The City Council will hold its annual reorganization tomorrow, 8 p.m. in Municipal Court, at which time Cory Storch and Vera Greaves will be sworn in for four-year terms, the governing body will choose a chairman for 2012 and Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs will give her State of the City address.
To see the full agenda, click here
Among things that may unfold in the New Year, the council expects to review and possibly take action on the WBLS report, the ShotSpotter lease program may take effect, a new approach to economic development could emerge and in this mostly Democratic city voters will be urged to support an Obama re-election campaign.
The local blogosphere thinned out considerably in 2011, with only a handful of the 30 bloggers on Dan's roster actually posting on a regular basis. Newspaper coverage has also dropped off, and media observers are predicting a shift to social media for news. Where will you look in 2012 for Plainfield news?
The Star-Ledger reports an increase in homicides from two in 2009 to 11 in 2011, a 450 percent increase. But a gang truce appears to be working, according to Police Director Martin Hellwig. Crime reduction will probably remain an ongoing concern.
As a Plainfielder, what are your hopes for the Queen City in 2012? Plaintalker is hoping for common sense to prevail in government and for residents to find enjoyment and pride in living here.
--Bernice
Stop with the charades and band-aids, and make some real changes in the structure of our city government, its divisions and 'instrumentalities'.
ReplyDeleteFrom the Administration to the City Council, from the PMUA to our social service endeavors, ours is a mish-mash of unfocused and unaccountable activities. Our local government is an obstacle to a positive future, and the enabler for continued victimization at the hands of the self-interested and unscrupulous.
all the blogger should be under roof. call it the Plainfield News, instead of 5 or 10 different blog site.
ReplyDeleteBernice: thank you for doing for free what newspapers and radio stations used to pay for. Those of us who care about Plainfield would be even more ignorant if it weren't for you, Dan, Old Doc and Maria. I can see how much effort you all make, and I congratulate you - even when I disagree - for everything you do.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see the folks in charge acting proactively when it comes to building structures in town -- the crumbling building on North Avenue comes to mind. I'd also like to see history retained in the buildings rather than stucco covering intricate details of a time gone by.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see fewer vacant storefronts on the main drags in town. Landlords need to realize that small businesses in town cannot pay exorbitant rents! It's better for the buildings to be occupied without a huge profit margin than to sit empty.
As far as crime goes, the murder rate did increase. But, as a pedestrian type, I'm more worried about the street robberies which seemed to really increase in December. I'd love to see more police in the department, although I know it's unlikely due to budget restraints. However, I have a police scanner and the amount of times that I hear they have no one available to send to calls is shocking.
Our ambulance service is also lacking. We're depending on mutual aid from towns as far as Somerville!
I won't even mention that the closest animal control if a pet gets hit by a car or a dangerous dog is on the loose is in NEWARK. Oops. I mentioned it.
I have no solutions, but correcting the matters I've brought up are on my wish list for Plainfield.
What a beautiful picture. Jackie en garde.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see this communities residents organize groups that actively participate in our government by attending meetings. It's the same 10 people who keep this city on their toes. If everyone partcipated we'd have change. Just think, if we brought our city up to the realestate values in the towns surrounding us, each homeowner would likely see a $40,0000 increase in their property value. What's to lose?
ReplyDeleteIf a pet is hit by a car, you don't call Animal Control - you take him to your veterinarian.
ReplyDelete