In budget talks last week, questions on the status of the Urban Enterprise Zone program could not be answered, prompting Council President Adrian Mapp to demand a full accounting of its $4 million balance.
The program dates back to the 1980s and was administered by the state until last fall, when fund balances were returned to participating municipalities for local administration. The program permitted the city to charge just half the normal state sales tax in the designated Urban Enterprise Zone. The remaining sales tax revenues were then held by the state and could be drawn down for projects or uses approved by the Urban Enterprise Zone Authority. Over the years, the program was tapped for police vehicles, special police, a sign and facade program, street amenities such as benches and trash receptacles and more within the zone boundaries.
However, a study by the Christie administration revealed that the program's return on investment was very low. In addition, participation in Plainfield among eligible businesses was low.
Click here to see Plaintalker's last post on the UEZ.
In talks Thursday, Jacques Howard of the Office of Economic Development said of the $4 million received in September, $2.9 million remained uncommitted to projects. Mapp asked about canceled applications to the UEZA, but did not get details. He asked for a list of approved projects, with supporting documents.
Eric Jackson, director of the Department of Public Works & Urban Development which includes the Office of Economic Development, promised a full breakdown of the local UEZ program as soon as possible.
Mapp reminded Howard that there must be no expenditure of UEZ funds without council approval..
Councilman Cory Storch also asked about outstanding projects and Howard mentioned the sign and facade program, police, administrative salaries for his office and a professional services contract with Rutgers for economic development.
In other matters, Howard said the city has attracted 13 new "service-related" businesses. Members of the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee suggested that the administration should develop more promotional materials to attract businesses.
Budget talks continue tonight (Tuesday, May 1) at 7 p.m. in City Hall Library. Topics tonight are the Senior Center, Plainfield Action Services, the WIC nutrition program, Bilingual Day Care, the Health Division and the Corporation Counsel's Office.
--Bernice
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We should also note Councilman Mapp's votes to use UEZ money to support the Small Business Development Center satellite office at the Incubator. This has amounted to several $100,000s over the years for a desk behind a glass wall, but nothing done there could not be accomplished for a fraction of the cost at the Plainfield Public Library. As far as I can tell, this is just another way that public funds have been funneled to the rent-seeking Malcolm Dunn, whose methodology seems to be to siphon tax dollars into his own pocket, with limited or no public benefit.
ReplyDeleteMapp is all too eager to get hold of the purse strings, but it is doubtful the payoffs to the corrupt political machine would stop, as his voting track record indicates most of his interest is solely directed at his ongoing tiff with Mayor Robinson-Briggs, and motivated more by election season panderings than principled governance.
Only someone who plays a thinly disguised double game would advocate for pay-to-play reform and then turn around and take campaign money from the engineering firm Remington & Vernick immediately before the reforms take effect.
The same goes for his public statements opposing PMUA, while at the same time his brother-in-law is a nominee for commissioner, not to mention his running mate 'on the line', PMUA commissioner Tracey Brown, who is one of a number of commissioners who have been stealing benefits above and beyond the statutory limitations on the city's books.
Plainfield is victimized by a predeliction for government by deception and a stark habit of enriching the politically-connected with money intended for the whole, or the truly needy. One shot deals and election oriented rhetoric take the place of serious planning and pro-active engagement. Yet when push comes to shove that is all there is, and all that is really intended.
Calls for accountability are meaningless when no-account politicians aim to befuddle us.