There was no vote for the party's mayoral choice at Friday's Democratic City Committee meeting, but no mystery either - Union County Democratic Party Chairman Charlotte DeFilippo announced earlier this month that the line would go to Councilman Adrian Mapp.
Plainfield Democratic Party Chairman and Assemblyman Jerry Green briefly explained the process led to the decision as two-term incumbent Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs sat in the front row facing him, with her ally Roland Muhammad sitting next to her sporting a red "Sharon!" button. When Green gave her a chance to speak, she first made four "Phenomenal Women" awards, then announced "as mayor and CEO" several city news items before calling the party's endorsement of Mapp "a little bit disappointing." She said her campaign had been "rolling on" since October and took issue with Green's statements in a March 18 video regarding the party's choice of Mapp, invoking Shirley Chisholm's "unbossed and unbought" slogan..
Green defended his comments on the video, saying, "No one can say I've been bought or told what to do," but responded to the mayor's reaction by cautioning her not to "grunt all night long."
"If you're disrespectful, you will be asked to leave," Green said.
"You should leave," the mayor retorted, noting she is second vice-chairman of the committee.
After a few more tart exchanges with the mayor, Green moved on to introducing 2013 freeholder candidates before announcing he would be supporting Council President Bridget Rivers for re-election to the Fourth Ward seat. His announcement settled speculation about where Rivers would land on the ballot, as she had appeared to be aligned with the mayor late last year. Rivers called for an end to bickering which she said has stalled city progress.
When it was his turn, Mapp used his 33-year marriage to his wife, Amelia, as an example of give-and-take without negativity and mentioned his past differences with Green.
"We can disagree without being disagreeable, and can have unity without uniformity," he said.
Mapp said the city has been on a "treadmill" for the past eight years and said the mayor "has led people to a cliff." where they could either "go over or pull back."
"We can't go along the same path," he said. "Plainfield needs change."
In a gibe at the mayor's passing out copies of a news article on her 2006 inauguration, Mapp said, "I don't have anything to pass out to you, I can only offer myself as a vehicle for change," adding "I will provide the leadership that the city needs so badly."
Mapp called for support of the entire 2013 Regular Democratic line, saying "This election is not just about me."
Green also called for support of the Regular Democratic ticket, including Sen. Barbara Buono at the top challenging Gov. Chris Christie; Sen. Nick Scutari, Assemblywoman Linda Stender and himself for re-election; Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter and Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski for re-election with new running mate Sergio Granados; and at the local level, Mapp and Rivers as well as candidates for 68 committee seats..
Before the meeting broke up, the mayor's confidential aide, Barbara James, asked whether the party endorsement meant the New Democrats were no more.
"I'm curious to know, what happens to the New Dems - will that title disappear?"
Mapp had retained chairmanship of the New Democrats throughout his term as a freeholder, when he returned to the City Council in 2008 and when he challenged Robinson-Briggs for the mayoralty in 2009.
Green said there was only one party title and he was "not interested in that issue." James asked, "No more New Dems?" and Green dismissed the question.
After a few more exchanges, the meeting was adjourned and residents came up to talk to Green.
Plaintalker asked the mayor when she would announce her slate and she said it would be closer to the April 1 primary filing date.
--Bernice
They're all bought and sold, and Plainfield is expected to buy this? The more time I spend here, the less I want to vote Democratic.
ReplyDeletewell... I'll simply say this... How pleasant it is to see the Mayor get a newspaper soundly smacked across her nose.. The rest I have to say... seriously not important. Go Jerry!
ReplyDeleteI have been a life long city resident and have seen all of this before when will folks in Plainfeild wake up and see the problem with Plainfield is Boss Green it never fails when he can't control the mayors office he dumps the mayor this is his history so as long as he controls the party and reports to the fat lady in Hillside Plainfield will continue to fail. i will no longer vote for anyone connected to Boss Green so all of you who don't have the heart to be your own man or woman and not be controled by Boss Green good luck.
ReplyDeleteNo matter what anyone thinks, we need to get rid of Sharon first and give someone else a chance to help the city. That help will not come from Sharon and she has shown that in the over seven years she's been in office. At least with Mapp, we will have a full cabinet doing the job Plainfield needs to get back in working order. I knew Sharon would not back out gracefully. She doesn't know how to do graceful. Let's hope for a better Plainfield and vote for that.
ReplyDeleteSharon has done the same thing before--grunting and making noises while someone else is speaking, interrupting others, and being generally disrespectful of whoever has the floor. Ask councilor Williams, whose exchange with Sharon at a city council meeting is on tape.
ReplyDeleteAnd then there were those "Phenomenal Women" awards, made during Women's History Month by the first woman mayor of Plainfield. BUT, as described in each case by Sharon they were really a recognition of the "man who stood behind" each recipient. Insulting way to recognize these women.
ReplyDeleteWell, it's usually "the woman behind the man," so I guess this kind of role reversal might mean some progress. LOL
DeleteBarbara James shows she has no clue either. I guess that's why she and the mayor get along.
ReplyDeleteNew Dems is not a party, it's a group of people, who share democratic ideals, who get together to discuss how to make things better in Plainfield. Gridlock is a big issue. It's like asking about Progressive Women in Plainfield (or whatever that org is called who backs Sharon), where are they going?
I loved the question about what DCC members get paid. Perhaps it's Barbara, and she wants company.
The circus that Barbara and Sharon put on at the meeting is EXACTLY why Plainfield has gone nowhere.
And Bridgett has nerve talking about getting along. She is no more unbiased than the rest of Sharon's cronies, and as classless. High fiving the mayor after council meetings does not represent "getting along" to me.
Barbara is on the city's payroll as "confidential assistant" to the mayor, a position that never existed before Sharon became mayor. Members of the DCC do not get paid--we all volunteer to serve. Of course some work of the city or the PMUA but those jobs aren't connected to the DCC. Where has Barbara been all these years?
ReplyDeleteA good number of City Committee members do get paid- through public jobs and lucrative PMUA commissionerships that ultimately keep them indebted to the party chairman. That of course is probably how he likes it because the more dissension and bickering in the ranks, the less likely someone with any talent will gain the support of enough people to challenge his position. If anyone thinks Adrian Mapp will change this dynamic, they're in for a rude awakening. He's got a lengthy track record of voting and (in)action when his political ambition overrides any predisposition to higher principles. Though undoubtedly more competent than the mayor, the end results are likely to be much the same. The machine rules.
ReplyDeleteCome on folks let's get real! It's easy to point the finger and blame all the citys' wows on the mayor but, everyone that reads this blog and follow local politics knows that every decision Sharon has made was either Jerry Greens decision or sanction by Jerry Green. Adrian Mapp is not new to Plainfield politics, he's had ample chances to effect change and to date what positive chages has he made? Adrian Mapp knows nothing goes on in Plainfield without the approval of Green. Sharon has never been the decision maker since she's been in city hall and news flash, if Adrian is elected Mayor and Jerry Green is reelected, he wont be making any decision either, that is, without Jerrys permission. so what kind of positive change can he effect, the answerer is none. Adrian will get in there and be a good little boy just like Sharon was a good little girl, obeying Jerry. No matter what Jerry Green say, he is the reason Plainfield doesnt have a hospitable. Adrian sold his soul to the devil, AKA Jerry Green to be Mayor and if elected you can bet, any changes will not be positive ones. Hell i'm tempted to vote for Sharon, since she's on the out's with Jerry maybe, just maybe with the right people in her camp, we might be able to get some positive change in Plainfield.
ReplyDeleteReal Change in Plainfield would be to vote republic, all new comers with no ties to Jerry Green.
FYI to 8:42pm. I might tend to agree with you on some of your comments with the exception that Sharon's unprofessionalism, crude/classless, street thugette personality has nothing to do with Jerry Green, he didn't teach her that, that's the make up of your precious SRB. Ms. SRB sat on the hospital board and let our hospital get taken away by never opening her mouth about what was going on, oh but how could she if she never attened any meetings. I do however agree that we should start with a whole new slate be it Dem or Rep., too many snakes are too deep in the fabric and walls to really clean house without tearing down the entire building.
ReplyDeleteTo 8:42pm - Although you don't think there will be much change if Adrian is elected, let me say that I know one area where we will have responsibility, and that is the city budget.
ReplyDeleteGo to city hall and look at the budget before it went to the council, and then look at it after. Last year, the mayor put in and extra $100,000 which was an "in case" amount for the technology department. I could go on and on, but Adrian's finance background was instrumental in keeping taxes low. Go look at what was proposed and what was agreed upon. It is scary.
I would like to also say that if Adrian were in Jerry's pocket, he would have been on the line much sooner than now. I think Jerry was praying for anyone but Adrian to appear, because Jerry knows that Adrian is not going to do his bidding.
Why didn't Jerry ask Adrian to run 4 years ago? The mayor hasn't returned a call to Jerry in years.
Please remember, that at the end of the day, we are all Democrats, including Jerry. That doesn't mean that we all agree or follow like lemmings. Guilt by association is not something we should assume.
I wish, really wish, that Jerry Green had in fact been "running things" in city hall and controlling SRB. If he had been, the city would be in much better shape!
ReplyDelete