Dean Announces "Black Men Run For All Lives"

Instead of the Black Friday consumer frenzy this year, Pastor Paul Dean is proposing that "Black Men Run" into their future.

Pastor Paul Dean

At Tuesday's City Council meeting, Dean was given time for a unity message which turned out to be an invitation to take part in a 5K run on Nov. 25.

"Since 1697 black men have been running for their freedom. It’s 2016 and black men are still running for their freedom. With all the senseless killings taking place and higher percentage of black men in prisons, our black men have become victims of wrongful deaths and violence. It’s time to encourage the men to run the race of life and finish their purpose without their lives being cut short," a flier for the event reads.

The city has suffered eight homicides this year, mostly young men.

The run is planned from 8 a.m. to noon, starting in Cedar Brook Park, and Dean aims for 5,000 runners. It is organized through Visions Community Development.Corporation, the not-for-profit organization that is also engaged in revitalizing the neighborhood around his church, Visions of God Family Worship on Leland Avenue.

A large number of congregants came to the council meeting to show their support and applauded wildly as Dean received assurances of support from the council.

City Clerk AJ Jalloh reminded Dean of the permit process for such events, but officials said they expected the process could be finished in time for a resolution granting permission to be added to the Sept.12 agenda.

As Dean emphasized the role of men, Councilwoman Bridget Rivers said, "Women can't run?" Dean pointed out the fine print on the flier that said, "All men, women and children are welcome."

Dean's group is seeking vendors and musicians as well as participants. Click here to see the invitation.

--Bernice

BOE, Council Meetings Tonight

Residents who want to get involved in city affairs will have to make a choice tonight, whether to attend the Board of Education work and study meeting at 8 p.m. in the Plainfield High School cafeteria or the City Council's agenda-fixing session at 7:30 p.m. in Municipal Court

The school board meeting agenda is up on the banner though not under "agendas" on the board link. One item for consideration is a rather astounding assortment of possible field trips for the 2016-17 school year, including restaurants, Drumthwacket, the Great Swamp, parks and museums, nursing homes, churches, Newark Liberty International Airport, colleges, a TV station and more. Another item is authorization to apply for more than $4 million in federal "No Child Left Behind" funds.

Click here for the City Council agenda. One interesting item is a presentation by Rev. Paul Dean on "unity in the City of Plainfield."

A discussion of the Plainfield Rescue Squad is scheduled, in addition to a resolution honoring the squad..

The governing body will also review the audit results and a corrective action plan that they will have to sign off on.

It's time for a tax lien sale, which the council will have to authorize. Dan has already pointed out a resolution for more than $400,000 in adjustments to 317 tax accounts due to county tax board adjustments, a rather large hit on revenues.

Since the last council meeting, the city's eighth homicide has taken place. Norman Deen Muhammad's Plainfield Anti-Violence Coalition is holding a press conference at 1:30 p.m. at the site of the fatal shooting, Hillside Avenue and Berckman Street. Members of the group plan to speak in public comment tonight and next Monday as well.

--Bernice

Remembering Dottie Today

Remembering union activist Dottie Gutenkauf today (pictured with husband Josef)

Dottie sang with the Solidarity Singers for many years. Look up a version of "Solidarity Forever" on YouTube and sing along in remembrance of Dottie and all her good works for unions and for Plainfield.

Itching For Fall

Last week, I managed to get a mosquito bite on one eyelid, poison ivy that spread and multiple bites from an unknown bug on my arms.

Some of it was my own fault for pulling weeds with my bare hands. I know better, but I had left my garden tool bag upstairs and thought I could just quickly do one section without gloves. Since then I have become reacquainted with urushiol, the substance in poison ivy leaves that causes the tormenting rash. There is no Jewelweed on Block 832, so I have had to use calamine lotion to hold down the itching. We had Jewelweed nearby when  we lived in Millington and Piscataway near brooks and I could just recall those pretty plants with dangling orange flowers as I fetched the calamine out of the bathroom cabinet.

The bug bites might have come from chiggers in the grass, although over 24 years here I have never had that problem before. The bites itch intensely and not all the time, but in seemingly random attacks of mad itching, such as at 4 a.m. this morning. The cat thought I was getting up to give him treats, of course, but I was dashing for the calamine.

I think I got a few mosquito bites on my arms on Friday to add to the mix. I saw no mosquitoes all summer until last week, when I was slapping them left and right. We do have the Asian Tiger Mosquito  in New Jersey, but I was more interested in smacking the ones on my arm than trying to identify them, though the possibility reminded me of all the West Nile Virus stories reporters had to write years ago. It seemed as if every dead crow got its own story in those days.

I can't decide whether intense itching is a distraction from or the perfect accompaniment to anxiety over possibly the worst storm in a decade on its way to our state. I'm just hoping those 40-mph winds blow all the biting bugs out of town for a while, so I can do any post-hurricane yard cleanup in peace!

--Bernice

Nasturtiums

I planted a lot of Nasturtiums this year, with wildly varying results. Some came right up, while others were stunted. As gardeners know, parts of a yard yield better or worse results depending on soil quality, sun or shade, moisture and who knows what. My hopes now are pinned on relief from this summer's extreme heat and the advent of Autumn rains to bring the plants around.

There were other factors affecting the gardens this year. A lot of the ground around the building was compacted by a lift used to scrape and paint the exterior, and then paint or concrete was dumped on some parts of the garden. One plot was wiped out when an underground tank was dug up and removed.

The so-called "killing frost" used to strike by mid-October, but in recent years it hasn't happened until Thanksgiving or later. I am looking forward to more Nasturtiums in coming weeks and will share photos of the most glamorous ones. 

--Bernice

UEZ - Is There A Better Way?

The death knell for the Urban Enterprise Zone began tolling way back in 2011, when a state report revealed the program's shortcomings. In Plainfield, only 105 of 731 eligible retail businesses had registered with the program and it was costing the state $1 in administrative expenses for every eight cents of new revenue. Sales tax was held by the state and cities had to apply to a state authority to draw money down for specific projects.

The state decided to turn UEZ accounts back to cities for local management, but still permitted registered retailers to charge 3.5 percent sales tax instead of 7 percent. Cities kept a few other perks, In 2012 city budget talks, then-Councilman Adrian O. Mapp pressed for information on the UEZ account, but could get no response from the prior administration.

Over the years, Plainfield lost major UEZ sales tax generators including Macy's and Appliance-Arama, Now that Gov. Chris Christie wants to shut the program down altogether at the end of the year, Mayor Mapp is doing the right thing in objecting, as there are still some benefits for business owners and with a surge in development, the designation might attract new retailers.

However, the expiration has been looming for some time. The city may need a new approach to attracting and retaining businesses if the UEZ program cannot be salvaged. The Plainfield website already has information and outreach for businesses under the Economic Development link. There are merchant associations and a Special Improvement District association. All may not be lost if the UEZ program expires.

--Bernice

What Will Stop Gun Violence?

Does anyone remember Operation Ceasefire?

In 2007, eight city residents took training in various forms of outreach, conflict resolution and grief counseling, At their graduation ceremony, State Attorney General Ann Milgram praised them for "putting faith over fear" in the battle against gun violence. The community workers were the final piece in in the collaborative effort between law enforcement and city residents to turn the tide of shootings. See the entire November 2007 post here. Unfortunately, the group was later disbanded.

Gun violence has persisted, despite the best efforts of individuals and groups willing to take it on as a challenge. The New Yorker had an article in February about a priest in Chicago who has been working with his church and the larger community to stem the loss of lives to gun violence.  It is a long article, but well worth reading. See "Father Mike" by Evan Osnos here (contains expletives). One tactic, which was also used here in Plainfield for a time, was to call out gang members by name to try to deter them. With the current array of weapons available, I would not suggest that tactic here.

The latest shootings in Plainfield will undoubtedly inspire another gathering of Norman Deen Muhammad's Plainfield Anti-Violence Coalition. Somehow the reasons behind the violence must be uncovered and resolved in order to prevent more deaths and injuries.

--Bernice