Thursday, April 17, 2014

Liberty Village Town Hall Announced

Council President Bridget Rivers, Councilwoman Vera Greaves and Councilwoman Rev. Tracey Brown are holding an "Urgent Town Meeting" on the future of Liberty Village Apartments Monday. The meeting is 7 p.m. at Ruth Fellowship Ministries, 733 S. Second St.
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23 comments:

  1. AnonymousApril 17, 2014 at 10:23 AM

    urgent? you don't say.

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  2. AnonymousApril 17, 2014 at 12:05 PM

    Is it just me that thinks the venue is Inappropriate? Why not use one of schools?

    KS

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  3. AnonymousApril 17, 2014 at 12:59 PM

    venue is inappropriate
    Bernice - drop the Rev - remember "church and state".....

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  4. OscarApril 17, 2014 at 1:48 PM

    A town meeting being held to discuss public business should be a public forum held in a non-denominational public building.

    The location of this meeting is completely inappropriate.

    Keep religion out of politics!

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  5. AnonymousApril 17, 2014 at 3:28 PM

    Another thing that concerns me, how quickly they called for a public meeting on this issue but I have never once, not one time seen them at any of the meeting held by Cedar Brook Block Assn or JFK in respect to the proposal of 660 units on the Muhlenberg site. They didn’t even have the good sense to show up at the first meeting conducted by people they hired to do a study for best us of the property? What does that tell you? I know what it tells me; let’s waste everyone’s time with another meeting by acting like we really need to explore all options for the Liberty Village dilemma , which really isn’t a dilemma and shouldn’t be made into one. If the concern is about school tax then negotiate with the new buyer to include something that would go toward school tax but will allow them to acquire the balance of the PILOT agreement. Let this be a lesson, why is it that every developer that wants to do a project in Plainfield is given a tax abatement or offered something like the PILOT program. Do you people in charge know how to negotiate? Please stop thinking all of your constituents are stupid and that you can just waste our time on non-sense and divert us from what is important and really going on. Rivers, Taylor and everyone else on the council knows that the second public meeting for Muhlenberg is on Thursday of the same week they are holding their little town hall meeting. Seriously, why now are you holding a town hall meeting? Is this what you puppet master Jerry Green told you to do. SAY NO TO JKF’s PROPOSAL TO MOVE THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND NO TO THEIR PROPOSAL FOR 660 UNITS AND NO TO ANYONE THAT IS IN FAVOR OF IT.

    KS.

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  6. BobApril 17, 2014 at 3:59 PM

    I also think having the meeting at a church is inappropriate. Let's dump Rivers and Brown and be done with this BS. We need to get rid of the Stooges: Rivers, Taylor, Brown, Reid, and Greaves. They are the worst Council members I've seen in thirty years. Total wastes of our tax dollars and time. Pay attention Plainfield!

    Bob Bolmer

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    1. AnonymousApril 17, 2014 at 8:01 PM

      Bob, your constant name calling just makes things worse.

      Calling people "shady", calling people "stooges" it is inappropriate and offensive.

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    2. AnonymousApril 20, 2014 at 7:13 PM

      The truth is the truth, so stop beating up on Bob because the truth hurts, you know these folks are shady and stooges, just because you are in denial doesn't change the truth. If your friends can't take the heat, then they should get out of the kitchen. By the way, Municipal business meetings at a church is inappropriate and we all know it (that's a shady move in itself).

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  7. AnonymousApril 17, 2014 at 9:12 PM

    The only reason they're having it at the church is so they can say what they want to say in order to try and discredit Mayor Mapp. I agree if it's for the public why not have it at one of the schools, library, or City Hall library anywhere except the church. Well I guess this is one meeting I won't be attending.

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  8. RobApril 17, 2014 at 10:17 PM

    If they could provide crocodile tears it would truly make the meeting worth their while... the showboaters..not the residents.

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  9. AnonymousApril 18, 2014 at 12:13 AM

    Rob you are an idiot.

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  10. AnonymousApril 18, 2014 at 12:32 AM

    Church buildings have always held political meetings.During the gubernatorial election Gov. Christie spoke at a meeting in the sanctuary of St. Luke Baptist church in Patterson, the biggest Baptist church in that area.Shiloh Baptist held a political forum. Churches throughout history have always had political functions. Only small minded people in Plainfield will find fault in that.Could in be you all are just hating on Rev. Brown, someone that has done more than most people in Plainfield for the people of Plainfield.Again I am not a fan of clergy in politics but you people need to inquire what she does, instead of only calling names. Could somebody tell Rob to move some place else there is enough racist in society.

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    1. BobApril 18, 2014 at 1:06 PM

      Who are the "you people" you are talking to? I've lived in Plainfield for over thirty years and attended church here. "You people" is insulting and denigrating. Everyone has a right to their opinion and I'm not sure this church is a good venue, especially since a Council member runs it.

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    2. RobApril 18, 2014 at 7:13 PM

      LAUGHABLE.. "ANONYMOUS" .. I am not a racist for believing that the charade attempting to be pulled over on the residents of Liberty Village by these 3 has anything to do with concern for the residents.. If they cared they would have been involved and listened to any concerns by these people BEFORE now. Rivers doesn't like "TIME CONSTRAINTS"... well little Missy.. the world doesn't wait for you or check to see if it's convenient for you.. That's called life.
      Maybe the 3 should call Sharon and get some advice from her on how to throw a successful 'food for all" and she can provide the appropriate timing for the requisite crocodile tears these 3 are going to muster.
      Caring indeed.. and to be honest.. having it in a church is merely offensive because they truly don't give a damn not because of any government / religious separation.
      So if fake, disingenuous, self serving and show boating is somehow right, then I'm glad I'm wrong.
      Having these 3 help you would be akin to asking a pyro for help putting out a fire.
      And my biracial daughter, non-white partners and boyfriends would love to talk to you about how racist I am.. laughable. Keep your hand in the public cookie jar hoping the Powers that be give you a piece of the public pie.

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  11. AnonymousApril 18, 2014 at 12:37 AM

    Anonymous 12:59, Just because you have no respect for clergy, don't tell a seasoned, respected writer what to write.

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  12. AnonymousApril 18, 2014 at 7:56 AM

    Anonymous 9:12PM, I know for a fact that Rev. Brown would never allow anyone to bad mouth someone in her church, are you slow she is on the same side with Mapp regarding Liberty Village.

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  13. AnonymousApril 18, 2014 at 8:44 AM

    To 12:37AM - Respect for clergy has nothing to do with it. It is called separation of church and state. Reverend Brown is a respected minister. However, when she dons the council cap, she is Councilwoman Brown - no church involved. I agree with the writer, and I don't think you should jump to the conclusion that just because people take our form of government seriously, that there is no respect for clergy.

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  14. AnonymousApril 18, 2014 at 11:15 AM

    I lived at Liberty Village for ten years while the Housing Authority managed it and can attest that Randy Wood and James Marsh from HAP were the ones who ran the property into the ground. When the current owner took over, he told us that he would renovate the entire property which he did. I have left but there are many residents who have been there for over 20 years who will be evicted if the PILOT is not approved and it seems the new purchaser knows is a highly respected owner and manager. Why is the City Council not embracing them and welcoming their investment in Plainfield? Are they caught up in the usual politics of our City? Is this how the Council wants to treat people willing to invest and make affordable housing available for the next 20 years? I lived in Liberty till I got on my feet again and know that affordable housing is crucial in our community.

    Dave

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  15. AnonymousApril 18, 2014 at 12:11 PM

    I think a Church is as appropriate as anywhere for a meeting and respect Rev Brown for hosting. If we want to keep Liberty Village affordable housing for the next 20 years, why has the City Council not approved this already?

    I understand Mayor Mapp negotiated with the new buyer and raised the tax rate from 6.28 to 10%. Perhaps that increase goes to the School District if that is the concern with the Council.

    Also, I read on this site that the HUD contract expires on May 6 not May 30 as Bridget Rivers stated in the Public Hearing when she did not want to be "rushed".

    We are almost out of time to preserve needed affordable housing and the new buyer said he will lose his financing and walk away without the Pilot tax agreement.

    Are our petty politics going to evict 100 residents who desperately need affordable housing? Can the Council rise above the politics of old Mayor vs new Mayor and do what is right for the residents of our City who elect the officials to the City Council?

    Seems to me our City Council needs to vote for this tax abatement before May 6 or 100 residents are forced to move out because they cannot afford it.

    If Bridget Rivers just read this site and had the correct facts, perhaps she would "rush" to get this approved.


    Deb Paley

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    1. AnonymousApril 21, 2014 at 8:23 AM

      Maybe in the 50's & 60's when the church was the only places we could gather to discuss politics and such this was acceptable. However, in an effort to be all inclusive I don't believe a church is an ideal place, especially one where our councilwomen is the pastor.
      If Grave, Rivers and Brown had read their packages and done their homework they could have had a vote at the last meeting and put this to bed.

      KS.

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  16. AnonymousApril 18, 2014 at 12:41 PM

    Let me sum this up into a simple message: Liberty Village is important but the real issue here is that Greaves, Rivers, Taylor and Reid are not qualified to be council members. They don't want to do their homework and they spend too much time doing the bidding of Jerry Green - another person not qualified to hold any of his positions. Some of themcan be gone before others - lets start the process in the upcoming primaries and general election.

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  17. AnonymousApril 18, 2014 at 5:01 PM

    One point to remember is that the price of property reflects the taxes it pays. If taxes are lowered through a PILOT, then the value goes up unless the rents are also lowered. If rents are not lowered, then the owner pockets the tax savings and can sell the property for more money. Are rents at Liberty Village kept below market rates by the PILOT agreement? If not, the PILOT is only enriching the owner.

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    1. AnonymousApril 20, 2014 at 2:43 PM

      Reply to Anonymous at 5:01 PM.

      You obviously do not know anything about affordable housing. HUD helps subsidize the rent below market rent. To encourage investors to own affordable housing, a City lowers the real estate taxes in a PILOT.

      If no PILOT, the rent goes up, yes the taxes increase, but all the residents are forced to leave. Is that what the City of Plainfield wants?

      I say be careful of believing the wrong facts and getting caught up in petty politics as we may end up evicting 96 families. They would be the losers in this debate and that would be a shame

      Delete

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