PDCC meets Tuesday on Council vacancy; nominees email committee for support.

Filling the vacancy created by Rebecca Williams' move
to the Freeholder board is the last of the falling dominoes
set in motion by the passing of Assemblyman Green.

Plainfield Democratic City Committee (PDCC) chair Adrian O. Mapp has called a meeting of the committee for Tuesday June 12.

The principal topic of the meeting will be his presentation of a slate of three names to submit to the Plainfield City Council, which will then select one of the three to fill the vacancy created by Rebecca Williams moving up to the Union County Freeholder board.

In the notice distributed to committee members at Democratic headquarters on election night and mailed  to those not present, three names were put forward by the chair: Elton Armady, Alma Blanco, and Tony Contreras.

Armady is a committeeman from Ward 4, District 3; Contreras is a committeeman from Ward 3, District 2. Blanco, who has run several times off the line, is not a member of the PDCC (the reference in her email is to the addressees). For the reader's information I am appending each one's email at the end of this post.

This will be the last falling domino in the chain of events set off by the death of Assemblyman Jerry Green on April 18 (replacing Green with Linda Carter in the Assembly, then replacing Carter with Rebecca Williams on the Freeholder board).

The special meeting gets under way at 7:00 PM. Don't be late, though, as you may miss the action.

PDCC headquarters is at 33 Watchung Avenue (next to Antojito's Restaurant).

Visitors are always welcome though they may not participate in the meeting without the Chair's permission.

PDCC headquarters is at 33 Watchung Avenue (next to Antojito's restaurant). Parking is available on the street and in the public lot next door.

---

NOMINEE EMAILS

ELTON ARMADY

Dear Plainfield Democratic City Committee Members,

As you are all aware, Councilwoman Rebecca Williams was recently selected by the Union County Democratic Committee to fill the vacancy left by Assemblywoman Linda Carter on the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. With her departure, the at-large seat on the Plainfield City Council has become available. As a result, I’m reaching out to all members of the Plainfield Democratic City Committee to seek your full support in being nominated to fill the vacancy and be the party’s candidate in November to fill the rest of her unexpired term.

I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and my background to those of you who don’t know me well. I’m the son of Nigerian immigrants who moved to this country in search of better opportunities. After meeting in Houston, Texas, where I was born, my parents moved to New Jersey. My parents, three siblings and I have been residents of Plainfield’s fourth ward for twenty-nine years. From an early age, my parents have always stressed the importance of getting an education to be successful in life. As a result, I’m a proud graduate of Penn State University where I earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing in 2009, a Master of Business Administration in 2016 and am currently pursuing my Master of Public Administration through their online World Campus, which I hope to complete in 2019.

I believe that I’d be uniquely qualified to join the Plainfield City Council given my experiences at the federal, state, county and local levels of government. As an intern on Capitol Hill, I was given the opportunity to work in both Houses of Congress. While there, I was able to work for the late New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg, Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio, former Congressman Rush Holt and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. Through those positions, I was able to develop a deep understanding of the political process by working with legislative staff on national policy issues, attending committee hearings and tracking floor votes and debates.

After graduating with my MBA, I worked as legislative aide to the late Assemblyman Jerry Green. In that role, I advised the assemblyman on legislative and public policy matters, and provided constituent services to district residents. I currently work as a program analyst in the Department of Economic Development at the County of Union, where I manage all facilities and public improvement projects that are funded by the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). Notable projects that I’ve worked on include the rehabilitation of the Plainfield Public Library’s steps and the installation of a walking path at Milt Campbell Field. As the neediest community in the county’s consortium, Plainfield receives the lion share of the grant every year, which comes out to about 23% of $4.5 million (or ~$1 million annually). In addition to facilities and public improvements, the grant also funds many social services and housing programs in the city as well.

At the local level, I was elected to the Plainfield Democratic City Committee in 2017. I’ve also made it a point to regularly attend city council meetings starting in January to get a better command of local issues. Early this spring, I was nominated by Councilman Cory Storch and appointed by the city council to serve on Plainfield’s 2018 Citizen’s Budget Advisory Committee (CBAC). As a member of the committee, I worked with my colleagues to analyze the city’s budget and make recommendations on the administration’s funding priorities. At this month’s upcoming council meeting, I expect to be appointed to join the city’s Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) to offer my insights on the possible expansion of the historic district and work with members to address other issues.

As a 32-year-old millennial candidate, I pledge to bring a fresh perspective and new ideas to the council if I’m appointed. The initiatives that I’d focus on include the following:

• Regularly attending public events and community meetings to understand and address resident’s concerns in order to provide a high level of constituent service;
• Engaging our seniors with new programs (such as music, arts and exercise);
• Collaborating with businesses and nonprofit organizations to provide jobs and career development opportunities for our youth;
• Working with ALL of my council colleagues to ensure that timely and fiscally responsible budgets are passed and the city’s A1 long term bond rating increases;
• Identifying ways for the city’s departments to use performance measures to determine how efficient programs are being run and where savings can be made;
• Using the connections that I’ve developed over the years to liaise with all levels of government to advocate for Plainfield’s needs;
• And partnering with the Mapp Administration to continue moving Plainfield forward!

In the coming days, our local party Chairman and Mayor, Adrian Mapp, will lay out the appointment process for the committee. I humbly ask for your consideration and support. I look forward to the potential opportunity of using my energy and passion for government to serve my community to the best of my ability. I thank you all for taking your time to read my email and would be happy to answer any questions that you may have.

TONY CONTRERAS

To the PDCC and City Council members

I’m reaching out to all of you to seek your support to fill the vacancy for the at-large seat on the Plainfield City Council created by the departure of Councilwoman Rebecca Williams to be our new Freeholder.  Many of you know me from working on the Democratic City Committee but we have not had any conversation about my background and what I bring to the table for the at-large council seat. Here is a list of my work and civic experience.

Resident of Plainfield for the past 27 years.

Bilingual ( English & Spanish)

Education:

• Graduated from Robert E. Lee High School, Baytown, Texas
• BA – Social Science/ History, Thomas Edison State University

Professional Career:

25 years management experience in telecommunications, human resources and marketing.

• Manager Network Maintenance & Administration
• HR manager Network Administration Division
• Technical instructor
• Systems Engineer
• Project Manager
• Technology instructor

Systems integration consultant with AT&T, Lucent Technologies and Telcordia.

Elementary school substitute teacher.

Military Service: US Navy

• Vietnam veteran
• Advanced from E1 to E7. Commissioned as an Ensign (O1) and retired as a Lieutenant (O3) with a total of 21 years of service. Highest service award was the Joint Service Commendation Medal.

Community service activities:

• ESL tutor at the Plainfield Library for 8 years
• Plainfield Area Humane Society for 12 years
• Plainfield Symphony fund raising volunteer
• Mayor’s initiative - Vision 2025
• Member of the Democratic City Committee 

Family:

Married to Pat Van Slyke for 27 years. I have a daughter Denise who is a nurse and has specialized in the Neo-Natal ICU at several hospitals in Houston. I have two grandchildren, Cecilia and Nathan. Cecilia is married and has blessed me with a great-grandson and a great granddaughter. Cecilia is a lawyer with the VA in Dallas, Texas, specializing in labor litigation. My grandson was born with Down syndrome but is doing well.

As a first generation American, I’m well aware of the difficulties our ever increasing Hispanic community needs to over-come in their effort to assimilate into our city. As a former Board of Education candidate, I know the time requirements that will be placed on mein the November election.  My agenda as a the Councilman at Large is as follows:

• Attend community events as a means of reaching out to the citizens of the city to understand their concerns and bring those concerns back to the council. Revisit the Vision 2025 study and ensure that we are moving in that direction.
• Work with my council colleagues on issues that affect their wards and serve as a backup resource to better serve the community.
• Review our budgets to make sure the monies spent are providing the community with the best services for the lowest price.
• Work with the economic development department to attract more business to the city.
• Review the performance of the various departments in city government to make sure the community is getting the quality services they deserve and pay for.
• Drive the streets of Plainfield to get a first hand look at all the wards of the city and identify potential areas of concern, and proactively address them before our constituents feel the need to complain to get our attention.

You may have seen me participating in local running events so you know I have a high energy level. As a retiree I can devote as much time as needed to fulfill the requirements of Councilman at Large. There you have it.

I respectfully ask for your support and thank you for taking the time to review my qualifications.

ALMA BLANCO

Good Afternoon,

I am reaching out to you as a distinguished Plainfield Democratic Committee Member. I am honored to be chosen by our Mayor as one of the names to be considered to fill the current City Council At-Large vacancy. Our Mayor has clearly reflected his true intent to unify our great city and strengthening our local democratic party. In the past, we may have been on opposing sides. Just as history has shown, even our greatest politicians have been on grueling opposite sides, such as Obama and Biden and Obama with Hilary. They chose to sit down and work with each other and with that unity, we experienced great strides in our country. With Mayor Mapp choosing my name for consideration, he has chosen this same symbol of unity that great political figures before him have chosen and all for the sake of progress while combining like-minded passion to reflect that working together and not against each other is the only way to advance the future of Plainfield. After running for City Council twice unsuccessfully, I have not given up my passion for involvement. The tenacity and determination I have demonstrated is what I can offer as my role as Councilwoman if I am chosen. I have continued to seek a platform that would combine my desire to serve the community along with showing my willingness to join the progress that our city has experienced under our current leadership. This is what lead me, over time, to expand my views and vision and acknowledge that I too share the same direction that our Mayor and this Administration is heading. Our next Council member will need to bring innovation to the table, as well as diversity, and new ideas that will benefit Plainfield moving forward. I can offer this along with the ability to create inroads to further unify our city. Through progress, we all benefit. I want to express my sincere desire to work collaboratively with our Mayor, current Council members and this Administration to create pathways to continue to grow our city forward.

We must ensure our city continues the positive trend of redevelopment and success that requires effective teamwork while tearing down any barriers that separates our communities. We can only do this with the right elected officials that seek the same common goal. I am excited that I can be part of the team that will continue to move Plainfield in the right direction. I conclude with humbly asking for your vote and support to allow me to serve as your next Councilwoman of this great city.

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

Shakespeare in Bloom at Cedar Brook Park today

A new rustic fence has replaced the former picket fence.

Plainfield Garden Club members will host the group's 'Shakespeare In Bloom' event this Saturday, June 9, from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM at the garden in Cedar Brook Park.

Founded in 1915, the 103 year-old club is a member of the Garden Clubs of America and has taken on the responsibility of maintaining the Shakespeare Garden for the public's enjoyment since it was first laid out in 1927 as part of the Olmsted-designed Union County Parks system. The Shakespeare Garden is on the NJ Women's Heritage Trail (more here).

Early June is considered the prime moment in the garden's annual cycle of plants in bloom, so you can look forward to spectacular flowers, herbs and shrubs. Members will offer guided tours of the garden throughout the event, pointing out to visitors that all the plants featured in the elaborate beds are mentioned in Shakespeare's writings.

Plainfield's Shakespeare Garden is one of fewer than a hundred such worldwide celebrating the playwright and poet who helped shape the modern English language.

As always, there will be heirloom plants on sale and refreshments offered by members of the club. For more information, check the Plainfield Garden Club website here, where there are extensive resources on the history of the club and the Shakespeare Garden.

The event is free and everyone is cordially invited. Because Cedar Brook Park's roadways are one way, the best entry is either from Rose Street or from Park Drive, off Park Avenue. Parking is available along the park's roadways.

Rain date is Sunday, June 10, same hours.

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

Pacemaker Alert: Metal detectors now at City Hall

You WON'T find a notice like this at City Hall.

Evidently without any notice to the public**, the Mapp administration has installed metal detectors at both the front and rear entrances at Plainfield City Hall as of this week.

Readers with pacemakers (I am among them) need to be careful when entering and leaving the building.

When my pacemaker was installed last December at University Hospital in Newark, I was very carefully instructed not to go through metal detectors but to alert security personnel to my pacemaker and be patted down by hand.

I have followed that procedure ever since when attending Council meetings at the courthouse.

Though there is some informal, small-sample research on this matter on the Internet, I would still advise caution. As my mother always said, "Better safe than sorry."

**I searched the City of Plainfield website and found no references, and scrolled through Mayor Mapp's twice-weekly email newsletters and did not find any notice.

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

The 2018 Plainfield Dem Primary: A shocking X-ray

How X-rays reveal what the naked eye can't see.

First, congratulations to Ashley Davis and Joylette Mills-Ransome for winning their Democratic primary contests on June 5.

Given the lay of the land in Plainfield, we can confidently look forward to their election in November.

That does not mean that we can rest on our oars, however. Candidates up the line, especially the Senate race and that of our own Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman deserve all the effort we can muster.

What I want to do today is take a peek behind Tuesday's numbers, an "X-ray" if you will, a shocking X-ray.

Max Pizarro's InsiderNJ noted on Tuesday evening (see here) that the Union County Democratic organization took it on the chin in several races, including Linden, Roselle, Garwood and Union Township.

The story also includes Plainfield in that list, saying Scutari ally Mayor Adrian Mapp had "a thumbs up and thumbs down night," certainly an eye-catching turn of phrase.

Was he suggesting that Mayor Mapp was not rooting for both of his candidates? If true, that would tarnish the reputation of both the chair and the PDCC.

Let's take a closer look at the Plainfield situation.

OVERALL TURNOUT

I don't have figures on Plainfield's overall turnout, but it is certainly down from last year (and in Toliver's case from 2014).

ASHLEY DAVIS CAMPAIGN

Davis won her contest with 59% of the total votes cast (she got 458 to Toliver's 251).

Comparing the 2018 race to Toliver's 2014 race (also contested) is instructive. You can read my post on the2014 primary results here.

In that race, where Toliver had the backing of the PDCC (then led by Assemblyman Jerry Green), a total of 773 votes were cast of which Toliver got 63% (491) and candidates Emmet Swan and Siddeeq El-Amin got 26% (199) and 11% (83) respectively.

At a total turnout of 709, 2018's total is down about 10% from 2014, something the PDCC chair should be concerned about.

Did the turmoil created by a PDCC officer going rogue and campaigning for Toliver make a difference? That's what the numbers suggest to me.

JOYLETTE MILLS-RANSOME CAMPAIGN

Matters in the Wards 2/3 race are even more striking, because this involved two candidates who faced off against each other just a year ago, when Mills-Ransome was running to fill Rebecca Williams' unexpired term (she is running this year for a full four-term in her own right).

Let's compare the numbers:

In 2017, which was a 3-way race between this year's contenders plus Alma Blanco (aligned with mayoral candidate Tracey Brown), the numbers shook out like this:

A total of 2,926 votes were cast in 2017, of which Mills-Ransome got 66% (1,735) and Cox and Blanco got 21% (562) and 13% (332) respectively.

In 2018, with only two candidates facing off, the results are quite startling.

With just 1,999 votes cast Mills-Ransome got 60% of the vote (1,194) as compared to Cox's 40% (806).

This means that Mills-Ransome's margin went down even though there was no "spoiler" candidate.

Not only that, the total turnout dropped by more than 30%!

There are two possible causes, as I see it.

The first is that the unresolved conflict in the PDCC after the rough contest over Nick Scutari's election as the county chair either depressed the turnout or led some voters to actually go for Cox as a protest vote.

The other possibility is that Cox's Campbell-backed campaign spent more money (and covered it up) than we will ever know and that it had some effect.

It's probably a combination of both, but the  clear implication is that the PDCC needs to heal its divisions and move forward.

That will take concerted effort by the PDCC leadership.

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

In Plainfield Primary, Davis and Mills-Ransome swamp opponents

The numbers tell only part of the story of tonight's victories.

Victorious Ashley Davis (l) and Joylette Mills-Ransome (r)
thank their supporters at Plainfield Dem headquarters.
(Sorry about the pic quality, I was sitting too far back)

Cheers and applause erupted at Plainfield Democratic headquarters onTuesday night when the results of the two Plainfield races were finally flashed on the screen after the polls closed.

Newcomer Ashley Davis, running for the Democratic nomination in Ward 1 as the party's official candidate, trounced her opponent incumbent Diane Toliver -- 458 to 251.

This, despite Toliver having rogue support from within the very Plainfield Democratic City Committee itself (see my post here).

A class act all the way, Davis had her campaign Manager Nicole Billingslea distribute bouquets of brightly colored long-stemmed flowers to the many supporters and workers that she thanked in her remarks.

Working with a devoted team of helpers from throughout the city (though mostly in the First Ward), Davis smoothly and professionally responded to and overcame negative (and even hostile) sentiments among some PDCC to reach an astounding victory.

Joylette Millls-Ransome won her contest against challenger Cameron Cox, 1194 to 805. This despite considerable funding muscle from the Campbell Crew (Big John chatted with me as I left after voting at Hubbard School today).

Mills-Ransome thanked her team of stalwarts that included Dr. Inez Durham and Cynthia Lewis of her leadership team.

While the overall mood in Plainfield tonight was one of joyful victory, there are a few people who went to bed tonight deservedly eating humble pie.

Since this is Plainfield, where there were no Republican challengers in their primary, the November election is a pro forma exercise -- unless someone filed with the Union County Clerk before 4 PM Tuesday to run as an independent in the fall.

Note: Results are unofficial. Official results will be certified by Union County Clerk Joann Rajoppi in about a week.

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

Three B's for Election Day: B active, B timely, B voting

One word says it all. Do it.

Tuesday is Primary Election Day. Here are three B's for every reader:

B active

Primary Election Day is one of the biggest opportunities to participate in American democracy as each party picks its candidates for the November general election. This is no time to check out, so be there -- a lot depends on it.

B timely

Go before work. Go on your lunch break. Go after work. But go. The polls are open from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Somewhere in there is your time. Be timely!

B voting

Don't be caught letting yourself down in the democratic process.

All Democrats should vote Column B from top to bottom --

• Sen. Bob Menendez
• Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman
• Freeholders Al Mirabella, Andrea Staten and Kimberly Mouded

In Plainfield, if you live in Ward 1, your candidate is Ashley Davis.

If you live in Wards 2 or 3, your candidate is incumbent Joylette Mils-Ransome

And of course everyone is invited to join in at Plainfield Democratic Headquarters (Watchung Avenue, next to Antojito's Restaurant) after the polls close to watch the returns come in, to socialize and to enjoy a bite of food.

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

The facts behind Carmencita Pile's post regarding the Plainfield NJ Community Connect Facebook page

Sgt. Joe Friday (played by Jack Webb) in the 1950s TV show
Dragnet, had a constant catchphrase: "Just the facts, m'am."

This morning (June 4), Carmencita Pile, a city employee, an officer of the Plainfield Democratic City Committee and a former administrator of the Plainfield NJ Community Connect (PNJCC) Facebook page posted on her CTPile Facebook page (see here) a false and libelous account of how and why she was removed as an administrator of the PNJCC FB page.

Let's set out the facts, or as the 1950s cop/hero of the Dragnet TV show, Sgt. Joe Friday always said, "Just the facts, m'am":

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PNJCC FB PAGE

The PNJCC Facebook page (see here) debuted on October 6, 2011 as a project of the New Democrats for Plainfield political club. It was intended to become a place to gather together community news and events. Its partisan political sponsorship was made perfectly clear as you can see from my Plainfield Today post announcing the FB page (see here).

In addition, the page had the endorsement of New Dems chair (and then councilman) Adrian Mapp.

Once Mapp became mayor and shuttered the New Dems organization, the FB page continued, with several administrators -- including myself, Rebecca Williams and Carmencita Pile.

Over the years, there have been thousands of posts and photographs of community and political events, including partisan positions on election campaigns.

On May 24 of this year, Carmencita posted a campaign video of Diane Toliver's to the PNJCC Facebook page.

Since the page supports the Regular Democratic Organization of Union County line (what you see as Column B on the sample ballot you received in the mail), that post was taken down as inappropriate for this FB page.

Carmencita then reposted the video to the PNJCC Facebook page and it was taken down again, this over the Memorial Day weekend.

Carmencita then engaged me in a text conversation (which I have archived), complaining about the video being taken down.

I explained to her that it was inappropriate and that the FB page was supporting the RDO candidates ONLY and that she could not post that video to the FB page.

When she posted the Toliver video yet again, Carmencita was removed as a page administrator on Friday, June 1.

WHAT CARMENCITA ALLEGES (AND THE REAL FACTS)

"HER" PAGE?

Carmencita alleges that the PNJCC Facebook page is "hers". As you can see from the above brief history, it is NOT her personal page and never was; she was simply one of three persons with administrative privileges to post to the page.

STOLEN/HIJACKED/HACKED?

Carmencita uses various words in connection with her removal as administrator. However, the FB page was neither "stolen", "hijacked" nor "hacked". Her administrator privileges were simply revoked, meaning that she can no longer access the page's features or post to it.

STOLEN PASSWORD?

Carmencita alleges she entrusted her password to others, who then hijacked the FB page. This is a complete fabrication. There are NO passwords to this FB page. Or any other FB page as far as I know. One gets access to being able to post as a privilege granted by one of the page's administrators. There are no passwords and access is in no way controlled by Facebook (which a password would imply).

CARMENCITA HARASSED?

Carmencita alleges she was harassed to delete the Toliver campaign video, which she says she refused to do. She was not harassed, she was told the video was inappropriate since the FB page was supporting the regular Democratic line. The video was removed (several times) by myself as a page administrator. As said above, the entire text conversation between Carmencita and me has been archived and can be shown to prove exactly what was said.

CARMENCITA BRINGS ASHLEY DAVIS INTO IT

Carmencita brings up First Ward candidate Ashley Davis, asserting Davis "harassed ... and bullied [her] into removing the video". This is simply untrue. Ashley Davis has had no contact with Carmencita over anything to do with this matter.

Carmencita also alleges Davis, along with myself and Rebecca Williams "decided to HIJACK the FB page", again completely untrue.

I certainly hope that fair-minded readers will not let Carmencita influence them against candidate Ashley Davis, who is completely innocent of any connection to this matter.

CARMENCITA'S PHOTOGRAPHY

Lastly, Carmencita asserts "all of my photography is on this page." And further, "my Facebook friends look forward to looking up photos of themselves (emphasis added -- DD)."

Here Carmencita is treading on very thin ice. It is true that she has posted probably thousands of photos to this FB page over the years. However, when looked at closely, they are a mix of community and political activities.

This is where it gets messy. If the photographs were taken with city equipment and on city time, they are not Carmencita's personal property but are property of the City of Plainfield and should not have been posted by her to any site except the City's without prior written permission.

Posting that content to a partisan political FB page such as PNJCC could constitute misconduct, and at the very least would tend to embarrass Mayor Adrian O. Mapp's administration.

Carmenctia should understand that each photo taken is coded with the camera's ID and the time and date when the picture was taken. This information can be retrieved quite simply by anyone with the proper tools. Questions about when these photos were taken and whether it was on City time could be a public relations nightmare for the Mapp administration. Does Carmencita really want to go there?

It is sad that things have come to such a pass. I have been working with Carmencita Pile for nearly ten years, and she has always been an energetic presence in the New Democratic campaigns, and then the Plainfield Democratic organzation (of which she is now an officer) and its campaigns over these many years.

However, she cannot be allowed to write libelous things about myself, Rebecca Williams or Ashley Davis without a public response. That is the first step.

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

Follow Plainfield's Jenn Popper's walk to Maine

Jenn's walk in memory of her late husband
is raising funds for two nonprofits.

Jennifer Popper, known to all as the editor of TAPinto Plainfield, launched a 400 hundred mile walk Saturday, June 2 to Gouldsborough, Maine.

Walking in memory of her late husband who died in a kayak accident in 2016 (in which she too almost lost her life), Jenn has raised more than $15,000 online in his memory, which will go to two charities supporting the environment and healthy lifestyles. Follow here HERE, and be sure to friend her Facebook page.

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

Ashley Davis, Joylette Mills-Ransome campaigns roar into Tuesday Dem Primary

First Ward candidate Ashley Davis has the endorsement
of Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman.

Wards 2/3 candidate Joylette Mills-Ransome had a mobile
billboard at Saturday's concert in Cedar Brook Park.

Following a successful get-out-the-vote rally with Sen. Bob Menendez nd Rep. Bonnie Coleman Watson on Saturday, local candidates are roaring into their end game.

Both First Ward candidate Ashley Davis and Wards 2/3 candidate Joylette Mills-Ransome were working the Rhythm and Blues By The Brook concert on Saturday afternoon at Cedar Brook Park (where Mills-Ransome had the mobile billboard shown above making the rounds).

Davis closes her campaign with more walking and door-knocking on Sunday (the proven way to win), with robocalls by Assemblywoman Linda Carter and the candidate herself being scheduled over the weekend.

Though Mills-Ransome could have had more help in the Second Ward than she has gotten, I don't think Tuesday's outcome is in any doubt -- notwithstanding money (rumored to be from the Campbells) that Cox has spent.

Yellow box shows how Mills-Ransome opponent Cox
fared when he ran against her in the 2017 primary.

Just a gander at the returns from the 2017 Democratic Primary (above), where Cox also ran against Mills-Ransome, shows she beat him by 2 tp 1; even if he had had all of Alma Blanco's votes (not likely), she would still have beat him 2-to-1.

As for the First Ward, Daine Toliver has never had to actually run in an election. She was Assemblyman Green's pick and simply costed on having the line.

Davis, on the other hand, knows she can take nothing for granted and has worked old-fashioned retail politics (walk-and-knock) since was given the line by the Plainfield Democratic City Committee.

With moxie and smarts, she looks to bring to First Ward representation the energy that has been so lacking.

Tuesday's Democratic Primary is from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

This is an important election -- for Plainfield, for New Jersey, and to show Trump what the people think of his presidency.

Don't miss your opportunity to weigh in!

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

With Rebecca Williams as a Freeholder, the ball is now in Chairman Mapp's court

UCDC Chair Nick Scuatari and Freeholder-elect
Rebecca Williams at Thursday's special convention.

Upwards of 500 Union County Democratic Committee members met in a special convention tonight (May 31) at Union County College to select a person to fill the vacancy created by Freeholder Linda Carter's move to the Assembly.

By unanimous voice vote they selected Plainfield's Rebecca Williams. Congratulations to our Rebecca on this milestone in her career of public service.

Now that Rebecca Williams has been selected to fill the Union County Freeholder seat, the next item of business is for Plainfield Democrats to fill the vacancy that Williams' departure for the Freeholder board creates.

Plainfield Democratic chair Mayor Adrian O. Mapp finds himself with several challenges as the city committee approaches filling Williams' citywide at-large seat.

First, there is the matter of a viable candidate, as any replacement will have to run again in the November general election; the winner of that contest will fill the balance of Williams' unexpired term to December 31, 2020.

With potential opposition candidates such as former mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs and former Councilor Rev. Tracey Brown waiting in the wings, a lot hinges on the PDCC offering at least one compelling candidate to the City Council. (The PDCC is required by law to offer three names to the Council, which makes the final decision on who will fill the vacant seat.)

POTENTIAL CANDIDATES?

The first thing to note is there is no bench. Once the chairman pulled the plug on the New Democrats political club after he became PDCC chair, the party failed to develop further potential candidates with a citywide appeal and track record such as Williams nursed over nearly twenty years.

Among the current crop of Council members, only Joylette Mills-Ransome can be considered to approach Williams' experience and high regard. Unfortunately she is in the home stretch of a campaign to secure the Wards 2/3 at-large seat in her own right. So scratch that thought.

Council President Charles McRae is a relative newcomer and had to run twice to eventually win his seat representing Ward 3, achieving victory only when former councilor Gloria Taylor decided not to run. Representing just a single ward means he does not bring the citywide record and following that Rebecca earned as both a Councilor and as a community activist.

Councilor Cory Storch, currently the longest serving member (he will rack up 16 years with the completion of this -- his fourth -- term) is another possibility who only represents a single ward. Though he is well known in his own ward and certainly has always been mindful of the larger community, one has to wonder how well a white candidate would play in a city that is now mostly Black and Hispanic.

Steve Hockaday, who represents Ward 4 and is the Council's freshman member, is a protégé of the late Assemblyman Jerry Green and won his seat in a squeaker. Once again there is the lack of citywide campaign experience and a record on the Council, which are drawbacks at this time.

That leaves Barry Goode, Councilor for Wards 1/4. A tough and persistent door-knocking, street-walking campaigner, he is well-liked and has some citywide visibility. I think he is a good possibility for the nod. But then the problem would be filling his vacancy and the Chairman's grip on the First and Fourth Wards has never been beyond dispute.

Finally, there is the possibility that Chairman Mapp may favor a sitting PDCC member or even a complete novice.

(I am leaving Diane Toliver, the current Ward 1 incumbent, out of the discussion because I simply don't think she has any viability.)

THE STATE OF THE PLAINFIELD DEMOCRATIC PARTY

The chairman will also have to take into account the state of the local Democratic party, which has been in turmoil since the fractious campaign earlier this year to elect Sen. Nick Scutari to replace the late Jerry Green as chairman of the Union County Democratic Party.

That fight and its fallout as well as the resignation of the Mayor's former Chief of Staff John Stewart (who is also a PDCC committee member and officer) has left the PDCC struggling financially, costing it upwards of $30,000 in reliable annual contributions to the PDCC and various campaigns.

The Second Ward, which has always been Mapp's most reliable base, is in near revolt and several committee members have been boycotting PDCC meetings and the current primary campaign.

This has had the unfortunate effect of making Mills-Ransome's campaign more of a slog than it should have been.

Then there is the First Ward, where newcomer Ashley Davis officially has the party line against incumbent Diane Toliver who did not seek the party line but instead opted to run off the line.

Davis won the PDCC nomination in a fair and open process that was at every step under the control of Chairman Mapp.

Following the explicit instructions of the chair, she (and Mills-Ransome) set up separate campaigns and conducted separate fundraising efforts (which was not the custom in the days of the New Democrats).

Davis has done quite well and has been able to mount a full-fledged campaign with yard signs, two mailers, robocalls set for this weekend, and handout literature for when she walks the ward.

Learning that PDCC officer Carmencita Pile posted Toliver's campaign video in support of Toliver's candidacy to an alias Facebook account she maintains (as well as to another heavily trafficked Plainfield Facebook page) is causing a sensation throughout the First Ward.

Though Pile subsequently removed the posts, they will always be available on the Internet Wayback Machine for those care to see them.

As if this weren't enough of a concern, Mayor Mapp's email newsletter this past Friday (May 25) gave a laudatory profile of Councilor Toliver top billing -- right after the Mayor's piece and BEFORE his congratulations to our new Assemblywoman Linda Carter.

To say eyebrows were raised would be to put it mildly.

Once again, Congratulations to our new Union County Freeholder Rebecca Williams.

The ball is now in Chairman Mapp's court.

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

Sen. Menendez, Rep. Watson Coleman stump for votes Saturday in Plainfield

Saturday's rally in Plainfield will feature
Sen. Bob Menendez and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman
who are at the top of the Plainfield ballot.

Sen. Bob Menendez, who is at top of the ticket in the June 5 Democratic Primary, will campaign in Plainfield Saturday in a get-out-the-vote rally aimed at revving Democrats up for next Tuesday's election.

Our own Congresswoman Bommie Watson Coleman will also be a headline speaker, along with Rep. Donald Payne, Jr., and Rep. Albio M.Sires.

The event is being hosted by Union County Democratic Committee chairman Nick Scutari, Assemblywoman Linda Carter, Assemblyman Jamel Holley, Assemblywoman Annette Quijano and Plainfield Mayor Adrian O. Mapp.

The rally will run from Noon to 2:00 PM at the Art Loft, 158 East 2nd Street (corner of Gavett Place).

Parking available in the public lot across Second Street (and Mayor Mapp also announced that the UCIA parking deck at the Jerry Green Office Building would be available for use by the public on Saturday).

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

(UPDATED) Plainfield YMCA closing forever Thursday

The YMCA has stood at Watchung Avenue and
East 6th Street for 95 years. It closes forever Thursday.

[UPDATED at 11:20 AM: Board President Kieran Anderson informed me by text message Wednesday morning that while the building will no longer house the YMCA and is to be sold, the organiztion will continue to offer its programs at another location in the city.

Further, their labor attorney advises them that since there are fewer than 100 full-time employees (there are just 10), the WARN Act on noticing employees does not apply. -- Dan]

Word came out of the blue Tuesday evening that one of Plainfield's oldest and most cherished institutions -- the Plainfield YMCA -- is closing its doors forever as of the end of business Thursday, May 31.

Those who follow these things know that the YMCA has been in financial difficulties for quite some time -- since before the current CEO Ravenell Williams came on board.

The board has struggled valiantly to keep the organization afloat, and high hopes were helf out for the construction of a residential facility for those who "age out" of foster care.

Such a program was expected to provide individual living spaces for these late-teen young people as well as services to help them navigate the world of work, achieving financial stability and eventually moving out on their own.

Though partial funds for the project were designated by the state, the YMCA simply wasn't able to swing the deal.

According to the Plainfield Public Library (see here), which has one linear foot of YMCA records in its Plainfield collection, the Plainfield YMCA was actually organized in 1868, the year before Plainfield was incorporated as a city. That would make 2018 its 150th year of service to the community.

Though interest in a YMCA for African American residents surfaced in 1894, it wasn't until 1923 that a local African American dentist Dr. A. E. Thompson led a funding campaign that led to the establishment of the Moorland Branch.

When that building burned down in 1955, many in the African American community felt that it should not be rebuilt and that the Moorland Branch should be merged into the Central YMCA.

After much controversy, this was done, with the staffs and memberships of the Moorland Branch merged into the Watchung Avenue site.

In 1952, the creation of "family memberships" gave women and girls full access to the YMCA's programs, which was actually progressive for the time but had the unfortunate effect of putting pressure on its sister organization, the Plainfield YWCA.

2018 marks the 95th year that the YMCA has welcomed youngsters and adults to its nationally landmarked facility on the corner of Watchung Avenue and East 6th Street.

As sad as the closing is, it is even sadder that the YMCA and its Board did not see fit to give employees any more of a heads up than a notice on Tuesday. That certainly doesn't accord with state and federal law in these matters, but who you gonna complain to?

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.