image from slide show
Since taking office in 2014, Mayor Adrian O. Mapp has set his sights on re-establishing the city's fiscal health and challenged his team to improve operations across the board."If I had to describe the past year in only two words, those words would be change and progress," he said
With increasing interest from developers and investors, he sees 2016 as a time to "re-brand" the city and build on the accomplishments of the first half of his four-year term. Noting the city's historic districts and two train stations, he said through re-branding and marketing "our ability to attract more investors will expand exponentially."
"We have to see ourselves as we want others to see us," he said, calling 2016 "poised to be a breakthrough year."
Mayor Adrian O. Mapp
Mapp delivered his State of the City address before a large crowd at the Senior Center Thursday, having chosen to separate it from the annual reorganization that took place on Jan. 4.
The crowd assembles
Among the good news he could report:On Public Safety
-Violent crime is down by 17 percent, non-violent crime is down by 9 percent.
-Police are more interactive with the community
-30 real-time security cameras are monitored at police headquarters
-Seven new officers have are on the job as of January and nine new recruits are in academy training
-Police body cameras are in use
-The Fire Division has 12 new firefighters and the American Red Cross is working with the division
On Public Works & Urban Development
-Mapp called the Public Works Division "one of the finest" for their dedication and most recently their response to the Jan. 23 blizzard
-The Recreation Division and Senior Center are now joined in providing all-age activities and held 15 culture-based field trips
Mapp switched to goals, recalling his aim to prove Plainfield is economically viable, safe and a great place to live, work and invest. He told the story of Abraham and Maria Ramos, who had built up a following for their restaurant that spanned the metropolitan area. After their North Avenue location suffered structural damage during a demolition in March 2015, city officials offered help that resulted in a new North Avenue location by November. Mapp praised the "Plainfield Open for Business" loan program's help for the couple.
Citing participation in 15 new business openings, Mapp said there are now also 56 development projects in progress, representing investments of over $135 million. He highlighted the two largest, a 212-unit residential development in the Second Ward and a 90-unit affordable housing plan in the Fourth Ward, coupled with warehouse construction that will allow a successful business to expand and stay in the city.
"This is what I call real change and progress," Mapp said.
City Council members
Another big push was for improved communication, which included electronic documents for the governing body, a revised website for ease of use and social media outreach including the "Mapp App" in recognition of residents' increased reliance on their phones for connecting to the world.Turning to care for the needs of residents, Mapp quoted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:
"Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle."
Calling it "not unreasonable nor unattainable to seek prosperity for every one who lives here," Mapp said his administration is committed in 2016 to expand and promote opportunities opportunities for Plainfielders "in the fields of nutrition, housing, health, income stabilization, criminal justice and improved community life."
He named Plainfield Action Services as the entity to help low- and middle-income residents empower themselves and achieve self-sufficiency. A partnership with Rutgers University School of Social Work will lead to a 10 percent increase in case management. Other assistance will include tenant/landlord advocacy to prevent eviction and homelessness, as well as financial empowerment workshops.
The Community Relations division will also expand its services to help nonprofit organizations and offer consumer education.
The city will also seek means of improving re-entry of parolees into the community, aiding homeless veterans and preventing foreclosures. Municipal photo IDs will be made available to any residents who need them.
Mapp covered all the above topics and more in his 50-minute address,with some deviations from the print version. The full State of the City Address is online and the event was also recorded for viewing on local cable channels. His closing words were a call for togetherness, again quoting Dr. King: "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."
Plaintalker sought comments from attendees Thursday after the speech. Several declined, but resident Norman X. Johnson spoke about the re-entry program, saying he would prefer a "no-entry" program. He said help for those returning to the community is greatly needed, but so are education, vocational training, job skills and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) knowledge for young people "on the front side rather than on the backside of release."
--Bernice
Why Isn't Mr X at a school board meeting advocating for the front side of Educating our children than at a city state of progress meeting. It seems we have our venues mixed up of where to put the pressure on.
ReplyDeleteBecause it's not about Plainfield! It's about the anti-Mapp - thwart accomplishments, impede progress. Much like the Republicans reject anything Obama.
DeleteIt's been a great 2 years for Plainfield. Our financial house is in order as we have had two straight years of surpluses. Crime and the perception of crime have been reduced as new tools and procedures are instituted and a campaign to re-brand the image of the City is launched. Development is hot, as he has streamlined the process and continues to attract Investors and Developers. And I am so pleased that the Mayor recognizes that there needs to be another great 2 years for ALL Plainfielders as he launches a plan to tackle the underlying problems associated with poverty.
We should all say, Mr. Mayor, continue the progress, how can we help?
Educating and guiding our children at an early age in the right direction goes a long way in an effort to keep them out of the penal system. I was disappointed to not see our superintend of schools or the board president in attendance last night. The city and school board should work in tandem; a poorly rated school system is a direct reflection on the city, its residents and businesses.
DeleteThe mayor said the restaurant suffered structural damage last night. He didn't mention the nefarious demolition engineered by his public works director, yet therein lies the real story. Maria Ramos was relocated to Mapp's Chief of Staff's building within a week of the demo. The loan is a nice spin on a tale of inconvenient truth.
ReplyDeleteDid the restaurant have insurance? I heard that they did not. If that is the case they did not pay insurance for 29 years, so did taxpayers bail them out through the program?
DeleteIn any event, glad that the business is in Plainfield.
What Alan fails to mentioned is that the building the business relocated to is practically next door to their original location. It makes perfect business sense to move there. And to subliminally imply that there was some sort of conspiracy is ridiculous.
DeleteCome now Jim, I support the strides this administration has made on behalf of us all, however, it's all too curious that one building comes down (prime real estate that could serve a great purpose for one of the favored developers in town) and it so happens that the Chief of Staff has a retail space available in his building to save the day.
DeleteYeah, yeah, yeah -- no good deed goes unpunished.
Very kind and very nice of Mr. Stewart et al but, surely there's more to this. After all, it's business and politics - to which there is always a cost, no matter how you spin it.
If it's too good to be true, it usually is.
The question is not whether the restaurant had insurance, rather, whether the Contractor(s) whose negligence caused the damage had insurance? It is hard to conceive of an event in which the question of liability was any clearer. The demolition Contractor wrecked the building next door. Period. It is inconceivable that the Contractor was permitted to proceed prior to having submitted valid proof of coverage with reasonable limits. I have read the contract which was signed after the work was performed. A remarkable sequence in a series of remarkable events...but that is yet another subject in this weird tale. The contract required the appropriate insurance, and that the insurance be provided by the prime contactor, viz, Yates. . It required that Yates Real Estate, have Property Damage and Personal Injury coverage, further, and equally if not more important, that Yates indemnify the City against any claims of any nature whatsoever arising form their work on the project insurance. This means, amongst other things, that if any claims arose and the City is named in a suite that Yates Carrier will foot the legal bills. Yates in subcontracting the work, which they did, would customarily require the subcontractor to carry insurance as well. If this procedure was followed there would have existed two Insurance Policies to protect the City. The question is, if these policies were in place, or even only one of them, why was it necessary to provide the injured party with a City sponsored loan? It is reasonable to presume that the liability on the part of the Contractors was so blatant that the Contractor's Insurance Carriers would have to make full restitution, including the damages arising from business interruption. Aside from the peculiarities associated with the award of the contract, there remain a host of unanswered questions. What is the amount and terms of the loan...since when is City authorized to use public funds and become a Bank? What is the collateral for the loan. What insurances were in place? Who paid for the restoration of the damaged building? Who paid for design of the "crooked" retaining wall that was necessary to protect the adjacent foundation from collapse due to the indiscriminate deposition of demolition debris into the cellar of the demolished building? How will the "crooked wall" which is offset several feet from the adjacent cellar wall, be dealt with when the site is developed? Who pays for the premium for the relocation of the wall over to the property line from its present location? How much was Yates paid? The amount of the first Yates requisition which purported to be all work completed in the amount of approximately $75,000 or Yates second thought requisition several months later, absent any additional work being performed,of approximately $129,000? Who paid for the "crooked wall". The second demolition contractor received an extra of about $39,000 more that the initial contract price which was for the removal of the demolition debris?
DeleteI assume this "extra" was for the wall. Did Yates insurance company pay or the City? Why was the work permitted to commence without having evidenced the required insurance?Then there is the overriding question of the propriety of the award at the outset? Bill Kruse
Alan, why so disparaging? Why do you believe that every decision made by the city and PMUA are subject to your scrutiny? Everything that goes on behind closed doors is not a covert operation devise to keep the residents in the dark. Unless someone has been in office for 15 + years with no visible improvements to the city, then maybe we should give them the opportunity to do the job we elected/hired them to do.
DeleteAlan you’re a smart man and I believe you want what’s best for Plainfield, even you have to admit, over the last couple of years there’s been far more improvements than mistakes and/or corruption. The Mayor deserves the opportunity to continue with progress and a city council that understands everyday business practices and the need to move Plainfield along.
RB
I am amazed at how in two short years, Plainfield went from a city that was in deep financial and management trouble, to a city that is vibrant and full of promise.
ReplyDeleteSure people have reservations about the building of more residential housing, but that will be offset by additional businesses coming to Plainfield to meet the needs of the new population.
I understand that it is difficult to see Plainfield moving forward, as it has had many fits and starts with no results. But is also has not had leadership as we have today.
Like the Mayor or not, this administration has consistently kept us informed of events, this Mayor through his hiring of qualified people, has brought the city out of a financial mess (I don't think people realize what a big deal it was for Plainfield to have an upgraded bond rating to Aa1, and what it means for all of us) and is growing the city for all of Plainfield. No easy feat considering how diverse we are.
And I cannot agree with Jim enough with his comment - Mr. Mayor, continue the progress, how can we help?
We the residents of Plainfield have a responsibility to make this city better along with the Mayor. - Jeanette
Jim, if you accept the BS you'll end up with little except the BS. Between the Cretella lien and the Yates demolition contract, there is quite a lot.
ReplyDeleteNo matter what anyone says, the city is moving in the right direction. We spent eight years with Sharon floating aimlessly and without direction. I'm glad we have a direction and we can see that there are positive outcomes. We do have an element who want to see this administration fail to make the last administration look less disastrous. That isn't possible. We can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, as they say. We all need to work to make this a better place to live. It feels good to have so many good things to say about Plainfield.
ReplyDeleteThe council has given the mayor every single major thing that he has asked for,everything.When he was councilman he and the REAL party of no blocked every single project the former mayor put forth.She did not have the opportunity because of Mapp and his cohorts.
ReplyDeleteYes.. it had NOTHING to do with her inability to wrap her mind around actually working a job.. I have a VERY VERY VERY good friend whose job was essentially doing SRB's "wink-wink" no-show job at one time.. Paycheck with no job.. mmm she left the private sector for the public sector..and is maintaining the same type of job. Sweet deal if you're in with the right local " I run this motherF*(&ker" Assemblyman.
DeleteTo 2:11pm - you do not need council approval to ensure that our financial house is in order. When Mayor Mapp took office, the finances of Plainfield were poor. Without council approval, the Mayor was able to improve our finances, get our bond rating to Aa1. What that means to you and me, is that when we borrow money, it is at a lower interest rate. Lower interest rates means that less money has to be paid back, so less increase in our taxes.
DeleteOur streets are cleaner, that does not require council approval. Service at City Hall is more efficient, that does not require city approval, our website is easier to navigate so developers have an easier time understanding our process, that does not require city approval.
With regard to public safety, the Mayor speaks out of both sides of his mouth on the topic of incarceration. One one side, he says the incarceration rate is too high in America. On the other, he gives the police license plate scanners to be used to arrest more citizens.
ReplyDeleteHe spoke of scanners catching the wrong-doers. Whom they will catch will be poor residents unable to pay the multiplicity of fines, summons, and fees previously imposed on them mainly from petty motor vehicle violations. Cars impounded, people jailed, DYFS called to take away children, and money wasted on bailbondsmen may result.
Will there be strict policy guidelines to limit stops to only those with outstanding warrants for serious crimes, or will Plainfield- especially the 4th Ward- become another Ferguson, MO, where the criminal "justice" system is used to enrich city coffers with fines while the residents are harassed, impoverished, and imprisoned for failures to pay in the 21st century version of debtors' prison? Without strict policy guidelines, the use of license plate scanners can easily devolve into abuse.
Interesting how you are more concerned with letting criminals move freely through the city than the safety and well-being of the peaceful, law abiding citizens who live here.
Delete