Downtown Sights

My visits to Plainfield's downtown have been limited this year due to my surgery and recovery, so I was curious Sunday afternoon to see what was new.

One new sight was a thrift store in the middle of the block between Park and Watchung. It was clean and brightly lit.

The clothes appeared to be of good quality and a few interested customers were checking the racks.

Other storefronts were for rent. The downtown's largest landlord is Paramount Assets. which several years ago acquired about 45 storefronts formerly owned by the Pittis Estate.

Some stores on the north side of the street closed or are in transition. This one is having a half-price sale on its wares.

The 1980s dream of a downtown filled with high-end shops, as in the city's retailing heyday, is not yet realized. One can buy a hookah or sell old jewelry, but not buy upscale goods right now.

I think this pawn shop is new. While a pawn shop is not specified as a permitted use in the central business district, maybe it would fall under retail use? Not sure.

This window display fascinates me, with its santos and replicas of traditional kitchenware. There was also a child-size black outfit with gold braid trim, maybe for a miniature matador?

Graffiti, especially for gangs, is an urban problem that needs constant attention. In the Queen's Courtyard off Front Street, the walls have been painted over many times, but now there is this mysterious legend. Wolves against foxes???

Dan reported on the advent of "Tasty Cheese" in the old Strand Theater. A few years ago, the owner told me his plan was to open a place where children's parties could be held, similar to Chuck E. Cheese restaurants. I stood on tiptoe to peek in the grill and saw what looked like kiddie amusements. Taped to the grill was an ad for a chef, so we may have to wait to see what will open there.

Meanwhile, the city's Victorian history mingles with patriotism and holiday spirit on this downtown street light.

Do you shop downtown? I must admit to more online shopping and spending money in Westfield. Will new downtown dwellers find it to their liking? Does it need a better mix of offerings?

--Bernice

"Welcome" Signs To Be Replaced

"Welcome" signs at city gateways are in need of replacement, Public Works Superintendent John Louise told the Planning Board last week.

Signs in 14 locations are damaged, faded or missing, Louise said. At least one dates back to 1994. New signs will be erected at no cost to the city through a business sponsorship plan. The sponsor's name will be attached separately below the signs, which may cost between $1,500 and $2,000. They will be made in the city's own sign shop, he said.

Board member Billy Toth asked about the wording, which includes the current administration's slogan, "One Plainfield, One Future." Toth said he never heard of it before. Louise said the old signs span five administrations and it was not uncommon to have a mayor's name on signs. Toth asked whether the slogan portion was replaceable and and Louise said it was not.

After a few more questions about their construction, the board approved the sign project.

Walking downtown Sunday, Plaintalker only found one "welcome" sign on the corner of Park & Front. As championed by the late Pat Turner Kavanaugh, the sign (above) includes student accomplishments. It is metal on a single stanchion, though the signs discussed Thursday will have two posts and sounded more like the large wooden signs that Plaintalker recalled seeing at other locations. If an image of the proposed design can be obtained, Plaintalker will post it later.

--Bernice

Long-promised Vet Center Opens Tuesday

The promise of a veterans' center in Plainfield goes back longer than some wars have lasted, but on Veterans Day 2014 it will come true.

Mayor Adrian O. Mapp will present representatives of two veterans' groups with keys to the center Tuesday and finally they will have their own place to meet.

The veterans' center was part of a project that included 63 condos and a new senior center at 400 East Front Street. Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs signed a contract conveying city-owned land to Glen Fishman's development company in January 2007.

Unfortunately for the veterans, the occupancy of their center hinged on success of the condo sales. Early sales were slow and eventually the developer began renting out unsold condos, which left the veterans' center in limbo. The space continued to be used as a sales office for the condos.

Other disputes arose, mainly the issue of how much the city should pay the developer for fitting out the senior center and for condo fees, as both the senior and veterans' centers were designated as city-owned condos in the building.

The first indication that the veterans' plight was resolved came during an Oct. 6 City Council meeting, when Mapp announced that the city had the keys to the veterans' space and the developer would no longer be allowed in it. On Monday, the City Council is expected to vote on a lease by the city with two veterans' groups for $1 a year. Terms of the lease call for the veterans to pay for insurance on the premises and maintain it in good order. No alcohol or smoking will be permitted and electrical use will be limited. The space is to be used for meetings only.

Veterans had been making do with access to a meeting room in the senior center, but complained that they could not come and go at will and had to be let in by a city employee. The new lease is with Plainfield Memorial VFW Post 7474 and Johnson/Jeter American Legion Post 219 and can be renewed annually. Mapp will welcome the veterans to their own center at noon on Veterans Day.

--Bernice

Mapp Offers PMUA Nominations Monday

Mayor Adrian O. Mapp's nomination of three people to serve as PMUA commissioners is likely to be an item of high interest at Monday's double City Council meeting.

The council will hold both an agenda session and a regular meeting Monday. The schedule calls for an executive session at 6:30 p.m. and agenda-fixing at 7:30 p.m., followed by the voting meeting. All will take place in Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave.

Mapp has been trying since January to replace holdovers and fill a vacancy on the board of the authority that provides solid waste and sewer service to the city. The council so far has only approved two actions, replacing holdover Commissioner Alex Toliver with Charles Tyndale on the eve of the PMUA's February reorganization, and reappointing Commissioner Carol Ann Brokaw to the board.

The nominees for Monday are Thomas Crownover to replace holdover Commissioner Malcolm Dunn; Michell Graham-Lyons to replace holdover Commissioner Harold Mitchell (currently the PMUA chairman); and Ada Melendez to fill the vacancy created when Cecil Sanders left his seat as an alternate to become a full commissioner in January 2013. The first hurdle Monday will be whether the mayor's nominations get moved to the agenda for the regular meeting. If they do, approval is probable, but not guaranteed.

Crownover is an attorney and also executive director of a parking authority. Graham-Lyons is a senior investment research analyst. Melendez is a community and business development officer employed by Investors Bank.

The PMUA has been steeped in controversy since it began in 1995 with three former city Public Works officials in charge. The authority faced litigation by City Council members early on, and a citizen revolt dubbed "Dump PMUA" in 2009. A council-appointed  task force in 2012.suggested its dissolution and results of a state investigation are pending. A lucrative settlement with outgoing executives Eric Watson and David Ervin caused an uproar.

Former Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs tried at least five times during her two terms to change the composition of the PMUA board of commissioners. Mapp has also tried with limited success since taking office on Jan. 1. He recently surprised Plainfielders by naming Watson acting director of Public Works & Urban Development, the department Watson left during Mayor Mark Fury's administration to head the fledgling authority. Before creation of the PMUA, property owners contracted with private haulers for trash removal and the city maintained the sewer system.

If appointed, Crownover will succeed Malcolm Dunn for an unexpired term ending Feb. 1, 2019 and Graham-Lyons will succeed Harold Mitchell for an unexpired term ending Feb. 1, 2016. Melendez will serve as alternate No. 2 for an unexpired term ending Feb. 1, 2015.

--Bernice

Keep On Truckin' - FAIL

Due for replacement, NJ Transit's Park Avenue bridge added another ding Friday when an oversize trailer hit it. Click images to enlarge.

The trailer was plainly marked as being two feet higher than the posted clearance. The driver could be overheard telling onlookers it was his first day on the job. The consensus was that it was probably also his last.

Debris littered Park Avenue, scattered by high winds. Traffic had to be diverted.

The trailer buckled from the impact.

Aluminum pieces attracted the interest of one onlooker, who wished he could collect and sell it for scrap.

Someone asked what was in the trailer. The hapless driver thought it might be eggs, which caused talk of free breakfast among the crowd. One guy wished it was steak instead.

Both the Park Avenue and Watchung Avenue bridges suffer hits like this every year. Instead of looking at the clearance, the driver told spectators he relied on verbal advice.take Park Avenue north from a South Plainfield depot.

The driver took a few photos with his phone. How should he caption these photos?

--Bernice

Ducky Dems - Done Being Daffy?

"... it is time for every duck to fall in line with the premise of order. "

So spake JG in 2008 and now he wants all Democrat ducks to fall in line again.

His new blog format does not allow for linking to individual posts, so you have to scroll down to read about his newly professed support for the first African-American mayor of Linden and his expectation that Mayor Derek Armstead will find support from the Linden council. Sometimes a Democratic council does not support a Democratic mayor, as we in Plainfield have found out.

Be sure to read about JG's purely personal support for a school board slate and try to figure out how he thinks 61 votes would have "flipped the Board of Education election the other way." According to  the Plainfield city clerk's unofficial tally, the difference in votes for the two slates was more like 1,024.

But whatever. It is good to know that as of Jan. 1, 2015, we shall see no more of "petty, negative politics." Democrats will align like ducks in a row.

Commentary on Carlos Sanchez

I could not turn around a story from either Wednesday's Board of Adjustment meeting or Thursday's Planning Board meeting, but once again I was so interested to see Carlos Sanchez at the Planning Board.

Carlos Sanchez

His title is Deputy City Administrator for Economic Development, one that was vacant for eight years until Mayor Adrian O. Mapp took office. As a cabinet member, he probably puts in long hours even without going to land use board meetings, but he appeared very interested in the applicants and their cases Thursday. His attendance gives people who want to do business here a face for economic development, and he sees for himself how the board works instead of getting a second-hand report on what happened.

Having seen a lot of different approaches to economic development in Plainfield over the last 30 years, I can honestly say he is an asset to the city for his knowledge of the process and his personable approach to everyone involved. I get the feeling that he can assess very well the nuances of each situation and will serve the city's interest while being diplomatic with all parties. I do not see him making feel-good promises that have no basis in reality, as has happened in the past.

I hope the city web site will be updated soon to reflect his position, as his office is currently a few clicks away from the front page. Meanwhile, if you see him, say hi and if you are a developer, tell him what you would like to do in Plainfield and take his counsel.

--Bernice