Lamar Mackson
His father spoke first, and then a dozen friends and colleagues followed Tuesday in protest of the firing of PCTV producer Lamar Mackson for what many called political motives on the part of Mayor Adrian O. Mapp.
The outcry took up an hour of public comment at the City Council agenda-fixing meeting and left Council President Bridget Rivers vowing to bring Mackson back, even if the council had to hire him as a consultant.
Richard Stewart (standing, center) addresses the council.
Richard Stewart, chairman of the 2014 Citizens Budget Advisory Committee, offered a timeline that included taking the public information officer's salary out of the budget, Mapp's controversial YouTube video charging obstruction of his new administration, a special council meeting to express disapproval of the video, Mapp's move to cut funding for taping all but regular council meetings, the June 3 primary where a Mapp-backed slate got only two of three seats and, Stewart said, "The next day Lamar Mackson was fired."
Mapp was not present Tuesday, but City Administrator Rick Smiley defended the action, saying, "While it was hurtful, it was a necessary thing.
"We also no longer have a PIO," Smiley said, referring to the council cut.
Rivers countered that the balance of funding for the Media Division had remained the same.
"The money's there," she said, calling Mackson's firing "a travesty."
Councilwoman Gloria Taylor called for an investigation, labeling the firing "a dirty blow on the backs of our children," but Councilman Cory Storch reminded the council of the separation of powers between the administrative and legislative branches and suggested his colleagues "take a deep breath and think this through."
But Rivers said he was "totally incorrect."
"We specifically took out the amount of money added for the public information officer," Rivers said. "That money for Lamar Mackson still sits in the budget."
Rivers called for a recess "behind closed doors," adding, "We need to work this out."
But Smiley said, "That's not the way we are doing business tonight," adding the firing was clearly "the prerogative of the administration."
Mackson formerly headed the Plainfield Cable Television Advisory Board, but became more and more involved with the production side, leading to his hiring in May 2013 as an employee in the Media Division. Many speakers praised his innovations for the two local channels, PCTV Comcast 96/Verizon 34. He was singled out for involving young people as interns and establishing a YouTube channel to put forth a positive image of the city.
Mackson's father, Lamar Mackson Sr., voiced anger at the firing, saying his son did not get proper notice and declaring, "He's been doing the job admirably."
Allison McWilliams a daughter of the late Mayor Albert T. McWilliams, said she was always amazed at the amount of "bickering and backstabbing" in Plainfield since she was a child. But she said Mackson gives young people "a reason to come back."
Lesli Price called Mackson the "glue" for Plainfield and said he put children "back in the forefront."
Lyle Hickman compared Mackson to a prophet not respected in his own land and said, "I like PCTV. It's fun. It's exciting. It captivates people."
--Bernice
the money was there... then Mapp should have given the reason he was fired..regardless of the why... if it was pathetically politically motivated then it should be said...either way...not sure what's uglier, Plainfield with the Dems all holding hands and screaming "we're in love" or the regular way they act...
ReplyDeleteSeems Council is only worried about African Americans loosing their jobs due to their bad budget decisions. Be careful Council or you might find yourselves in a lawsuit.
ReplyDeleteYes just as I thought blame it on the council. If you listen to Richard Stewart whom served on the budget committee the money Is there, This have nothing to do with business.
ReplyDeleteThe money was also there for a Chief of Staff and a PIO, the council approved the positions and accompanying salary band. Since green and his council are stuck on their self serving interests and don't want things to improve we need to cut a lot more jobs just to keep our taxes down. We can start with an over staffed PMUA, top heavy police and fire dept why stop here keep the firings coming we need a lot more
DeleteWho said we trust the very green Budget Committee.
Delete@ Anon 8:48 AM. It seems like the Administration is only concerned with replacing African Americans who have lived in Plainfield all their lives and qualified to do the jobs with White people from surrounding cities. Be careful Administration or you might find yourselves in a lawsuit. The antics of this Administration will not be tolerated.
ReplyDeleteBringing race into this is not helpful at all. As for residency, Smiley and West are both Plainfield residents, and also happen to be African-American. I think back to Restaino, Dashield, Wenson-Maier, and Bibi Taylor, not one of whom was a Plainfield resident. Mapp's first choice for Public Safety Director, Siddeeq el-Amin was also a Plainfielder. Could it be that the Administration thinks Media can operate decently enough without Mackson, but the city cannot operate so well without a Public Information Officer? Anyway you look at it though, the Council initiated the budget cuts to save a pittance today, and foregoing a more efficient and pro-active government tomorrow. Even the CBAC noted how top-heavy the Police and Fire divisions are. But the Council budget left those alone, including SRB's last minute police promotions, and now are set to give the firefighters retroactive raises. But face facts, the cuts were politically motivated to begin with, and the Council is content with mediocrity, or worse. Not even penny wise, and certainly pound foolish.
DeleteSounds a bit like racism. Remember.... What goes around comes around!
DeleteAntics you must be GREEN! Let the games begin!
DeleteIt is tolerated all the time especially in this City. Plainfield has a Mayor and City Council form of government. Both are to blame. Read your charter assuming you can do so.
DeleteBOO HOO. Living all your life in a City does not justify you getting or keeping a job. Perhaps one should wait to see if it was for cause and not politics.
DeleteDid you notice that the vast majority of people who work for the city are African-American. Get real. I haven't seen a rash of white folks being hired, but with all the "budget cuts" who can keep track.
DeleteStewart is getting ready to run for city council on Jerry Green's ticket in the Second Ward against Storch who appointed him to the CBAC. His wife who works for the assembly in Trenton will be running on Jerry's ticket for school board.
ReplyDeleteNow that is Plainfield politics! When Ass. Green does this type of thing it is ok and will be blessed by his moron City Council followers. They are always picking up the rear....
DeleteThe firing of Lamar by Mapp was terrible.Granted he was upset because of the positions eliminated by council, but to take it out on Lamar was wrong.Lamar is and has been an asset to this city and especially young people.This cannot be justified.Mapp with his Napoleonic Complex is trying hard to become a one term mayor.He leads by installing fear in people.Mapp does not seem to have a heart for people, he is motivated by revenge, power, and scare tactics.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the space you left out after the periods in your sentences can be found in your brain.
DeleteI don't recall the City Council or the biased Bridget Rivers mentioning anything about Sharon firing people. Gloria Taylor is full of something, but its not the good of Plainfield. This obstructive City Council needs to get their act together and start working for Plainfield and not Gerry Green. I hope more people get involved in the November election and write in people who will work for Plainfield.
ReplyDeleteBob Bolmer
This is just very sad. People of Plainfield please wake up. I understand politics but this is the worst I have ever seen. Mayor Mapp you are a big disappointment. I have looked at the budget and this cut was not due to budget constraints. I want the administration to stop telling the lies and just admit this was personal and let's move on. Hire the Man back
ReplyDeleteWhy should the city have to explain to the public why they are letting anyone go from any position? If an employee is working "at will" then employers have the right to lay off or fire people. It's never fun for those who lose their job, but that's life. Tough luck.
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At-will_employment
No one seems to be interested in talking about the WORK. It's just "poor Lamar." Maybe it's not about the money, maybe it's not about race, maybe it's not about politics. Instead, maybe the issue boils down to the work.
ReplyDeleteThe City station is a Public Access channel funded by the cable companies. Mackson turned it into a little incubator for a handful of students. That's nice for them, but it is not the purpose of Public Access. The purpose of the channel is not to provide a training ground for students interested in working in TV as lovely as it may seem. There are broader questions to ask:
How many seniors were trained use the facilities? How many Latinos has access to it? Who in the garden club used it? What neighborhood associations made TV programs? Who else besides a very small group benefited? Mackson benefited, but keeping him employed is not the purpose of the channel. It's nice that he has 14 people who can come and support him in a meeting. What about the other thousands of residents who might have had access to the facilities? Did Mackson make it equally easy for them to use the public channel? Remember, Public Access is for the ENTIRE public.
The public channel should not be the turf for one person to stake a claim. If Mackson wasn't fulfilling the mission of the channel, then a better person should be chosen to fill the position.
Your speculation is a waste of time. PCTV was producing quality content while engaging citizens and not just the interns. Look up their shows.
DeleteIf any of what you said is the reason Lamar Mackson was let go, why can't the administration give this reason? If he doesn't match their vision for media, don't we have the right to know?
No need for speculation when those in charge can give the answers.
Anon 1:43 not you Rebecca Perkins
ReplyDeleteLast I checked Lamar was just a regular employee, didnt he create the title of director for himself???
ReplyDeleteWho is Rebecca Perkins?
ReplyDeleteI am Anon 1:43pm - To 2:44pm - I am not Rebecca Perkins, whoever that is. But I am someone who understands how public access is supposed to operate. It doesn't take much digging to come up with my conclusions.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you call it speculation, whatever. But I would have to agree with Anon 1:08pm that no employer owes the public the reason for letting someone go. If that were the case then everyone ever let go from a job, City of Plainfield or not, would have their employment laundry aired in public. Do you really want that? That's a path that, as a society, I don't think we don't want to go down.
The problem with all these Mackson-supportive arguments posted here is that they assume some personal animosity against Mackson, when it might not be the case. I gave my own perspective because it is just as valid as anyone else's comments. And I learned long ago in the work world that "no one is indispensable."
But to further address Anon 2:39pm's comments about the quality of the programming - Public Access is not suppose to be done by just ONE guy. It doesn't matter how great anyone thinks it is. Public Access was created to be a place where ALL people can gain access to the media.
So non 2:39pm, I did look at the channel and I suggest that looking at all the videos will clearly show that it was pretty much Mackson all the time, maybe with a few student interns. What the channel was not, was something Open to the Public.
I submit that that fact COULD have been part of the reason. I don't know the actual reason, I haven't set foot in City Hall in years, but the videos DO speak for themselves and the general public was not part of the mix of people presenting the programs on the channel.
I thought the council just cut the money, and did not dictate jobs. Is that true? If so, the council needs to understand their job, and it is NOT to run the day to day operations of the city.
ReplyDeleteANON, 4;10PM, You got the point,stick to the facts Period.Only air space is the hot air coming out of your elitist mouth.
ReplyDeleteI don’t believe all this time is being spent on this. In the real world, people get laid-off, fired or otherwise terminated all the time. Larma knows why he was let go, he was absolutely given a reason. If he chose to not divulge that reason in a public forum, then that’s his business. It is not the responsibility of the Mayor to explain or justify his reason to the general public on his decision for terminating one’s employment. So here’s to the 14 people that most likely never came out to a city council meeting before and only has something to say when it effects them or a family member, such is life!
ReplyDeleteBridge, here’s a thought, since you dislike Rebecca so much and it appears she will continue as a council member why don’t you step down?
KS
to anon 10:30am yes people do get laid off in everyday life but this was defiantly not the way to treat a person. This young man was not given a reason why he was let go. Just imagine if you were treated like this. As far as I am concern I supported Mayor Mapp and the new dems but I will never support them again. Mayor Mapp waited until after the election because he knew they would have gotten their but kick my a landslide if he had of pulled this stunt before the primary election. I supported Mayor Mapp because I felt Mayor Sharon Robinson Briggs was a waste, but looking at this administration they are no better. The problem with commentator's like you is you find it hard to admit when the person you thought was your hero turns out to be your zero, We the residents of Plainfield have been fooled and I think we should start a march on city hall. I will be the first one in line.
ReplyDeleteTo Anon 10:30AM, You sound Crazy. Lamar was not given a reason, and for you to disregard the public's opinion is evident that you are a supporter of only Mapp.Bridget does not dislike Rebecca she , ok, you are right she does not like her at all, but with good reason. Rebecca is rude, disrespectful to all those who do not agree with her loyal, twisted,devotion to Mapp.
ReplyDeletejust as Bridget is rude, disrespectful & ghetto to all those that do not agree with her loyal twisted devotion to JG, SRB, PMUA & Ignorance.
Delete4:35 p.m., your estimate of the council president is a little too rough to print.
ReplyDeleteAnon, 10:00 AM. Find your own adjectives and stop biting.
ReplyDelete3:42 a.m., your comment may be very insightful but also possibly libelous. Good try. I saved it for my own edification but cannot publish.
ReplyDelete