Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Making Plainfield "Fair and Welcoming"

On Monday, the Plainfield City Council will vote on a resolution to declare the city a "fair and welcoming community."

The resolution does not include the term "sanctuary," but a commenter warns of President Donald J. Trump's threatened loss of federal funds for such cities. It appears to be another piece of uncharted territory under the Trump administration. NPR reports that it may be law enforcement grant money, not other federal funding, that would be withheld, although that might be at cross-purposes with the order's goals to deter .

The resolution is too lengthy to include in a blog post, but anyone who needs to explore it in depth can examine the Feb. 6 agenda packet online.  where it is listed as Resolution G. Among the provisions, it cites the need to keep the trust of immigrant communities by not discriminating against them or exposing personal information to outside authorities. Workers' rights, such as earned sick days, would be upheld regardless of their immigrant status. The city would re-affirm its "commitment to publicly and vigorously oppose any government registry based on religion or national origin."

In public comment, downtown business owner Maritza Martinez spoke in favor of the resolution and said, "Everybody is very scared," and some people are planning to leave the city.

"If Plainfield becomes a fair and welcoming city, it would be a wonderful thing," she said.

She then translated for three Spanish-speaking pastors.

"We believe in the unity of Plainfield," said the first. "We believe God has plans for the city of Plainfield."

The second pastor said the only thing the Hispanic community asks is for the resolution to pass, which drew applause from the large crowd in City Hall Library. The third pastor said he has been working for the Board of Education for 20 years, currently with 60 children who are all citizens. But, he said, their parents are not citizens. He said he was "very happy" that Plainfield will have the resolution and reminded the governing body that in eight years, all the children will be old enough to vote.

The regular City Council meeting is 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13, in Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave.

--Bernice

14 comments:

  1. Fair? Have you seen a single family's house Tax Bill lately? Plus you have to send your children to a safe school for more big bucks.

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    1. GB - such a silly negative comment to post related to this topic. I assume you are the type that doesn't do anything to improve things but is instead the first person to tell everyone how something won't work or how bad things are - just a Negative Nancy.

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    2. Good one, attack a person, nice very nice. I thought the Democratic Party was Government has to fix the problem? I saw how some people were fixed when I attended Plainfield High School. I still have nightmares.

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  2. How can you help others when you can't even help yourself?

    Sanctuary cities like Plainfield can barely provide its legal tax paying residents with the proper service for which we pay through property taxes and rent, never mind offering support to the masses that will continue to invade the city because we are a "fair and welcoming" city.

    Cities like Plainfield can barely keep up with the current population with regard to crime, garbage on the street, maintenance code enforcement, overcrowding of schools and homes and abandoned properties, yet, Cities like Plainfield continue to play the role of activist for a cause which is not theirs to defend. Cities like Plainfield use public funds to support efforts which do not necessarily benefit the community as a whole; although, it serves well for political posturing and grand-standing at the peril of those of us who pay our taxes and are law-abiding citizens.

    Plain and simple – if you have overstayed your visa or entered this, or any other country, through illegal means, then you have broken the law. There are laws, processes and policies; simply because they do not meet the needs of the world community, does not make it right for any person who wants to take advantage of another country’s good will to usurp any system for personal favor.

    What's next? Will public domain be exercised by local governments to force residents to give up their homes to migrants or will hardworking American families be forced to pledge a percentage of their paycheck to support these initiatives (ooops, we already do that one)!

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    1. Lalo - so nice that you are back and posting. I had forgotten about how disjointed and negative your comments were. Welcome back - I hope that your online ramblings help you to relax a little - it must be chaos in that head.

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    2. Glad you noticed Anonymous and, I imagine it can be jarring to read a comment that provides factual statements, easily supported by data; and, yes, the facts, at times, can be negative -- all the more reason to emphasize them with hopes of turning the negative into a positive.

      As for the chaos in my head, well, that's definitely a positive -- most likely the reason a top 20 firm compensates me so well.

      I look forward to more of your constructive comments.

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    3. I agree with Lalo. Perhaps Anonymous 10:35 would like to open his/her home to let the "welcomed" live with them. You can also provide an education if you choose on your nickle and not mine!

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  3. How about being fair and welcoming to the residents who are citizens?

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    1. It is all about the votes!

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    2. Anon 8:19 - you are obviously confused - illegal immigrants don't vote - but nice try.

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    3. In Plainfield illegals vote. Ask flor Gonzalez .

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    4. Then it is a county problem, as they issue the voter registration. And the person has to sign the book at each election.

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    5. i wouldn't be so hasty in stating that illegals do not vote. I'm not accusing, I am merely saying that I wouldn't make such a statement without having all the facts.

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  4. We the people of Plainfield know that our city is very safe. Would it really matter if federal funding for law enforcement is cut? You decide!

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