Random Notes

Here’s a random roundup of comments from my notebook:

Aug. 4 Democratic City Committee Meeting, Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs on Senior Citizen center proposals: She cites “one really serious proposal“ and states, “I am in favor and look forward to speaking further to the City Council about this.“

The mayor referred to the Dornoch Holdings proposal presented to seniors at a July 11 meeting for a four-story building, with a senior center on ground level and three stories of condos, 63 two-bedroom units in all, above.

Also on Aug. 4 at Democratic City Committee meeting to pick nominees for the citywide at-large vacancy, Chairman Jerry Green states, “There is no such thing as an independent thinking person in the state of New Jersey.

“You have to be part of the structure,“ Green explained.

Also from Green, “As far as I’m concerned, I don’t use the race card, but we cannot allow anyone to separate us,” referring to an attempt by Latino activists to get a Latino replacement for late City Council President Ray Blanco.

Aug. 10 Planning Board meeting, board member Siddeeq El-Amin on “transit villages” as mentioned many times in draft master plan revision: We’re making all kinds of references to something that doesn’t exist yet.”

Planning Director Bill Nierstedt in same meeting, ”As you know, I have many bosses in the building.”

--Bernice Paglia