Jerry Green's flier on the primary mentions the Second and Third Ward candidate he is endorsing, Councilman Rashid Burney, and then his "opponent," Rebecca Williams.
To contrast the two (ignoring the third primary contestant, Don Davis), Green cites Burney's accomplishments and then proceeds to attach to Williams some baggage by linking her to the currently notorious Dr. Steve Gallon III. In 2008, Gallon recommended the temporary hiring of Dr. Inez Durham to hold a vacant administrative position. Green links Gallon, Durham and Williams by saying the candidate's "team" benefited from Gallon's tenure.
The use of the term "team" reminds me of the time I had the temerity to interview John Campbell for Plainfield Plaintalker in December 2008 and Green then linked me and Campbell with the McCain-Palin team.
At the time, I wrote: "Tossing out smears against people has become a recurring theme on Green's blog. Because most of his charges are vague and lack factual substantiation, or as in the above case cross lines of confidentiality, they boil down to misguided mudslinging that adds nothing to the public discourse. Having an elected official who behaves this way leads to feelings of disenfranchisement and lack of legitimate representation in the halls of government. Conversely, Green seems blind to the shortcomings of the current administration and therefore cannot address objectively such things as the churn of finance directors since 2006 and the lack of movement on capital projects."
Green's relentless condemnation of Christian Estevez continues in his campaign flyer as well. He calls the former school board member "an embarrassment to Plainfield" and claims Williams' imagined allegiance to Gallon forced her to support Estevez for re-election.
(As usual, Green uses both "embarrassed" and "embarrassment" in his diatribe. Here's a bet you will never lose: Wager that any Green speech will include these words.)
It has been a long-standing practice among the RDOs to create baggage for opponents of those on the party line. But we are not talking about Gucci- or Louis Vuitton-quality baggage that can be proved. We are talking more like what Sir Mix-a-Lot calls "Swap Meet Louie." Just don't let the Green/Mary Pong team sell it to you.
--Bernice Paglia
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It's sad...because quite honestly. If and I do mean that's a LARGE IF Burney seriously wanted to show Plainfield he means business about cleaning up the fiefdom of Mayor Jerry and his puppet Sharon he would publicly decline Jerry's endorsement and say he would prefer to have his office/seat not be stained by innuendo, incompetence and mismanagement to which Green and Briggs subscribe to. THEN I COULD VOTE FOR HIM IN A HEARTBEAT!
ReplyDeleteI feel its a shame that some who has proven such overwhelming competence in the business world pulls a Jon Corzine and allows petty party bosses like Jerry Green to run the show without putting up a fight. The fact that Jerry is slamming Rebecca and ignoring Don makes them the far more attractive candidates. But...we all know Plainfield..the sheep will slink off to the pulls and ask Jerry who to vote for! Better a dead crooked democrat over a live independent or republican. eh Plainfield?
- And so we are clear..I have changed party affiliation to Democrat..but I vote for the person, not the party, so that does put me in the top 10% for intelligence for voters in NJ.
Bernice,
ReplyDeleteThis is part and parcel of how Assemblyman Green operates, and it has apparently been endorsed by Rashid. Back in March, I told Rashid and Jerry that I would run a clean campaign, focused only on the council records of both Rashid and Don. Plainfield has had enough of gutter politics, and to continuously attack me for having the AUDACITY to want to run for local public office shows a high degree of moral bankruptcy.
As I have said in response to the calls and emails of support I have received regarding this latest attack, this is probably only the beginning. I have told my supporters to watch for more lies and attack pieces by Rashid and Jerry and their cronies to come next week. The question voters should be asking is, why is Jerry Green so desperate to have his candidate Rashid re-elected? I hope voters can read between the lines.
You point out something interesting, though, that many are asking me about. Why have they not once mentioned Don Davis, who is also running? He has a council record that Rashid should be focusing on as well, instead of trying to attack my community activism and volunteer work and my chosen career as an educator.
This negativity is why we need positive change on the city council. This is why I have been endorsed by the Plainfield community--individuals like Donald Van Blake, Dorothy Henry, Captain Siddeeq El-Amin--and other longtime activists and educators here in Plainfield.
This is another reason why Cory Storch and Adrian Mapp, who know Rashid well and have served with him, have endorsed ME instead of him--these endorsements speak "volumes" and should be given serious consideration.
We need change on the council at this critical time, Cory and Adrian have said, and I am a true independent voice to bring real change. I have always put Plainfield first.
And I always will.
All best,
Rebecca
Jerry Green and his puppet Sharon are not to be trusted and they constantly show their colors by what they do and say. I am a behaviorist and know from experience that one's behavior within the recent past is an indicator of future behavior. Both Jerry and Sharon have taken advantage of the citizens of Plainfield and have done little to improve our situation. Let's begin removing them from our sight and from office
ReplyDeleteCan't we get Jimmy McGreevey to run
ReplyDeleteIt's amusing that Ms. Williams finds Assemblyman Green's endorsement of Mr. Burney so distasteful, after all the efforts she made, unsuccessfully, to obtain that endorsement for herself.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Burney and Green have resorted to personally attacking Williams for several reasons:
ReplyDelete1) They are intimidated by her;
2) They sense they are not going to win this election and are fearful of a loss;
3) They are not competent enough to win based solely on the issues;
4) Not only do they not have anything relevant to say, but they think voters are not smart enough to elect someone based on issues so they resort to a smear campaign. This is a slap in the fact to residents.
Ms. Williams: Assemblyman Green's mail-out piece says you sought his support. Is that true? if so how can you find fault with Council-person Burney for obtaining the support you were denied?
ReplyDeleteRegarding your post here: please scale back your rhetoric. This is not "gutter politics." No one has "attacked you for having the AUDACITY to want to run for local public office." No one in this race is suffering from "moral bankruptcy." Burney's supporters are supporters, not "cronies"? No one is "desparate" to get anyone elected. No one has "attacked [your] community activism and volunteer work [or your] chosen career as an educator." None of that kind of language is helpful.
Burney has been an effective, diligent, conscientious, hardworking, responsive council-person. He brought transparency to City government by, among other things, getting Council meetings televised on the public access channel, (which you didn't do when you were running that station). You are not entitled to his seat merely because of your sour relationship with Green.
Mr. Green has pointed out simple facts. If they are not true, then point them out Bernice.
ReplyDeleteYour politically tainted piece is not like you. I know you don't like Green but is there anything false in Mr. Green's piece?
It is no different then when the New Dems go around town blaming each and everything Green.
Any employment anyone gains is called patronage. If that this true when Green control the City, then why is Ms Inez's employment after the New Dem control the school board also not patronage?
Are there double standards being applied here?
"Any employment anyone gains is called patronage" is not exactly correct. People are normally hired for their skills and talents. Patronage means getting a job purely through influence. I believe Dr. Durham is in the former category. She had the expertise needed to hold an administrative post for the time needed.
ReplyDeleteDr Durham also had the backing of the "new democrats" who controlled the school board and was a former member of the board. Now she is one of Ms Williams campaign chairs. Just a coincidence of course.
ReplyDelete