"Nothing will be done before the primary," he said.
Plainfield has two municipal races in the June primary, for the Second Ward seat and also the First and Fourth Ward at-large seat. The primary winners will run in the Nov. 8 general election. Kobitz said even if wards change, winners of the general election will serve until their terms are up.
Kobitz said a ward commission consisting of two Republicans and two Democrats will look at the ward lines with the goal of having not more than a 10 percent population difference among the wards. In case of a tie, the municipal clerk has the deciding vote.
District lines will be done later and will be based on voting, not population.
The commission must call a meeting by April 15 and will have three months to do its work. It will reward by the end of June or the beginning of July, Kobitz said.
George Gore, chairman of the Plainfield Human Relations Commission, challenged Kobitz by saying a 5 percent difference, not 10 percent, had been used in past rewarding.
"What has to be looked at is what's best for the city - one man, one vote or voter turnout," Gore said.
Gore said the Human Relations Commission would be holding hearings on the process.
"Yes, the county is responsible," he said, but added, "You, the citizens have the right to look at the map and say, that's the map you want."
Kobitz repeated that the rewarding would be done by one man, one vote and districts would be drawn by voter turnout.
In public comment later, Gore mentioned the fact that the city came up 192 short of 50,000 in the census and said the NAACP and other groups will be working to get "full status." He said people of color are now 47 percent of the city population and predicted "anarchy" if residents don't come together.
Jeffery Dunn, president of the Plainfield Chamber of Commerce, echoed Gore's remarks about the need to attain a count of 50,000 and alleged "some type of conspiracy" in the shorter count.
The city administration has announced an appeal of the census count and has 180 days to complete the appeal.
If the city can prove its population meets or exceeds 50,000, it can receive federal block grant funds directly without having to go through the county.
"It's about money," Dunn said.
--Bernice Paglia
Always with the money. Like vultures sweeping in on a dead carcass.
ReplyDeleteJeffrey "Glenn Beck" Dunn alleges there's a conspiracy to short count the census? Really? The only conspiracy is the consistent nomination and election of incompetent leaders who can't think past their church or block to get some hard jobs done right.
ReplyDeleteGeorge Gore predicts "anarchy"? Because 47% isn't enough of a head start to remain in control?
Isn't giving AJ the deciding vote in the redistricting process the same as giving Jerry Green the deciding vote? And he says he's not the boss of Plainfield. Yeah, right.
The "J" in "AJ" must stand for jerry. But Kobitz is right on this one...
ReplyDeleteSad to see Eric Watson go before Jerry. Jerry and his old school politics are the root of all problems in Plainfield. PLEASE JERRY, just go away! Please! And once Jerry is gone, everyone will blame all the problems on Sharon. Once Sharon DOESN'T get re-elected then and only then will the Council and others have to take real accountability and that my friends is when the City will really be able to move forward.
ReplyDeleteI'll save my comments for AJ in the years to come as he deserves a fair chance to prove himslef.
Thank you 8:57 AM
ReplyDeleteIncompetence IS the only conspiracy in this City.
When are folks in Plainfield going to realize that voting for your friends is not necessarily the right answer for any of us.
Can anyone answer why Plainfield has been in a hole for so long?? Since, like, the late 60s??Seriuosly, can anyone answer that?
We need a fresh start! and I don't know that redistricting is the answer, not in this town.
I think Mr. Gore was spot on when he talked about the citizens needing to get involved. I had never met nor heard of Mr. Gore, but his responses were cogent and much needed.
ReplyDeleteI hope Mr. Gore is successful in bringing Plainfielders together through his valuable service. He could not have said it better when he voiced his opinion that Plainfield worries about the small stuff, and the things that really affect us - well, we don't seem to care about it that much (paraphrased). You are right on, Mr. Gore.
@8:57 a.m.: AJ is well aware of the statutory nature of his position and I'm sure he intends to live up to its requirements. Call me naive, but I don't think he is going to bend to political pressure.
ReplyDeleteBernice, I am with you on AJ. He is a smart man who knows politics and their ramifications. But, he is also a fair man with a conscience and from what I can tell was raised well. He will do the right thing.
ReplyDelete