SRB mouthpiece Roland Muhammad ("I say what the mayor can't say") turned up at the first agenda-fixing session of 2014, making more of the sinister innuendos that were his hallmark in the past.
He started out congenially.
"Mr. Reid, stay strong," he began. "We got some rough days ahead."
Turning sentimental, he adressed Councilwoman Gloria Taylor with reminiscences of being her student at Hubbard School.
"I like to talk about our youth," he said. "When I was coming up, we had places to go."
Now, he said, there is only one center that's free, which is Hannah Atkins. But he recalled the Neighborhood House, Second Street Youth Center, a facility on Plainfield Avenue and Grant Avenue Community Center.
Next, he turned to Mayor Adrian O. Mapp.
"I say, Mr. Mayor, invest in our youth. We will be your conscience. We got work to do."
Warming up, he said, "It really feels good to be up here."
But he warned, "Do you want what happened in the sixties? Youth today don't fear death."
Speaking louder, he said, "They want a job!"
He said the name "Muhammad" means war and added, "We are going to war with those who are not with us."
My Commentary
First of all, the name Muhammad and its variations means "praiseworthy," according to various sources.
Secondly, while sticking up for Dave Wynn and recreation during the past administration, Muhammad frequently used "we" to indicate a base but did not define who "we" are, except to berate council members for not going to the Fourth Ward as often as he felt they should.
Muhammad often harks back to the old Plainfield, but it is no longer a black and white community. Census figures show a 67 percent increase in Hispanics since 2000. The Latino voice is one that is largely missing from public comment at council and Town Hall meetings, but if there is to be one Plainfield someday, the "we" must include all the city's ethnic and racial groups.
Muhammad has every right to his time at the microphone during public meetings and no doubt he intends to make himself heard. But what's with the constant "we" stuff? He lives in the First Ward but claims to represent the Fourth Ward. I for one would like to hear more from everybody about the city's future, and I don't think preaching war is going to get it.
--Bernice
some people don't know where Canada is, but I assume most know where they live, geographically challenged indeed... how American of him
ReplyDeleteFirst let me begin by saying peace be unto you, while it is true our youth as well as the community at large need employment. but first and foremost they need to be properly educated so they may compete and excell anywhere in the world. the name muhammad comes from the word Mahmud. which means praiseworthy our work in the community is not tied not praise but tied to peace and peace is the goal of the believer. organizing for peace and progress and prosperity in the city, Mr. x
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame that someone who was not praised while sticking up for Sharon and her unsuccessful administration is still speaking half-truths. We know what he is about and while Muhammad is praise worthy, Mr. Muhammad is not.
ReplyDeleteTo 6:13 AM I say amen and amen. You are absolutely correct. If Mr. Muhammad is so concerned about our youth, let him go to the BOE meetings and ask why our children (who he loves dearly) are attending one of the bottom 10 schools in NJ.
ReplyDeleteAnd he should brace for the truth that just because you live in Plainfield does not entitle you for a job. This is especially true if you have no education. So, Mr. Mohammad, go to where you will do the most good - go to the BOE.
And what's with this "Reid stay strong" stuff. He doesn't go to the Council meetings. It's the members of the audience who have to listen to Reid who need to stay strong.
As much as that loudmouth use to talk about the youth, he was always paid by Dave Wynn as a seasonal worker in recreation. He never worked for free and Wynn kept him on the payroll in violation of the law for seasonal workers who could only work 3 months each time. He keeps talking about "we" but his "we" means a paycheck for him. What a divisive hypocrite.
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