Wednesday, January 1, 2014

A Portent of Things to Come?

Just for the record ...

Mayor-elect Adrian Mapp named several cabinet members at the Dec. 16 agenda fixing session, along with legal and court staff, but stated he would not be seeking reappointment of Public Defender Joy Spriggs. On Monday, six people protested his rejection of Spriggs, including two sisters, her brother-in-law, nephew and two others.

It happened during public comment at the end of the meeting, meaning Spriggs' supporters had waited through an hour and a half delay in starting the meeting, then through the votes on filling the Third Ward vacancy and naming people to the African Caribbean Commission and the Community Emergency Response team.

Only then did a woman come forward to make what she called "a prepared statement" to Mapp, who, having resigned Friday, was no longer part of the council and was sitting in the audience.

"I ask you to please tell me why you would like to begin your tenure being somewhat vindictive," Latoya Sample began.

Her cryptic remark soon turned out to be about Spriggs. She said the council had been informed that a "personal crisis" existed and then referenced being sick herself and let go "in the middle of life-sustaining treatment." After more remarks, she ended by saying, "Joy Spriggs Weatherly deserves to keep her position for personal reasons."

It still was unclear what the crisis was, when Spriggs' sister, Wilma Campbell, came to the microphone, and said she was at the meeting "on a personal note."

"I'm very emotional about this," she said. "My sister, Joy Spriggs, has been the public defender for 12 years"'

Campbell said Spriggs was one of the few "or maybe only" Plainfield resident being removed from the legal staff by the mayor-elect. Campbell said she appealed to Mapp at the Kwanzaa event and recalled personally working for him and said she was one of the people who "resurrected" his political career.

(The Campbells backed Mapp when he ran off the line and won in the Democratic 2008 primary.)

More details emerged as Wilma Campbell said it was Spriggs' husband who was ill, and noted "everyone in this room" could be one doctor's visit away from illness.

"I appealed to Mr. Mapp to have a heart. Have a heart."

Saying she was appealing to the council and thanking them for support, she voiced hope that "the mayor-elect can put political maneuverings aside."

She said her appeal to Mapp was based "maybe on the memory of a friendship."

"God only knows what help one might need," she said. "Have a heart."

Next up was attorney Brian C. Lorio of Montclair, who said Spriggs was a mentor to him. He also spoke of the need for people to represent the community when serving as public defender. He said to Mapp, "I strongly recommend you reconsider."

John Campbell, brother-in-law of Spriggs, spoke next and all his remarks can be heard on David Rutherford's video.

Always a clever speaker, he wove together several themes - the need to avoid "snake pit politics," Spriggs' tenacity in educating herself though she was one of 11 children raised in the projects; her specific need right now; how Mapp might be only a chest pain away from catastrophic illness, and so on.

Among his summations: "It's a wise man that changes his mind" and "I think this is what Jesus would do if he was in your position."

The Campbells' son, also named John, made a short speech in favor of his aunt, calling her his role model and citing her involvement in youth sports.

"She's definitely a fixture in the Plainfield community,' he said, asking Mapp to reconsider appointing Spriggs.

Next, Ellen Carter Haygood spoke in support of her "baby sister."

"A human heart is what we need" to have Spriggs stay, she said. Speaking of an "ironic division of church and state," she said, "I serve a mighty God - you can be touched by His spirit. I ask you to take the time to consider Joy Spriggs. Have a human, sensitive heart for a person in need."

... and so it goes as 2013 ends and 2014 begins.

10 comments:

  1. Was WIlma Campbell threatening the Mayor elect when she said, "God only knows what help one might need".

    That sounds like the President of the Plainfield School board threatening the incoming Plainfield Mayor. Was she saying the Plainfield School System would not be assisting you if you don't give my sister a job?

    Say it's not so Mrs. Campbell.

    Now that should be investigated.

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    1. This comment sounds rather Danny like.

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    2. You are ridiculous. Get from behind a keyboard and get out in the streets. Do something, like a lot of us do day in and day out. You, though, you sit behind a damn keyboard and make amazing, illogical inferences. "Jumping to conclusions" doesn't do what you just said justice.

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    3. Yes. It is obviously Dan. Everybody knows!

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  2. I was at that meeting and think it was overkill and designed to make the new mayor look bad if he stuck to his decision. I think their speeches were political and inappropriate for that meeting. I would like to see the doctor's report that supports what they are saying about Spriggs and her husband. I don't know many people who trust Wilma Campbell as relates to the BOE or otherwise.

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  3. I can understand people of Plainfield who want a hand out because they are down and out, and need help.

    Why are the people of Plainfield giving a handing out to a professional - a lawyer no less!

    And while the Campbells are asking Mayor Mapp to have a heart - my question is where is theirs? The Campbell's own several properties in Plainfield, why don't they sell one of them (if the family needs the money so badly) and help out their family?

    Mr. Campbell Sr. asked "What would Jesus do?". I would say that Jesus would take care of His family and not ask taxpayers to foot the bill.

    One word - COBRA!

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  4. Can't he apply for "Obamacare"?
    No one should keep their job because of the health benefits. That is not why a person is hired. I'm sorry to hear of his illness, but allowing a person to keep their jobs for "personal reasons" is not right. If that is the case, no one should ever be fired, we all need to work for "personal reasons".

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  5. Perhaps she did not contribute enough to the Mapp/Green machine coffers?

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  6. Thank you 11:49. You have solved the riddle.

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  7. I too was at that meeting and after the first couple of speakers I believed it was Mrs. Spriggs who had the terminal illness. And then when senior Campbell came forth and said the husband had cancer then I believed both had a terminal illness. I asked two people who sat near me and they also believed both had a terminal illness. This is what I called deceiving the audience and council.

    Mrs. Spriggs is an attorney, a lawyer -she can get a job or work on her own. But, if it is about health benefits then there is the Affordable Care Act -no more worrying about pre-existing conditions.

    Hmmm . . . the son was deceptive during his campaign by not telling many of his supporters that he was a Republican and now this.

    Shame on the Campbells!

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