Take a look at the link to "Press Releases" on the city web site and you will see five for this year, between March 29 and May 17. Before that, the latest one is from March 24, 2009.
It's hard to believe that the public information function is still rudimentary after four and a half years of this administration. It is equally puzzling that the web site is so confusingly laid out. I wish I had known to look for the press release on the Hispanic Affairs commission in May. It would have been evident that it is heavily skewed toward one organization.
So now a panel discussion is imminent on a topic of great importance to the city and all we know is that The Rev. Al Sharpton will speak. Sharpton is certainly a larger-than-life personality, but can he approximate a panel?
Other things are going on that would warrant a press release, but we are left in the dark. What is the program for National Night Out? Will it be a continuation of the Tuesday night bus rides to troubled neighborhoods to counter gun violence? Or hot dogs al fresco in the City Hall parking lot?
One hopes that among the many tasks on Chris Payne's list as IT director, an overhaul of the cumbersome and confusing city web site will soon be near the top. And perhaps there is someone on board among the city's several hundred employees who could spare a few minutes to put together a press release when one is needed. The 25-words-or-less flashing gizmo is not cutting it.
--Bernice Paglia
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The nurturing mom at city hall thinks the only truly worthwhile communication with her children is verbal and the scary old grandpa in the hills thinks the fewer details about you that your enemies know the better.
ReplyDeleteActually Bernice, I am stunned you find it hard to believe that the public information function is still rudimentary after four and a half years of this administration. What incentive does Sharon have to improve ANYTHING she does? She will be voted back into office again if she decides to run and she knows it. It doesn't matter how completely incompetent she is and she knows it.
ReplyDeleteAbout Chris Payne and the website; let's hope he doesn't get mixed up with it or any other aspect of Media or information content. This is not what we need from an IT manager and I can't see anything but money thrown down the drain if we are unable to make the distinction.
ReplyDeleteNot to mention that the next communication about Plainfield will be a radio broadcast talking about gangs, guns and unemployment in Plainfield.
ReplyDeleteI get the sense that this mayor thinks she can do it all. In fact she does do it all, miserably, poorly, ineffectually, and detrementally. How pathetic.
Wow--bringing a large metro radio station to Plainfield so the mayor can focus on violent crime--the best marketing plan ever. Now NO ONE will want to move to Plainfield. Great.
ReplyDeleteMaybe if the Council would approve some form of IT staff the City of Plainfield could get out of the dark ages.
ReplyDeleteWe have a mayor who truly needs to be recalled. She does indeed do most things badly and isn't much use to the citizens of Plainfield. There is certainly no transparency to this woman who thinks she's queen. We simply can't afford her over spending and poor goverance. Let's dump Sharon. Where do I sign?
ReplyDeleteYou don't need an IT staff to type a press release, make a PDF, and upload it to the web site. All you need is the desire to do it yourself or the leadership to assign someone else to do it.
ReplyDeleteThe Council gave money for IT already.
ReplyDeleteI was horrified yesterday. I was listening to WBLS on the radio and on comes Mayor Robinson-Briggs' voice. She says she's the mayor of Plainfield, that Plainfield has had a difficult summer, that we're dealing with gangs and guns and drugs and we ask everyone to come to Plainfield to help us. Good Grief!!! No person in his/her right mind is going to set foot near Plainfield, other than the opportunists who make a living swooping into inner cities to posture for the cameras. And now, thanks to Mayor Robinson-Briggs, it's a safe bet that our real estate market will never recover and the few jobs that still remain will be leaving with the employers making a fast exit. Unbelievable!
ReplyDeleteMayor Sharon's decision to announce and air Plainfield's violence and troubles across the state is ridiculous. Whose bright idea to market the Queen City this way was this?
ReplyDeleteI see this as a nail in the coffin for any hope for Plainfield. This is a disaster and while I respect Al Sharpton if he is not talking to the gang bangers, what is he going to say?
Also, we want to know how much is getting paid for the panel service and by whom.