Thursday, August 23, 2012

Day Laborers, Roads, Landlords Among Forum Topics

Police tell young black people to move along while allowing "other ethnicities" to congregate on downtown streets, resident Norman Johnson told Public Safety Director Martin Hellwig at a community forum Wednesday.

"I'm not aware of that," Hellwig said, promising to "look into that."

Johnson's concern was among several raised by residents at the first of two community meetings set by Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs. Wednesday's meeting was for First and Second Ward residents and those in the Third and Fourth wards are invited to meet with the mayor at 6 p.m. Aug. 30 at Washington Community School.

Johnson, one of about 25 people who attended Wednesday's meeting, repeated his complaint after another resident, Delois "Dee" Dameron, said there was too much loitering on East Second Street in the First`Ward. Johnson agreed, but said, "Nobody complains about Front Street - let's apply the law equally."

When the mayor asked where on Front Street, Johnson said it was around McDonald's where "those people" get a pass.

The block is among several where Latino day laborers wait for pick-up jobs.

The mayor said she knew people were looking for work and that people congregating was a known problem.

"We're trying to look at it respectfully," she said. "People are trying to survive."

She traced past efforts to establish a place where workers and employers could meet and said it was not just Latinos, but others who are looking for work.

Johnson said if African-Americans stood on corners looking for work, "They would be judged," but the mayor said black people, Latinos and Caucasians "stand in different areas" and to her knowledge, none have been moved.

The issue of day laborers dates back many years. See Plaintalker's 2006 post here.

Among other issues, resident Jeanette Criscione asked how the city is helping Lawrence Gardens residents who came to a July City Council meeting to complain about mold, roaches and mice. Public Works & Urban Development Director Eric Jackson said city inspectors as well as staff from the Health and Fire divisions performed a "mass inspection of all units" at the site. Jackson said state officials also came in and a large number of citations were written. He stressed that the city can only bring its strength to bear on such problems when residents make them known.

"If there is something wrong, call us," he said.

Jackson said the city will continue to monitor Lawrence Gardens.

"We are in constant communication with the residents who came out," he said. "If you call us, we are going to be responsive. It is a partnership."

(To reach Inspections, call (908) 753-3386.)

Although the mayor had reported on recent road work, Dameron asked for attention to East Second Street, which she said resembles a "roller coaster." Resident Jim Spear commended the administration for all the work done so far, but asked that pedestrian crossing signs be placed on South Avenue and East Seventh Street at Belvidere Avenue. South Avenue previously had "bumpouts" that extended into the roadway to calm traffic and help pedestrians cross the busy street safely.

Both Dameron and Alan Goldstein asked about a proposed streetscape project on East Second Street. Dameron said residents had been invited to a meeting earlier this year to discuss what amenities they wanted included in the plan, but nothing has been heard since. Jackson said he would have to check on the status of the streetscape project.

Goldstein also asked for an update on a committee that was supposed to be formed to study the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority and the mayor said she was waiting for a response from the City Council on three nominees.

"As soon as we get the three names, we will move forward," she said.

Goldstein also asked about disposal of brush and debris and was told it is all being taken to the Rock Avenue transfer station.

Residents had their say in the last half hour of the one-hour session. The first part was taken up with announcements by the mayor, many the same as what is posted on the city web site. The recitation resembled the mayor's State of the City address in that it also included various statistics such as 5,300 tons of storm debris being collected and a list of capital projects.

Among other announcements, she said 10 new police officers and 10 new firefighters are on the job and major crimes are down. A concession stand proposal rejected by the City Council will be resubmitted for a vote, she said.

In all, "It is phenomenal - a lot of good things are going on," the mayor said.

Anyone who missed the first meeting is welcome to attend the second one on Aug. 30.

--Bernice 

15 comments:

  1. The City Council need to submit the names to serve on the PMUA committee. The President Adrian Mapp do not anything successful to happen in the City of Plainfield and plans to run for Mayor not under our watch. Get on the ball work withthe administration.

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  2. I attended the meeting on Monday night, I did ask administration what was the status on the PMUA committee, I was informed that it was the COUNCIL PRESIDENT that was holding this up. Why do the council insist on not working with all stake holders to move the CITY forward. Let's stop all the petty fighting and do whats right here.

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  3. Mr. Mapp will try to find a way to blame the administration for this just watch.

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  4. If the mayor would stop appointing losers she knows the Council won't approve, then we have an administration working with the City Council. This mayor is so full of it, I know her garden is very green. She has started and promised many things in her first six plus years but has delivered on little. Let's get it straight, this mayor is a diaster for Plainfield.

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  5. To 8:50 and 9:31 AM - It is good to know that you are concerned about the PMUA issue and want to get it moving forward. I would encourage you to look at the candidates that the mayor has put up as commissioners. I think if you examine their credentials, and put aside politics and favoritism, you will agree that they are not qualified to serve YOUR or MY interests.

    Remember, the last two members the mayor put up for commission, and the council approved, gave away $1,000,000.00 to people who voluntarily resigned. That money will be made up in a higher PMUA bill that you will be paying shortly. So, again, look at the people and what they will bring to the table, not the politics behind it.

    Keep on staying involved, and informed.

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  6. I would like to reiterate Mr. Jackson's comment that it is up to the citizens to partner with Inspections. They will respond, we need to help.

    As to those of you who say it is not your job to contact inspections because if violations, I say to you: Who of you would let someone lye on the street after an accident and wait until an ambulance shows up.

    It is your job, it is my job, it is all of our responsibility. If we do not, shame on us.

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  7. And who is being nominated for the PMUA commission? Are we clear of conflict of interest? I doubt it! I suggest the PMUA start doing the right thing. The ethical thing. PMUA leadership should not be top heavy. I mean really? How many professionals should it take to successfully run this organization? These salaries and golden handcuffs don't justify what the organization does. I feel for the front line workers. Being led down this path that is not good for them and for the city. Don't get me started in the administration. It is a failed one. For everyone. The reflection of the current mayor? Not on our watch!

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  8. I've noticed changes in a few of the areas Mr. Jackson is over that has proven positive. If the administration worked like he does maybe, just maybe this city will head in the right direction. Mr. Hellwig doesn't know what's going on because he doesn't care to. Everyone knows of the areas where folks just hang out as for day laborers, that's fine for the early morning, but we all know if they haven't been picked up by noon, it's not likely they will be picked up. As most contractors are on the job by 9:00. I mean honestly I've used them to help move my mom and they are hard workers, you just don't want them sitting around all day on corners. We all have our opinions, so if possible lets allow our votes to show how we feel and not bash one another.

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  9. It's not about the PMUA commissioner's that we are talking about here, it's about the PMUA committee that we are talking about. The committee is to be formed to start the process for abolishing the PMUA. The president of the council do not want to abolish the PMUA that's why he is dragging his foot with putting names up to serve on the committee. In public they all act like they want to do the right thing, but let's face the council is dragging their feet on this one.

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  10. Anonymous 11:28 doesn't know what he's talking about. Mr. Mapp helped get the ball rolling on improving or dissolving the PMUA. The committee is to look at both areas, but the mayor is stopping this because these are jobs she can give her stooges at our expense. This mayor doesn't care about us, if she did, this city would have had a steady CFO and City Administrator for years. Let's get it right about Sharon.

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  11. I suspect that the first commenter is someone close to the PMUA, possibly a commissioner who has the same writing style.

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  12. Bob you don't know what your talking about. I spoke to the administration and they informed me that they are waiting for council president Mapp to give names which he have not doen yet. If you say he have started the ball rolling then why stop the ball now that it is rolling. I also spoke to a council person and they to said that administration have reached out to council president for names which he have failed to submit.

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  13. "I'm not aware of that," Hellwig said".

    Isn't that what he said when he was told that prostitution was illegal?

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  14. There is so much lying going on in this City you don't know who to believe, to be quite honest, I don't think we need a PMUA committee to determine whether to move forward with disbanning the PMUA (just do it)but since the Mayor suggested that be the first step, then I would like to see the list of suggested members and ask her to please leave all the cronies, politicos, friends, ministers, boots kissers and stepford(as in stepford wives) folks OUT.

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  15. To 2:20pm - The administration has given names that sharon wants for PMUA. She will not accept others. Think again of the people on the board. They gave away 1 mil of your money. These are people sharon wanted. Perhaps the council is looking for other people to be on PMUA. Problem is sharon will not approve them.

    Also, does it not bother you that the same old people keep being shuffled around, and no new faces are being introduced. It is not because of lack of candidates, it is because sharon wants her people, ONLY her people, so help me.

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