Services for longtime city committeeman John Davis on Friday

Services for John Davis will be at Rose of Sharon Church Friday.

Funeral services for longtime Plainfield Democratic City Committee member John Davis are set for Friday morning (November 11) at Rose of Sharon Church.

John passed away suddenly on November 3.

Besides his wife Marie, also a longtime Democratic committeewoman and party stalwart, he is survived by four sons: John, Martin, Donald and Owen. His son Donald served a term as a Plainfield city councilman.

Services are provided by Judkins Colonial Home, where you can view the obituary here.

The viewing is from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. The funeral service begins at 11:00 AM.

Rose of Sharon Community Church is at 825 West 7th Street, and is an accessible facility. Parking available in the church lot and at the Queen City Academy next door.

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Bookers to be honored at Thursday reception

Plainfielder Charles Booker was the appellant in
Booker v. Board of Ed, NJ's landmark school desegregation case.

Plainfield Mayor Adrian O. Mapp will host a reception Thursday evening at City Hall honoring longtime Plainfield activists Charles and Anna Booker.

Charles Booker was the appelant in the landmark 1965 case (Booker v. Board of Ed), by which the New Jersey Supreme Court struck down segregation by what was then referred to as "neighborhood schools".

The case was brought by the NAACP and used the NJ Supreme Court's 1944 ruling in Hedgepath and Williams v. Trenton Board of Education to permanently end the practice of segregation in New Jersey schools. You can read the historic decision here.

The reception, to which the entire community is invited, gets under way at 6:00 PM in the City Hall Rotunda. Light refreshments will be served.

Plainfield City Hall is at Watchung Avenue and East 6th Street. Parking and entry at the rear of the building. City Hall is an accessible facility.

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McRae wins big in Ward 3

Unofficial tallies at Plainfield Dem HQ.
Image courtesy Jeff Spelman.

Democratic nominee Charles McRae won big in Ward 3, the only contested race in Plainfield during the current election cycle.

The unofficial returns were tabulated before nine o'clock, with McRae besting Independent (and former mayor) Sharon Robinson-Briggs by 2,364 to 953, or 71% to 29% of the votes cast.

Rebecca Williams, running unopposed for the citywide at-large seat polled 10,489 in the unofficial tally.

The rest of the Union County "A" Team also coasted to success, with Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Freeholders Linda Carter, Betty Jane "BJ" Kowalski and Sergio Granados beating their GOP opponents by margins of 10-to-1 or greater.

Final results will be certified by Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi over the next several days.

Politico called New Jersey for Clinton at 8:14 PM.

Hillary Clinton polled 12,652 in Plainfield and New Jersey was called for Clinton by Politico at 8:14 PM.

Things are looking far less clear for the presidential race nationally as I post this (12:10 AM).

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A remarkable story for Election Day

Hillary Clinton at a Michigan rally.

Over the weekend I had a remarkable conversation with my 89-year-old stepmother.

She told me she is voting for Hillary Clinton for president.

What is remarkable is that in the sixty-three years I have known this woman, she has always been a staunch Republican.

Whether in Connecticut, where she raised my sisters; in Arizona where she worked at "the Big A"; or in Florida, where she and my dad retired, she always registered and voted Republican.

So, what led to her decision in 2016?

"I just think Clinton is more presidential," she said. "She will be a strong, intelligent leader, and she is a unifier, not a 'hater'."

"And of course she will be the first woman president."

Not a bad list. Not bad at all.

I will be voting for the Column A team -- from Hillary Clinton at the top to Rebecca Williams and (since I live in the 3rd Ward) Charles McRae for Council.

The "A" Team.

The polls are open from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Do not miss your chance to make history!

And come join us at Democratic HQ after the polls close. 32 Watchung Avenue (next to Antojito's Restaurant).

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What kind of America do we want to be? Your vote will decide

Hillary Clinton.

Perhaps more than at any time in recent memory, Plainfield voters on Tuesday will be casting votes for the kind of country we want America to be.

In the darkest moment I can recall -- the contested election of 2000 -- it never occurred to me that we were on the brink of overthrowing our democratic institutions or chucking the Constitution in the wastebasket.

However, on Tuesday voters are actually faced with such a choice.

Donald Trump has campaigned on anti-Black, anti-Latino, anti-woman, anti-Semitic, anti-free speech and anti-due process "dog whistles" throughout this whole process.

Hillary Clinton -- who is certainly not without her flaws (no president has been without them) -- has shown for thirty years that she has the gumption, the temperament and the tenacity to lead the country.

Some find her wonkishness off-putting, but think about it for a moment: Do you really want a dummy with Attention Deficit Disorder as chief executive? Someone who can't focus for more than two minutes and will be putty in the hands of others?

Some are concerned about Clinton's high "negatives", as if being President of the United States was somehow comparable to being your high school class president. One of her opponents, Libertarian candidate Bill Weld, has had the grit to declare that she has been unjustly maligned for years. I'm with him.

As for "negatives", we should remind ourselves that Abraham Lincoln had the highest "negatives" of any one ever to be elected. That there were strong currents of opposition to him in New Jersey and many other states before, during and after his election -- even throughout the Civil War.

He took it all in stride and today is considered one of our greatest -- if not the greatest -- presidents we have had.

We are not electing a saint. No president was ever a saint. We are not electing a savior. No president was ever a savior.

We are electing someone with the temperament, experience, vision and fortitude to lead our country for the next four years.

Hillary Clinton is the only person among our choices who fills that bill.

Tuesday will be your chance to say what kind of country you want America to be.

Take advantage of it.

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Simplified guide to 3 public questions on Tuesday ballot

There are three public questions for voters to weigh in on Tuesday.

 

There are three "public questions" on ballots Plainfield voters will see when they vote Tuesday at the polls.

While the questions were printed in full on the sample ballots that voters received in the mail, they were printed in red ink in a very small typeface that is hard to read.

Not only that, the language of both the question itself and the so-called "interpretive statement" designed to clarify each question is almost impenetrable.

Here is a really simplified guide to the three public questions appearing on Union County ballots --

ONE: NORTH JERSEY CASINOS

A "yes" vote would authorize the opening of two new casinos in North Jersey,

I personally think that the proliferation of gambling in the neighboring states of Pennsylvania and New York has had a great deal to do with the decline of Atlantic City as a gambling resort. To my mind, casinos in North Jersey would a) have a disastrous effect on Atlantic City's viability, and b) be chasing a dwindling portion of an economic pie.

I am voting "no" on this question.

TWO: GAS TAX 'LOCKBOX'

A "yes" vote on this question would establish a so-called "lockbox" for the newly increased gas tax revenues, dedicating them to the Transportation Trust Fund.

As everyone knows, both the governor and the Legislature have made a habit of raiding funds on a yearly basis to balance the state budget. (One example is the fund established by receipts from utilities for rights of way in communities; supposed to come back to the municipalities, it has been hijacked by Christie every year.)

Lt. Gov. Guadagno has recommended voting against this question as a way of "making a statement" against the gas tax. I think that is idiotic.

The gas tax -- like it or not -- is here to stay. Why not guarantee the money is used for transportation projects only?

I will be voting "yes" on this question.

THREE: UNION COUNTY OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND

This public question affects Union County residents only, and would permanently extend the Open Space Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund, which is assessed at 1 ½ cents per $100 of valuation ($15/year on a property valued at $100,000).

While Plainfielders approved this fund when it was created, the question is complicated somewhat by accusations that the County has diverted a good portion of the monies into its general operating expenses, rather than the purposes designated (you can read a critique by the CountyWatchers here, and examples of raiding the fund here).

Despite these criticisms, the fund provides financing for acquisition and development of open space and recreational projects in Plainfield (including the proposed improvements at Cedar Brook Park). With the community's interest in Historic Preservation, we should also benefit on that front from such a fund's existence

Despite the criticisms of the County, I will be voting "yes" on this question.

The polls are open on Tuesday (November 8) from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

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Cedarbrook Road Estate Sale this weekend, plus Watchung Avenue cleanup

Estate Sale this weekend at 969 Cedarbrook Road,
near the corner of Brook Lane.

What to do in Plainfield this weekend?

CEDARBROOK ROAD ESTATE SALE

There is an estate sale at 969 Cedarbrook Road today, Saturday and Sunday.
Friday and Saturday hours: 10 AM - 4:00 PM; Sunday: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM.

This is realtor Cynthia Alexander's sister's estate. Trish once operated a home decor business, and the house is chock full of fine items, including antiques, decorative home accessories, lamps, artwork, McCoy pottery and cookie jars, furniture, tabletop and glassware, Christmas decor and much more.

Many photos are online here.

WATCHUNG AVENUE CLEANUP

Queen City Pride continues its weekly cleanup with another scheduled for Sunday (November 6), 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM.

This week's sweep will start at Watchung Avenue at Woodland Avenue and work down toward East 9th Street and then return to the starting point.

In other news, QCP reports that it is awaiting approval from NJ Transit for its adoption of the Netherwood Train Station, with plans for monthly beautification efforts.

QCP is looking for reports of litter "hot spots" throughout the city. You can mail your suggestions to them at queencitypridenj@gmail.com. You can also send along information on those annoying signs posted on telephone poles and they will see they are removed.

The group also had a productive meeting recently with the PMUA leadership and asked for more trash containers in the downtown area.

For more information on QCP activities, friend them on Facebook here.

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Must we have taxi wars?

Proposed amendment to Plainfield taxi ordinance
would escalate the taxi wars.

After Plainfield taxi owners and drivers protested at the City Council's October business meeting about North Plainfield taxis picking up customers in Plainfield in violation of our taxi ordinance, the Mapp administration proposed an update to the ordinance that passed on first reading at Tuesday's combined meeting.

According to Corporation Counsel David Minchello, the administration proposes to strengthen the ordinance by giving a police officer who witnesses a pickup by an out-of-town taxi company the option of having the vehicle towed, in addition towriting a ticket.

This is sort of a "nuclear option" in the taxi wars.

In the first place, the passenger(s) would be left in the lurch -- and frightened, too, if we believe remarks by a driver during public comment at Tuesday's meeting.

Secondly, the cab would be towed away to the tower's holding lot, and could only be recovered after the ticket was properly paid at the Courthouse. This would tie up one of the company's cabs for a considerable time -- hurting its business.

There is something about this situation that no one has discussed, far as I know.

That is that Plainfield and North Plainfield really have a symbiotic relationship, with large numbers of the residents of each town patronizing businesses in the other one.

I even recall that the highly collectible Courier-News photo book of 1927 makes no distinction between the two towns, nor even between Plainfield and Watchung and Warren.

Unspoken in the argument so far is the fact that Plainfield taxis pick up hails and calls for rides in North Plainfield -- which is also illegal. If North Plainfield is encouraged to take a similar position to Plainfield's, it will be a costly taxi war with no winners.

I wonder if it's not possible to tackle the issue through setting up a combined Plainfield-North Plainfield taxi licensing system. Would it not be possible to create a two-town licensing agreement?

According to Minchello, Plainfield taxi companies are restricted from adding more cabs to their fleets, which puts them at somewhat of a disadvantage with North Plainfield's Soria Taxi, which has the largest fleet.

But that could be a question on the table in any negotiation to resolve the issue.

Maybe it's worth a shot?

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Council ventures into the vacant houses weeds

These two houses on Kenyon Avenue, while both vacant,
had very different stories.

Tuesday's Plainfield City Council meeting veered off into the weeds in a discussion of the establishment of a "Vacant and Abandoned Properties List" (R 378-16) as part of the effort to clean up the city's large stock of such properties.

Eight years after the collapse of the housing bubble in 2008, Plainfield is finally getting a handle on the hundreds of properties that went into foreclosure as a result.

With the real estate market paralyzed and neighborhoods suffering from hundreds of vacant properties -- some of them left unattended to -- the Mapp administration proposed an ordinance early in Mayor Mapp's term that would create an inventory of such properties and set up a process for monitoring them and encouraging the banks and mortgage companies that hold foreclosed properties to get them on the market and occupied once again.

All this, of course, is easier said than done.

Deputy City Administrator for Economic Development Carlos Sanchez reported to the Council that a consultant has been hired and a preliminary list of approximately 300 properties prepared, from which about 65 are proposed for certification. Once certified, the ordinance requires the properties be registered with the City by the owners (individuals, banks or mortgage companies).

A graduated fee schedule is intended to encourage owners to get the properties repaired (if necessary), on the market and occupied once again. Though the city has its own ordinance, Sanchez indicated the program would proceed under the state's law on such properties.

The problem has deep roots in Plainfield.

Under the late Mayor Al McWilliams, 141 vacant and abandoned properties were identified in the late 1990s in a survey by Rutgers interns. A large number of those were included in a scattered-site housing proposal which finally resulted in about twenty new homes being constructed throughout the city. That program foundered on the developer's financial difficulties, only to be resolved after an acrimonious legal fight because the developer had pledged properties for which he did not hold title as collateral on loans for the project.

After the speculative housing bubble collapsed in 2008, then-mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs thought the solution was to organize bus tours of the city's foreclosed properties for prospective investors. That effort went nowhere.

The discussion last evening was fueled by an innocent question by resident Jim Spear concerning the signs that often appear on vacant and foreclosed properties. It was discussing that question that led the Council into the weeds.

Part of the problem is that the actual status of a property is not readily discernible to the casual passerby.

Take for example two houses on Kenyon Avenue at the corner of Randolph Road. One, with a graceful colonial facade, was in foreclosure and vacant for years before finally being sold a year or so ago. During that long stretch, the bank paid the property taxes, but the grounds were not well-maintained -- the city occasionally cutting the grass and weeds.

The other property, next door, is on the corner of Randolph Road. While vacant, I am told by neighbors it is neither in foreclosure nor technically "abandoned". It is the focus of a nasty dispute between the husband and wife who formerly occupied it. This property, too, often looks overgrown and untended.

Consider this: not every vacant property is in foreclosure. Not every property in foreclosure is vacant.

Add to this that whereabouts of owners of truly vacant properties is often elusive.

Then, there are the properties that are just caught up in the real estate process -- an employee might be subject to a corporate transfer, in which case a relocation company takes ownership of the (now vacant) property pending its sale to a new homeowner.

Likewise, Mr. Spear's question about signage covers a host of situations.

Courts require that notices of foreclosure be physically posted on the property (hence some signs on front doors).

For properties that are "winterized" so the water pipes won't freeze (whether by relocation companies, banks or mortgage servicing companies), a sign so indicating is standard procedure (sometimes in addition to warning lights that indicate a problem inside the property), and are posted by property maintenance companies.

Mr. Spear's point that these are indications of a likely property to be stripped of its copper wiring and pipes, is well made.

It seems to me that the current push to computerize property records (also discussed less than fruitfully at the Council meeting) would go a long way to getting a handle on the situation -- if the City could be made aware of foreclosures as they are happening in the courts. And, once an inventory of vacant and abandoned properties is established, to be able to monitor it more regularly.

Alas, some of this will have to await a more friendly Council, expected after January.

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(BOE) Superintendent's 'State of the District' presentation is Wednesday

Hubbard Middle School, one of the District's 13 public schools.

 

Plainfield Public Schools Superintendent Anna Belin Pyles will host the 2016 "State of the District" presentation Wednesday (November 2). The entire community is cordially invited.

The public meeting, patterned after the annual mayor's "State of the City" address will give an overview of achievements in District over the past year, and an overview of goals for the 2016-17 academic year as well as updates on capital projects and other news.

The event takes place in the PHS Cafeteria, starting at 6:00 PM.

Parking and entrace to the cafeteria are available from the Kenyon Avenue parking lot.

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Council's only November meeting is Tuesday

Council takes its only November meeting on the road.

 

Plainfield City Council meets for its only November session Tuesday (November 1) at Clinton Elementary School, Clinton Avenue at West 4th Street. The combined agenda and business meeting gets under way at 7:00 PM.

Two discussion items are noted on the agenda --

• "Best practices inventory"
  
• "Loitering/Public nuisance at Park and 7th"

Four new ordinances are also on the agenda --

• Execution of escrow agreements with prospective developers;
  
• Authorizing sale of "sliver lots";
  
• Amend violations and penalties of existing taxi ordinance; and
  
• Amend speed regulations on certain streets.

The Mitchell-Humphreys contract is (once again) also on the agenda.

Parking at Clinton School is available in the lot on Clinton Avenue.

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Robinson-Briggs' bonehead stunt puts NAACP non-profit status at risk

Screenshot of bonehead Sharon's post to the NAACP Facebook
page on Friday. It has since been removed. Click on image to enlarge.

 

Bonehead Plainfield Ward 3 candidate Sharon Robinson-Briggs put the Plainfield NAACP's nonprofit status at risk in posting her political flyer to the group's Facebook page.

The infraction was caught by Councilor Rebecca Williams, who posted about it on her City Council blog Friday (see here).

But this is not the first time Sharon has pulled this trick.

As Rebecca points out, the NAACP Facebook page was used to promoted partisan political candidates in 2014 (when Charles Eke ran against Rebecca Williams for the Wards 2/3 at-large seat).

At that time, resident Alan Goldstein pointed out that the NAACP bylaws forbid endorsing partisan political candidates --

Excerpted from Article II Section 2d of the NAACP's Bylaw for Units:
"All political action shall be non-partisan and shall not endorse candidates for public office."

http://naacp.3cdn.net/38b26a596409a67f41_hkm6bvfl6.pdf

At the time, NAACP President Peter Briggs publicly apologized for the lapse and the post was deleted.

Though the current post has been deleted from Facebook, no apology appears to have been issued.

This present incident just underscores my reference to Robinson-Briggs being "Trumpish" at this past week's League of Women Voters forum.

Not only did she -- like Trump -- have vague program ideas with no acknowledgment of their true costs, and -- again, like Trump -- focus on her grudges and grievances, now she has added another Trump-like quality: disregard for the integrity of long-established principles.

Two thoughts come to mind: First, all of these are plenty good reasons to steer clear of Sharon Robinson-Briggs on November 8.

Second, maybe it's time for the New Jersey NAACP to clean house in the Plainfield chapter.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Busy Weekend: 1967 remembered, 7th Street cleanup, Halloween happenings

The Recreation Division's annual Doggy Howl costume event
is one of this weekend's many Plainfield happenings.

Busy Halloween Plainfield weekend --

SATURDAY

7TH STREET CLEANUP

Councilor Barry Goode's 'Clean The Queen' campaign is joined by the folks from Queen City Pride in a cleanup targeting Seventh Street.

Beginning at Plainfield Avenue and West 7th Street at 9:00 AM, volunteers will pick up trash along Seventh Street between Plainfield Avenue and Leland Avenue. Rakes, bags, gloves and water will be supplied.

Time: 9:00 AM to Noon.

DOGGY HOWL

Plainfield dogs and their pals get their chance for a Halloween Howl at the annual Doggy Howl costume event at City Hall.

Awards will be given for the best-dressed duos (dogs and owners).

This Recreation Division sponsored free event takes place in City Hall parking lot from Noon to 1:00 PM (awards at 12:30).

1967 REBELLION REMEMBERED

Frontiers International's Plainfield Chapter presents its annual Westry Horne Cultural and Heritage event Saturday, entitled "The Plainfield Riot Rebellion 50 Years Later: A Retrospective".

Plainfield was one of hundreds of US communities where such events took place between 1965 and 1968.

The program features several Plainfielders who were there -- including Agurs Cathcart, Warren Blackshear and Nancy Jordan. Attendees will be invited to share their recollections.

The event is free. Light refreshments will be served.

At Washington Community School, 426 Darrow Avenue, from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM. Parking available in the Spooner Avenue lot and on the street.

SUNDAY

SPOOKY CEMETERY TALES

The Drake House Museum is holding a spooky Halloween treat on Sunday afternoon with "Halloween Adventures: Local Cemetery Stories".

Youngsters of all ages will enjoy these timely tales. The program is free. Light refreshments will be served.

The Drake House Museum is at 602 West Front Street (at the foot of Plainfield Avenue). For more information, call (908) 755-5831 or visit the website at www.drakehouseplainfieldnj.org/.

MONDAY

TRUNK OR TREAT

The Recreation Division's tremendously popular Annual Trunk & Treat takes place Monday in the City Hall paring lot.

There will be a costume parade. Prizes will be given for best family costume and for best trunk. The event is for children ages 12 and under.

Starting at 6:00 PM until the candy runs out. Awards will be given out at 6:30 PM.

For more information, call the Recreation Division at (908) 753-3097.

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League candidate forum: One looks ahead, one looks Trumpish

Sandra Matsen, former president of the NJ LWV, moderated the forum.

Charles McRae, the Democratic nominee.

Sharon Robinson-Briggs, running as an Independent.

 

 

Plainfield's League of Women Voters hosted a forum for the Ward 3 candidates Wednesday evening at the Plainfield Public Library.

Facing off were Democratic party nominee Charles McRae and former mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs, who is running as an Independent.

Joylette Mills-Ransome of the Plainfield League introduced the moderator, Sandra Matsen, a former president of the NJ state LWV.

The candidates made opening statements citing their background, involvement in the community and reasons for running. The information is also available in their profiles on the League's website here.

Because there were no mikes for the candidates at their table, they took turns speaking from the podium, while the moderator worked without a mike. Plainfielders are great at improvising.

The candidates offered their views on a number of questions, some posed by the League and most coming from the audience. Topics included the standard "what will you do?", as well as issues such as dealing with Council friction, veterans' services, youth needs, the Muhlenberg Hospital campus, quality-of-life issues, economic development, senior citizen concerns and perceptions of Plainfield.

Things shook out quite quickly.

McRae, with his experience in reviewing the City's budget process and service on the Zoning Board, emphasized the progress being made under Mayor Adrian Mapp's leadership and his intent to work with the Mapp administration to push the city forward.

Robinson-Briggs was more Trump-like in her answers, often referring to wanting to provide FREE new or extended services, but with no clear plan for financing the costs of her wish list. She, also Trumplike, did not miss an opporutnity throughout the evening to take swipes at Mayor Mapp, Councilor Rebecca Williams and yours truly, all of whom were cited as having worked at cross-purposes to her when she was mayor.

Controlling costs were always a problem for Robinson-Briggs as mayor, who treated the city's funds cavalierly, to say the least.

McRae pointed out that, as a member of the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee, he caught a $1 million+ error in the budget that Robinson-Briggs had submitted (he politely refrained from naming her, only saying it was during a 'previous administration').

When Robinson-Briggs said she wanted to see the city operate a youth center, McRae responded by asking why it wouldn't be better to work with existing agencies to expand or improve their programming.

He cited a list that include the Second Street Youth Center, the YMCA, the Boys & Girls Club and the Washington and Emerson Community Schools.

When Robinson-Briggs protested that the schools charge for use of the buildings, McRae pointed out that the Mapp administration had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the school district, eliminating fees for use of the school properties. The exchange showed that Robinson-Briggs has lost touch with what is happening in the community since she left office.

Another example of her being out of touch came with her complaint about the new ABC Building Supplies warehouse going up on South Second Street, as part of a project that will also include a 90-unit apartment complex. She complained that it was taking place in a residential neighborhood (not exactly true: it's on the site of a former factory building) and sits across from a church (where she worships) -- completely ignoring that the church's pastor, a sitting Council member, was a passionate advocate for the project.

Robinson-Briggs also said sne wanted to see the city establish a "training center" for jobs. She made a good point that job fairs do not help those who have not got the skilss being looked for. However, she seemed to be unaware of the efforts already being made (for instance, by the Plainfield Public Library and Union County College) to address the issue. She had no answer for how such a facility would be funded, where it would be located or how it would be staffed. Trumplike again.

On the question of development of the vacant Muhlenberg property, Robinson-Briggs dodged the fact that as a Muhlenberg board member she never attended a single meeting during her two terms in office -- which included the period when JFK closed the hospital and its subsequent proposal for 600+ units of "luxury" apartments.

McRae emphasized his support for the efforts of the Mapp administration to come to a meeting of the minds with JFK that included a medical-related use for the property. He pointed out that the city does not control the property, which is owned by JFK.

As is usual with events that start at 7:00 PM, the audience bulked up as the evening went along, with perhaps 75-80 there at the end.

Though I am no fan of Robinson-Briggs, I went with the expectation that she would be more forward-looking and --with all her experience -- detail-oriented in her proposals.

Instead, she blew a lot of snoke with vague ideas and took pains at every turn to underscore her opposition to Mayor Mapp. Implied, though unspoken, was that if elected, she would guarantee that a rancorous Council -Administration relationship would continue. All very reminiscent of Donald Trump to my mind.

The general election is on Tuesday, November 8. The polls will be open from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

A lot is at stake in this year's election. Do your duty.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Mayor Mapp continues anti-violence push with 'Peaceful Plainfield' program

The free two-part event takes place Thursday and Friday.

Building on the success of last winter's Youth Summit, Plainfield Mayor Adrian O. Mapp and the City of Plainfield are collaborating once again with the Grassroots Community Foundation to present a two-part program aimed at creating strategies for a more harmonious community. The title of the program is "Peaceful Plainfield: Strategizing for a Peaceful Future".

Drawing on the deep connections established with Plainfield youth by the Youth Summit, the program will expand the discussion by including thought leaders, community activists and business leaders as the community looks forward.

Both segments of the program are free and the public is warmly invited to attend.

The program is being coordinated by Dr. Janice Johnson Dias, president of the Foundation. For more about the Grassroots Community Foundation, see its website here.

THURSDAY: RECEPTION AND SHORT DOCUMENTARY

The program begins with a reception hosted by Mayor Mapp on at the Plainfield Public Library on Thursday evening (October 27).

During the reception, a very short documentary film -- Bullets Without Names -- will be shown. The 9-minute documentary chronicles the experiences of a young Black male survivor of a gunshot incident (more about the film at IMDB here).

Plainfield youth will have an opportunity at the screening to express their ideas about combating violence -- and especially gun violence -- in the community.

The reception runs from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

FRIDAY: STAKEHOLDER ROUNDTABLE

On Friday morning (October 28), the program continues with a roundtable discussion to which stakeholders have been invited.

The keynote speaker for the Friday portion of the program is Dr. Joseph Richardson of the University of Maryland, who holds  PhD from Rutgers School of Criminal Justice.

The roundtable will also include opportunities to hear from our youth as well as national and local leaders on how to mobilize and unify to combat violence in our community.

The Roundtable begins at 10:00 AM and runs to 1:00 PM.

Both the Reception and the Roundtable will be held in the Plainfield Public Library's Anne Louise Davis Meeting Room. For more information, contact Jazz Clayton-Hunt at (908) 226-2507.

The Plainfield Public Library is at Park Avenue and West 8th Street and is an accessible facility. Parking is available in the 8th and 9th Street lots.

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Fundraiser for McRae and Williams Tuesday

Rebecca Williams, Charles McRae and Linda Carter
are on the November ballot, Column A.

 

With two weeks to go in the 2016 election season, Plainfield Democratic City Council candidates Charles McRae and Rebecca Williams will be the guests of honor at a fundraiser on Tuesday evening (October 25).

Rebecca is unopposed as the Citywide at-large candidate, having defeated incumbent Tracey Brown in the June Democratic primary.

Charles also won his June primary race, defeating Alma Blanco. In November, he faces former mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs, who is running as an Independent.

The cocktail reception is being hosted by Mayor Adrian O. Mapp and First Lady Amelia Mapp at their home, St. George's Manor, 535 West 8th Street. It will run from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Rebecca and Charles are part of the Democratic Column A slate, which is headed by Hillary Clinton for president, Bonnie Watson Coleman for Congress, and Plainfield's own Linda Carter, as well as Betty Jane "BJ" Kowalski and Sergio Granados for Freeholders.

Suggested donation for the fundraiser is $250. Checks may be made payable to "Rebecca Williams 2016 for Council", "Charles McRae 2016 for Council", or the "Plainfield Democratic City Committee".

Wednesday evening, the Plainfield chapter of the League of Women Voters will present the 2016 Candidate Forum between McRae and Robinson-Briggs. (By LWV rules, only positions with opposing candidates take part in the forums.)

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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McRae and Robinson-Briggs face off in LWV forum Wednesday

Candidates for the Ward 3 seat will take part in Wednesday's
Plaianfield League of Women Voters forum.

 

For ninety-six years, Plainfield's chapter of the League of Women Voters (LWV) has hosted candidate forums to introduce candidates to the public and provide an opportunity for them to discuss their views on issues of interest to the community.

The LWV will offer its 2016 Candidate Forum this Wednesday (October 26) in the Anne Louise Davis Room of the Plainfield Public Library. The forum starts promptly at 7:00 PM.

Charles McRae, Democratic candidate for the Ward 3 Council seat will face off against former mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs, who is running as an Independent.

Each candidate has provided their background information and answers to questions posed by the League. That information is available online at the League's website here.

According to LWV rules, only candidates for positions that are contested take part in its forums, which means that Rebecca Williams, who is running unopposed as the Democratic candidate for the Citywide at-large seat, will not be part of the forum.

Come a few minutes early and take in the excellent exhibit of photographs of Plainfield life and people from the Library's extensive historic collection that is currently on display in the ALD Gallery.

The Plainfield Public Library is at Park Avenue and West 8th Street and is an accessible facility. Parking is available in the 8th and 9th Street lots.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Songs of Solidarity Concert in Newark Saturday

A free concert today as part of Newark's 350th Anniversary.

 

A tip o' the hat to Plainfield Today reader Bob Bender (Patty is the retired director of the Planfield Senior Citizens Center) for the following information.

As part of Newark's celebration of its 350th anniversary this year, a series of events, exhibitions and concerts has been planned for citywide throughout the year.

Saturday (October 22) will feature a concert entitled "Songs of Solidarity: Protest Songs from Newark's Past".

The free concert is slated to run from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at the Old First Presbyterian Church.

The program will feature the Rutgers University-Newark Chorus and the Newark Philharnonic Glee Club.

Songs will be drawn from Irish, African American, Jewish, Italian, radical and labor struggles from the Civil War era to World War II.

You can follow all the programs on Newark's 350th celebration website here.

Old First Presbyterian Church is at 820 Broad Street. Map and directions here.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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