Quoting Chairman Green
At the risk of incurring the wrath of Assemblyman Jerry Green, also the Plainfield Democratic City Committee Chairman, I am posting some of my impressions of Thursday’s meeting to select candidates for the June primary.
The background for this meeting may include efforts (reported by Dan Damon) of progressive Democrats to mount a challenge to the Regular Democratic Organization of Union County. Green alluded to such efforts Thursday, warning “There’s consequences” for those who do not fall in line with the party.
Green warned against people who are organizing state- and county-wide whose only goal, according to him, is to “divide and conquer.”
The danger of such division is, he said, besides consequences, is that “There is not going to be no slam-dunk no more.”
Given Green’s traditional short-hand way of expression, the message appeared to be that all involved had to toe the party line or else.
Green took issue also with “members of the family” running against each other for school board seats.
(Plaintalker is still sorting out notes from the PEA school board candidates’ forum.)
In another cryptic comment, Green said, “This town has worked in a vacuum so long, people think it’s how you do things.”
Also: “This is a year that either we work together or we don’t work together.”
Oh well, all this is open to interpretation. If anyone present at the meeting has amendments or comments, feel free to submit.
--Bernice Paglia
The background for this meeting may include efforts (reported by Dan Damon) of progressive Democrats to mount a challenge to the Regular Democratic Organization of Union County. Green alluded to such efforts Thursday, warning “There’s consequences” for those who do not fall in line with the party.
Green warned against people who are organizing state- and county-wide whose only goal, according to him, is to “divide and conquer.”
The danger of such division is, he said, besides consequences, is that “There is not going to be no slam-dunk no more.”
Given Green’s traditional short-hand way of expression, the message appeared to be that all involved had to toe the party line or else.
Green took issue also with “members of the family” running against each other for school board seats.
(Plaintalker is still sorting out notes from the PEA school board candidates’ forum.)
In another cryptic comment, Green said, “This town has worked in a vacuum so long, people think it’s how you do things.”
Also: “This is a year that either we work together or we don’t work together.”
Oh well, all this is open to interpretation. If anyone present at the meeting has amendments or comments, feel free to submit.
--Bernice Paglia
posted by Bernice at 8:12 AM
10 Comments:
There were 3 candidates there who declared their intentions to run for the second and third ward at large seat that Councilor Burney has. There was no vote even after all the candidates asked for support, just Green saying he made a promise to Burney over a year ago.I have a problem with a chairman who makes promises to elected officials. No discussion, just here is my guy Burney. Burney went on and on about Obama and how he worked hard for Obama. Burney ran on Green's ticket last year and now Green is supporting him. Burney didn't even campaign for Green. He didn't say I ran on Green's ticket and I worked hard. so why is Green making promises? What happened to the open democratic process of having the committee take a vote? I thought Ms. Williams, the New Democrat made a good case for herself, I didn't realize how many campaigns she had run. she has been out there for a long time, and said that it was her time, she earned her way. But as Jerry Green usually does, it is his choice that gets the democratic line and Burney accepted it with no regard for "open and transparent" process. Burney should have stood up and insisted on it, he may still have won, but at least it would have seemed fair.
Bernice, I was there at the committee meeting. It is a pity you take comments and post them out of context, and you leave out other things that were said.
This obviously done is to further your own agenda.
This is no differrent then FOX news calling thier news "Fair and Balanced". Your version of that is "Plaintalking".
It is a pity our society is filled with such dishonesty, so blatently.
We all know bu now that the JG way is "My Way" or the "Highway"
Burney's got a handle on what needs to be done for the city and deserves re-election.
But Green's got to go, and with him, the old politics. He thinks he's the puppet master and he's needed to get ours from Trenton. Baloney! We need to do it right here for ourselves. Bring in new business with good skilled jobs for our residents. Getting our act together will bring in more state money than reruns of Assemblyman Green telling us he's needed to bail out our keisters.
Rebecca Williams made a good case for being political-campaign active, but gave little in terms of a vision for the city, although I've no doubt about her making good decisions.
The Democratic City Committee should get off its hands and stop being an amen corner for Jerry Green. It should start by making certain only elected committee members can be an officer. And it should voice its support for a candidate only after a vote.
Meanwhile, the City Council should tighten up the pay-to-play rules. Too many who do contract business with the City, the PMUA, and the schools, are among Green's largest contributors. Something's amiss even if the letter of the law hasn't been violated. After all, the Democratic City Committee hands over its chairmanship to him, and for all intents and purposes, he is the committee.
He will be gone soon enough. His fifedom is about to fall. Stay tuned!
To 7:41 pm, given the short time I had to speak, I didn't think it would be appropriate to even attempt to offer my vision for the city--it wouldn't have been much more than a sound bite. However, I will be having a campaign kick-off, at which you can hear my vision for the city--you may also feel free to ask me questions about my proposals. I will be posting my vision on my campaign blog, and I will be knocking on doors, as I always do. I hope that you will like the vision I put forward, and I hope to earn your support and your vote. I have to admit, I do enjoy campaigning, and I thank you for your confidence in my potential for good decision-making.
All best,
Rebecca
P.S. Bernice, thank you in advance for indulging me. All further comments I make will be on my campaign blog, which will be up shortly.
Many New Dems are mumbling...the choice to run Rebecca Willaims was not a democratic one within the New Dems ranks. So while they preach tranparancy and fairness, withing thier own ranks they do not allow a fair and open process for whom they will support.
Further many New Dems are not openly disagreeing with this choice.
Could they be afraid of "consequences"? Hmmm....
I know Williams and I know Burney. Both are fine persons, but Burney really knows his stuff.
His ability and willingness to work both camps makes him an invaluable member of the Council.
He has shown that he can stay focused and still provide a vision.
Burney has given me hope, and he has my vote.
While I believe Rebecca would be a fine choice, I think that running a campaign is not a qualificiation for being on the city council. There are many brilliant campaign strategists but I wouldn't vote for them for a political office.
I think Rashid has done a good job, and his record should be looked at. Change for change sake is not always the best way to proceed.
To 11:18 am--you're right! James Carville ran two brilliant campaigns for Bill Clinton, but could anybody imagine Carville running for president? Or getting elected?
Maybe now that Ms Williams is running for council she'll start attending council meetings.
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