A second thought on pay-to-play: Close that loophole

I'm having second thoughts about one of the pay-to-play 'reforms' posted on Plainfield Today on Wednesday: Raising the contribution disclosure level from $300 (to $1,000 is suggested).

When ELEC's chairperson Jerry Fitzgerald English put forward his reform proposals in the agency's July newsletter (see here, PDF), I thought the proposals would go a long way to helping free New Jerseyans from the excesses of the corrupt pay-to-play atmosphere.

Now that it seems legislation may actually be put forward, by State Sen. Tom Goodwin (see story here), I am having second thoughts about the fourth of English's points, raising the disclosure.

English argues that because this is New Jersey, the limit is unrealistically low.

Upon reflection, it seems to me that this would be a major LOOPHOLE to any effective reform.

As things stand now, non-cash contributions up to $300 are exempted from the requirement that the donor's name, address and employer be reported.

The way many vendors get around the pay-to-play restriction is to have spouses, relatives, in-laws, employees and other make contributions to the $300 limit, meaning that the donor information will not have to be reported.

These contributions are often 'bundled' into one envelope presented to the candidate together, just so the candidate should understand exactly how much money has been generated by the vendor.

It's been a loophole all along.

Raising the limit to $1,000 would simply make it easier for it to continue to be an even more effective loophole, making it possible to raise larger sums without any reporting requirement.

A more gutsy 'reform', in my mind, would be to eliminate the exemption and simply require ALL contributions to be reported (as is the current situation with CASH DONATIONS, for whom the donor must be reported no matter how small the cash contribution).

Will somebody propose it?

Hey! This is New Jersey, what do you think?

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• Plainfield Today:  "Will Robinson-Briggs lose favorite pay-to-play trick?"
• PolitickerNJ:  "Goodwin running with ELEC ball"
• ELEC:  "ELEC-tronic: July 2010" (PDF)

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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UPDATE: Plainfield Primary Election turnouts, 2010 vs. 2006

Did a contested Wards 2/3 Dem primary drive up voter turnout?

A Plainfield Today reader complained about what they considered the low turnout in the 2010 Democratic Primary. That got me to comparing the Wards 2/3 turnout with those two wards' registration, which gave a turnout rate of 21% (see here) and which I posted about last month -- not shabby at all!

While digging through the archives for another matter the other day, I stumbled across my report of the 2006 Primary Election (see here) --

...[y]ou may be forgiven if you hardly knew there was a primary vote yesterday for the City Council's Ward 1 and Wards 2/3 at-large seats. Signs for Rayland Van Blake and Rashid Burney were not in evidence before mid-day Monday -- the day before the election. Neither the Democrats nor the Republicans did any mailings. So, for the first time in living memory, the number of voters who turned out outnumbered the yard signs it seemed to me. But you will look in vain in the print editions of either the Ledger or the Courier for numbers. The Ledger only checks off the winners, and the Courier's print edition snubs Plainfield altogether (remember when it used to be the Plainfield Courier-News?). Oh yes, the numbers? Ward 1: Van Blake - 166, Johnson - 18; Wards 2/3: Burney - 496, Perun - 124."

In 2006, a grand total of 496 Democrats turned out to vote in the Wards 2/3 (uncontested) race -- LESS THAN A THIRD of the number turning out in 2010.

On the other hand, Councilor Reid in the 2010 Ward 1 race outpolled Rayland Van Blake's 2006 turnout by 80 votes, nearly half as many more.

At the same time, the Republican votes in both Wards 2/3 and Ward 1 remained relatively constant --

	TOTAL VOTES CAST
WARDS 2/3 GOP
2010 (Pivnichny)	127
2006 (Perun)	124
WARD 1 GOP
2010 (Alfred)	13
2006 (Johnson)	18
WARD 1 DEM
2010 (Reid)	246
2006 (Van Blake)	166

As I don't have the 2006 registration figures, it is not possible to compare the actual turnout PERCENTAGES.

But make no mistake, the 2010 turnout clearly exceeded the 2006 turnout, and I think that having a contested primary had a great deal to do with it.

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• Plainfield Stuff:  "Plainfield 2000 Primary Election results (Council)"
• Plainfield Today, 6/7/2006:  "An election? Who knew?"
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Plainfield officer elected national president of Latino peace officers group

Edwin Maldonado, new national president
of the National Latino Peace Officers' Assocation.

Plainfield police officer Edwin Maldonado was elected national president of the National Latino Peace Officers' Association (LPOA) at its 37th national convention in Austin, Texas this past weekend (more here).

Maldonado, a popular cop known to everyone as 'Eddie', is a lifelong Plainfield resident and a twelve-year veteran of the Plainfield Police Division. He founded the New Jersey chapter of the LPOA in August 2003, and quickly became recognized as a leader in the field of of law enforcement, community policing and community service. New Jersey now boasts six chapters of the national organization (see here).

The organization's goals include promoting equality and professionalism in law enforcement, recruiting Latinos into law enforcement, bridging the gap between Latinos and law enforcement, and honoring family, education and community through service and mentoring.

Maldonado has been recognized for his service and leadership with three Meritorious Duty awards, five Excellent Duty awards, five Commendation awards, one Life Saving award and  numerous letters of commendation. He is a graduate of the Union County Police Academy and is certified in arson investigation, hostage negotiation, community policing, and as a personal protection specialist, in addition to being an instructor at the County police academy.

The LPOA is the largest Latino law enforcement organization in the United States, boasting 75 chapters or chapters-in-organization (see here), grouped in five regional associations. The organization includes chiefs of police, sheriffs, police officers, parole agents and federal officers employed at the local, county, state and federal levels.

Congratulations, Eddie!

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• NJLPOA:  "NJ Latino Peace Officers Ass'n"
• LPOA:  "US Chapters"
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Will Robinson-Briggs lose favorite pay-to-play trick?

Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs has been hard at work for more than four years now trying to show her support for those who helped put her in office in the first place (Remington and Vernick comes to mind). But the favorite trick of Plainfield pols (and others) -- awarding highly lucrative contracts by the 'fair and open' process -- may be facing its demise.

In its July newsletter (see here, PDF), ELEC's chairperson Jerry Fitzgerald English argues that the 'fair and open' contract awards process should be dropped.

A huge loophole, 'fair and open' allows contracts to be awarded without public bidding to those firms on a list of vendors whose 'qualifications' have been solicited through advertising or on the municipal website, and which list has been adopted by the governing body. Although everything takes  place (theoretically) in public view, there is no public bidding.

The lists of 'qualified' vendors just happens to include major donors to the politicians, and it is all legal though it stinks to high heaven.

At least up until now.

ELEC chairperson English wants to see several changes made --

1. A SINGLE pay-to-play law covering state and local situations;
   
   
2. Eliminate the 'fair and open' contract-awarding loophole';
   
   
3. Lower the reporting threshold on contracts to $17.500 per year;
   
   
4. Raise the contribution disclosure level from $300 (to $1,000 is suggested).

All of these would help to further cripple New Jersey's notorious pay-to-play culture, of which the 'fair and open' abuse is a leading example.

Let's hope the Legislature sees it the way ELEC does.

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• ELEC:  "ELEC-tronic: July 2010" (PDF)
• DCA:  "Fair and Open Process FAQ" (PDF)

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Census 2010 may bring big changes to Plainfield

Dr. Ernest Reock's guide to redistricting in New Jersey.

Plainfield's 2010 Census is being handled much differently from that of 2000, as far as I can see, and that portends possible big changes coming.

Depending, of course, on what is happening elsewhere in New Jersey and whether or not Gov. Chris Christie will speedily 'promulgate' the Census findings when they are expected to be delivered to him in early February 2011.

Breaking the 50,000+1 barrier for Plainfield has consequences that have previously been noted (see here) --

...[g]etting a census figure of 50,001 residents would mean that Plainfield would get its CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) monies DIRECTLY from HUD. For decades, Plainfield has had to suffer the indignity of monies generated for the programs by virtue of its economic profile going to other Union County communities whose profiles would not generate the same level of revenues. All under the watchful eye of a committee said to be attentive to the desires of 65 King Street [the home of Union County Dem chairperson Charlotte DeFilippo]...

But there are other impacts -- the city's wards will have to be redrawn, the Legislative district may shift as well as the Congressional district.

PLAINFIELD WARDS

Plainfield's four wards were redrawn after the 2000 Census.

Based on the Supreme Court's 'one man, one vote' ruling (Reynolds v. Sims, 1964 -- see here), Plainfield four wards are supposed to represent approximately one fourth of its total residents in each. (Voting districts are an entirely separate matter; a district is determined by the numbers of voters who turn out on average, accounting for the disparity between high- and low-turnout areas in the city.)

As population distribution patterns in the city fluctuate, Ward lines are redrawn to maintain the relative equality. After the 2000 Census, Ward 2 was extended northward to George Street (from South Avenue) and Ward 3 was extended northward to include portions of West 4th Street (from West 7th Street). Both these adjustments reflected a growth in the total populations of Ward 1 and Ward 4.

My gut feeling is that that trend will show itself to have continued in the 2010 Census, and that may mean further changes to the boundaries of the four wards.

Those changes will be made by a Board of Ward Commissioners that will include the four members of the Union County Board of Elections (2 Dems and 2 Republicans) plus the municipal clerk (who has the tie-breaking vote).

I have the current Ward maps online --

• Ward 1 

• Ward 2 

• Ward 3 

• Ward 4

It is most likely the new ward alignments will be in effect for the 2012 election cycle.

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS

The 22nd District includes towns in 3 counties.

Demographic changes may also affect the outlines of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts. Although Union County is not expected to have grown that much, growth spurts in other areas of the state can cause the average number of voters to be included in a legislative district to cause the boundaries of the 22nd District to shift (for more on our district, see here); for more on municipal population estimates statewide, see here).

This will be an interesting one to watch, also expected to first affect the 2012 election cycle.

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Our Congressional district is a textbook case of gerrymandering.

After the 2000 Census, Plainfield was added to the 6th Congressional District, whose representative is Frank Pallone.

The district is the very model of modern gerrymandering, Plainfield looking like the head on a very attenuated dragon.

New Jersey is widely expected to lose one of its 13 seats in Congress in this next go-round, meaning all of the Congressional district boundaries will have to be redrawn by the NJ Redistricting Commission (the responsible body -- see more here). This is sure to get interesting as incumbents try to jostle each other to keep their seats. As growth has shifted to central and southern sections of the state, boundaries of the districts in the urban north and east are likely to be shifted outwards.

For a detailed overview of the complete redistricting process, you can do no better than to download, read, mark and digest Dr. Ernest Reock's Redistricting New Jersey After The Census of 2010 (available here, PDF).

Whatever Plainfield's final count in Census 2010, there is certainly going to be plenty else to keep an eye on, which is likely to affect us in ways both large and small.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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An Independence Day Celebrations Album

U.S. flag and flags of the states decorate the reviewing stand.

An small album of photos from Plainfield's 2010 celebration of Independence Day.

From Saturday's 87th Annual Independence Day Parade --

Kids love parades,  no matter what.

Waiting for the next unit is half the fun.

Uncle Sam on stilts is always a hit.

Mohawk Lodge's marching unit.

The Plainfield Soccer Club.

Plainfield's Girl Scouts march.

N.J. Wolves.

Plainfield's New Democrats
with candidate Rebecca Williams (right).

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From Saturday and Sunday's Hispanic Festival in celebration of American Independence --

The crowd enjoyed live music both days.

Kids lined up for pony rides,
including this toddler with sombrero.

Kabobs, flame-grilled flank steak
and other treats drew hungry crowds.

There were lines at every food vendor's stall.

Spider Man moonwallk was a big hit.

...as was the mechanical bull ride
(and not just for boys).

Vendors had plenty of merchandise,
including cowboy boots...

...and soccer outfits for the little ones.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Environmentalist makes Plainfield stop on cross-country motorcycle tour

Plainfield will be the site of a stop on environmentalist Anthony Marr's 7th cross-country motorcycle tour to raise awareness of environmental issues. Residents Carol Davis and Michael Jessie will host a fundraiser Monday, July 5, in support of the tour at their home on Watchung Avenue. Marr will give a presentation to all in attendance.

Marr, founder and president of Heal Our Planet Earth (HOPE), has embarked upon his seventh motorcycle tour to raise awareness about critical issues facing the immediate future of the earth and its inhabitants. Beginning in Vancouver, Canada, Marr is making his way, in an eco-friendly fashion, through 40 US states.

For additional information, or to make a reservation, please contact Carol Davis at (908) 875-6161, or carolfdavis@aol.com.

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• Eventbrite:  "Environmentalist makes Plainfield stop in cross-country tour"
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Independence Day celebration continues with Hispanic fiesta today

From 1:00 to 10:00 PM today, Independence Day festivities continue with a Hispanic festival sponsored by Club Faraone's in Parking Lot 8, which runs along the Green Brook from Watchung to Park Avenues behind the Front Street stores.

Food, music and tchotchkes will be found in abundance.

Come out and enjoy!

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Independence Day Celebrations: Parade, Hispanic Festival

This year's parade is the 87th.

Plainfield's 87th Annual Independence Day Parade steps off at 10:00 AM this morning.

The 54-unit parade will proceed down Front Street from Johnston Avenue, passing two reviewing stands before ending at Park Avenue.

Visitors and residents alike always arrive early to stake out the best (and shadiest, considering what a hot day we are expecting) viewing spots.

From 1:00 to 10:00 PM today and tomorrow, the Independence Day festivities will continue with a Hispanic festival sponsored by Club Faraone's in Parking Lot 8, which runs along the Green Brook from Watchung to Park Avenues behind the Front Street stores.

Food, music and tchotchkes will be found in abundance.

Come out and enjoy!

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Administration's financial moves spark Council fireworks

So the Plainfield City Council had two one-item meetings ('special' and 'emergency') back-to-back Thursday evening. Easy in, easy out, right?

Wrong!

The Administration's handling of the two items did nothing to allay the sparks that have flown recently in its dealings with the Council, erupting in real fireworks last night, before the Council was finally able to exert its authority.

First up was the (apparently) relatively innocuous adoption of a 3-month temporary budget pending the introduction and adoption of the FY2011 budget (promised by the Administration for late August-early September).

When the Administration revealed it did not intend to make its usual application for extraordinary (now called 'transitional') aid, Councilor Mapp observed that would have a double-edged impact: while the budget process might be sped up not having to wait on the state's aid figure, the discipline imposed by the state on local spending (such as eats, trips and hiring) through the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) it required of Mayor Robinson-Briggs this year would be lacking.

Councilor Storch wondered whether the Council had the power to impose restraints similar to those of the MOU on its own, to which Corporation Counsel Dan Williamson replied he 'didn't know'.

After discussions about why more money was being asked for IT staff (answer: it's a specialized civil service title which no one in the city currently has) and the Council's ability to decide the appropriate level of funding for the Library (underscored by Councilor Mapp with the assertion that he would like to see the Council limit the Administration in the next round of temporary funding to a month-to-month allotment), the temporary budget was adopted (with Councilor Rivers participating by phone).

But the fireworks erupted over the 'emergency' meeting's item: transferring unspent surplus funds from FY2010 to accounts facing unpaid FY2010 bills and charges. There is nothing new about this; it is done year after year in Plainfield and other towns.

What set off the Council was that the Administration had ignored its request to appropriate $54,000 in funds for the Historical Society to supply the missing 'match funds' for restoration/renovation work done this past spring at the Drake House.

Its entry was rebuilt with a new porch and ADA-compliant ramp (see my previous post here), which just missed being seriously damaged when one of two mighty oaks in its front yard split and fell last week, brushing the building's facade (see here).

The Historical Society folks have been trying to get the issue of the matching funds -- which they say were promised by Mayor Robinson-Briggs -- since last July. A Council majority has weighed in in favor of the funding in recent months, but the Administration has consistently refused to consider the payment.

Councilor Reid held out long and forcefully for not granting the appropriation, saying he had no proof the work was done in FY2010 (as would be required), that it met the conditions of New Jersey's public bidding law (that one is unintendedly ironic), or that the work was done properly.

Reid was adamant, despite others (McWilliams, Carter, Mapp and Storch) pointing out that it was an APPROPRIATION, not the paying of a bill, and that it was the same as other appropriations in the same resolution he was ready to approve, for bills expected to come in, but not yet in hand.

After a l-e-n-g-t-h-y debate the Council finally voted UNANIMOUSLY to transfer the funds (as amended in a motion by Councilor Storch), as requested by the Administration, with the only change being to include the Council's Drake House appropriation.

(Councilor Rivers had in the meantime joined fellow members and the table, and Councilor Burney took part via speakerphone.)

The fireworks display at Cedar Brook Park tonight can only come in a close second, if even that.

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• Plainfield Today --
• 4/25/2010:  "Drake House steps up to accessibility issue"
• 6/24/2010:  "Drake House grazed by falling tree"
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Jerry pulls a post in support of Mayor's 'state of emergency'?

Email notice of Jerry's post supporting the mayor.

Plainfield Assemblyman Jerry Green appears to have had second thoughts about a blog post he made yesterday in support of Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs' 'state of emergency' over the outbreak of recent gang violence.

The Internet is so wonderful!

Since there is not time enough in the world to hunt for Plainfield-related news all day, every day, I have learned to set the Web to work for me rounding up these items as they appear and sending me email alerts throughout the day.

The email pictured at the top of this story arrived in my mailbox in late afternoon, but I didn't get to check it until after Council. Clicking on the link in the email took me to a 'page not found' message, rather than to the expected page (see image below).

Clicking the email's link took me to an error page.

However, the Internet being a place where nothing anyone posts ever really dies, I did a Google search for selected text from Jerry's missing post, and -- voilà -- a link showing some of the text, and even a little image of Jerry's blog. (UPDATE: Turns out what Jerry had actually done was post the June 23 Courier story on the Mayor's 'state of emergency' press conference -- see the Google cached copy, with text highlighting, here.)

So, did he withdraw his support of the Mayor's 'state of emergency' or did he get word that the Mayor thinks she didn't declare a 'state of emergency'?

What Google found when looking for Jerry's 'missing' post.

Whether the Internet is making things easier -- or harder -- is, I suppose a matter of one's point of view.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Dave Wynn playing politics with July 4 Parade?

Image from New Dems banner.

Is Plainfield's rec division director Dave Wynn playing politics with the July 4 Parade (which steps off TOMORROW, Saturday July 3, at 10:00 AM)?

That's the question that comes to mind when I found out that New Dems chairperson Adrian Mapp received a call from the Rec Division (but not from Wynn himself) late yesterday afternoon, advising him that the New Dems were being moved from position 28 in the 54-unit parade to position number 48.

(UPDATE, Noon: I am told by Adrian Mapp that the reason given by the caller from Rec for the shift in position was 'to put you in the more patriotic section' of the parade. Excuse me? The Independence Day Parade, and the 'more patriotic' section is at the rear instead of the front?! You might also want to read the rules and regulations pages of the document posted online and see just how patriotic everyone is expected to be. These people can't even lie creatively. Wait a minute! Could it be they're not lying?)

Here's a portion of the June 24 letter from Wynn to Mapp, assigning the group slot number 28 --

Wynn's letter assigned the New Dems slot #28.

Politics?

In Plainfield?

Please, Dave, say it ain't so.

Meanwhile, I'll be out with my camera tomorrow as usual, looking for you enjoying the parade, whatever position you find yourself in.

Here's the entire document from the Rec Division:

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Plainfield July 4 Parade - New Dems Lineup

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Yet another Plainfield shooting Wednesday

Plainfield's gang wars evidently continue. I am told of yet another shooting, Wednesday night, in the 900-block of West 3rd Street. Victim known to police as a gang member. See more in Friday's Courier story here.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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A sweet break from Plainfield politics, sort of

 

I know you will find this hard to believe, but Plainfield politics can be vexing, especially on hot days.

So, it was pleasant last evening to lay aside the ins-and-outs of why there was no tour of the city-owned Tepper's basement yesterday and the pluses and minuses of the city's IT situation as presented by IT manager Chris Payne (more on both later), and indulge a table of sweets set out by one of Plainfield's favorite caterers.

That would be Sandy Spector, who happens also to be chairperson of Plainfield's Republican city committee.

Sandy emceed a friendraiser event for City Council candidates Jim Pivnichny (Wards 2/3 at-large) and Sean Alfred (Ward 1), graciously hosted by Piv and his wife Joan Van Pelt at their home. (I was a guest at Piv's invitation, for which I thank him kindly.)

As it turns out, the group, which filled the couple's spacious living room, also got to hear from Highlands mayor Anna Little, who is challenging Frank Pallone in the 6th Congressional district; Ellen Dickson, Summit council member running for Union County Freeholder, and 'Bo' Vastine, candidate for Scotch Plains Town Council (and opponent of Jerry Green in last year's legislative race).

Noting that they all had uphill battles in a very blue county and congressional district, each candidate reiterated the importance of keeping the two-party system viable by putting candidates forth and actively working for election, as well as ensuring that the public gets to hear all points of view in deciding who to vote for.

A two-party system? How American! (One-party rule just doesn't turn out well for the people; just think of the Soviet Union and Cuba.)

Choices? Again, how American!

Hearing out all opinions? In America?

And with homemade brownies, too?

Like I said, a sweet break from Plainfield politics, sort of.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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What is a 'special emergency Council meeting' anyhow?

Image of meeting notice received.

I got a communication from the Clerk's office about tonight's 'special emergency' Plainfield City Council meeting.

The Council had originally scheduled a 'special' meeting to address the introduction of a temporary budget as we enter (today) the new fiscal year.

Since fund transfers between between appropriation lines in the FY2010 budget did not get enacted Monday (the  Council had expected changes from the Administration's original proposal, which turned out not to be forthcoming), the Council hoped to take up the matter at Thursday's already-noticed meeting.

This would have required some dexterity in order to meet the 48-hour notice requirements of the Sunshine Law (never mind that just about everybody who is interested in the meeting was in the room when the discussion took place).

I am guessing the notice requirement could not be met, and the decision was made to take up the item as an 'emergency'.

An emergency it may be, but a 'special emergency meeting' is like a jackalope -- you'll not find one in the real world.

Here's what I learned at 'Clerk U.' (I won't bother you with all the citation thingies; we are, after all, heading into a holiday weekend): there are three kinds of meetings of public bodies --

REGULAR
Governing bodies are required by law to adopt a schedule of regular meetings at the beginning of each year and publish same. A regularly scheduled meeting may be canceled or, with proper notice, rescheduled.

SPECIAL
Special meetings are 'special' -- they were not contemplated when the regular schedule was adopted and may be held, with proper notice, to address SPECIFIC items of business. They are limited to the items listed in the notice -- which supposedly means that WALK-ON items are not allowed, nor is DISCUSSION of any other business than that called for in the notice. (So now, explain me the 'walk-on' items at the recent Board of Ed special meeting.)

EMERGENCY
When a situation exists where action is deemed emergent and must be taken before the 48-hour notice period, an EMERGENCY meeting can be called. Again the notice must state what items will be taken up and the meeting is limited to those items. Notice must be posted in the Clerk's office, but the meeting will be legal even though notice may not appear in the designated newspapers before the meeting takes place.

These three. That's it.

As Julia Child used to say, 'Well, what would you do?'

Probably schedule the emergency meeting to start five minutes after the special meeting was slated to get under way.

So, you actually would have a meeting-within-a-meeting.

But that's only if you care about niceties.

Let's just hope they are able to get something done tonight.

Niceties can wait.

The Jackalope.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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