Council President Bridget Rivers (l.) addresses residents at the town meeting
Carlos Sanchez, the city's new economic development director, gave an audience of about 60 Liberty Village residents and others a detailed scenario of the situation leading up to the proposed sale of the 96-unit subsidized housing complex. The parties involved include HUD, the current owner, a management firm and a prospective buyer. The City Council's only role is to agree to amend and transfer a "payment in lieu of taxes" agreement to the new owner in order to effectuate the sale. Sanchez described all the improvements and amenities that will come with the sale, but said it must happen by May 7 or 9 when the Section 8 contract is due to expire.
Green came to the table frowning and as Sanchez said the new 20-year contract was needed "to assure your rents don't go up," Green blurted, "I ain't got all night to be here," demanding that Sanchez finish. He expressed displeasure that as "head of housing in the state," he was not called about the deal, although later he said he knew about it last year. He chided Sanchez for talking about a laundry and community room "when HUD is about to close them."
"I'm starting at Washington to find out whether they failed to negotiate," he said, telling the residents, "I asked Congressman Rush Holt to find out what rights you have."
Sanchez had previously given details of the proposed sale at council meetings on April 8 and April 15. On Monday, current owner Sam Perlman backed up the need for a decision in early May and the fact that the PILOT agreement is integral to the sale. The prospective owner was still observing a religious holiday as he was last week and did not attend Monday's meeting.
Although it was suggested that the council could schedule a special meeting to vote on the PILOT, Council President Bridget Rivers said, "I never said I would have a special meeting to get the PILOT signed."
(There was a lot more to this meeting, but I can't write any more right now. Look for more tomorrow. It was also taped for PCTV and two other bloggers were there.)
he doesn't have all night to be there and he didn't know about it but then admits he knew about it.... This is the person you people keep putting into office. Says all you need to know about Jerry Green. People are a bother and he lies. What a combo for a politician.
ReplyDeleteThe crocodile tears being shed today for Liberty Village's residents are an amusing afterthought offered up by those who fiddled while conditions deteriorated to the point that HUD would pull the plug on further subsidies. Now, these voices of obstruction and decay are banded together in an effort to disrupt an agreement that would bring critical improvements to the property, a better quality of life to the residents, and more money to the city. The 11th hour roadblock is either a means to mask three decades of serial indifference, or to keep the door open for the vultures to swoop in and pick over the carcass. If I wasn't certain beforehand, having attended last night's display convinced me more than ever.
ReplyDeleteWas this an unofficial City Council working meeting with no sunshine law notice?
ReplyDeleteCouncilwoman Brown did a wonderful job of keeping the meeting even, demanding respect from everyone, including Jerry Green (who seemed to have better things to do).
ReplyDeleteHer even hand, graciousness and demand for civility was a welcome tone after these past few weeks. Thank you Councilwoman Brown.
I attended the meeting and it was pretty clear to me that 100 residents are in the middle of a power struggle between the City Council. Three of our elected Councilors are for the PILOT so Liberty Village stays affordable for 20 years.
ReplyDeleteFour of the Councilors are also for the PILOT and stated so in the meeting and just wanted some teeth in the Resolution that seems like paperwork. The problem is the four NO votes are really a political message to Mayor Mapp.
Why can't our elected officials start acting like representatives of our Plainfield's 4th Ward residents and rise above politics and help the 100 families in Liberty Village? Seems to me like they should be voting 7-0 in favor of this PILOT and could have done so last night.
James
James, you need to run for 4th Ward council. You are the voice of reason.
DeleteI hope the residents of Liberty Village can see that they are the pawns of a political struggle. If Jerry is so informed about HUD, where has he been for the past 20 years to help those who live in Liberty Village?
No they could not have voted last night, it wasn't an official city council meeting. I wasnt there but from the picture I see Jerry Green sitting at the table, he is not a council member. Hope to see Green on Thursday at Clinton School.
DeleteWhy was Jerry Green there; Oh I guess he was there to show the potential buyers that he’s boss and he can make this deal happen or not happen. Assemblymen Green does this mean we can expect to see you on Thursday for the Muhlenberg meeting? You know we vote to in the 3rd and 2nd ward, or does that matter to you?
ReplyDeleteKS.
Didn't Bridget Rivers live in the 4th Ward? My understanding is that the horrid conditions at Liberty Village have been going on for many years. Didn't she know that when she lived there?
ReplyDeleteHow can she say that she is rushed into this? If she lived there, did she not know what was going on for many years? I also heard that some members of her family either still remain in the 4th Ward, or actually live in Liberty Village. This is what she wants for her family and friends? The whole thing smells like a political rat.
This entire issue is very unfortunate for the residence of Liberty Village and I am confident after all the grand standing it will be resolved. However, I think the best take away for the residence of Plainfield and especially for those in the Fourth Ward is that they have been supporting and electing Council Members that don't do their jobs and an assemblyman that not only doesn't do his job but has disdain for his constituency. Lets just look at some simple facts 1) Mr. Green knew about the issues with sale of the complex 6 months ago (his words) and did nothing to correct it other than sending the owners/buyers to the council and wait. 2) He is the "head of housing" (which he isn't but he does chair a committee) and he has to go to DC to find out what residence rights are (you would think as committee chair he would know those off the top of his head) AND he allowed a subsidized housing complex in his own town to be in such disrepair for years that HUD was going to pull its funding. The fact that Rivers and Greaves represent the 4th ward and were so unaware of the conditions or the terms of the PILOT transfer is also something to be noted. The residence of the 4th Ward (and Plainfield as a whole) deserve elected representatives who actually work for the interests of their residence - and not just at the 11th hour with grand standing and ridiculous excuses. There is a perfectly well crafted deal on the table for the sale of the property and continuation of the PILOT with some very much needed improvements made to the property. I hope people remember the poor showing of Rivers, Greaves, Taylor and especially Green - and push these people out of office.
ReplyDeleteAlso, as an attendee of last nights meeting, I must compliment Councilwoman Brown on the way that she handled the gathering.
James I was at the meeting last night, the residents of Liberty Village was misinformed and they wanted answers.
ReplyDeleteI applaud the council member's who did not support the pilot.
There were some questions that was not answered about the pilot. I heard them say that the school system will not be funded. Well the children are extremely important to me I don't know about you.
I hope they don't rush and give away tax payer dollars.
Renee
Renee - you should be aware that a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) does provide funds to school systems as a general rule. This is standard. Also, the school children in plainfield are already funded through other tax collections. Are you saying that you want Liberty Village rents to go to market rate so that the school board will get the additional funding? Let your council person know that. In the mean time, what you thought you heard was just your Council person making things up so that it sounded like they were looking out for you - which they aren't - or Liberty Village would have been in better condition years ago.
DeleteAnd be aware that any "give away" of tax payer dollars is so that the rents at Liberty Village can be reduced for the residence. If you don't like that idea of a "give away" then please tell your friends and neighbors to call their council person and we can end the PILOT and the subsidized housing at the next Council Meeting. In other words - the PILOT is in the best interest of the residence of Liberty Village.
Renee, Plainfield is an Abbott district. Very little of our taxpayer's money go to the school. Most of the funding comes from the Government. There are no funds going to the school system now, so why do you expect funding to the schools with this agreement? There have never been funds going to the school.
DeleteWhat other questions do you have? Call HUD itself to have it answers.
Does it not make you wonder why Jerry Green knew about this 6 months ago and did nothing? Aren't you curious as to why the very people who represent you in the 4th ward are surprised by this? Especially hearing that some of them have family living in Liberty Village.
Don't listen to people who have their own self interests at stake. Call HUD yourself, and ask questions and get the answers until you are satisfied. If this contract does not go through, you need to understand what can happen. It is not a pretty picture.
The school system was never funded under the original pilot, they are now increasing the payment from 6% to 10%. The city is getting MORE tax dollars while keeping affordable housing in place how is that confusing?
DeleteWhy wasn't Mayor Mapp at the meeting? All the other elected officials were there. What happened to One Plainfield One Future? Are there some backroom deals being made at the expense of Liberty Village residents? Show your face Mayor Mapp and let the people at Liberty Village know you care and not for their votes only.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to know about backroom deals, perhaps you should look at the picture of Dunn and Green.
DeleteThe politics start with the new administration. This was as disgrace for Mayor Mapp. Mayor Mapp was informed last year as the property owner stated. He could care less about the westend of the CITY. MAPP NEEDS TO GO DAN DAMON LETS SEE IF YOU START A PETITION ON THAT
ReplyDeleteAnon 1:03 - you are obviously confused. Mayor Mapp could not have been informed last year because he was not Mayor last year - he took office January 1 and had this in front of his Economic Development Team Feb 1 (as stated last night). Mayor Robinson-Briggs was informed last year as was Assemblyman Green (6 months ago as he stated in his own words last night). Mapp is the one that got the ball rolling on fixing the situation - everyone else just showed up for the circus to act like they were doing something. Get your facts straight - you might notice that most of the people that you think are looking out for you are really doing the opposite.
DeleteYou are correct. Mayor Mapp was informed last year. As was Jerry Green.
DeleteWho came before you with solution? Mayor Mapp.
Who knew about it 6 months ago and did nothing - even though he says he is head of housing - Jerry Green.
So, we have Mapp - no show but does something. Green shows up and creates chaos. My choice is a GREEN NEEDS TO GO PETITION. DAN DAMON LET'S SEE IF YOU CAN START A PETITION ON THAT.
The disgrace is Green, Taylor, River and Graves never once in the last two years attending a meeting for the future of the Muhlenberg site. Now that is the true disgrace. Oh wait a minute, the promise of palms being greased was already negotiated so no need for them to attend. Stop trying to flip the table. Green is a disgrace to Plainfield and should be removed from office. Believe me when I tell you, he cares nothing about this city or the people in it. I’m sure he thinks once the Muhlenberg deal is completed he will be able to retire.
DeleteRobin
Sad but true. Trying to think if the 600 apartment deal in exchange for Green going away forever is a bad deal. It would be tempting. I love how he his "head of housing" and "head of development" for the state and plainfield has suffered in both categories. Guy is a real rock star. He is good at getting the 3rd and 4th wards to the polls though - and in exchange he has done nothing for them. Have to give him credit there.
DeleteDUMP MAPP
ReplyDeleteIf you don't like it MOVE, there is plenty of room in places like Trenton and Camden. The people voted overwhelmingly for MAPP and for change, if you cant handle that and making things better for everyone in this city no one is forcing you to stay.
Delete