The mayor's Veterans Barbecue at City Hall followed the parade.
--Bernice
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Independence Day Parade 2012
The mayor's Veterans Barbecue at City Hall followed the parade.
--Bernice
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The mayor's Veterans Barbecue at City Hall followed the parade.
--Bernice
About Me
- Bernice
- I have been reporting on Plainfield for more than 30 years, first at the Plainfield Today weekly, then at the Courier News and after retirement on the Plainfield Plaintalker blog and its successor, Plaintalker II. For feedback, questions, or corrections, send a note to: bernice.paglia "at" gmail.com.
thanks for posting Bernice.. I was otherwise committed..
ReplyDeletePlease tell us there were many returning veterans at the parade but that you got there too late to record them.
ReplyDeleteWHAT A JOKE THIS PARADE HAS BECOME
ReplyDeleteSAD SAD SAD ONCE A GREAT PARADE NOW A GREAT EMBARRASSMENT
This mayor has ruined our tri-county parade and the art show in the Library Park. Too bad for Plainfield. The few things we had that brought others to our wonderful town no longer do that.
ReplyDeleteOMG The parade was a mess and so was the concert. Does the mayor owe everyone you are going to tell me that we needed a hat fashion show and all those other acts at the concert?? Then you turn around and tell the major act that he needs to end his performance for the fireworks REALLY?? Maybe if we didn't have to hear 5000 times thanking dave wynn and maybe see all those other performances maybe Mr hewitt would have had enough time to finish his performance with an encore. Not to mention the park wasn't has crowed as it has been in the past. It is just pitiful. Once upon a time here Plainfield was the largest and the best parade in New Jersey. What happen oh I know Sharon and Dave. Wonder how much of the taxpayers money costed us this year. Don't hold out just let us know we can take it.
ReplyDeleteI didn't attend and was trying to be optimistic that I would be hearing great things about this parade, especially as its theme was to welcome home returning troops from Irag and Afghanistan, but from the looks of the pictures and the comments from those who attended, I could've predicted another mess organized by Robinson-Briggs and friends.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the older veterans seemed to be in attendance, but what about all those young returning troops from Afghanistan and Iraq? Nothing documented, at least not in Bernice's pictures.
A hat show? Really? It was supposed to be a 4th of July parade and celebration, not a fundraiser for an administration cronie!
Almost everything that comes out of Plainfield these days, and for some time now, is subpar in quality and tacky and only plays to a very small audience in Plainfield. Nothing done here has any appeal to a wider audience that would attract outsiders to come an visit our city. So, so sad!
--I believe the costs will be about $82,000. If you want to confirm this talk to councilman Reid, he has been very proud of "his" July 4th on July 7th celebration.
ReplyDeletecell:908-759-1125
E-mail william.reid@plainfield.com
He has been spending our (taxpayers) money without council approval.
Thanks for the pics but obviously we were at opposite ends of the parade because I could count on my hands the number of people I saw waiting to view the parade. Where were the thousands and thousands of spectators the mayor was counting on? I certainly hope there will be an accounting of how the money was spent because based on what I saw it certainly should be under budget. From what I could ascertain there only appeared to be 4 or 5 veteran groups there, which I thought was the main focus of the parade, yet they were certainly underrepresented. For an event that takes place every year, it certainly seemed to have no cohesiveness, organization or flow to it. It seemed to be messy, just like everything else the mayor and dave handles.
ReplyDeleteEvery single dollar of public money spent on all events associated with the Independence Day parade will be accounted for. I am still awaiting the complete budget I requested from the Recreation Division superintendent (along with all bids, required quotes, and signed contracts from every performer and vendor) weeks ago. It all bears serious investigation.
ReplyDeleteAll best,
Rebecca
JEAN,
ReplyDeleteI DON'T KNOW WHAT PARADE YOU WERE AT BUT, THIS YEARS PARADE HAD WELL OVER A MILLION PEOPLE IN ATTENDANTS. THE PATRIOTIC FLOATS WERE AS FAR AS THE EYE COULD SEE.
THE THOUSANDS OF SERVICE MEN AND WOMAN FROM ALL THE BRANCHES OF THE MILITARY WERE REPRESENTED AS THEY MARCHED DOWN FRONT STREET THE MARCHING BANDS AND COLOR GUARDS FROM ALL OVER WERE INCREDIBLE. EVERY PARTICIPANT HAD RED WHITE AND BLUE ON.
THIS PARADE WAS SO WELL ORGANIZED IT RIVALS ANY PARADE THAT NYC COULD PRODUCE.
THEN I WOKE UP AND SAW THE EMBARRASSMENT THAT WAS THE 7TH OF JULY PARADE
So $82K for a one-day affair that sounds like it was a disaster and the mayor wants to take funds away from the library that can help returning veterans find jobs that last more than one day. Hmmm... sounds more like campaigning priorities took precedence over anything else.
ReplyDeleteThe mayor may be a screw up - but the citizens voted for her. In my opinion, stop picking on tha mayor, and start picking on your neighbors who didn't vote and throw their hands up that nothing can be done in the city.
ReplyDeleteThey are right - they are doing nothing.
Rebecca, I appreciate your attempt to get a legimate accounting of the funds spent on the "7th of july" parade, but in all seriousness if you didn't get the bids, quotes, contracts or any other pre-parade information before this event you can be sure you won't get any now after what was presented to us saturday, but I wish you good luck in your endevours.
ReplyDeleteBread and circuses while the ghetto elite pilfers our hopes and aspirations. Sharon, Jerry, Alex, Bill, Dave, Malcolm, Tracey- the whole ragtag lot of 'em who bring us corruption and pain.
ReplyDeleteTo Linda,
ReplyDeleteI have been asking for this accounting for quite a while--well before the event, and all I received from Rec. Supt. David Wynn was a sloppy, incomplete Excel spreadsheet with a great deal of missing numbers. This is unacceptable and not the way legitimate municipal business is conducted. I have since discovered that there have been improprieties with regard to a parade "application" that the Recreation Division was handing out to potential vendors--with fraudulent fees attached. As I mentioned, it all bears serious investigation by the county prosecutor. If money was collected illegally with the imprimatur of the mayor and her recreation superintendent, I think that all the money should be returned, and that a criminal investigation should take place. In the world I live in, taking money illegally is called "stealing." I am not a lawyer, of course, but I will make sure the proper authorities look into it. The last thing we need is for our business owners to be extorted with fake fees, the proceeds of which end up in someone's pocket. We have a process in place. The entire WBLS event occurred due to the fact that the administration was playing fast and loose with taxpayer funds and ended up violating the law. That was bad enough, but to have merchants pay additional money for "booth" and "table" spaces that their legitimate permit fees had already paid for sounds criminal to me. We shall see what happens.
Rebecca
Rebbecca
ReplyDeleteAdmit it this parade was a diaster. Stop politicing
Miss Bernice
ReplyDeletePleas change the title of this report from Independence Day parade to Three days after Independence Day parade. Oh and see you at the 9-12 Memorial
This is Teresa (25 year resident)
ReplyDeleteAmazing to read all of this I'm not for the mayor of against the mayor. The problem is with Plainfield is all the division and hatred right here on this forum, the parade wasn't as bad as you all claimed, my children and my family from out of town enjoyed it and thought very highly of the parade and the city of Plainfield, but I understand you all need something negative to say, I was concerned after the County cancelled the usual concert that's held at Cedarbrook Park but someone at city hall still thought enough of the PEOPLE to still give the city a concert and a day fun and enjoyment which I thought was great and the turnout in the evening during a heatwave was magnificent. Alicia Myers and Howard Hewett really were good as well as the local talent they chose and even the host all did a great job. The big picture is it still was a great day in the City of Plainfield and all in one day. A parade, auto and bike show, concert at the park and then end off with fireworks which was great also. As a voter and a resident, I hear the word embarrassment thrown around alot in this forum and the true embarrassment is the lack of support for these events which is for the people. When you all play this power trip game and all of the political nonsense the only ones that gets hurt is the people. Did anyone even mention that all of the events on July 7th was peaceful, did you listen to the cheers in the crowd at the concerts for the headliners, the talent, the host and the dj. At the parade the streets were filled enough and the hispanic population were in support. The problem is not the mayor or whoever was on the event committee, it's the negativity and lack of unity within City Hall, this has got to stop. The blame and the witch hunts is causing more damage than good. Rebecca it saddens me because I actually voted for you and had respect for you and this seems more personal than about the people. I know my voice doesn't matter to you but my family who are residents and my out of town family had a beautiful day in the city and supported all the vendors as well they left saying we should move to Plainfield this place is wonderful. I think the taxpayers money should also go to counseling for the mayor and city counsel to learn how to work together instead of against one another. Stop pointing fingers people and exaggerating about how terrible this and that was..July 7th for once made me proud of Plainfield. Good luck with your witch hunt I mean your investigation, meanwhile the people need more concerts and parades like this past weekend. Politics over People the city loses everytime. Again the big picture IT WAS A POSITIVE DAY OF ENJOYMENT IN THE CITY. Every Stay Blessed
i just read your reply, you are on target, people from scotch plans and north plainfield and so plainfield came and they like it! the fault without helping to make things better andit was not the mayor nor dave wynn of the rec dept not the assemblyman we the people need to stop looking for faults it was if anything due to the lack of a good press release man the one we had did not do his JOB!!if he did we would have expousure on the rachel maddow show THAT I HAD OPEN THE DOOR FOR HIM plus the cycle group the rolling thunder waiting for a letter from him with a city letterhead alsofort dix with their new commander etc atc etc this is what i know for sure last year we had NOTHING. mr Terrie West is who droped the miltary ball plus other area he promised he would do and the people he knew this i turned over to him and his supposed knowledge let it be said without him! mr wynn and mr reid the mayor and our assemblyman jerry green to make the parade work for plainfield with very little COST that i know of so the fault of us not getting large amony of returning veterans as i am one we due to the trusting on one man that said i can DO IT ALL but let face it our city need postive and progressive thinking people without old antique idea that see to be all there is left are if it politics everyone cant be right nor wrong progress and unity is what we need to put plainfield where it should be without one Terrie West oh we had over 5000 people i was told ist in a very very very long time Alex TOLIVER
DeleteWell said Teresa..someone finally said what I've been thinking all along it was absolutely a fabulous day in Plainfield, the parade was good, the concert in the park was great and the fireworks were amazing, most people I spoke to had a great time and out of towners were impressed with Plainfield, I even heard I thought Plainfield was so crime ridden and violent but people are out here today having a good time. Please politicians stop with the hate, like Teresa said we need more Unity in City Hall, that money on July 7th was well spent and Kudos whoever planned the events of that day. I'm not a mayor supporter but geesh even when she tries to do good she's faced with so much opposition and hate, I'm starting to think the problem is not her at all there's political poison throughout the city council. If you want to investigate something Rebecca Williams don't waste your time investigating July 7th's parade and concert which was a good day for Plainfield finally,if you really want to do the city some good investigate the practices of the PMUA and the tax liens that people are losing there homes over..It's bad enough people have mortgages and regular city taxes but if they get behind on their sewage and garbage they could lose their homes..Now that's criminal, not a parade, a cancelled county concert that was saved by someone at City Hall and a freeholder and by the end of the night I'm sure those vendors or sponsors were very happy Cedarbrook Park was packed and my family enjoyed it as well..Time to come together and do some good for the residents not cause more division in City Hall. I'm losing so much respect for our City Council with all the bickering over pettiness and the attacks on the mayor for personal reasons when I know 6 people that have lost their homes over PMUA tax liens. Good Job to whoever put together the parade and the concert.
ReplyDeletethank you if there anything lacking and there was a few i understand ms williams after asll she did stay to see the whole thing through many people og the city did not show up i just want people to know that as far as i know if there was anything wrong it was our press release man fault i turned almost everything over to him he said that he woul do do job well without the help i had starting with our assemblyman jerry greeb! the council presidebt mr MAPP yes mr Reid that kept me up when i was down regarding the lack of work the PR man was doing and i had mostly it out fir him to follow up if everyone would ghave become more active [WOW] but and for sure mr wynn gave me so much help. the cost to us as i know it never went over i do understain ms williams if some haters came to her to spread maybe wroung rumers it is for her to look into them budget i said as i know it out side venders i know of only one time and i reporter it
DeleteA note to Teresa:
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the fact that you voted for me--part of my responsibility is to be a careful steward of your tax dollars. I think it is unfair for you to characterize my search for the truth regarding how our (your) money is spent as a "witch hunt."
I am asking questions that were brought out by Mr. Alex Toliver, the veteran and Plainfield resident who conceived the idea for the parade. He expressed concern about a business owner who complained to him about being asked to pay what he felt were unreasonable fees, and I have been following up. Other local people complained to me as well. What would you suggest I tell these struggling local folks? It is my ethical duty to make sure that none of our business owners or small, independent folks who vend simply to make ends meet are taken advantage of through fraudulent and illegal fees, and certainly not with the imprimatur of the city.
I had a great time at the concert, by the way, which I wrote about--I even got to meet Howard Hewett during the parade. I don't have any problem with fun events in the city--I attend as many as I can, as often as I can--and it would be great to have more.
Rebecca
It is people like Teresa and others that don't know the real truth. They don't come to the council meetings and see the mayor and her cronies in operation. But you attack the council and place the blame on them...especially Rebecca who really stands up against the outrageousness of the mayor. No one is playing politics here but merely speaking out against the inadequacies of the mayor and her administration. As the head of any organization it is the responsibility of that individual to govern accordingly. This is not happening in Plainfield and many people are suffering as a result of the POLITICIAN HERSELF...THE MAYOR! It is time to get real people and vote for the right candidate in the future.
ReplyDeleteTo Teresa and Fed Up,
ReplyDeleteI am born and raised here in Plainfield, and I can tell you that this is not the Plainfield that folks used to brag about. What Rebecca is doing is what you want a person in her office to do, which is to make sure your tax dollar is being properly spent. I for one am glad that you and yours enjoyed yourselves, that was the purpose of the event(s). However it is important that we maintain an accurate system of checks and balances in ALL the city's expenditures. It is good to know just how much that good time on Saturday cost the city. Having served on the recreation advisory committee a couple of years ago, I can personally attest to the difficulty in getting information from the Div of Rec. The committee was dissolved by the mayor and we never received a complete report of anything we asked for. This is directly result of the Administration's inability or unwillingness to govern.
We as an electorate share in the blame for the state of our city by not holding our politicians accountable for the their action or inaction. What do we do? we vote them in again and again. If you don't question the authority, don't audit your city's finances, and don't read between the lines or don't read the fine print, this city will never move forward. The names may change but the game will remain the same. THAT is the big picture. I wish you both the best and respect your opinions.
At Anonymous above Kev Turner, 1st of all I've been to council meetings, I've been to rally's, I've been to the stop the violence marches as I said I've been in Plainfield a long time you would be surprised to know who my father is and who he was in city hall. Fed Up you hit right on the head with the PMUA, that concerns me more than a peaceful parade and concert most people enjoyed. The PMUA and the tax lien system is a problem that's hurting many during a bad economy. So once you check out what the funds were allocated for with the parade and concert, please address what's really important and what's really gonna help REAL people. Your priorities on what to investigate is out of whack. I'm not changing my view, the climate at City Hall between the city council and the mayor has to change and they need learn how to work together more and be more proactive. Sometimes those meetings and what goes on there resembles middle school kids arguing and fighting. There's a way to resolve issues and find solutions. There's some things the mayor does I think is great and some things I don't agree with and that's politics and I accept that. But certain attacks and eagerness by certain members of the city council has become personal and you can't tell me no different so stop telling me you're doing this for the people some of what's being done is personal - July 7th was for the people after the county cancelled an annual concert to save county funds someone in City Hall found a way to make it still happen. But the county at least paid for the stage and the sound for the concert - Kudos to them for that. Also it was my understanding that the businesses were all sponsors this year not actual vendors and got their name and logo on the stage and city banners for July 7 and that money help with additional cost of the concert- so that should help you with part of your investigation-my friend was a sponsor and was pleased overall @ Kev Turner thanks for the lesson on checks and balances I understand that well and respect your intelligent response. Rebecca let us know when you go hard on the practices of the PMUA and the tax lien situation causing people that's just barely paying their mortgage to lose their homes during these hard times. The Big Picture is to improve the City of Plainfield maybe we can take some examples from the City of Westfield.
ReplyDeleteQQ: Do you think the City of Westfield would have voted for SRB? I think not. I agree that there are some personal issues going on within this City's government but I also know that the Mayor is the Chief instigator of all the crap at City Hall, I know for a fact that her stance is "This is my house and I am the F***ing Mayor and can and will do what I want and will do whatever it takes to have my way. I know for a fact that she has called employees "B***es and other names when she felt that they did not kiss her behind quickly enough. All those that feel that the mayor is so great, it's only because you agree with her tactics and that's ok, but don't blame the rest of us that have seen and dealt with the REAL SRB. If some of you knew the half, you would be very upset, so Plainfielders keep drinking that cool-aid, Jim Jones followers thought it was good too.
ReplyDeletedid forget i placed yards signs in weatfield some did come and enjoyed te Parade but the left after. the i have received many phone calls from out of the city the love the signs scatch plain signs was placed in the middle or the city
DeleteTeresa,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reply. I'm in full agreement with the PMUA situation. No one should run the risk of losing their home for being delinquent on sewer taxes. There also needs to be a serious accounting for giving the past director and assistant director this golden parachute. I'm not speaking for Rebecca, but I'm sure that's one of her bucket list items.
From what I've observed in person and through various media, is that our Administration is a laughing stock throughout the state. Things are just not being handled properly. The WBLS issue was mishandled, the Div of Rec needs to be improved, PMUA needs a complete overhaul, especially as far as the commissioners are concerned. The Council and the Mayor are all democrats, but with the in fighting and back biting, one faction may as well consider themselves republicans.
In any event I share in your disappointment in how some things are being run. There's enough blame to go everywhere. It seems that personal gratification has won out over the good of the city. I've always said that we need to take lessons from our neighboring towns. They ain't perfect, but it's better than what we got now!
At Anonymous above Kev Turner, the Kool-Aid Jim Jones analogy was kind of extreme but I get it, I do personally feel with any elected official whether it's the President, Governor or Mayor it's ok to agree to disagree, I don't like alot of our Governors decisions but 1 or 2 things he does I respect and support, that's the same way I feel about the mayor of Plainfield, if someone is always met with so much opposition because of personal reasons hence our President they can't govern effectively and you're only hurting the people. This is why I feel the climate in City Hall has to change between the mayor and city council, I would love to bring my kid to a city council meeting but it's a terrible example of how things should be handled. The city of Plainfield has so much potential but there's too much division on many levels, the mayor and the city council is a very small fraction of our problems, more residents need to get involved in the community and become proactive. I've met the real SRB the person and the politician and even though I didn't vote for her and don't agree with everything she does, I realize and understand what's she's dealing with as well..and there's 2 sides to every story. Hopefully for the sake of the city- City Hall will get it together and work together for the people.
ReplyDeleteagree this city is waiting for progress and unity not in fighting what can we do togather to make it better a place where wnen we come to the city council with very real problems not hear politics takeing sides as to are who will be the next mayor are council person
Delete