Satellite Emergency Department (SED) at the Muhlenberg Campus open. The letter has been posted on his blog (see here).

Mapp is taking the lead in the absence of action by Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs, who has not called a Community Advisory Group meeting in months, nor even mentioned the prospect of the SED's closing.

In granting permission for JFK to close Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center, the state imposed several conditions (see my complete outline here). Among these were that JFK would maintain a Satellite Emergency Department at the Muhlenberg Campus. Originally proposed by JFK for a term of three years, the state upped the ante and made it five years. That term expires in August 2013 -- two months from now.

The agreement also put in place a system of free transportation to and from Muhlenberg to JFK and other facilities to service residents who do not drive.

And, lastly, a Community Advisory Group was mandated to keep an eye on JFK's performance in executing the agreement. After some wrangling, it was agreed that Plainfield's mayor would chair that group, which it was contemplated would have regular meetings, conduct its business in public view, and monitor JFK's performance with the ability to complain to the state if conditions weren't being met or corners were being cut.

As Dottie Gutenkauf says in her blog post endorsing Mapp for mayor (see here) --

As mayor, Sharon has been a dismal failure.  The turnover in department heads has been disastrous, and the city’s finances are in disarray.  The City Council hasn’t been given a budget on time for years.  She insisted on heading the Muhlenberg Community Advisory Group, which delayed its startup–and to this member, the results have been, to say the least, disappointing.  There  haven’t been regular meetings, and the scheduling of those meetings has been haphazard–often resulting in conflicts with other important city meetings such as the Planning Board and the Historical Preservation Commission (emphasis added -- DD).

As Mapp notes to Commissioner O'Dowd, neither the governing body nor the community have been notified of what will happen when the agreement expires, whether negotiations are under way and, if so, who is conducting them.

The only saving grace -- and that is a miniscule one -- is that JFK is not permitted to reduce the SED's services or terminate it without 120 days notice to all parties (page 17 of the agreement, see here).

Nevertheless, Sharon Robinson-Briggs is still Mayor of the City of Plainfield and is responsible for taking care of those residents' interests, including the situation with the Muhlenberg SED. At the very least, Sharon should be calling a meeting of the Citizens Advisory Group (CAG) to update the public and discuss ways and means of dealing with the situation.

It will be a further mark against her record if she does nothing, but I am not terribly hopeful she will step up and take responsibility. Which leaves candidate Mapp the only person acting like a mayor in the situation.

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• Mapping It Out:  "The imminent closure of the Muhlenberg SED"
  
• Plainfield Today:  "Outline of state's conditions for closure of Muhlenberg Hospital"
• Scribd:  "DHHS staff recommendations re: Muhlenberg closure"
• Dottie G Sez:  "This may surprise you..." (Endorsement of Mapp)
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Mapp supporters to gather for photo before Monday's Dem meeting

Mapp volunteers and supporters will gather for a photo
under the campaign billboard Monday evening.

 

Campaign volunteers, friends and supporters of Plainfield's Democratic mayoral nominee Adrian Mapp will gather before Monday evening's Plainfield Democratic City Committee reorganization for a memento photograph beneath the candidate's billboard at the corner of East Second Street and Watchung Avenue.

Folks are invited to gather at 6:30 PM sharp for a photo session of all gathered near the Investors Bank branch across the corner from the billboard. Parking is available in the public lot on East Second Street adjacent to the bank location.

Committee members and interested visitors will then attend the re-organization meeting of the Plainfield Democratic City Committee, which will take place at 7:00 PM at the primary election's campaign headquarters on West Front Street (next to Dunkin' Donuts). Parking for the PDCC re-organization is available in the County Office Building lot on West Second Street, with spillover parking available in the PNC lot on West Second Street.

Guests are welcome at the PDCC meeting.

Monday's evening's reorganization will be followed by the Union County Democratic Committee's re-organization meeting on Tuesday evening, at which Plainfield Democratic chairperson and Assemblyman Jerry Green is expected to be elected the County organization's chair, replacing the retiring Charlotte De Filippo.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Plainfield to present on TOD at Raritan Valley Coalition Monday

Westfield's Town Hall faces Mindowaskin Park.

 

Plainfield's Director of Planning, Bill Nierstedt, will be the presenter at Monday morning's meeting of the Raritan Valley Coalition at the Westfield Town Hall.

Nierstedt will be discussing Plainfield's recent ordinances designating two 'transit-oriented development' district (TODs), Downtown and Netherwood. The designations of the areas around Plainfield's two train stations has implications for redevelopment and economic revitalization in neighborhoods adjacent to transit hubs and stations.

The Raritan Valley Coalition is an alliance of communities along NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line, running from Roselle Park to High Bridge, and has advocated for improvements to the line's infrastructure, train schedules and parking issues, as well as a 'one-seat ride' into New York City on Raritan Valley Line trains. Current thinking is to use dual-powered trains that can operate both on diesel and overhead electric power.

Plainfield has been a participant in the Raritan Valley Coalition since it was originally founded more than fifteen years ago, under the leadership of longtime Somerset County freeholder Peter Palmer. Under the late mayor Al McWilliams, Plainfield played an active role in the Coalition and was a regular host of its meetings. Under the administration of incumbent Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs Plainfield's participation has been far less prominent, though technically Plainfield has continued its membership.

Raritan Valley Coalition meetings are free and open to the interested public. The meeting on Monday, June 10, will begin at 8:30 AM sharp; meetings are usually about an hour long.

The Westfield Town Hall is located at 425 East Broad Street. Parking is available at the Town Hall or along Park Drive in Mindowaskin Park.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Community blood drive at Grace Church Sunday

Grace Church is at East 7th and Cleveland (don't look for the scaffolding,
which is from restoration work done a few years ago).

Plainfield residents are invited to participate in a community blood drive Sunday, June 9, hosted by Grace Episcopal Church in partnership with The Blood Center of New Jersey.

The blood drive will take place in the church's Parish Hall from 8:30 AM until 1:30 PM. Pre-registration is not required.

The blood donation process will take approximately 35 to 40 minutes.  Donors must weigh at least 102 pounds and the Blood Center recommends that donors eat a substantial meal before donating blood.  Young people 16 years old and older can donate, but they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian if they are under the age of 18..

Grace Episcopal Church is located at East 7th Street and Cleveland Avenue (between Park and Watchung). Entrance to the parish hall is on Cleveland Avenue, near 6th Street. Parking is available on the street and in the public lot across from the church on East 7th Street.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Jerry Green makes waves; Mapp has competition

Green looks to become Union County Dem chair; Mapp now has competition.

Assemblyman Jerry Green, chair of Plainfield's Democratic City Committee bids fair to become the new chairperson of the Union County Democratic Committee when it reorganizes next Tuesday evening.

That fact is causing a shift of the City Council's agenda-setting session from Tuesday to Wednesday evening at 7:30 PM (the special meeting for budget adoption is also moved to Wednesday, and set for 8:30 PM).

The Council meeting is traditionally moved from Monday to Tuesday to accommodate the reorganization of the local Democratic city committee (in alternate years, the Republicans do the same).

Because of Charlotte De Filippo's long tenure as county party chair, the county reorganization, always set for the first Tuesday evening after the Primary Election, has been for years a pro forma event, with only a portion of the local delegates bothering to attend the affair at L'Affaire.

This year, however, with De Filippo retiring, it's all hands on board for the election. Green looks good to win, especially now that Sen. Ray Lesniak has opined he has the skills needed for the State Chairmanship (see here) and is gathering supporters for that job (see here), and will not be a contender in the Union County chairmanship race.

The back story however, is that the struggle to dictate to gubernatorial candidate Barbara Buono who will be the state party chair continues.

Meantime, Plainfield has the prospect of getting organized to get some things done and leave the contentious dysfunctionality of the Robinson-Briggs years behind. That is, after the November general election, in which Mapp must outpace Republican Sandy Spector and 'independents' D. Scott Belin (chair of the Zoning Board of Adjustment) and Mustapha Muhammad of the Nation of Islam.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Will Mapp victory spell hard times for North Plainfield?

Venerable North Plainfield caterer has been one of Robinson-Briggs' favorites.

One of the first results of having Adrian Mapp in Plainfield's mayor's chair may well be a dark cloud over North Plainfield.

Well, maybe not over the whole borough, which has many close ties with its sister city to the south. But certainly over one of its most venerable businesses -- Leon's Catering.

The caterer, which has been serving everything from sandwich platters to sit-down dinners to area events for decades has benefited considerably from the largesse of Plainfield's outgoing Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs.

One estimate is that between $45,00 to $50,000 of taxpayer monies have been spent by Robinson-Briggs on eats and treats from the Somerset Street establishment.

All that may change under a Mapp administration.

Though certainly as gregarious as Robinson-Briggs (if not even more so), Mapp's personal style is less lavish, with fewer nods to grand gestures such as bribing residents with eats at the hint of a public meeting.

Meetings won't be any less convivial, but they certainly may be less calorific, as well as giving the taxpayers' wallets a rest.

Leon's, I'm sure, will find some way to cope with the challenge.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Campaign Album: The Winner and The Losers

Adrian and Amelia Mapp in a screen grab from a campaign video.

 

Two quick visuals for Plainfield Today readers from the 2013 Democratic Mayoral Primary: the Winner and the Losers. Pictured above is winner Councilor Adrian Mapp with his wife Amelia in a shot from a campaign video.

The Losers (l to r): Eric Watson, Sharon Robinson-Briggs, her 'special friend' Willie Jenkins,
the Rev. Al Sharpton, and Roland Muhammad.

The losers are seen here in a photo originally posted to Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs' campaign FaceBook page and include (left to right) her campaign manager Eric Watson (recipient of a $1 million golden parachute from the PMUA), Her Honor herself, Sharon's 'special friend' Willie Jenkins (now a supervisor at the PMUA), the Rev. Al Sharpton, and Roland Muhammad (who is perhaps best known for making young baseball players cry as he chased them from the Rock Avenue ballfields).

The picture, taken at a campaign rally Sharon originally scheduled for the Washington Community School featured a guest appearance by Sharpton, who endorsed her re-election, technically qualifying him as a 'loser' also. Hopefully, the respected MSNBC commentator will do a little more homework before his next visit to the Queen City.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Mapp victory: A look at the numbers; Harassment at Barlow School

Voters warmed to Mapp's message of hope:
One Plainfield, One Future.

Plainfielders turned their backs on two-term incumbent Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs Tuesday, giving Councilor Adrian Mapp the line in the November general election by a more than 3-2 margin.

Supporters and volunteers gathered at Plainfield's Democratic headquarters on West Front Street to hear the returns and celebrate. Though it became clear within a half-hour that Mapp had won decisively, Mayor Robinson-Briggs never called or came in person to concede, preferring instead to suffer defeat in silence. (Her husband Peter, a class act, did eventually come to HQ to privately congratulate Mapp on his win.)

Mapp's overwhelming defeat of Robinson-Briggs (2789 to 1746, according to unofficial returns), opens the way to a new day in Plainfield.

Voters responded to Mapp's appeal for competent and effective leadership at City Hall plus a policy of including all Plainfielders in a vision for the City by giving him the nod for the November general election, which in Plainfield is practically equivalent to ultimate victory.

A LOOK AT THE RESULTS

Robinson-Briggs' most crushing defeat was in Ward 2, where she has seldom been seen and never campaigned. Among the most remarkable were the smackdowns in District 9 (Sleepy Hollow), where she only garnered 11 votes to Mapp's 109; and District 6 (Hillside Avenue Historic District), where Robinson-Briggs mustered only 23 votes to Mapp's 119.

Though Mapp took all four wards and swept the 2nd and 4th Wards resoundingly, Robinson-Briggs did narrowly win in three of the 34 voting districts: 3-5, 1-3 and 1-6. District 5 in Ward 3 is the neighborhood where Robinson-Briggs and her husband Peter own a home; the tally was 92 to 86 in Robinson-Briggs' favor. Ward 1, District 3, is anchored by the Richmond Towers senior citizens complex, where Robinson-Briggs operative Hattie Williams, who is also a Housing Authority commissioner, marshals the voters; the vote was 72-34 in Robinson-Briggs' favor. In Ward 1, District 6, which is the home of Plainfield's largest rental complex (Leland Gardens), Robinson-Briggs beat Mapp by just twelve votes (56-44).

Some observers found Mapp's win in Ward 4 of interest, because Robinson-Briggs has always portrayed the West End ward as her base. The Ward's five voting districts returned 363 votes for Mapp as opposed to 277 for Robinson-Briggs, a respectable 4-3 margin for Mapp. (Note: all figures are unofficial, from my notes as the returns came in; official figures -- including absentee ballots -- will come from the County in a few days.)

VOTER HARASSMENT AT BARLOW SCHOOL

The day was sunny, clear and pleasant without being hot or muggy, and was marred only by several incidents at Barlow School centering around poll workers and Latino voters. Activist Flor Gonzalez, executive director of the Latin American Coalition, who has voted at Barlow School for years, was challenged rudely by a poll worker with a demand to show photo ID. When Gonzalez protested, the poll worker said she could not find her name in the register and refused to allow her to vote. After appealing to the County Board of Elections, the poll worker was removed and sent to another location and Gonzalez got to vote.

Later in the day at the same location, an elderly Hispanic woman whom Gonzalez accompanied to the polls was told that Gonzalez could not enter the booth with her, though the rules supposedly allowed for it. The elderly woman gave up in frustration and declined to try any further to cast her ballot.

Subsequently, Gonzalez spoke with County authorities who explained that the regulations no longer specify 'language' as a 'disability' that would allow someone to accompany a voter into the booth. Meantime, all parties agreed that the County is woefully short of bilingual poll workers and that this is an issua that needs to be addressed. After the second incident, which I witnessed, the County pulled a bilingual poll worker from elsewhere in the City to go to Barlow School. This situation needs to be remedied.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Follow today's Primary Election on Twitter at #gomapp

Plainfielders can follow the news and conversation about today's Primary Election Day on Twitter by checking the GOMAPP page here. It can be viewed on your computer or your smartphone.

If you are a Twitter user, you can post brief comments (up to 140 characters) about things you see or notice concerning the election -- like how busy your polling place is, what number you were to vote in your ward and district, any unseemly behavior, encouraging words, etc.

The way to join the conversation is to use the hashtag #gomapp as part of your Tweet. Doesn't matter if you use upper or lower case. Doesn't matter whether you put the hashtag at the beginning, middle or end of your comment, once you Tweet you become a part of the conversation at the GOMAPP page.

Your Tweet would look something like this --

It's Dan and I just voted at Hubbard School, W3/D9. The place was jammed. #gomapp

If you are not a Twitter user, it only takes a moment to set up a free account. Just go here.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Vote today on Sharon's future...and Plainfield's

Yes, folks, we're at that legendary place. And it's up to you
and to me. Do it. Don't let Plainfield down.

Today is Primary Election Day in Plainfield. In a town where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans about ten to one, the Democratic primary winner is practically guaranteed to be the November election winner.

This means that the most likely next Mayor of Plainfield will be the winner of today's race between incumbent Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs and challenger Councilor Adrian Mapp.

If, like me, you are tired of seeing Plainfield stuck in a rut with Sharon, we need to do something about it, and today is our chance.

I am voting for Adrian Mapp and all the candidates in Column B and I hope you will too.

Don't let this opportunity to have a say in Plainfield's future pass you by.

If you're on Twitter, you can join in the conversation about Plainfield's Primary election at hashtag #gomapp.

All are invited to gather at Democratic HQ after the polls close at 8:00 PM to tally the returns. The HQ is on West Front Street, next to Dunkin' Donuts. Parking available in the County office building lot or in the PNC Bank lot on West 2nd Street.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Campaign Album: Code-busting, considerate Sharon

Campaign Album: Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs poses with owner of new furniture
store on West Front Street. The owner lives out of town.
Merchandise on sidewalk is a code violation.
Way to go, Sharon! (Image from Sharon's FaceBook page)

Campaign Album: A Sharon volunteer with posters mounted on SUV
parks on (narrow) Stelle Avenue to campaign.
The teams playing were from out of town. (Photo: DD)

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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