City Block Attracts Developers

A developer wants to expand a former office furniture store on West Front Street for retail use and 15 apartments, according to a legal notice published today.

Moon Builder LLC will seek Planning Board approvals on Sept. 15 to add two stories to the existing 3-story Cooper's Office Furniture building for four retail units on the ground floor and 15 apartments on the four upper floors. The notice says 46 parking spaces are required by city ordinance, but the applicant proposes 15 spaces. The need can be satisfied by purchase of long-term parking spaces or by contributing for a public parking deck and no onsite parking is proposed, the notice states.

The building is in the Transit Oriented Development-Downtown zone, which allows for higher density than in other zones.

The Planning Board meeting is 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15 in City Hall Library, 515 Watchung Ave. The application and supporting documents are on file in the Planning Division on the second floor of City Hall and may be inspected between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.

On the map of Block 247, Lot 2.01 is at upper left.

The block, which includes Municipal Parking Lot 9 and another city-owned parcel at the corner of West Second Street and Madison Avenue, is under study for redevelopment.

Meanwhile, developer Steve Cheung has purchased a former church building on the West Second Street side of the block. Cheung recently held a grand opening for 80 age-restricted apartments on Westervelt Avenue and is proposing a 20-unit apartment development on Garfield Avenue in the East Second Street Neighborhood Commercial District.

--Bernice

PMUA Fair on Sept. 10

The annual PMUA Environmental Fair has been re-named the Eric C. Watson Memorial Fair for the authority's initial executive director. Eric Watson led the authority from 1995 to 2011. He passed away on July 17 at age 59.

Click the link for a slide show of the many activities at the fair.

--Bernice

Cabinet Pay: Out of Whack?

Once upon a time, there was a very orderly salary structure for non-union employees such as the city administrator, department heads and other cabinet members. After unions settled, the non-union salary increases were established by ordinance. The city administrator made more than the three department heads mandated by the city's special charter, and the department heads made more than those under them.

Due to changes over the past decade, the fire chief now makes more than the city administrator and more than his boss, the department head for Public Safety. The structure and increases are available through Open Public Record Act requests, but the last non-union salary ordinance that I recall dates back to 2006 and only affected two cabinet members who were on the verge of retirement.

The corporation counsel was once the top-paid official, but after a search for a chief financial officer foundered, the salary band was increased to a minimum of $96,742 and a maximum of $157,015 for 2014. The new CFO in 2014 received $151,494, the highest salary among 15 non-union members.

The pay for a Public Affairs & Safety director lowered during the last administration because the director was receiving a pension from another jurisdiction, even though that department head's salary range had increased because state legislation mandated a higher salary than that received by a captain. When Chief Edward Santiago chose to return to the title of captain after the title was abolished, his salary increased, because the chief's salary line had not been increased by ordinance.

Can these discrepancies be fixed? Does it matter? The answer might be "yes," if a new administration comes in next year or if Mayor Adrian O. Mapp wins re-election and wants to level the playing field for his cabinet members.

During the past administration, the title of police chief was abolished, replaced by "police director." The department head over the police and fire divisions was Martin Hellwig, who was also named police director, in effect reporting to himself though drawing one salary for two titles.


A chart of salary bands in 2014 included one for "Municipal Engineer," even though the city no longer has an in-house engineer, but has hired outside firms to provide engineering services for many years.

Another novelty in recent years has been payments to a law firm for the services of the corporation counsel, even though the Municipal Code calls for the corporation counsel to be compensated with a "fixed annual salary established by ordinance."

Maybe a transition team in late 2017 will look at these discrepancies and straighten them out. Meanwhile, if you want to "follow the money" in the cabinet, it's a long and winding road.

--Bernice

What's The Schmatta?

This blog post is entirely frivolous. Back to the hard stuff next week.

Hillary Clinton wore this outfit to a Fire Island event, part of a tour of gay locales arranged by Cher to benefit the presidential campaign.

It's not the first time that she has chosen a sturdy-looking get-up. Some of her recent jackets have had a near-upholstery quality, reminding me of the modest cover-ups I saw on a bunch of women in Seattle one year. Their long dresses made of heavy woven fabric revealed no curves.

This is an observation, not a judgment.

Unlike Cher, who at 70 can and does dress in gossamer and bugle beads, Hillary at 68 retains what appears over the years to have been a certain disdain for fashion. I share the feeling. I may have been one of Bill Cunningham's biggest fans, but it was his blue workman's jacket I coveted, not the couture he knew and photographed so astutely.

As a girl in the 1950s, I knew a 36-26-36 figure was optimal, but I was perhaps ahead of the times in having the more straight-up-and-down shape that later became more general (before implants and waist training produced the cartoonish forms we see today).

In 1977, I was asked to be in a wedding. I made my own velveteen jacket and long skirt, but thought I needed to rein things in underneath with a corset (very popular at the time). I tried some on, but they made no discernible difference and they pinched. Here I am with the bride, being very happy without one:

Me and Linda

Now that I am well past the three-score and ten mark, I have the prudish notion that unless we are talking about Cher or Tina Turner, older women should not display their limbs (Victorian tone intentional). Mine tend to be hidden away under denim and chambray, but if Hillary wants to go for tweed and boucle, it's up to her. Think of it as Chanel without the passementerie.

--Bernice

Whoopee! I Skipped the Trip!

I never won the lottery, but getting an invitation to "Skip the Trip" this month made me almost as happy.

My driver's license was due to expire in September. A friend had promised to take me to the Motor Vehicle Commission office in South Plainfield and I was pretty sure I could assemble my six points of identification.

But then the Skip the Trip letter arrived! All I had to do was fill out the form, enclose a check for $24 and drop it in the mailbox. The MVC promised that within ten days a new license would then appear with the photo and signature from my old license. It came even earlier and now I am set until September 2020.

Never mind that I don't really look like the image from 2012 and will totally not look the same in 2020.

I wondered whether the MVC figured out that I no longer have a car or perhaps anyone my age was exempt, the way a person 75 or older can opt out of jury duty.

It turns out that as of August 2013 all drivers are eligible to Skip the Trip except for these categories:

If you possess a Commercial Driver License (CDL) or Graduated Driver License (GDL), have an active suspension, have a Temporary Visa Restriction (TVR), have a boat license or boat endorsement, if you are required to have an ignition interlock device on your vehicle, or the MVC requires a new photo to be taken in-person, you are not eligible to renew through the mail at this time. 

The program began in December 2012 for drivers born on or before Dec. 1, 1964 and was then expanded in August 2013. I'm not sure how this jibes with recent reports of long lines and waits at the MVC offices.

You still have to be "invited" by the MVC to use the Skip the Trip option, which is what made me think it was special. Anyway, it happened to me, I sent in the form and the check and now all I need to do is win the lottery so I can afford either a Smart car ... or a Tesla ... maybe a Viper .... or all three!

--Bernice

Be On Alert For Crime

A couple days ago, I received a call from Plainfield Police on my land line. The message was to lock my car doors and not to leave any valuables visible inside.

I haven't had a car since 2008, but when I did, it was in a locked garage at night. Only once did I have a break-in and that was due to my negligence in leaving the garage unlocked. Someone stole my camera, which set me off to local pawn shops with an image of it, but no one had it. My understanding at the time was that stolen goods tend to be moved out quickly through "fencing" operations.

I wanted the camera back mainly because it contained photos of my sunflowers, which were spectacular that year, The thieves disdained my L.L. Bean rain jacket with plaid lining, probably a slam on my taste in fashion, but I still wear it on stormy days.

The phone call made me wonder whether a certain area was being targeted or it was just a general warning. In West Seattle where my daughter lives, the local blog has a "Crime Watch" section which includes what they call out there "car prowls." My feeling about having a Police Blotter or Crime section in the newspaper was that it gave residents more of an advantage in knowing where and what kind of crime was prevalent, but it tended to be a thorny issue in Plainfield. Officials complained it made the city look bad.

When I was a reporter, one of my first assignments was to "pick up the blotter" at eleven police stations on Saturdays. It was quite a trek through three counties, The desk officer in the more rural towns usually just said, "Nothing to report" but in Plainfield, the only urban center on the route, there was a wire basket with copies of police reports. As a Plainfielder myself, I was interested to know when there was a rash of purse snatchings on Park Avenue or some other trend to watch out for.

The sensitivity over crime reports one year led to the banning of the word "Plainfield" in headlines, though of course it was in the dateline. No matter how many "good news" stories were published, reporters caught hell when bad news surfaced. Some politicians tried to strong-arm editors by demanding coverage on what they called "good news," even if it was just some puff piece publicity around election time.

Eventually the newspaper dropped "cop runs" altogether, so the only crime news that got published was what police departments faxed over. As news outlets reduced staff, crime coverage dropped even more. Nowadays, by the time a major crime story comes out in print, it has already appeared online and in social media. In Plainfield, neighborhood associations may warn online of crime trends and offer crime prevention tips. One such tip is not to leave purses visible through back door windows and of course, leaving valuables in an unlocked car is just an open invitation to thieves.

If you are not receiving police advisories by phone or email, you can sign up on the city web site for the Plainfield Mass Communication System.

As they say, forewarned is forearmed.

--Bernice

Money, Crickets, Heat

Money
I got a big hug from someone whose name was on the list of unclaimed property that I wrote about last Saturday. She started the process to make a claim at missingmoney.com and I hope to hear the outcome someday soon. Another person saw her friend's father on the list and alerted him to make a claim. The list was published again in the Aug. 26 Courier News, I put all the Plainfield names on my Aug. 20 blog post. The situation made me recall another instance of money owed to city residents. In 2006, the tax collector at the time wanted to move more than $800,000 in tax overpayments into surplus to balance the books. Taxpayers protested when they found out, one being Councilman Cory Storch, who was owed $3,000. Former Councilman John Campbell claimed he was owed $8,000 and campaigned to get refunds for all the affected property owners. Despite his efforts, only $29,919 came back to taxpayers and the balance went into city coffers in 2007.

Crickets
I heard my first cricket on Aug. 18, as i walked home from a Planning Board meeting. It's a harbinger of Fall, but since then the temperature has remained quite high. Crickets "sing" at different rates according to the temperature, slower when it's cold and faster when it's warm (see article here). The sound is caused by stridulation, rubbing wing parts together.


Snowy Tree Cricket - BugGuide.net

Heat
I ordered another tower fan from Amazon to help us get through the ongoing 90-degree weather, but it dawned on me that climate change is a real threat to older people and public health policy must reflect that fact ASAP. Turns out it is already on the radar as noted in this Environmental Health Perspectives publication. Here's more from the U.S. Global Change Research Program.
Kind of scary!

--Bernice

Women's Equality Day

I find it amazing that it was only during my mother's lifetime that women gained the right to vote.

The 19th Amendment to the Constitution was certified on August 26, 1920. My mother would have been ten years old that year.

From the National Women's History Project:

At the behest of Rep. Bella Abzug (D-NY), in 1971 the U.S. Congress designated August 26 as “Women’s Equality Day.”

The date was selected to commemorate the 1920 certification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. This was the culmination of a massive, peaceful civil rights movement by women that had its formal beginnings in 1848 at the world’s first women’s rights convention, in Seneca Falls, New York.

I wonder what Bella Abzug would have to say today about a woman running for president of the United States, albeit under somewhat of a cloud. Both the Democratic and Republican party presidential candidates are viewed by some as among the worst ever. 

While Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are at the top of their respective tickets, there are candidates all the way down to the local level to consider. Between now and the Nov. 8 general election, women can ponder how they want to use that hard-won right to vote. 

--Bernice

Boys & Girls Club Has A New Location

Just this month an elected official said, "The reality is, our young people have nothing to do."

The Boys & Girls Club of Union County might beg to differ.

The Plainfield club held an open house Thursday at its new location and the young people themselves were its best advertisement. Zaire, 17, said he has been a member for four years and the club is where, he said, he learned "to present myself in a very respectful and intelligent way."
He is an Emergency Medical Responder with the Plainfield Rescue Squad and plans to have  a career in law enforcement and communications.

Lord, 16, said he got into the club by accident, but has since learned public speaking and now feels confident speaking before a large crowd of people.

"I give a lot of time being here," he said, including his birthday and Thanksgiving.

He is also aiming for a career in law enforcement.

Club members are not just part of the local club, they have opportunities to take part in national gatherings and to receive recognition for their accomplishments on many levels as well.

Lisa Sepetjian, director of Development & Marketing, said club members' successes are recognized at "Youth of the Year" dinners for elementary, middle school and high school students. Partial scholarships are awarded and the recognition is a "great honor" when applying to college, she said.

The club serves young people from age 5 to 18. When they arrive after school, homework is the first order of business, with tutoring as needed. The club has a computer lab funded by a grant from Comcast and features "brand-new, touch-screen computers," Sepetjian said. There is also a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) program run by volunteers, she said.

DeAndre Hollingsworth,  office manager of the Plainfield club, said teens "feel a sense of belonging" and can attain skills in leadership, community service and civic engagement. He said 2,500 young people from all over the world took part in the clubs' 2016 Keystone Conference in Dallas where they were "treated as leaders" and enjoyed events every evening.

Club member Shaila, 16, said she had fun while gaining leadership skills.

"It forces you to interact with other people, but you end up enjoying yourself," she said.

Sepetjian said teens who have a bad attitude and are disrespectful are asked to leave the club, but one such individual has since become a mentor and is a "Youth of the Year" finalist. She attributed the turnaround to being in a place where a young person feels safe, engaged and respected.

Ron Brangman, Associate Club Director with the Union club, said the Plainfield club has a unique feature in its bike exchange. Bicycles for children of all ages are available. See the link below for Bike Exchange hours.

Brangman said club members can receive help with college applications and tours as well as job preparedness.

The Plainfield club is accepting members. For more information, see the Boys & Girls Club of Union County/Plainfield Club.

--Bernice

Parking, the Perennial Dilemma

Sorting papers tonight, I came across a resolution to hire Walker Parking Consultants to conduct a parking structure feasibitility study for downtown Plainfield. The cost was $60,750 and the time frame was one year. It was passed in February, so it's at about the halfway mark now.

Among the many considerations - location, capacity, construction cost - perhaps the most important is who will pay for it. The city could issue a bond or developers might be asked to pay.

Mirons warehouse before
 So far, the only major downtown developer is Landmark, which converted the old Mirons warehouse into 12 apartments with a ground-floor restaurant still under construction. That structure is on East Second Street and the west side of Gavett Place.


Mirons warehouse after 

On the east side, Landmark is completing a building with commercial space on the ground floor and 20 apartments on upper floors.

Landmark also developed two nearby Park Avenue buildings, one with 4 apartments over office space and another with eight apartments and commercial space at ground level. In the former Telephone Building on East Fourth Street has eight apartments. There are three mixed-use Landmark buildings on North Avenue and plans for retail use in the PNC Bank building at Park and West Front Street as well.

So it appears that Landmark developer Frank Cretella would especially benefit from a downtown parking facility.

He has approvals for 148 apartments and 12,300 square feet of retail space on West Second Street, but as I recall those plans include ground parking.

Landmark's early plans (circa 2006) called for high-rise construction behind the historic buildings on North Avenue, but the concept was dropped.

The downtown currently has parking in Lot 6, behind Bill's Luncheonette, in Lots 8 and 8A between Somerset Street and Watchung Avenue and in Lot 1 behind the former Strand Theater with an entrance off Watchung Avenue. As far as I know, plans to use the Union County Improvement Authority's parking deck off West Second Street have never materialized, though it was one of the promises made in 2013 when UCIA Director Dan Sullivan presented a $1.09 million check to city officials in settlement of disputed development costs.

It will be interesting to see how current parking permit holders fare if Lot 6 is chosen as the site for a new parking deck. It is very popular. Where will drivers park during construction?

Maybe more people will join me in getting around on foot.and boost the city's walkability score!

--Bernice

Parking,The Perennial Dilemma

Sorting papers tonight, I came across a resolution to hire Walker Parking Consultants to conduct a parking structure feasibitility study for downtown Plainfield. The cost was $60,750 and the time frame was one year. It was passed in February, so it's at about the halfway mark now.

Among the many considerations - location, capacity, construction cost - perhaps the most important is who will pay for it. The city could issue a bond or developers might be asked to pay.

Mirons warehouse before
 So far, the only major downtown developer is Landmark, which converted the old Mirons warehouse into 12 apartments with a ground-floor restaurant still under construction. That structure is on East Second Street and the west side of Gavett Place.


Mirons warehouse after 

On the east side, Landmark is completing a building with commercial space on the ground floor and 20 apartments on upper floors.

Landmark also developed two nearby Park Avenue buildings, one with 4 apartments over office space and another with eight apartments and commercial space at ground level. In the former Telephone Building on East Fourth Street has eight apartments. There are three mixed-use Landmark buildings on North Avenue and plans for retail use in the PNC Bank building at Park and West Front Street as well.

So it appears that Landmark developer Frank Cretella would especially benefit from a downtown parking facility.

He has approvals for 148 apartments and 12,300 square feet of retail space on West Second Street, but as I recall those plans include ground parking.

Landmark's early plans (circa 2006) called for high-rise construction behind the historic buildings on North Avenue, but the concept was dropped.

The downtown currently has parking in Lot 6, behind Bill's Luncheonette, in Lots 8 and 8A between Somerset Street and Watchung Avenue and in Lot 1 behind the former Strand Theater with an entrance off Watchung Avenue. As far as I know, plans to use the Union County Improvement Authority's parking deck off West Second Street have never materialized, though it was one of the promises made in 2013 when UCIA Director Dan Sullivan presented a $1.09 million check to city officials in settlement of disputed development costs.

It will be interesting to see how current parking permit holders fare if Lot 6 is chosen as the site for a new parking deck. It is very popular. Where will drivers park during construction?

Maybe more people will join me in getting around on foot.and boost the city's walkability score!

--Bernice

Blogging the News

--Barbara Todd Kerr

Barbara Todd Kerr, who designed and administered Plainfield Plaintalker when it began in 2005, snapped this photo of your intrepid blogger at a City Council meeting in 2006.

For a while in 2007-2008, I was both blogging and freelancing for the Courier News, where I had been a reporter for 16 years before retiring in 2003. I was glad to help out (and earn some money) by freelancing, but I felt the difference between the immediacy of blogging compared to attending a meeting, writing it up and filing after deadline for publication a day or two later.

By 2009, Barbara's many other activities and interests resulted in a parting of the ways. From then on, I did all the writing and photography.

Not being skilled on the technological side, I fretted when the blog reached more than 2,300 posts. It seemed too big, too cumbersome. So I created a successor, Plaintalker II, in May 2010. Plainfield Plaintalker remains as a searchable archive.

Plaintalker II has grown even larger than the original, but I can't decide between creating a new format or just closing it down. Obviously it will continue while I vacillate.

The main topics continue to be municipal government, redevelopment and Plainfield in general.

Plainfield photographer David Alonso took this series of photos at a council meeting in April 2015:

--David Alonso

--David Alonso

--David Alonso

Since taking office in 2014, Mayor Adrian O. Mapp has increased official news sources with an updated website, an online newsletter, a Nixle setup to deliver messages to city households and an app for cell phone communication. I hear there are plans to live-stream City Council meetings later this year. All these measures increase the opportunities for civic involvement, which was one of the reasons for starting the blog eleven years ago. The Plainfield bloggers also add perspectives to whatever official news may be released.

I hope you have enjoyed knowing a bit more about the history of this blog. The archives constitute a reference source on development and local politics, among other topics. Local news outlets no longer routinely cover city government as they once did, but I still think it's important and I have the free time to do it.

--Bernice

Boys & Girls Club Open House Thursday

As Plaintalker recently reported, the Boys & Girls Club of Union County has relocated from West Seventh Street to downtown Plainfield, at 145 Park Avenue. The organization is holding an open house on Thursday (Aug. 25) from 5 to 7 p.m.

Learn more about the organization here.



The Plainfield Club began in 2001 (click link for info). A feature at its new location is a bike exchange.

We wish the organization well at this new central location.

--Bernice

Missing Money? Check the List

Friday's Courier News had a 10-page notice from the state Department of the Treasury listing names of people who have bank accounts or other sums of money that they have not claimed. They may have forgotten about the money or moved or even passed away. Owners or heirs who can verify their right to the money should contact the Unclaimed Property Administration.

I happen to like looking through these notices and have helped a couple of people realize they can make a claim. Usually these notices have a lot of Somerset County names and only a few Plainfielders, but this one is loaded with names and addresses in the Queen City. The agency does not say how much is owed until claimants prove their identity, but hey, it's worth a shot if you see your name on the list.

To pique your interest, I am listing the names. In the printed notice, each one has a code number. You can look it up in Friday's paper. You can also key in a name at www.missingmoney.com to see if it is in the database.


An older notice. Recognize any name?

I am listing just the Plainfield names alphabetically, last name first, no punctuation, as in the notice. The rest is up to you.

AARON BRYANT K    ABRAMS JAY   ABRAMS JAY R
ABULEFON OLADIMEJI N   AGUAYO FELIX   AKBAR MICHELE
ALEXIS FELIX J   AMAYO PEDRO   ANDERSON FRANCES J
 ANDISON DAISY E   ANDREWS MARLENE P
ARMSTRONG JOHN   ARRELANO JAVIER   ASHE MONIECE
 AUILA ALMA L   AULDERMAN JESSIE   AVENT MINNIE L

BAILEY LEE E   BAINBRIDGE THOMAS   BAKER FORREST A
BATTLE DEBORAH A
BATTLE GEORGE   BAUER GUNTHER S   BEALER LUCERTIA
BELLAMY DAWN M   BELTON JOHN E   BILAL FAHEEM
BISGAARD HARALD A   BLOCKER SCOTLAND
BOGGS LEAL E   BOLTON JORDAN T   BONNELL AUDREY S
BONNER DANIEL J
BONNER JOSEPH M   BOYD BRENDA   BRANCH CLAARENCE R
BRINKLEY JOHN
BRITT CRAWFORD   BRITTON CHIQUETA A
BRONFIELD AMILCAR
BRONSON RONALD   BROWN DENISE L   BROWN TARA N
BROWN/ADAMS VIRGINIA C
BUCKNER BARRY C   BUFANO DANIEL C   BULLOCK LINDA T
BURGESS/JOHNSON LISA   BURRY CATHERINE   BUSH DELORES
BYMUN LINDA  BYNUM VICKY

CALLAGHAN JOHN E   CALLAGHAN JOHN E   CANCEL PEDRO L
CANTONE FANNY   CANZONERI ROMANANSKY MARCIA
CAPELLO JOHN W   CARRASQUILLO ANTONIA
CARRASQUILLO MILDRED   CARSON MARSHA
CASERTA JOANNA   CHAMPION MALCOLM L
CHANDLER DOLORES   CHANNEL BERTHA
CIAMPA NICHOLAS A   CIFUENTES BLEOCIANO
CISSON MARGUERIT    CLEVELAND HARLD C
COFFEY HELEN R   COHEN ERNESTO
COLEMAN/JEFFERS FLORA   COLEMAN/BROWN LINDA
CONANAN ANATALIA   CORCORAN LILLIAN
CORDON JULIO A   CORDOVA WASHINGTON D
COSTANZA MICHAEL   COUNCIL SHANTIQUA J
CUADOS OSCAR
CUCCARO MARTIN J   CUMBERBATCH JANELLE E

DANIELS ROBERT   DAVIS JOHNNY   DEC'D KATHERINE M
DECOSTA SIGNEE MRS   DEVLIN GEORGE E   DEXTER JEAN
DIEZ LIBARDO   DODD FRANK W
DORN CONRAD P   DOUGLAS PEARLEEN C
DREIER ARTHUR HARRY J
DUDLEY PAMELA   DUNHAM CHARLES

EBANKS NOVLETTE   EGGLESTON ROBERT
EICHELBERGER JAMES W   EICHELBERGER JAMES W JR
EIGEN MARTIN M   ENDRESS JOHN F   ESKENSEN JOHN C
ESTEVEZ PEDRO L

FAILING GRACE I   FEGERTON KORAN R
FENNELL/JASPER BERTHA M   FERTIG HARRISON
FINOCCHIO MARION   FITZPATRICK KEVIN D
FLEMING GLORIA   FLYNN ELIZABETH    FRESMAN ANDREW

GALLAGHER JOHN J   GALLARDO MARIA   GARRETT DEREK JR
GARRETT DONOVAN   GAYNOR LAUREN   GEDDES MARVA J
GIANO GUISEPPE   GILLIAM CLARENCE H   GILLIS HAZEL L
GIVENS SYLVIA   GOINES DESHAUN   DANIEL GOLDSTEIN
GOODMAN JEFFREY   GORDON ROSE L   GRAVES JOHN L
GREVES NELSON   GREY ANTHONY S   GRIFFITH DARRYL D
GURIAN DAVID I   GUTIERREZ ANNA

HADLEY RODNEY   HAIRSTON GULFREY   HALL WILHELMINA E
HALLARD GERTRUDE   HAMMOND FREDDIE M   HARDY LILLIE P
HARMAN JOHN L   HARRIS GEORGE O JR   HARRIS RILEY
HARRISON ABRAHAM B   HATHAWAY DEBRA
HATTEN/HARNEY ALPHINE C
HENRY EVANDA   HENRY VICTORIA V   HERCULES MIGUEL
HEWLING JOSEPHINE   HIBBERT HOPETON S   HILL EARL
HOGANS GEORGE   HOLLIS MARJORIE   HONARTZ GAILLEO M
HOOD DOROTHY L   HOPPER MARION F
HOTHAN WILLIAM E   HOVNANIAN K   HOWARD BETTY A
HUCHARK JOHN   HUNTER WAYNE
HURDLE MASTER J

IANNETO ANTHONY   INEZ MITCHELL O

JACKSON BYRON L   JAMISON OLIVIA   JENKINSON DINEEN L
JOHNSON HENRY C   JOHNSON JAY P   JOHNSON WAYNE E
JOHNSTON GEORGE W JR   JONES CARLEE   JONES CHARLENE
JONES IRVING   JONES MADONNA M   JORDAN CHARLES
JORDAN MARGARET    JORGENSEN GLENN

KAPLAN JOHN G   KAUFMANN META   KELLY CHARLES T
KEOGH JOHN   KERENCY WILLIAM J   KIELY JULIA L
KILPATRICK VANDRAN   KIMBERLY BANE AND TO
KINGSTON ALICE   KNIGHT ALBERT
KROEHLING RUTH E

LAINEZ JOSE   LAMBERT NORMAN J   LARRY ROBERT
LAWHORNE COUTANYER   LETTSOME JAMES
LEWIS ALAPHIN   LILLY ALFRED M   LOGAN CAROLYN
LOMBARDI LOUIS A   LOMBARDI PHILIP P JR
LONGUS HOWARD E   LUDWIG CATHERINE F
LUND RUTH A

MACK SIDNEY   MACOFSKY DAVID   MAHIMTURA REKHA
MARSHALL/WALKER VALERIE D   MARTIN LESTER
MARTIN WILLIAM   MARTINEZ DIANNE F   MASCARO THOMAS
MAXWELL BARBARA S   MAXWELLMABEL G
MCGOWAN ROSENA O   MCCANN KEATING
MCCANN MADELINE   MCCARRON EILEEN P
MCCULLUM AUDREY   MCDANIEL LLOYD E   MCDONALDS
MCINTYRE LOUISE MISS   MCKOY KIMBERLY   MCLEAN DAVID
MCMAHON KATHERINE
MCNEIL NOEL G   MILLER RUTH   MINDER LISA D
MIRON JAMES   MITCHELL RALPH S
MOGULL ALLAN M   MONGELO NICHOLAS F
MONTGOMERY MARY   MOONEY JOSEPH W
MOORE EDMUND M   MOORE HARVEY   MOORMAN SONJA D
MORSE HAROLD G   MUHAMMAD HISHAM A
MUSSER HARRY   MYERS LAWRENCE   MYERS MADELEINE B

NEWBOLD ROBERT T   NEWBY ERNEST L   NEWBY JULIA
NICHOLAS NECHAEL   NOEL NATHAN

O BRIEN CLARA   OCHOA ALVARO   ODELL WILLET H
ORTIZ GUILLERMO   OWENS EUGENE A

PARINGER WILLIAM   PARKINSON DOROTHY L
PARROTT AMIE   PARSUKAS AGOTA   PATEL SUMANT L
PATLEN ESTELLE A   PEEK EVA V   PELUSO MICHAEL V
PARELLO WALTER A   PERNELL LEROY   PERRY MAMMIE
PETERSON PHYLLIS A   PHILLIPI JANE S MISS
PHILLIPI JANE S MISS   PINES IRVING
PIRONE LOUIS R   PLAINFIELD BEAUTY SU
PLAINFIELD IRON & ME   POLLARD ROBERT
POPE CRYSTAL   PORCH MARCUS
PORTERFIELD JULIA   POWELL JOANN
POWELL SHIRLEY A   PROANO EDISSON

QUIPP F J

RABB KATHLEEN   RAMEY KAREN   RAMOS ANNETTE
RAMOS JOSE   RAMOS LUZ   REAVIS LORETTA
REID EVERETT G JR   REITER CHARLES
RICE/SEAY ROXANNE   RICHARDSON JESSE
RICKTER ANNA   RIVERS JOAN   RIZNIK LAUREN A
ROACH MICHAEL G   ROBERTS CHARLES N
ROBINSON CAROL K    ROBINSON EARL B
 ROBINSON ELIJAH   RODRIGUEZ MARIBEL
ROGERS ROSE   ROLLEY OTIS   ROSE KATHERINE
ROSE LUCY   RUDOLPH ANNIE

SCHACTER HOWARD M   SCHOLNIK LOUIS
SCRIMMAGER LEON   SEAWRIGHT TERESSA   SEIDEL JOHN L
SESSLER MATTHIAS   SHAFFER NATALIE   SHAKIR SALEEM
SHANNON SILBURT   SHEIN HAROLD D   SHERIDAN DAVID
SHIVELY KENNETH   SIMS OLIVIA   SMITH EDWARD
SMITH NATHANIEL   SMITH THOMAS E
SMITH/SHEPHERD KELLY S   SOUL BROTHERS CAFE
STEPNEY SIDNEY   STERLING DOROTHY
STEWART TROLETA  STIEGLITZ MURRAY
STOETZEL MARY   STOETZEL MARY
SZATMARY ARMIN

TATE BETTY L   TAYLOR ARTHUR   TERRAGLIA CHARLENE
TERRILL PRINCE   THIES JOHN C   THOMAS MIRIAM H
THOMPSON RALPH D   THOMPSON THOMAS D
THOMPSON TIJUANA   TOBY ALPHONSO   TODD JOHN
TODMAN TOBY A   TORRES FABIO   TOYES FRANCES E

URCIUOLI ANTHONY F

VANDERHOOF WILLIAM  VARGAS JOHN   VARNER JAMES
VASQUEZ SHIRLEY   VELEZ HECTOR M   VOORHEES MARTHA

WALES SOPHRONIA   WALKER OLIVIA   WALSH PATRICIA J
WASHINGTON SYLVIA V   WEAVER RICHARD   WEBB CYNTHIA
WHITMAN SUSAN   WIGGINS CLIFTON K   WILLIAM EDNA L
WILLIAMS CHARLES   WILLIAMS ISSIAH   WILLIAMS SHAW M
WILLIAMSON DANIEL   WILSON HENRIETTA C
WOODSON ERICA S   WRIGHT LISA

YANCEY JOHN R

ZARZUELA JESUS

Planning Board Approves East Second Street Study

Planning Board, City Hall Library

Planning Board approval of a redevelopment study Thursday launched a neighborhood on a formal process toward revitalization.

About 20 people attended a public discussion of findings that East Second Street between Leland and Johnston avenues is in need of redevelopment.

Veena Sawant of the Nishuane Group\

Planning expert Veena Sawant of the Nishuane Group presented the highly detailed study that compared each property to Local Redevelopment Housing Law criteria. Of 41 parcels, ten had adverse conditions warranting redevelopment and all were eligible because they are in the city's Urban Enterprise Zone.

Twenty-eight of the parcels had residential buildings over 50 years old and Sawant described other conditions that signaled a need for rehabilitation.

In comments after the presentation, Rev. Paul Dean said, "Thanks for allowing this to happen."

Dean said former Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs brought him on as project manager in 2012 and he had taken part in a study by Dr. Roland Anglin of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy.. His church, Visions of God Family Worship, had formed a community development corporation.

"We have made a vast difference," he said, citing youth employment and formation of a merchants' association. "People have been promised that something will happen."

The neighborhood has better lighting and new road paving, he said.

A resident asked what was next following the new study and Planning Director Bill Nierstedt explained. With the study completed and public participation, the board upon adoption of the study could recommend it to the City Council. The council might then ask the Planning Board to make a redevelopment plan. With more public input, the plan will be written and referred back to the council for a hearing and adoption on two readings. If all goes well, final adoption of a redevelopment plan could happen in December.

All that will be the framework for actual development, he said.

One benefit could be that property owners will invest in renovations in order to gain a five-year tax abatement. The plan could spur developers to launch projects in the neighborhood. In fact, a dilapidated former meat market was recently demolished and a developer will be seeking Zoning Board of Adjustment approvals for a mixed-use project with 20 apartments and a 7,500 square feet of commercial space.

After the presentation and public discussion, the Planning Board voted unanimously to approve the study and recommend it to the council for further action.

--Bernice

East Second Street Study Up for Public Discussion

Thursday's Planning Board meeting promises a public discussion of the East Second Street redevelopment study, a long-desired step toward revitalization of the neighborhood between Johnston and Leland avenues.

The meeting is 7:30 p.m. in City Hall Library.

Here is a link to my report on the July 22 Planning Board meeting at which Planning Director William Nierstedt asked board members to go out and look at the neighborhood, as it has recently changed.

--Bernice

PMUA Renames Fair for Eric Watson

The Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority's annual Environmental Fair will be renamed the Eric C. Watson Memorial Environmental Fair in honor of the authority's original executive director, who served in that role for 16 years.

At Tuesday's PMUA meeting, attorney Frank Borin read aloud a resolution recounting Watson's leadership, starting with the authority's creation in 1995 and in dealing with many challenges as it developed.

He had been the city's director of Public Works & Urban Development before initiating the PMUA and returned to that title in September 2014.


He died unexpectedly at age 59 on July 17 at home.

The fair provides education to the community on environmental topics, as well as fun for the family and free food in the sylvan setting of Library Park.

In other action, the board of commissioners approved renewal of Chief Financial Officer Duane Young's contract and discussed new services as well as some concerns.

- At the League of Municipalities conference in November, the PMUA will promote use of its spot liner sewer repair service to other municipalities. The spot liner method permits repair of a broken pipe without digging holes.

- In another business move, the authority has two new customers, local private haulers who bring waste to the Rock Avenue transfer station, and is reaching out for more. The selling point is that it is closer than facilities in Elizabeth and although the fee is a bit higher, trucks are not tied up making a long haul to the east end of Union County.

- The authority is working on an "'EZ Pay" billing system for customers for their convenience .

- In a new arrangement, the authority will let the Union County Mosquito Control Bureau into the transfer station to spray. The bureau sprays near the station every other week and will now increase protection from mosquito-borne disease by spraying inside.



An ongoing concern is getting residents to roll back containers from the curb after they are emptied. A notice on the PMUA website reminds people that service in summer may begin as early as 3.a.m., so containers should be placed at the curb after 8 p.m. on the night before scheduled pickup. Once emptied, they should promptly be removed from the curb to prevent rolling into the street. If an inspector comes across a container that needs to be rolled back, the property owner may incur a rollback charge;

PMUA Executive Director Daniel Mejias said the authority receives anonymous letters regarding failure to comply, but officials can't respond to let the writers know they followed up. Mejias said people are cited every day for failure to comply, and the PMUA will have to be more strict to gain compliance.

--Bernice

Council Majority Supports County Park Upgrade

Gooaaal!

Union County won support from Plainfield's governing body for new soccer fields in Cedar Brook Park, but to dissenters, it was a kick in the pants.

Citing a demand for soccer in Plainfield, the resolution refuted arguments against putting artificial turf fields in the park, saying only ten of its 90 acres were involved and the Olmsteds had intended that portion to be used for active recreation. Preservationists held that the park was intended only for passive recreation.

The city's Historic Preservation Commission had concluded in February that the project "cannot be done at all without doing violence to Cedar Brook Park" and dismissed it without prejudice. State preservationists wanted to do away with proposed 80-foot light poles and other proposed county improvements.

Both HPC Chairman Bill Michelson and Planning Board Chairman Ron Scott Bey spoke Monday, Scott Bey said the Planning Board approved the application "with stipulations" .but Michelson said he heard "all kinds of misinformation and confusion." He said the New Jersey State Historic Council made a "binding decision" in June that will become final when DEP Commissioner Bob Martin signs off on it.

Plainfield Corporation Counsel David Minchello said Monday having the City Council resolution of support would be "monumental in its help to the county," but Council President Cory Storch said he wanted to amend it to just the first two and last two "whereas" statements, omitting seven others that bolstered the county's case. He also wanted to remove the word "unequivocally" from the statement of support and add "subject to any ruling of local and/or state entities that have jurisdiction."

Councilwoman Gloria Taylor expressed suspicion over the resolution being presented as a new item and seemingly being in contradiction to what Michelson said.

"Now we are going against our own people," she said, calling for the resolution to be put off until the council's September meeting.

The council had to vote to accept the resolution as a new item and then Storch called for public comment.Among speakers, a coach for 130 players said other towns had better facilities and Plainfield needs a turf field that's always ready. Resident Jean Black questioned whether neighbors of the park had been polled on their views of the project. Calling it a "beautiful park," she said the county will be "changing the whole area for the people who live there."

Dr. Harold Yood said no one mentioned the medical problems with artificial turf. He said many fields are replacing artificial turf with natural turf.

Larry Quirk, vice-chairman of the HPC, said he did not receive the resolution until Monday and asked the council to consider putting it off for at least a month.

"Some of this is at least problematic," he said.

Flor Gonzalez, president of the Latin American Coalition, said all the Hispanic soccer leagues have concerns about the parks, and if she had known in advance of the new item, she would have made sure they came to the meeting and a translator would have been needed.

"Please involve the people," she said

When it came to a vote on Storch's amendments, only Storch and Taylor said "yes." Tracey Brown, Barry Goode, Bridget Rivers, Diane Toliver and Rebecca Williams voted "no."

Rivers then made a motion to pass the resolution "as is," and it passed 5-2, with Taylor and Storch voting "no."

--Bernice

Meetings This Week

Tonight (Monday, Aug. 15)
City Council Regular Meeting
8 p.m., Municipal Court
325 Watchung Ave.

Tuesday, Aug. 16
Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority
Committee Meeting & Public Board Meeting
6 p.m. PMUA Office
127 Roosevelt Ave.

Board of Education
Business Meeting
8 p.m. PHS Cafeteria
950 Park Ave.

Thursday, Aug. 18
Planning Board
7:30 p.m. City Hall Library
515 Watchung Ave.

Too Darn Hot

I grew up in the 1940s, without air conditioning, I have never liked it, either in the car or in a building. When I was a reporter, the newsroom was kept at 60 degrees, which made me dislike air conditioning even more. Nowadays, a meeting that runs  several hours in an air-conditioned building leaves me thoroughly chilled.

Even if I wanted air conditioning for my small apartment, it would be tricky to set up. Originally a one-family mansion, the building was converted to six apartments and mine is the smallest. Only one window would be suitable for an air conditioner and the relevant electrical outlet is already dedicated to other uses.

For the past 24 years, we have managed just fine with fans, but this summer is just too much. July was bad and now we are having heat index numbers of 105 and 110 degrees in August.

Obviously I am about a quarter-century older than when I moved into this building and the heat really got to me this past week. Hence no blog post Saturday. If this heat keeps up, I may not be posting every day until the weather moderates. Please heed the advisories and take care of yourself while the heat lingers on.

--Bernice

Read Jeffrey Toobin's New Book

If you're looking for a book to read while waiting out the hot, humid  that weather, I highly recommend Jeffrey Toobin's new book, "American Heiress:The Wild Saga of the Kidnapping, Crimes and Trial of Patty Hearst," Toobin makes you feel that you are on the scene as this bizarre episode of American history unfolds.

The Plainfield Public Library has a copy, which I borrowed and read very quickly. During the early 1970s, I was dealing with some family turmoil and did not register most of the news stories about Patty Hearst. This book not only goes far beyond the bare facts as they might have appeared in the newspapers, it fleshes out the personalities and motivations of the individuals involved.

It made me remember the era of radicalism that predated the one we know now. People were robbing banks and making bombs in the war against corporate interests. The epithet "fascist insect" made me laugh, but these folks were not kidding. The grandiosity of the Symbionese Liberation Army, with its "generals" and manifestos, reminded me of some current groups that claim national or international power when in fact they are just as rag-tag a bunch as the nine SLA members. We wonder today how young people can become terrorists and yet the SLA murdered without compunction because of their beliefs.

Having recently read Marge Piercy's stories of radical cells and their ideologies, I was not surprised by Toobin's account of the fluid sexual relationships among the SLA communards or the elaborate use of code names and other ploys to avoid detection. The casual car-stealing and shoplifting demonstrated the group's disconnection from society, culminating in a horrific shootout with authorities.

Toobin describes Hearst's changing emotions compellingly, even though she declined to be interviewed for the book. It has been called a page-turner, and if all you can manage in the heat is to turn pages, this book is a very good choice.

See a New York Times review here.

Toliver Wants Cretella Explanation

Art Lofts I, January 2016

At Monday's City Council meeting, Councilwoman Diane Toliver called for an update on Frank Cretella's project on Gavett Place.

"It's taking far too long," she said, calling it "an embarrassment."

Toliver wants Cretella to appear before the council and tell when it will be finished.

Plaintalker has a lengthy file on the project, which Cretella dubbed Art Lofts I. Originally he proposed to build above the former Romond's Jeep building, renovating the ground floor for retail space and using the second floor plus three new floors for 20 residential units. But after receiving approvals, he demolished the building for all-new construction.

That was in 2014, about four years after approvals. Such delays are not uncommon. Steve Cheung's 80-unit building between Roosevelt and Westervelt avenues was approved about eight years before everything was in place to proceed. Cretella's firm, Landmark Developers, has multiple projects in Plainfield and major projects elsewhere, such as The Ryland Inn and Hotel du Village.

Cretella did finish another project across Gavett Place from Art Lofts I, an adaptive reuse of the former Mirons warehouse resulting in 12 apartments. A restaurant on the ground floor is still being completed. He also readapted two Park Avenue buildings nearby for residential and commercial use.

Toliver said Monday if the Art Lofts building is not finished before winter, it will be going on three years of construction. She asked which council members were on the Economic Development Committee, one of six committees established by the governing body several years ago. According to a list issued in January, the chairman is Council President Cory Storch and members are Bridget Rivers and Gloria Taylor. Storch said the committee has not met, but asked Deputy City Administrator for Economic Development Carlos Sanchez to give an update.

Sanchez said the administration concurs that the project is taking longer than expected and that Cretella has been contacted. Sanchez said the city hopes for completion before winter. Councilman Barry Goode asked whether the city was giving Cretella a time frame, but Sanchez said they are asking Cretella for his time frame.

Ten years ago, Landmark was designated to redevelop the North Avenue Historic District.  The focus changed several times since then. Plaintalker has many posts on Cretella and Landmark. One was about a proposed brew pub and distillery on West Second Street. Another was for a French bistro in the ground floor of the old Courier News building on Park Avenue, There are many more to see on Plainfield Plaintalker and Plaintalker II by keying Landmark or Cretella in the search box at upper left.

For years, Cretella dominated redevelopment in Plainfield and the inclination was to let him proceed at his own pace, but with so much new development to monitor, maybe it's time to wrap up a few things.

--Bernice

Dunn's Deficient Decorum

"Hi, honey!"

That's what I heard as I got to Municipal Court to cover a council meeting. I recognized the voice - it was Danny Dunn.

Again: "Hi, honey!"

I didn't answer, but inside the court a person who also heard Dunn yelling at me from his van shook his head and wondered aloud at Dunn's behavior.

As the meeting concluded, Dunn, who had delivered scathing comments to a council member during public comment, approached me and again called me "honey." I have absolutely no relationship with Dunn, not even the remotest degree of friendship, so I said firmly, "Don't call me 'honey.' It's inappropriate."

Of course, inappropriate behavior is Danny Dunn's hallmark, so I'm sure he could care less about my feelings.

Interestingly, on the Brian Lehrer show Thursday, there was a discussion of this very topic, about being called "honey" or "sweetie" in a professional setting or by someone who is not a relative or partner. It was related to a New York Times article about the American Bar Association declaring use of demeaning language a form of professional misconduct.

Women listeners called in to say how they felt demeaned in the courtroom, office or even in a medical situation when they were called "honey"  or "sweetie."

An EMT said part of his training included a warning never to use terms of endearment when helping a woman.

Turns out there are federal guidelines on the use of such language and behavior. One example is posted by the U.S. Department of the Interior.  I had actually considered filing a harassment report on Dunn, because that's how it felt. I am a female, age 78, present in a quasi-professional capacity as a blogger gathering news at a council meeting and here comes Danny Dunn to mess with me. Not having it.

I'm sure there will be more attempts at unacceptable behavior from Mr. Dunn as the local election season heats up. However, there are some rules for public comment:

NO SPEAKER SHALL ENGAGE IN ANY PERSONALLY OFFENSIVE, DEROGATORY OR ABUSIVE REMARKS. THE PRESIDENT SHALL IMMEDIATELY CALL TO ORDER ANY SPEAKER WHO VIOLATES THIS PROVISION. AN OFFICER FROM THE PLAINFIELD POLICE DIVISION MAY REMOVE ANY DISRUPTIVE PERSON AT THE DISCRETION OF THE PRESIDING OFFICER. PUBLIC COMMENT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO PRESENT THEIR VIEWS – BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE.

It's a temptation to cut up on camera, but that's one reason why the president has a gavel. Meanwhile, is there anywhere to send somebody for remedial home training?

--Bernice

Work in Progress at Madison Park

My wanderings downtown Tuesday took me to the small park at Madison Avenue and West Second Street, where I saw a big ditch and preparations for construction.

 
It might be for the skate park for which the City Council approved a design contract last month with Hood Skateparks of Gladstone. The site is on the east side of the park, where annual basketball tournaments have been held. The design contract cost was $15,000. Construction, at an estimated cost of $250,000, will come from Open Space funds.

It was nice to see quite a few parents in the park with young children enjoying the swings and slide. The construction area is fenced off from the play areas.

The skate park will be 5,000 square feet. Currently, skateboarders frequent the plaza next to Dunkin' Donuts on West Front Street.

--Bernice

PSE&G Upgrade Complete

A handsome brick wall and ranks of Arbor Vitae are now in place on the east side of the PSE&G station on West Second Street, marking completion of an upgrade mandated by the power grid operator PJM. The station abuts the PNC Bank parking lot where developer Frank Cretella has proposed a five-story building with retail space at ground level and 148 apartments above.

The Zoning Board of Adjustment insisted on this good-looking type of fence over what PSE&G proposed, a style that Chairman D. Scott Belin described as cage-like.

The blue pipes add an aesthetic touch to the installation, which is expected to handle an anticipated 12 percent increase in demand for electricity over the next decade.

Us older folks know this logo well.

This city-owned lot was crammed with temporary electrical equipment to handle the load through the changeover. (See post here.) While the work was being done, the entire block including Municipal Lot 9 was targeted for an "in need of redevelopment" study. Now that the PSE&G upgrade is complete, the city can take further steps toward redevelopment.

--Bernice

Commentary on Police Accreditation

The City Council approved a contract in March 2014 for the Police Division to become accredited, meaning it has demonstrated adherence to the highest standards of law enforcement. The process is now 90 percent complete.The contract cost was $86,342, to be paid entirely out of the city's forfeiture account with the approval of the Union County Prosecutor's Office.

On Monday, Councilwoman Gloria Taylor tried to get the council to endorse a resolution to hire an attorney to conduct an investigation of the Police Division for $20,000 and to produce a full investigatory report in 28 days. Given the scope of the investigation as listed in the resolution, it would be a small miracle to complete it in four weeks.

Click to enlarge

Police Director Carl Riley's reason for pursuing accreditation was "so we don't end up in the paper." At the time, Riley said the division's policies and procedures were out of date and the division "was going through some things now" that wouldn't have happened if policies were in place.

Taylor's reason for investigating the Police Division, as stated in the proposed resolution, is that "recent personnel decisions have called into question the fairness of disciplinary procedures at the Plainfield Police Division." This appears to hark back to the controversy over Police Lt. Ken Reid, much of which consisted of emotional testimonies on his behalf even though the facts of the internal investigation could not legally be revealed to the public. Supporters said Reid was facing a choice between demotion or retirement, but it was basically hearsay, because officials could not speak about the matter. In a March meeting, Mayor Adrian O. Mapp said five officers were involved, three white and two black, which countered Taylor's allegation that Reid, who is black, was racially targeted. Still, a council majority declined to pass a resolution in support of the Police Division.

On Monday, Taylor complained that there are "no black captains, no black lieutenants." Over the 30 years that I have covered Plainfield, there have been many outstanding black captains and lieutenants. But they have not attained their titles by fiat, they had to study, wait for tests (according to the NJ Civil Service Commission, tests for police lieutenant and police captain are tentatively scheduled for October 2016) and pass them  before rising through the ranks. If there are none right now, be assured that there will be black lieutenants and captains in the future.

Taylor's drama Monday was not spontaneous. Her video chronicler, Rev. Zechariah Jackson, set up a camera trained on her, no doubt for later use on YouTube. Jackson came to the microphone to talk about his extensive video archives, which happen to include Taylor's Third Ward political campaigns, among others. Her term ends on Dec. 31. Dan surmises that she may be promoting former Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs as her successor for the Third Ward seat in November. Could be. Reid was the former mayor's bodyguard and dear friend, whom she named lieutenant on her way out of office in 2013. If elected to succeed Taylor, she could take up the cudgels against Riley and Mapp that Taylor will have to relinquish.

--Bernice

Taylor Pushes for Investigation of Police

In March, it was about perceived mistreatment of a police lieutenant. It August, it is about seven homicides. The bottom line is, Councilwoman Gloria Taylor wants the City Council to investigate the Plainfield Police Division.

Gloria Taylor tells Police Director Carl Riley she wants an investigation

An otherwise routine agenda-fixing session Monday turned into a rehash of Taylor's campaign to probe police policies and culture, though other council members demurred. Taylor complained that Council President Cory Storch has refused to put a resolution  for an investigation on the agenda even though the entire council supported it in March, As president, Storch has the right to omit a resolution. He said Monday "No, I do not want to do an investigation,"

Storch said he heads a nonprofit organization that is working in partnership with Union County officials to provide counseling for people returning to the community from prison, which he called "one piece of the puzzle."

Councilwoman Tracey Brown said she did not like the word "investigation."

"A better word would be 'review,' " she said, though Corporation Counsel David Minchello said wording in the city's charter only allows the governing body to hire an attorney for an investigation.  .

Councilman Barry Goode said he had a problem with the word "investigation."

"When you use that word, it's poison," he said.

Councilwoman Rebecca Williams had earlier reported that an accreditation process for the Police Division was 90 percent complete, needing only an onsite review that was expected to take place early in 2017. As the discussion went on, she read aloud the  March resolution, which calls for hiring an attorney at $150 per hour, not to exceed $20,000

Williams said she didn't think an investigation was feasible, nor did it warrant spending the taxpayers' money.

Councilwoman Diane Toliver said she has seen an increase in community policing in her ward, with officers interacting with residents.

"I believe that's is where it has to start," she said.

Overall, Taylor appeared to come up short with support for an investigation.

Police Director Carl Riley responded to Taylor's insistence on an investigation by citing an overall decrease in crime, seizure of 111 illegal guns. the success of a police mentoring program for young people, commitment to "Fair and Impartial Policing" in conjunction with other police departments and the Union County Prosecutor's Office and the use of new body cameras which resulted in more than a 50 percent drop in citizen complaints against the police.

Regarding the homicides, Riley said, "Our hearts go out to all of the victims' family members and friends."

He noted two arrests and said he could not comment on other ongoing investigations.

"We are still in need of the community's assistance in obtaining information," Riley said, offering a crime hotline at (908)  654-TIPS.

Councilwoman Bridget Rivers told Riley he is doing a great job, but she deplored the recent "spike of murders."

"We have to something a little more,'' she said. "'It's seven. It's seven, It's seven."

Riley said he had spent 16 years in Homicide.

"Nobody knows how it feels more than me," he said. "Homicides - sometimes you just can't prevent them."

--Bernice

Council, BOE Meetings Tonight

City Council

Agenda-fixing Session

7:30 p.m. Monday(tonight)

Municipal Court

325 Watchung Ave.

Board of Education

Special Meeting

7 p.m. Monday (tonight)

Plainfield High School Cafeteria

Among the council items are three redevelopment resolutions, related in part to an ambitious 2007 proposal to redevelop more than 90 properties near the Netherwood train station. It was reduced to 16 properties, but then stalled out, perhaps due to the financial woes of 2008 and beyond.

More recently, the Planning Board approved "in need of redevelopment" studies in June for two of the tracts. One contains the E. Paul and Royal Apex buildings on South Avenue.The other is a huge swath of land on North Avenue between Berckman and Leland for which the council approved an "in need" study in February. The resolutions for "in need of redevelopment" plans both stress "non-condemnation" intentions, meaning eminent domain will not be sought.

The third resolution is for the council to direct the Planning Board to conduct an "in need of redevelopment" investigation of 28 properties from 701 to 1021 South Avenue and 417-431 Berckman Street. This study also harks back to 2007 interest in the sites, though not as extensively on South Avenue.

By now, readers are probably aware of the process that requires the council to authorize the Planning Board to investigate whether a location is in need of redevelopment. If the Planning Board makes such a finding, the council may then direct the board to create a redevelopment plan. Early on, the Union County Improvement Authority was involved in the process, but that does not seem to be the case in the new thrust for redevelopment.

The areas now fall under the Transit-Oriented Development-Netherwood zoning ordinance that was adopted in 2013, allowing greater density around the Netherwood train station and designating sections for various types of development. See the TOD-N ordinance and map here.

Plainfield is finally taking off. Plaintalker encourages residents to learn more about the current redevelopment surge by checking resources on the city website and, if visiting City Hall, by examining the maps on display outside the Economic Development office on the second floor.

The Board of Education is holding two special meetings this week, on Monday and Tuesday. The board is expected to take action Monday on a resolution to hire a Head Football Coach at a stipend of $10,444. The candidate is not named. Tuesday's meeting is a closed session, if I am reading the agenda correctly. The regular work-and-study meeting took place on Aug. 2 and the business meeting is scheduled to take place on Aug. 16. 

--Bernice

Illegal Dumpers Strike on Block 832

At 10:45 p.m. Friday, a big pickup truck pulled up to our oversized garbage bin.  Two men got out and rapidly emptied the truck bed's contents into the bin.

 It was too dark to get a good photo from my window and I did not feel safe going out to get the license plate number. I suspected it was debris from construction, judging by the way the guys were hefting the bags.

The next morning, I went out with a bag of household trash and found the 6-cubic-yard bin filled to overflowing with heavy duty contractor's bags.

This bin and a 1-cubic-yard bin had just been emptied Friday morning. The bins serve three buildings, our 6-family, a 28-unit next door and a 12-unit alongside that one. The next pickup is Tuesday, so tenants will either have to hold their trash until then or, more likely, it will end up in the two recycling bins.

The specialized bags can hold up to 110 pounds of debris, including bricks and metal. I tried to move one and it was weighty indeed.

Of course, late on a Friday evening there was no PMUA inspector around, nor did I think the police would respond, even though the Plainfield Police Division and PMUA are joining forces to catch dumpers. The three properties were just sold to a Brooklyn-based company and one evening an employee actually did catch a dumper who dropped off a mattress just after the company had paid to have a large accumulation of trash removed.

So these incidents are a nuisance to tenants and an unwanted expense to property owners. I'm told there may be cameras installed, and I believe the city's surveillance cameras can help track down those who dump in municipal parking lots and streets.

The PMUA has a special advisory on illegal dumping. As it states, illegal dumping adversely affects the entire community.

--Bernice

Good Riddance to July

 I for one am glad July 2016 is over with. According to the Office of the State Climatologist, it was the ninth warmest on record. It was also the 14th wettest since 1895. Toward the end of the month, eight days in a row registered temperatures over 90 degrees, which I found very debilitating.

Over the years, weather cycles become apparent and I have come to regard July in New Jersey as my least favorite month. 

Gardeners know that the parching heat takes a toll on flowers, but now we are entering a phase where cooler nights and Autumn rain give gardens a new lease on life. In recent years the first hard frost has not come until Thanksgiving or later.

May we all enjoy the beauty of nature, even if the behavior of humans in this election season is increasingly bizarre and inexplicable.The Wheel of the Year rolls on, no matter what else is happening.

--Bernice