City in Disarray
The notion that top city officials would try to slip one over on the governing body is disturbing. Being made to confess in public must have been embarrassing, to use one of JG's favorite words.
With 20 days to go before the Nov. 3 election, the sense of disarray was enough to bring a tear to the eye of a citizen. Worse yet, where to take the issue of failed governance? To the state Department of Community Affairs, whose director stepped down amid a flurry of other officials' arrests?
Somehow the oaths taken by elected and appointed officials must be upheld. We see honest individuals in public office under threat of being ground to dust by those who have power but lack scruples. It is no wonder that decent people hesitate to set foot in the muddy waters of party politics.
Whatever the outcome on Nov. 3, the immediate task ahead is to tell the truth and do right.
--Bernice Paglia
With 20 days to go before the Nov. 3 election, the sense of disarray was enough to bring a tear to the eye of a citizen. Worse yet, where to take the issue of failed governance? To the state Department of Community Affairs, whose director stepped down amid a flurry of other officials' arrests?
Somehow the oaths taken by elected and appointed officials must be upheld. We see honest individuals in public office under threat of being ground to dust by those who have power but lack scruples. It is no wonder that decent people hesitate to set foot in the muddy waters of party politics.
Whatever the outcome on Nov. 3, the immediate task ahead is to tell the truth and do right.
--Bernice Paglia
posted by Bernice at 6:15 AM
19 Comments:
Muddy waters they are indeed, and they appear to be getting muddier. I refer to the lead article in today's Courier News describing BiBi Taylor's premature departure from her position as town administrator of Dover, NJ. Why was it so important for her to leave that Dover would pay out nearly a quarter of a million dollars? Was this information given to the Plainfield City Council when they met in executive session to confirm her appointment to our city administration? Will she eventually cost Plainfield the same amount or more when she departs from here? There answers to these questions in those muddy waters, but will we ever see them?
Please Plainfield, vote them out. What price your soul to keep these inept people in office? If you receive any payoff, is it really worth it, knowing that this great city is being held hostage? Please - do not vote for them in November.
@Mr Pivnichny, what will you do if you win the election? How will you change the administration? Through talk or will you bring in a different team? It is very easy to throw rocks from the fence.
Bernice, the problem isnt with the Elected Officials. It is with the citizens. Most Citizens can "Handle the Truth". They would rather elect someone who will tell them what they want to hear. We get what we pay for.
Keep it real should "get real." This City is in the proverbial "hell in a handbasket." As a lifelong Democrat, I am voting for Mr. Pivnichny -- a voice of reason for Plainfield. Go look at his web site and you'll get a clear sense of "what he'll do." This current administration doesn't give a rats ass about this City and we already have a clear sense of "what they'll do." If you think that come January 2014 Plainfield will be the envy and model of urban renewal, guess again.
@1015.
I am at heart a pragmatist. You cannot be a pragmatist and be a lifelong party. Before you play the game you have to understand how the came is played. How well would a republican Mayor function with a Democratic City Council. Every appointee has to receive consent from the City Council. Dont believe the polyanna, that everyone will suddenly get along.
Let expand this thread further. How well will a republican Mayor function if Governor and Assemblyman are Democratic. Lets expand it further. How well will a republican mayor with a democratic city council function if you have a Republican Governor, but you have work with a Democratic Assembly? How well will a Republican Governor function with a Democratic Congress, President and surrounding Governors are Democratic (NY &NJ)?
I suggest you turn the "Get Real" mirror on yourself and then respond *smile*
To Keep it real
So I guess your okay with the "incompetence" shown by the current administration. Thats why Plainfield is in the shape its in because people vote via race/party lines instead of what is best for the city. The residents of Plainfield have been "dumbed down" by the county machine politics.
A Republican mayor would be a welcome change, how bad can it be even the current Democratic mayor doesn't get along with the current Democratic council.
To 11:52am - you're kidding, right?
How well has this Democratic mayor worked with the Democratic Council? How well has this Democratic Governor and assembly worked for the citizens of New Jersey.
I don't know where you live, but our whole State, Assembly and City Government is Democratic. And you think this works well?
I suggest you turn the "Get Real" mirror on yourself and then respond.
@JMG and 11:52, please reread my post and tell me where I wrote the City is doing well. I am a pragmatist, not an ideologue. Ideology alone can't run a city. I will try a different tact to explain. It is like only changing the coach (mayor) of a 0-5 team, but leaving the staff intact (city council (asst coaches), administration (players), Governor (General Manager). And don’t forget the administration left you with no money to hire quality players and you are in debt. How much change do you think will occur. Maybe the team winning one more game. That may sound psychologically satisfying but reality, still bad. Question, what coach would accept a coaching job with those conditions? Definitely not a proven winning coach. Chances are the only one who would coach in those conditions is someone not qualified or inexperienced. Lets Keep It Real.
Keep It Real -
Why don't you come up with some ideas or better yet, run for office yourself? Hey, we have to start somewhere don't we?
Now THAT is pragmatism.
Bernice, Okay another point of view ..... 99% of people working for the City are HAPPY Bibi is in charge of handling contracts for the employee unions. Everyone is hoping for the same package she got and can leave all this mass confusion. [Tough on the taxpayers for sure, but that was the talk amongst so many today].
I said I was a pragmatist, not crazy *smile*
Keep it Real -you leave me befuddled. And I don't think I am the only one. If you are truly a person who "Keeps it Real" then you must do just that -KEEP IT REAL!
What’s REAL is Sharon and Jerry in office is not good and hasn’t been good. Look how much DAMAGE has been done in Sharon's four years! Have you gone to the council meetings? I have and believe me the best known writers can’t create a better script.
In the City Hall Library council meeting, Councilwoman Carter, who would be portrayed as Claudette Wyms of THE SHIELD, told Williamson and Dashield if there are documents then there shouldn’t be a problem presenting them.
Well at the following council meeting in Hubbard School’s auditorium –from where I was sitting I could see under the table where Dashield and Williamson were nervously shaking and moving their legs around while shuffling papers, scratching their heads, and rubbing their chins when questioned by Councilman Adrian Mapp regarding the mysteriously missing Monarch documents. Even though at the prior council meeting Williamson and Dashield said they would have the documents . . . THEY DID NOT!
Williamson and Dashield would be portrayed as the STOOGES (not the three stooges because there are too many STOOGES in this administration). Mapp would be portrayed as Dr. Cal Lightman of LIE TO ME, where he questions Williamson and Dashield and all they can say is “ha-ma-na ha-ma-na”.
Your analogy regarding changing coaches -well this is the end of the game for Sharon and Jerry. Sharon and Jerry are losing this game and it is now time to get Pivnichny in to coach the next four years.
On a REAL note . . . Perhaps you need to hear Pivnichny speak. When I heard him speak –his plans for the future of Plainfield and how he plans on getting Plainfield there were not the Republican or the Democrat way it was the SMART way.
I heard a man, named Jim Pivnichny, a Plainfield resident who wants to RE-INVIGORATE his town . . . our town.
Now. . . if the Citizens of Plainfield vote him into the Mayoral Seat that will not only mean that he has won the election and the Citizens of Plainfield support him, it will send a message to whatever corrupt administration is left to get HONEST or get out. And I sincerely believe he will be there to honestly work with the Citizens of Plainfield as a Mayor of Plainfield and put "US" back on track.
Keep it Real . . . it has to begin somewhere, somehow, sometime . . . and that is NOW.
Obviously "keep it real" advocates rewarding the current "coaches" with four more years. Sticking with the sports metaphor, I don't know of many coaches that lead loosing teams that get rewarded, they get canned. The notion that a Republican mayor can't govern is absurd -- look around, if single party dominance ensured success, our system of government wouldn't exist...it's usually called communism. Keep it real is really saying "keep the status quo."
Bernice...With no disrespect intended...I am having one heck of a difficult time trying to understand any of the reasoning or rationale behind Keep It Real's line of thinking. It makes no sense and it is far from pragmatic, practical or even real. The line about throwing rocks blows me away. This guy Pivnichny is no fence sitter. I don't know of any mayoral candidate in recent history that has put forth such solid ideas only to have the door slammed in his face or removed by the police. He gets my vote and respect for just trying which is more than I can say for the current, patronage-laden administration that landed their jobs and maintain them only for how it will benefit them. I only hope Keep It Real's perspective is not shared by a vast majority.
News Flash! Eyewitness account. Nov. 3 Plainfield voters go to the polls. Everyone will be better off if we all just drink the Kool-aid. Drink it, it's good for you. There now, see that wasn't so bad. You're right, what was I thinking? Sharon and Jerry are exactly what we need for the next four years. Can I have some more Kool-aid please?
Everyone, I don’t think like you because you guys are experiencing "Group Think" syndrome. Firt and foremost, I am not a democrat nor republican. I am Independent, thus I can make decisions based on rational thought versus party affiliation. In saying that, I agree with most of your observations and comments on how Plainfield has been mismanaged for the past 20 years. What doesnt make sense to me..is how you describe the City Council and City Administration as stooges, but still expect the newly elected mayor still able to govern them. That is irrational. He would have to clean house to get anything done in the first year alone. Unfortunately doesn’t have the authority to do that. I am not a fan of the current administration. I have no party affiliation, thus I can think independently. Not all Republicans are good just because they are Republicans. What I want to Keep It Real on this Blog. It is the democratic process that needs fixing. That is what most of you fail to acknowledge in your fervor to throw the bums out, regardless of the consequences. It isn't the candidates who are the problem it is the democratic process and game playing. To get Plainfield back on the right track will take at least 2 to 3 years of real pain. Can you handle that? It will take money (our taxes) to attract business here. Business want to suck us dry and then have us say thank you sir, can I have another *smile* Business, that want to pay us like they pay immigrants with no benefits and still charge high prices and pay as little taxes as possible. Are you ready for the inconvenience of driving around construction? Construction that may last years? We have to make our city attractive to attract new citizens and businesses. To make the change again cost money, Tax payer money. Are you truly ready for this. I am just trying to Keep It Real.
Reading Keep It Real/11:52/2:47/6:10 it seems to me s/he is missing a few logical nuts and bolts. Trying to address these comments and the follow ups will only be an exercise in frustration. He or she may be a "pragmatist" but that doesn't mean Keep It Real actually has a clue.
@914pm, why the insults? Insults are what I expect from kids, but not from serious folks.
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