The sign at 400 East Front Street says Plainfield Veterans Center, but veterans say they can’t get in. And a shift from condo buyers to renters at The Monarch could make entry even more elusive.The center is to be turned over to veterans for $1 once all 63 condo units on three floors above are sold, but Lamar Mackson, commander of American Legion Post 219, has already called on city officials to find some way around the contractual requirement. Now condo lease-to-buy offers just seem like another complication.
“We are not happy about that at all,” Mackson said Thursday.
As it stands now, veterans must wait for someone to open the senior center, which is also part of the building, when they want to hold their evening meetings. Members were affronted, he said, when a police officer told them she was doing it “as a favor.”
“We have continually expressed our displeasure with this arrangement,” Mackson said.
Speaking for his group, which he says is the largest and most active veterans group in the city, Mackson said he will now be seeking explanations of what the changes at The Monarch will mean for occupying the center.
In the past two years, the city has organized Veterans Day events at the building, even though the center is not open. The events have been held outside, with receptions following in the senior center.
Mackson said the plight of local veterans – “standing out in the cold, waiting for someone to open the door” - may be brought to the attention of the American Legion’s 2.5 million members.
Regarding the promised center, he said, “We feel they have breached the contract. They should make some type of concession to the veterans.”
--Bernice Paglia
This is the typical Plainfield-style bait and switch, where no rule, regulation, law, or guidance, is not meant to be frayed and eluded.
ReplyDeleteThe city and its residents respond to bling, where no hype is hyped enough, and no controversy is nipped in the bud. Between the hype and the controversy there is little to show of substantive change and virtually no accountability.
Plainfield has become a hustler's paradise. If you're a poorly financed developer, not to worry because the city's got a place for you on any number of derelict properties. If your business is sipping from the public trough, there's plenty of room all around and the water is flowing. Results are meaningless, doing things by the book is meaningless, and everyone gets an 'A' for just trying.
We've become victims of our own indifference. The vets are no exception. When we see freebies and other pie-in-the-sky opportunities laden with caveats and convoluted formulas, buyer beware because the hustle is about to begin. The wolves are in sheep's clothing, and the welfare of the flock is the least of their concerns.
THANK YOU ANONYMOUS 8:06 AM. THANK YOU!!
ReplyDeleteSo many of the projects done in Plainfield are just half-attempts and the powers that be get applauded for just making an effort, not for actually executing a project properly or to its full potential.
It's obvious, from comments on the daily blogs, that there are so many residents in Plainfield that truly care; who can see past the political non-sense that goes on here on a daily basis.
Where are you concerned citizens? Please show yourself! We need you front and center to stop the abuse that this City and its residents have faced for years.
Don't let the leadership fool you with "goodie" bags and free dinners.
Plainfield was once a great City and has every potential of regaining its status, but we need your voice.
This is a disgrace to the men and women who put their lives on the line for us.
ReplyDeleteThey mayor is way over her head in holding that office. She has no clue how to manage, lead, or govern.
This is not rocket science, however, it does take skills that the administration does not have.
This is a disgraceful way to treat our heros, and the police officer should be repremanded and made to apologize.