Sunday, December 18, 2016

Plainfield's Tangled Political Webs

Monday's agenda-fixing session for the annual reorganization in January has been canceled, according to a notice from City Clerk Abubakar Jalloh. No new date was mentioned, nor was any reason given.

I hope this is does not portend more animosity between the city's political factions. People already have the jitters over national politics. But there are some worrisome signs.

--On Dec. 5, correspondence requesting the reappointment of Dollie Hamlin to the Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners was noted on the agenda, but no action ensued.  It would have been a direct appointment by the council, had it been moved to the Dec. 12 regular meeting agenda for a vote. Hamlin was appointed in 2013 to an unexpired term ending July 1, 2016. Besides being the purchasing agent for the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority, Hamlin is also on the ministerial staff of Ruth Fellowship Ministries, where Councilwoman Tracey Brown is pastor. Brown lost the June primary and her council term ends this month, but it appears likely that she will challenge Mayor Adrian O. Mapp  when he runs for a second term in 2017. Brown is also pastor to former Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs, who lost to Mapp in 2013.

--Since taking office in January 2014, Mapp has faced opposition from a council majority for some important initiatives.But because Councilwoman Rebecca Williams won Brown's Citywide at-large seat in November and Charles McRae crushed Robinson-Briggs 2,544 to 995 for the Third Ward seat. Mapp will soon enjoy a majority. The Plainfield Democratic City Committee, which Mapp chairs, must offer the council three names for the Second & Third Ward seat Williams will vacate for her new seat..It is the council's duty to choose one to serve until the next general election. When that will happen is unclear.

--Much is at stake in 2017. Besides the mayoral race, the Fourth Ward council seat is up and Assemblyman Jerry Green, who is chairman of the Union County Democratic Party, must run for re-election. Democrats reorganize in 2017, with 68 city committee seats up for election. Right after the primary, the committee must l choose a chairman for two years. Green had previously held both city and county chairmanships. In November, both Green and Mapp opened Democratic headquarters in Plainfield, with Green pointedly omitting signage for City Council races at his location. Clarification: Green says he did tell Democrats to support Democratic candidates for president, Congress and county freeholder as well as "all of Column A," meaning local Democratic candidates in all municipalities in Union County.

The political animosities run deep in Plainfield, but in 2017 the city's diverse populations may face larger threats from the national level. No matter who wins locally in 2017, the city will lose unless the antagonism lessens.

8 comments:

  1. Bernice you are a real trouble maker, your article's intent is to do nothing but solicit attacks on Rev. Brown and the church she pastors.You are right the political animosoities run deep because of the lies you tell with out doing any research. You are and have always been very pro Mapp and his puppets.You walk around looking and acting innocent and humble but you are not, you are guilty of false statements and never apologizing for getting your facts wrong.You have a poison pen that causes hurt feeling, and people to become revengeful based on lies and inaccurate information you print.You have no conscience. You Write these lies and go to bed, while others are being attacked based on your lies. Never once have you ever mentioned the positive things that go on at Rev. Brown's church. Never heard you mention that every Christmas they pick people up from the Park Hotel, and the YMCA and provide a hot meal and presents, never heard you mention they feed hundreds of families on Thanksgiving, that they just completed a coat and clothing drive, what about the free funerals they offer families without insurance, but you are fast to print other people's charity work, not that they are looking for accolades, because the list goes on.It is ashame when the name of a church is mentioned simply to solicit attacks on that church and it's members. Bernice it is you also that add to the ugliness of people in this city.To all the people that will now come to your defense, quiet down because unless you have been a target of what seems like innocent writing that is really well thought out attacks on the present administrations foes you have no need to comment. Another thing Brown is supporting Rivers for mayor, and from the word on the streets is happy to be out of politics, Bernice, that is accurate. I am not an official member of Ruth Fellowship Ministries but yes, I claim that as my church. Lee Evans

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    1. Lee Evens (which I’m sure is an pseudonym you’re hiding behind), you need to stop the non-sense. I certainly don’t agree with everything Bernice write, she has written some unfavorable things about people I care about, such is life. Whatever she write, whether or not it’s fact or just her opinion it’s her blog and she has the pleasure of our first amendment same as you. Sometime I read the blog just to get a kick out of the comments, some of you are really cray cray, while others need to read their comments many times before hitting the post button. When you talk about troublemakers, take a look in the mirror. Your post is apparent that the Green team is running scared of being removed from Plainfield’s political offices, don’t worry it’s going to happen.
      I don’t believe anyone is disputing or attacking Rev Browns church and all the good work they do, just remember when we do good out of the kindness of our hearts our reward will be in heaven, not here in the world. I encourage you to keep doing good, God is watching and keeping score. The good Reverend Brown will do best by serving her community as a Reverend not a politician, the conflict in her heart is evident.

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    2. Does Rev. Brown remember how Rivers acted as council president? She was very rude, nasty attitude, unknowledgeable of Robert Rules and protocol or she just plain ignored them. And that's who she wants representing our city??!! I would hope she would just stay away cause it can be a devilish arena. I hope she continues to be the wonderful Pastor she is and continue to be of service in that way.

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  2. council Brown did great and amazing without the line, she would probably win with the line. As Doc would say anything can happen in the land of Oz.

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  3. Happy Holidays Bernice to you and your Family. Rev. Dollie Hamlin

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  4. Ms. Paglia your wrong again please air all the meetings Mayor Mapp has gotten 95 percent of everything he has asked for from the council. So for you to say that is totally incorrect. Let's tell the truth going into the New Year

    Renee

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    1. Ninety-five percent of the resolutions and ordinances are non-controversial. It is on the controversial ones that the majority has the power. Some of those eventually work out for the administration, some don't.

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