Whoever said "We can disagree without being disagreeable" has probably never been to a pre-primary City Council meeting.
Civility took a hit more than once during Monday's meeting, Former Councilman John Campbell, more recently a political power broker, called out insults to Councilman Cory Storch after a crucial vote.
"You out of there, baby," Campbell yelled to Storch, who is seeking re-election.
Resident Danny Dunn singled out Mayor Adrian O. Mapp, saying he was going to address Council President Bridget Rivers as the mayor, because Mapp was absent too much. By the city's special charter, a mayor is not part of a council meeting but may attend. On Monday, Mapp was away for the funeral of his father-in-law.
Former PMUA Commissioner Alex Toliver demeaned Chief Finance Officer Al Steinberg after he moved from his front-row seat to stand in the rear of the courtroom three and a half hours into the meeting.
"What is he?" Toliver asked, even though Steinberg has been CFO since January 2014. He also alluded to Steinberg's color.
None of this drew any call for order or reprimand from Council President Bridget Rivers. She herself laughed out loud when Finance Director Ron West said the administration wanted to hire someone to address the problem of vacant and abandoned buildings. West said he had identified more than 220 such properties.
"So you're going to add a new position to look at abandoned properties?" she asked. "Aren't there enough positions on the books?"
After West explained the goal of getting the properties back on the tax rolls, Councilwoman Gloria Taylor agreed with him and said, "That's a good use of funds."
"We think it's worthwhile," West said after others commented.
Rivers said with a laugh, "We'll discuss it during budget deliberations."
Rivers did try to have an outspoken member of the Tri-County Latino Coalition removed by police, but when his sister and other members began screaming, Rivers left the dais to intercede and have him brought back in. Coincidentally, the group had just honored her as "hero of the night" for preventing Mapp from having police remove TLC members who were shouting at the April 6 meeting.
And so it goes.Barring any special meetings, the public will likely hear more of the same on May 4 and 11. The primary is June 2 and then the rhetoric may simmer down until after Labor Day, when the Nov. 3 general election follies begin. Maybe by then somebody will have reviewed the council's own Rules of Order and the sound of the gavel will be heard in the land.
--Bernice
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adults giving the perfect example to the younger generation in Plainfield.. .it would appear that more than one of these people never had their face slapped or mouth washed out with soap...
ReplyDeletethey all praised Rivers for being such a fantastic Council President...got what you wanted...
Bernice,
ReplyDeleteI have often tried to point out to the council president that she is not following the Rules of Order that we vote on every year--and she does not follow standard protocol. She too often sees her role as that of dictator--many people have commented on how she gavels down opinions she doesn't like. For her to allow the councilors she doesn't agree with, along with city employees, to be insulted by her supporters in the audience is the most unprofessional behavior I have had to witness. She, too, engages in insulting behavior--last year, during primary time, I made a comment about how I, too, was a member of the governing body and had a right to speak. What the council president said in response was shocking, as she was supposed to be a professional presiding before the city. In response to my stating that I was a council member, she said, "Not for long!" Folks who watched the proceedings on television contacted me to tell me that they couldn't believe she would say that, and went on to rail about the circus that she has allowed the meetings to become. She made this offensive comment because she was supporting Mr. Eke. Now, she can support whomever she wants, but to blatantly insult not only me, but the people of this city, was these juvenile and politically partisan comments. I was ill the other night, and had told the council president that I would be leaving early, but the absolute disgrace that she allowed the council meeting to turn into after that time (with the commentary you mentioned above) has been communicated to me by a variety of sources. If the council president thinks that speakers' comments are funny, if she allows speakers to insult the council, and if she mocks from the dais, I don't know where we go from here. To witness such embarrassing behavior from a purported leader of the city is an insult to the people she is supposed to represent.
Rebecca
Like I said in a previous post, that gavel and elevated chair has gone to her head making that red wig even more tighter. She simply can’t think straight! For Dunn to suggest she was mayor only adds to her head and the wig getting tighter. Heaven help us!
DeleteIf a white council person commented on a black person's race in a public meeting there would be hell to pay with Al Sharpton leading the way. There is nothing on an agenda to make a racial comment that caught the bloggers attention germane and acceptable.
ReplyDeleteFortunately they are loyal Democrats showing us what we can expect on the National Level once Hillary gets in.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that it's not only our Council President who is rude, but people in the audience who should have been removed from the meeting. It would be nice to have mature adults in positions of leadership and running for office. Rivers is the worst council president we have had in the 20 years I've been paying attention to such things and Campbell has done nothing for this town, only for himself.
ReplyDeleteWe are descending into the third world culture. A civilized society requires order. Without it we have anarchy. Next meeting I am considering coming and screaming when one of the Council starts one of their senseless rants, or internecine bickering. There is little doubt that I will not only be removed, but arrested and charged for disorderly conduct. How the Council can accommodate this type of conduct is unconscionable. Let's make our decisions going forward by either having a cage and the protagonists fight to the death. Or, put in a volume meter and whichever group screams the loudest wins. Where is the America I grew up in gone? Not sad, tragic. Bill Kruse
ReplyDeletepetty bickering immature children - Plainfield's Democrats at their finest
ReplyDeleteAlex Toliver was one of the three PMUA Commissioners who awarded Messrs. Watson and Ervin $1,000,000. When W & E initiated their suite against the then PMUA Commissioners awarded W&E $250,000 for reasons that remain obscure. The award was made knowing that W&E intended to press on with their suite. Mr. Toliver, and the Board of Commissioners then proceeded to spend $111,000 in legal fees to defend the suite. That is, to reject the W&E claim. It was agreed to submit the matter to Arbitration. When the Arbitration was close to completion, and every indication was that the ruling would be in favor of the PMUA, and against Watson and Ervin, Mr. Toliver, with his associate commissioners Dunn and Saunders, reversed their field, and capitulated agreeing to award W & E another $750,000. Now this same Mr. Toliver has the temerity to stand up and criticize some one else's financial opinion? Bill Kruse
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice if people could have a discussion on here without trying to say this is an example of all democrats. I have a feeling the anonymous comments may be from my neighbor. Either have the nerve to put your name out here or keep your generalizations to yourself.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I had complete respect for Miss Rivers when I met her two years ago. This was before seeing her appalling and childish behavior on the council. She needs to be asked to relinquish her position as president, and some one with the ability to follow the Rules of Order should be put in her place.
She is a terrible actor. She grandstands, throws tantrums, plays to the camera when she thinks someone will believe she is sincere and shows a blatant disrespect for the mayor. None of these behaviors are professional and they present an absolute lack of leadership for Plainfield. You can disagree without being disrespectful.
Anyone should be allowed to speak, at the microphone, not from anywhere else in the room. It is rude and disrespectful to the person speaking, and nothing is accomplished by it. Anyone speaking out of turn should be given one warning. If they do it again they should be removed.
When people know better, they do better. Unfortunately, too many in Plainfield don't know any better. That is the only way I can reconcile in my brain how the same people who are out for themselves and not the city at large keep getting elected.
ReplyDeleteWho will educate the people?
no one as long as the campbells control the school board.
DeleteWho do we contact to come to Plainfield for a reality show?
ReplyDelete