Synthetic Turf: A NYC Study That Can Help Illustrate What is What with Synthetic Turf

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/eode/eode-turf.shtml

Listen to Hub Stine Presentation Yourself, Audio Available Here

If you are interested in what has been proposed for the Hub Stine Field, you can now listen to the BOE's presentation, by the hired firm to do the design, right below.  You can also hear the BOE questions and the administrators' responses.  For a visual of the proposed project take a look at the previous post.  There is one more file but at this point I am still searching for it, will post when, and if, I find it.
Link:  http://www.4shared.com/mp3/xnM1kOcV/Z0000003.html
Timeline:
Project Presentation Up to Minute 8:45
BOE Questions Start at Minute 8:46
Construction Tentative Schedule at Minute 13:56
Priorities Discussion on Hub Stine Field start at Minute 19:47
Some rational given on cost and maintenance by BA at Minute 32:13
Remarks and rationale by Superintendent at Minute 37:55
Guarantee invalidity discussion at Minute 47:40
Speakers of the Community start at the 58 Minute
Worried about Geese?  Minute 74:48
Lighting Discussion starts at Minute 76
Concerns over the Soccer Field are at the end of the file

Hub Stine: An Image of the Proposed Plan

Click on the image if you want to view a larger view

Darker green means synthetic turf, lighter green means natural grass.  The field right behind the Tennis Courts is a Soccer Field -not a good idea as per one of this past Tuesday's BOE meeting attendees- since, if I understood well, Tennis is a quiet sport, Soccer is not. 

This proposal is up for adoption by the school board this coming Tuesday.  The proposal, as pictured above, is being presented next Thursday to the Planning Board for a courtesy review (the Planning Board has no powers over this project).

The tag price for this project will be around the mid to high 3 million dollars.

If this project is approved by the BOE this coming Tuesday, then the project will move forward.

The battle amid school board members might be that the Field House, which is a priority, is not being considered amid this project. 

The homeowners that live right next to Hub Stine were hand-delivered an invitation to view the presentation.  Not one single homeowner attended the presentation.

More later.

Hub Stine Project: The Blame Games Start

As was pointed out , the board clearly shows what they adopted in the agenda, they did not adopt restructuring 80 % of the facility, lights and changing 70 to 80 % of the grass to synthetic turf. I was told that the supervisor of buildings and grounds was at every construction meeting. the new design is the athletic director's dream, that was approved by the board secretary and the interim superintendent. The root word of secretary is secret. This massive project was kept from the public until the last minute and the board was not fully informed, that is why 7:57 stated that the administrators involved should be reprimanded. Yes, i agree there are a lot of questions about this project and it got as far as it did because it was kept under wraps by several key administrators. Little or no information was given to the public and the board. [] this group of scam artist were trying to spend millions of the taxpayers dollars with no regard on how it would affect the residents, no consideration for existing repairs needed and contempt for the school board.

The above is a comment left at my previous post.  The comment is one of a small number of similar comments left at some of our local blogs.  The blaming comments are not surprising at all.

What would the administrators say if they knew they are being blamed for the school board not being fully informed?  Should we not hear from these administrators as well?

In the meantime, and while the blame games go on, the Hub Stine project should be halted until clarifications are made and the public - parents, students and community residents - are given an opportunity to voice their opinions, concerns and wishes.

But wait.  The money allotted to this project needs to be spent now, before the end of June.  And the district wants to have the field ready for the first home game.  O.M.G.What to do with all of these pressures?

Stay tuned.

The School Board Adopted the Hub Stine Project in September

After receiving a couple of e-mails from parents and residents on the Hub Stine project I was left combing the district's website for clues on what is now the known proposal.  Couple of days went by but nothing was found except for an August resolution (page 41, item G) where the school board approved the hiring of an architectural firm to do a study of the conditions of Hub Stine's Tennis Courts.  Something just didn't register right, but what was it?

This morning I found one more clue at the September agenda (page 64, item L) where the BOE approved the following:

To provide the overall efficiency and effectiveness of district and school operations The Interim Superintendent of Schools recommends, and I so move, adoption of the following:


RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Hub Stine Field is in need of two (2) turf fields for football and soccer and architectural /engineering services are necessary for:


 NJDOE Schematic Approval Phase
 Construction Document Phase
 Bidding and negotiation Phase
 Construction Administration Phase

WHEREAS, Forman Architects Engineers, of Zelienople, PA has the experience and expertise to provide such services, now therefore be it RESOLVED, that the Plainfield Board of Education approves the appointment of Foreman Architects Engineers at a fee of 4 1/2% of construction costs. The availability of funds for this item has been verified and will be charged to account 11-000-262000-300A-31-0000 (Purchased Prof. & Tech).

The above resolution seems to point to the fact that the school board was indeed aware of the project and that the administration did not act behind the school board's back.  To what extent was the school board aware of the project's progress is not known to me, but the resolution above was approved by the 8 members who attended that September school board meeting.

One is left to wonder who from the school board followed this project from the day it was adopted and if there were progress reports given to all board members that would tell all members how the project was moving along.

It is ironic that priorities were mentioned at this Tuesday's meeting and that a turf field was not one of them as per couple of school members.  Judging by the above resolution I guess I am not the only one going through middle age memory lapses here :-)

More on this project's approval process later tonight or by tomorrow morning.

Seventeen 70ft Poles with 1500 Watts Coming to Hub Stine?

Among the many questions on the Hub Stine Synthetic Turf project, which is now sitting at city hall's Planning Division waiting for the Planning Board courtesy review next week, there are questions on how much this project, if moved forward, would change the surrounding area to Hub Stine.  One of the call for items of this projects are seventeen (17) stadium lights, mounted on 70 feet poles and with up to 1500 Watts each.  That is quite a shine if you ask me.  You can read how neighbors of Union Catholic High School are currently complaining about that school's stadium lights, the three-parts article, from Scotch Plains Patch, takes readers through the whole process for a similar project, click HERE. 

Guest Post: A Resident's Report on Last Night's BOE Meeting and the Hub Stine Synthetic Field Presentation

Dr. Margaret Lewis, a Plainfield resident, offers her take on last night's BOE meeting:

3/28/12


The Plainfield BOE did not vote on the 3 to 5 million dollar Hub Stine proposal and Board members indicated that last night (3/27/12) was the first time that they had seen the proposal. The cost, whatever it will be, is to be taken from the 2012 budget and is part of the 22 million dollars that the state returned to the Plainfield School District earlier in the school year. All BOE members asked pertinent, fact -finding questions and some seemed to suggest that the proposal was not in keeping with priorities already established. One BOE member in particular was persistent, asked thoughtful questions and insisted that the community be better informed about this massive project and that this project was probably not the wisest use of District funds.

The representative from Foreman, the design company employed by the BOE, is slated to get 4.5% of the construction cost, presented no evidence for what seemed to me to be exaggerated statements relative to the desirability of artificial grass versus natural grass, injury rates on natural grass vs. artificial grass and the life expectancy of artificial grass vs. natural grass. By the way, turf has an average life span of about 8 years which means that about 1.9 million dollars would be needed to replace the turf. This representative also brought samples of the kind of turf that his company would suggest to be installed but there was no information from other school districts that had already installed artificial grass.

Artificial grass would cover the football, softball, baseball and soccer areas. Some trees would be removed, 17 stadium lights would be installed and it appears the field area near Hillside and Fayette Place would be increased. Some of the additional concerns voiced by BOE members and audience participants included:

• Given the academic needs of our students in the Plainfield School system, shouldn’t we respond to these needs first?

• Do teachers and other school staff have the necessary materials and services needed to provide excellent opportunities for students?

• Can the roads in the area of the stadium take the “wear” of the heavy equipment to be used? If not, who will repair the roads once the construction has ended?

• Will there be local and minority contractors employed to execute this project?

An application was already submitted to the Planning Board prior to last night’s meeting and the Planning Board was scheduled to have a presentation made to it in and around April 5th or 6th 2012. The first phase of construction was scheduled to take place between May 21 and August 13 which means that the track should be available after that time. The second phase was scheduled to be completed by October 15th with all “loose ends” tied up by mid November.



Margaret A. Lewis

Drmlewis1354@Comcast.net

Dan Confirms It: Plainfield's Hub Stine Field Goes Synthetic, Read the Pros and Cons

Click HERE to view below document as a full screen document.  To read what the NJ Work Environment Council has to say about synthetic turf click HERE.  Just be warned, the more you read about synthetic turf the more you might wonder how is this a good idea.  UPDATE, 10:30 AM:  A call to the district's Business Office this morning revealed that the synthetic turf project still needs to go for approval to the Planning Board, then bids for the project have to go out, then bids need to be approved by the BOE.

HS_GrassTurf_May08[1]

This Tuesday: Come Meet Your Active Neighbors, You Have Three Choices for a Meet Up

Let's say you want to join others who might be sharing your same feelings about Plainfield, or perhaps you just want to attend a meeting to "get the feeling" of what is going on at your community, did you know that tomorrow today, Tuesday, is one day that offers you just this opportunity?

CITY-WIDE BLOCK ASSOCIATIONS MEETING

The meetings will be held on the fourth Tuesdays of each month at 6:30 pm, the meeting will be held at 400 East Front Street, the Plainfield Senior Citizens Building Conference Room. Parking in the front of the building.  THIS Tuesday is the fourth Tuesday and you are invited even if you do not have a Block Association.
UPDATE:  Guest Speaker for today's meeting is Dr. Greg Palermo.  Dr. Palermo is the Chair of the Tree Shade Commission.  Got tree problems or questions on trees?  He is the guy to talk to!

 THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING

Ever wonder if HPC meetings are open to the public?  They are.  And they are, of all the public meetings I have attended, the less controversial one of them all (except when someone insist on vinyl).  Call the city's Planning Department if you want to get a copy of the meeting agenda ahead of time.  The meeting is at the City Hall Library, 1st Floor, 515 Watchung Avenue.  Be there at 7:30 PM.  See the Plainfield HPC website HERE.

THE SCHOOL BOARD (BOE) MEETING

This Tuesday, 8 PM, at the PHS Auditorium, you can come and meet, or see, those who are following school matters.  This Tuesday is also the presentation on the planned improvement projects for Hub Stine Field.  The school district will also reveal who will finally get, maybe, the controversial supervisor positions that have been advertised at least two times. Agenda is HERE.

If you attend any of these meetings why not share with the rest of us your experience?  It doesn't need to be a blog, or a long winded comment, just few words to let us know how the meeting went will help us see a bit more of the city.

Local Blogs Labeled Porn Sites at the School District?

A reader recently reminded me of the district's policy to censor some internet sites but I must confess that the reader's comment on how local blogs are blocked at the school district as "porno/adult content" makes me hesitate between a smile and disbelief.  Could local blogs be labeled as porno/adult content?  Really?

Censorship of sites started under Dr. Gallon, mainly, if I remember well, because of productivity and those nasty personal comments that were being posted at the Forum but not being a "techno" person this thing of how censoring websites at a work place goes over my head. 

While I must say that an employer has the right to take the needed measurements to protect productivity I wonder what rationale goes behind censorship and who selects the sites and the categories they are labeled with.

What do you think?  Should local blogs, if they really are blocked, be censored at the Plainfield Public School District?  If so, what warning label should they have?

Send me your comments and suggestions and I will pass them along to the Board of Education and the Administration, because really, local bloggers as porno stars? :-)

Undressing Plainfield's Intractable Issues

After reading Bernice's blog on fatigue, the psychological one and the "neighborly" one, I thought about how truth this is for many of us that follow city, of any kind, matters.  Readers might not appreciate how tiring it can be to follow up, closely, day in and day out, the issues that the city of Plainfield has and how tiring it can at times feel.  It is.

Bernice also touched on how many people see Plainfield:  as a place full of  intractable problems.  And yes, many of the issues Plainfield has are rather complex and complicated and tiring to face.  It is with this knowledge that I went to search for some techniques that could help us here as we must, after a day(s) of rest, continue to plug along in this city that is full of potential and dedicated residents. 

A look back to the website "Beyond Intractability" revealed the following piece:

Keys to Meeting Governance Challenges

What the Plainfield Rental Picture Looks Like

Thanks to HOPES CAP, Inc., -Plainfield's Head Start provider- Community Needs Assessment we can take a peek into what the rental picture looked like two years ago, in 2010.  Plainfield is by no means a place where rentals are cheap and it should be of little wonder why sometimes you find apartments that hold more than their share of people.  Fair?  No, but the city has shown no interest in addressing this issue.

HOPES Community Assessment lists the issues they found when they did their 2010 assessment as mandated by the state for those agencies that receive state and federal aid.  Housing is one of the issues that is talked about in this document and this is what it says about Plainfield's rentals.  The information, according to the HOPES document, was gathered via a June 2010 Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plainfield:

2. Housing. The Fair Market Rate (FMR) schedule of the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development states that New Jersey housing is some of the most expensive in the country.  The cost of housing has increased steadily over the years throughout New Jersey, including Plainfield. Renting a private apartment or house is costly for low income families. In Plainfield, according to a June 2010 community needs assessment by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plainfield, 65.8% of renters pay more than 30% of their income for housing. According to the First Annual Report of New Jersey State’s Minimum Wage Advisory Commission, “ the largest single factor driving up the overall cost of living in New Jersey is the cost of housing, which far exceeds average housing prices in the nation. Housing costs in New Jersey range on average from 43.6 percent to 76.9 percent higher than the national average.”  Examples of Plainfield Apartments for Rent: 

Plainfield Village Apartments - Bedrooms: 1 Bathrooms: 1 Monthly Rent: $895


316 Franklin Place - Bedrooms: 1 Bathrooms: 1 Monthly Rent: $1,250


1100-1120 West 7th Street - Bedrooms: 1 Bathrooms:  1  Monthly Rent: $995


120 Randolf Road - Bedrooms: 2  Bathrooms: 1 Monthly Rent: $1,020


351 North Drive - Bedrooms:  2 Bathrooms: 1 Monthly Rent: $1,050


Source: MyApartmentmap.com

Add to the above the Cost of Living in Plainfield, which has been found to be up to 31% higher than the average US place (HOPES, page 19, item 20)

In total there are 35 found problems and causes of poverty in Plainfield, rental fees and quality housing are among them.  As the city continues to face developers and city leaders who insist on adding more rentals to Plainfield we must keep the above information present whether it is to advocate for more rentals or to oppose proposals for more rentals.

To read HOPES CAP, Inc., 2010 Community Assessment click HERE.

Hub Stine Field Proyects Presentation This Tuesday, Field Users Invited by Neighbors and Friends of Hub Stine Field

Somewhere in my radar was the mention of "synthetic turf" for Hub Stine but the project, to my knowledge, was never discussed at lenght until now.  The agenda for this Tuesday's BOE meeting announces the following:

 REMARKS FROM THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT
 Hub Stine Field Improvements

Luckily for us users of Hub Stine Field have been following closely the developments and are inviting all interested stakeholders to not only come to listen to the presentation but to raise questions.  Following please find a flyer that was sent to local bloggers.    For the Spanish version of the Flyer below click HERE.

Friends and Neighbors of Hub Stine]

Here is a copy of the City Audit FY11, but where is it posted at the City's website?

I could swear that I saw the city audit of 2011 posted at the city's website sometime earlier this month, but the last few days I had tried, unsuccessfully, to locate it at the city's website.  Where is it?

I do not know, maybe the 2011 city audit is hiding from me, but here is a copy of it for those who are interested in following the money trail at city hall.  I have not finished reading the whole document but I found interesting that the PILOT money from the Madison Complex (that is the glass building at the corner of Park and Front Street) is reported as being $17,861.00?  I thought the payment was higher than that.  You can also find all the findings and recommendations at the last pages of the document.  Good reading material to help one make up one's mind about the effectiveness of our local leaders. 

Plainfield City FY 2011 Audit Report

Plainfield School Board and Its Special Meetings

Tonight will be the sixth Special Meeting the Plainfield school board has since the beginning of 2012.  Long gone are the days when one could count on the school board holding meetings on predictable days; today there is nothing predictable about the current school board meetings as the current membership not only has condensed meetings to twice a month but now shows its tendency to hold Special Meetings and last minute announcements, these actions disenfranchise stakeholders and create a cloud of suspicion.  School Board members hopefully are fully aware on what their obligations are under the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA)  and will see it fit to demand that their meetings and agendas comply with OPMA regulations. 

I often wonder what will it take for this school board to reconsider their promises about transparency and community collaboration.  Yes.  What will it take?  Do you know?

And are you concerned about these Special Meetings?  What do you think these meetings are all about?

Plainfield's Former City Administrator, Norton Bonaparte, In the Middle of Controversial Florida Tragedy

This morning while reading the sad and tragic news of one more young adult being shoot to dead in Florida I realize that the name of the Florida city administrator where the tragedy happened sounded familiar, Norton Bonaparte.  A search on the internet seems to confirm that Norton Bonaparte was indeed Plainfield's city administrator before heading to Kansas and then Florida. 

Mr. Bonaparte is facing pressure as the StarLedger reports the following:

Only the city manager, Bonaparte, can fire Lee or ask for his resignation, and he gave no indication he planned to do so. But as speaker after speaker, black and white, took to the microphone to question why Zimmerman had not been arrested, it was clear that Bonaparte faced pressure that showed no sign of diminishing.

For the entire StarLedger coverage on this case click HERE.

PMUA: On Forensic Audits

The PMUA Task Force meeting delivered a whole lot of topics for a new look into PMUA, one of  them is the eternal Plainfield call for "Forensic Audits".  I have heard this call for the city, for the BOE, for Muhlenberg and now for PMUA.

On Forensic Audits.  While the term is strong all by itself, it is the laxity of its call that I find scary.  For all I know a Forensic Audit is called for when there is a desire/need to produce evidence for the fiscal management of an entity, and this happens when there is a suspicion of fraud.  A Forensic Audit seems to be the tool one needs to take legal action if needed be and unless Plainfield is ready to take legal action, if needed be, against PMUA, or ready to act on the findings to improve or dissolve PMUA, then the call for a Forensic Audit is hopefully just that.  At this point, in my opinion, a Forensic Audit seems to be more of a distraction than a solution, what perhaps needs to be advocated for is for an audit by an independent auditor as PMUA uses the very same audit agency that the city and the BOE do, this very same agency was on the list of a 2008 report by the Office of the State Comptroller (click HERE for the report and HERE for the press release).

What is more, the Office of the State Comptroller is already looking into PMUA financial records and while their charge has been to look into the million dollar settlement you can bet that to arrive to a conclusion the Office of the State Comptroller will need to take an in depth look into PMUA's financial records.  I said it before and I will say it again, the Office of the State Comptroller, and the Department of Community Affairs, need to hear from regular folks now and then, we need to show our concern and our interest for this matter to be resolved fairly for the sake of Plainfield residents.

But let's say Plainfield leaders hear the call for a Forensic Audit, then what?  One NJ town recently went through this very same issue, Washington Borough.  News clips from Washington Borough claim that the Forensic Audit took a while to happen as the Borough needed to first find the money to pay for it, the lowest bidder they had was $87,000 and the work timeline was between 6 months to a year, this if no criminal findings were found; criminal findings could extend the work up to two years and the tag price then would be a lot more closer to $500,000.  You can read the link to news clips for Washington Borough and its Forensic Audit to get a better idea of what it takes, what it costs, what it covers and what is expected to happen, click HERE.

Let your opinion on this matter be known to city leaders.  Your voice can help balance one way or another what the priorities are for the future of PMUA and Plainfield.

PMUA Task Force Meeting: Trashy Plainfield's Past is Base of Fear for Some

There are many topics that came out of last night's PMUA Task Force presentation and the following days, most likely, will bring them out via bloggers and readers; but one of "easiest to deal with" topics I took out of last night's meeting is the fear that some long-term residents have, including Councilwoman Vera Greaves, is that Plainfield will go back to being the dirty city that it was before PMUA's creation.  So, let's talk about trash and Plainfield.

Since I have only been here for less than 7 years I do not have the memories of a trashy Plainfield but I can only imagine how filthy the city was that the memory of it still haunts some residents and elected officials.  But is today's Plainfield the same Plainfield that it was 15-20 years ago?  No, it is not.  Do we have pockets of filth arund the city?  We do.  So, what are we going to do about them?  One way to deal with these pockets of trash and conquer the fear of those opposed to changing PMUA is by reporting these sites,  making an inventory of them, invite elected officials to see them and take action, invite residents to help clean up the site (and have PMUA pick up the trash) , these are just some idea as we definitively must put a "face/location" to the fear so we can conquer it.

Along this fear of a trashy city is illegal dumping.  How much of it do we still have?  It was reported last night that Plainfield seems to have a lot less illegal dumping today that it did in many years (I can't remember the exact percentage but information will be soon available for all to see). 

Then there is the fact that for the last 15-20 years people have been "exposed" to a less trashy city and this is an educational process that can not be discounted as a cleaner city is now pretty much the expectation of many residents, this includes native Plainfielders, long-term residents and newbies, like me.

Keeping a clean city is not the responsibility of PMUA.  PMUA is the hauler of trash, the keeper of sewage and the shared fee collector, these three responsibilities have become a heavy burden for many and reform must happen if PMUA is to continue to be part of the fabric of Plainfield. 

Keeping a clean city is also not just the duty of the city's Department of Public Works, no, a clean city is every resident's responsibility.  A clean city starts with your your back and front yard, with your sidewalk, with your block.

A clean city is also the responsibility of city elected officials, from all public service fronts.  As city leaders they all should be out there promoting a clean city.  Elected and appointed officials should also make an effort to put together, or bring into the city, resources to educate all residents on the benefits of a clean city, on trash reduction and proper disposal.  This is something that I seldom see happening around here and this is exactly what needs to happen as the less garbage we produce and the more proper ways to dispose of it are used, the less costly these services will be for all of us.

 A well-thought out and organized "Keeping Plainfield Clean" campaign is probably the best medicine to cure the fear of those who see Plainfield's trashy past as an obstacle to have faith for a cleaner city even if PMUA was to be dissolved as a result of its own mismanagement.

Plainfield's elected and appointed officials don't need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to a "keeping the city clean" campaign as google delivered 213,000,000 results in one single search. 

So while reforming, or dissolving, PMUA is very much on everyone's mind let's us also focus on how to address the fears some have for a trashy Plainfield and how to help the city become a better place for all of us who chose to live right here in Plainfield.

PMUA Task Force Results Tonight at Washington School

Most likely you already know about tonight's meeting on which the PMUA Task Force (made up of community members) will deliver their results and recommendations to the council.  The meeting is at 7 PM at Washington School, 427 DARROW AVENUE.  To read more about the PMUA Task Force click HERE.

Thanks to a neighbor who sent the reminder, along with the map, for those who are not familiar with Washington school's location.

Washington school is one of the newer schools (taxpayers are still paying for it and will be for another 20-30 years).  It is also one of the most populated schools.  If you attend tonight's meeting and are daring enough to wander away from the meeting room you might end up discovering that Washington school is the only school that has a painting of a much loved political figure that left us way too early:  Ray Blanco.  Hint:  It is by the stairs that lead to the second floor, this would be 20-30 steps away from the meeting room.

Whatever Happened to the West End Plans?

Looking for information on Community Needs Assessments I stumbled upon information on plans that were drawn with community input for the West End, this finding brought my then search to a halt as I remember having attended the event where the picture above was taken but can't remember who invited me.  Anyway.  The project is best described by Rutger's National Center for Neighborhood and Brownfields Redevelopment:

Plainfield West End Revitalization Project



From 2002 through 2007, the Center provided technical assistance related to community capacity building in an effort to revitalize a 44-block low-income neighborhood that borders brownfield properties in the West End of the City of Plainfield, NJ. The Center organized and conducted community visioning sessions that defined and prioritized needs and sponsored meetings to educate the community and its evolving leadership on organizational and funding issues associated with implementing these plans. The Center's work resulted in the formation of a new community-based organization called POWER (Plainfield Organization for West End Revitalization).


Funded in part by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, the Center helped to build partnerships between residents, local nonprofits and the City government, helped to obtain a $100,000 planning grant from the Wachovia Regional Foundation and led the development of a community-based revitalization plan. To sustain the effort, the Center also helped the City to obtain two $200,000 EPA Brownfields Assessment Grants, and is currently leading a community steering committee to advise the City on brownfields cleanup and reuse.

The web page for this project also contains the link to what looks like the final document of what was planned back then for the West End.  Among the mentioned plans are the now abandoned idea of building a new middle school, the Marino industrial site and few other sites that even offer architectural renderings.  Information on the 100+ pages document include the usual:  demographics, socio-economics, education levels and more.  The partnering agency on this project seems to had been Homefirst.  The document can be found HERE.

We, the city, seem to have a real need, if not a dire need, to create a process where all these studies and community needs assessments come together under one single umbrella that has the ability to keep the community updated on the fate of each of these projects that have taken considerable time, and money, to be built.  Take a look at the document, linked above, and please share with the rest of us any update you might have of it today.

Another Ninja Production, This Time: Green Ninja

Sorry for the lack of daily posts but Spring fever is here, add visitors from faraway lands and the annual need to "re-organize the house" have all kept me busier than usual.  So, in lieu of a post please accept the following mini-films straight from the San Francisco Green Festival.

Remember Liberty Ninja?  Now there is Green Ninja.



And because I could not resist it, the new call to Humanity:



UNPLUG!

2010 Law Case: City of Plainfield v. NJ Department of Health, Solaris and Muhlenberg

If you are interested in reading the legal outcome, reasoning, demands and all that went along on the lawsuit to save Muhlenberg you will want to read the published case and opinion that was released to the public on April of 2010.  The documents is long (I read it over two days between break and break) but it is worth reading just to find out all the facts surrounding the hospital's closure.  JFK wants to sell the land, some in Plainfield want to restore the hospital, many of us are confused as to what the real possibilities are for either scenario.  On which crowd do you see yourself in?  If not sure, perhaps reading THIS DOCUMENT will help you.

PMUA Commission Appointments on Hold, for Now

I have not seen any public thanks to the council for holding all listed appointments for PMUA's Commission so let me just say Thanks on behalf of those who are thankful for this move, I am one of them.

One could say that the appointments were held for obvious reasons (the Governor's interest on it) or one could say that the appointments were held for political reasons (someone mentioned primary elections) but there could also be that the council has seen the concerns of the community, now validated by the Governor's office, as the main reason to put on hold the appointments. 

If you would like to see change on PMUA now is the time to make your name available and send a letter of interest to serve on this commission.  Nothing on the books says that you can not approach the mayor and make sure your name is listed among those ones that want to serve your neighbors and your city via the PMUA Commission.

Think about it.

News from the County: No Festivals This Year In Order to Save Money

Union County is, if not the most, one of the most expensive counties in the state.  The county spends and spends and we hardly ever scrutinize their spending habits, how?  We are too busy dealing with our own local BS stuff, add to this the fact that Plainfielders feel that having a Freeholder from Plainfield equals representation.  Anyway.  The Union County Watchers ( a Union County watchdog group) has followed the county spending habits and it can be expected that their work had something to do with this week's news that the county won't be holding its two Festivals, one of them was the one celebrated here in Plainfield's Cedarbrook Park.  To read the County's press release and the County Watcher's take on this click HERE.

Trivia Questions:  How much of our property tax goes to the county?  How does our contribution to the county compare to other Union County municipalities? And what do we get from the county?

Field Trip Video and a Peek to the Barack Obama Charter School

A Twitt from Netherwood Neighbors delivered the next video from the Barack Obama Green Charter School. The 5+ minute video takes you to a field trip and the students' very candid views. Check it out!

The City Budget: Has the process even started?

At the last council meeting there was resistance to answer a simple question about the status of the budget.  The newly hired city administrator didn't look amused at all by the council's insistence on knowing when a budget document was going to be introduced.

Over this weekend I kept thinking about the poor administrator and how uncomfortable he looked and it occurred to me that perhaps the budget process has not even started, otherwise why would he not be willing to answer such a simple question?

The process, I believe, would start with the administrator asking all head departments to submit their department's budget.  Ideally this would be made in writing, this would produce a public document that could be requested via OPRA.

It will be interesting to find out whether the process of creating the budget has even started.

Jefferson Elementary School: A school to watch grow

It is no secret that Jefferson School seems to be turning the tide around from being considered a failing school to a school to watch grow.  Under the administration of Mr. Burkholder school staff and parents have come together to help students achieve.  The following booklet that was prepared for Jefferson parents lets you take a peek into the school day as well as into what is making Jefferson school's turn around a success. Providing parents with meaningful information about what is what in a child's instruction is a great way to make parents partners.  Take a peek at the booklet to get an update on what makes Jefferson school a good school.

Jefferson School Parent Instructional Guide (in Pictures)[1]

Plainfield 2020 via City 2.0

THE WISH

I am the crucible of the future.

I am where humanity will either flourish or fade.

I am being built and rebuilt every day.

I am inevitable. But I am not yet determined.

I wish to be inclusive, innovative, healthy, soulful, thriving. But my potential can only be reached through you.

You can forge a new urban outlook. Begin by connecting. Imagine a platform that brings you together, locally and globally. Combine the reach of the cloud with the power of the crowd. Connect leaders, experts, companies, organizations and citizens. Share your tools, data, designs, successes, and ideas. Turn them into action.

Together you can:

•Bridge the gap between poor and rich communities.

•Spectacularly reduce your carbon footprint.

•Make nature part of daily life.

•Empower entrepreneurship.

•Re-imagine education.

•Nurture health.

I am the City 2.0. Dream me. Build me. Make me real.

TED Prize Winner 2012, for more information how City 2.0 can be achieved click HERE.



Got Seeds? Give Seeds!

If you are a gardener, local or not, you know that one of the beauties of gardening is on spreading the joy of gardening.  Collecting seeds is a given as time goes on and one learns more and more about gardening, and, honestly speaking, who, who gardens, doesn't have more than her/his own share of seeds?  As much as you give away seeds, or you split your plants to give away, one always has more to give away, such is the beauty of gardening.  Looking around for ideas I found a Seed-Lending Library, in Richmond CA!  Gee!  I hate flying so no time soon you'll see me going there, but the library encourages anyone to start their own library at their own local library.  Would such an idea succeed here?  Would there be any local support for such an enterprise?  We will have to find out.  Watch the introduction:

Letter to PMUA is a Public Document

Dan Damon reports today on a letter from the state to PMUA.  The investigation, and the letter, is now officially a public matter and any documentation that comes along with it is subject to OPRA (Open Public Records Act).

File an OPRA request with the city clerk and be ready to follow through with letters of interest to the State Comptroller now and then.  State and federal offices like to hear from interested and concerned residents even if they themselves can not provide any more answers than "this matter is still under investigation but we are doing our best to close it as soon as possible".  You don't want to pester them, but you don't want the state to think that no one cares.

What would Plainfield students say if they had the same opportunity?

And what would their project be if they were given a chance to change their surroundings?

Nepotism: Sample of a policy, the BOE's own

At the last council meeting John Campbell asked if the city had a Nepotism policy.  The response from the council and the city counsel was that they would look into it as apparently no one had looked into this before.  Alas!  This is something only those in the know of who is related to whom would ask, we Plainfield newbies (I replaced "fake Plainfielders" for "newbies") have a small chance of knowing as blood lines here run as deep as the Pacific Ocean, the deepest body of water.

So I dug out the school board's own nepotism policy and am posting it here FYI.  If you want to help the city with its own investigation of what is the law on nepotism then you can take the references to NJSA 18 that are listed on the last page of the policy.  You can also call the Office of Legislation and they will give you help locating the right chapter and verse on nepotism, they are very nice.  I would do it but I am supposed to be cleaning my house right now!  Good luck!

4112.8 Nepotism Policy BOE

For Profit Hospitals Proliferating in NJ, What's Up with That?

The StarLedger has news today on a transparency bill regarding for-profit hospitals.  OMG!  I am now confused regarding the possibilities for our own Muhlenberg!

N.J. Senate panel approves bill requiring for-profit hospitals to post financial information

As another bidding war over a struggling nonprofit hospital heats up in North Jersey, a Senate panel today took aim at the spread of for-profit hospitals by approving a bill that would require they disclose financial information to the public.


Any hospital that wants a share of the state "charity care" fund for treating uninsured patients would have to supply information detailing their operating budget, such as sources of income, its business holdings and salaries, and other information nonprofit entities are required to file with the IRS, according to bill sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen).


The state Department of Health and Senior Services would collect and post the information on its website, according to the bill, (S782).


"We have seen a tremendous proliferation of for-profit hospitals in the state of New Jersey over the last two years,'' Weinberg testified in Trenton. "This is a small step forward so that the state of New Jersey, advocates and the general public know a little bit about the for-profit operations coming in."


The bill passed 9 to 0 with 1 abstention this afternoon — hours before aspiring bidders were expected to gather at a community meeting to informally present their proposals to buy the bankrupt Christ Hospital in Jersey City, according to Jeanne Otersen, spokeswoman for the Health Professionals and Allied Employees, a union group.


Otersen told the committee public disclosure should be important to state and local lawmakers who are asked to make decisions on whether hospitals should be awarded tax abatements or a share of the charity care fund. "If you can't see the whole financial position, how can you as an elected official make that decision?"


Three parties have expressed interest in Christ Hospital: Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center, a for-profit in Secaucus; a partnership between the nonprofit Jersey City Medical Center and Community Healthcare Associates, a property management firm; and Hudson Hospital Holdco, a for-profit that recently acquired Hoboken University Medical Center and Bayonne Medical Center.


The suitors must file their bids next Thursday with the bankruptcy judge, who will then select the best offer March 20, Christ Hospital spokesman Paul Hebert said.
Lynn McVey, acting president for Meadowlands Hospital, said in a statement the "Board of Directors is currently evaluating possible expansion opportunities, including Christ Hospital. Meadowlands Hospital management team has in a short amount of time proven an ability to turn around a failing hospital at no significant cost to the taxpayer."
Jeff Moll, managing partner for Community Healthcare Association, said he thought his company's pitch with Jersey City Medical Center would be the strongest offer.
"As the dominant health care provider in Hudson County, Jersey City Medical Center is a nonprofit that will give the public a level of comfort," Moll said. "Its mission is long-standing and won't be a flash in the pan."

Moll also said his company has successfully leased what used to be Barnert Hospital in Paterson, creating a medical community that created about 800 jobs.


A representative from Hudson Holdco could not immediately be reached for comment.

If you would like to update us with the Cedarbrook Neighborhood Association Meeting with JFK....

Please feel free to send an update and I will post it here.   We want to hear about it from you.  Thanks!

Time to dig out Plainfield's Charter Study for Us Plainfield Newbies?

When you hear that Plainfield is different you better believe it, as the city is, I believe, the only municipality that is ruled by its own set of home-rule, locally made, Plainfield Charter, which ultimately is the one that provides the city with a structure for its day-to-day operations and more. 

The Plainfield Charter was created in 1968 and to be honest I have not bothered to read chapter and verse but now and then I find situations where "all roads lead to the Charter".  The Charter seems to be responsible for the way Departments have been set to fall into this or that Division, or to whom Department heads report to.  Then there is the need to "interpret" legislation through the Charter so the Charter aligns with legislation but still gives Plainfield its saying, a saying that was set nevertheless 44 years ago.  Much has changed since then in our society and by this I do not mean demographically but organization structures and efficiencies that were not possible, or even imagined in 1968 are a must today.

I also wonder how many of the current issues the city has today could be solved if we were to take a fresh look at how the Charter is helping or hurting the city today.

I am told by credible sources that there is a study of the Plainfield Charter that was made a good number of years ago.  The Plainfield Charter Study was produced by community and experts and the final product was not only a very comprehensible document but full of examples of pros and cons, unfortunately the study, despite all the effort put into it, was shelved by the then council.

Time we newbies here in Plainfield take a good look at the Charter and its study and see if the Charter is something that is helping us or hurting us.  Now, if only I could find a hard copy of this study somewhere.  Any ideas?

How Many People Can Plainfield Hold?

The NYTimes has an article this week about just what we are facing here today in Plainfield on the area of development and density.  The article is about Manhattan, but the ideas and analogies can be applied to Plainfield, especially now that JFK is proposing that new-old idea of developing "luxury rentals".  Read the article, if for anything, at least to see what is the thought process of creating higher density in what is already perceived as dense.

For the NYTimes "Everybody Inhale:  How Many People Can Manhattan Hold?" click HERE.

Lessons from Camden's Health Front?

At yesterday's meeting with JFK representatives a mention of Camden's medical new initiatives happened.  So this morning I searched Camden despite the fact that I personally feel Plainfield is quite different than Camden, then of course, I live here so I am biased and after reading the Community Health Assessments from HOPE CAN, Inc and United Way one has to wonder if our view of Plainfield corresponds 100% with the view outsiders have of us.  Apparently it does not.

PBS has a pretty powerful interview with a doctor from Camden.  Take a look and see if you identify some of Camden's issues with or own here in Plainfield.  The interview also offers, a sort of, a map on how health issues and needs were identified.  Click HERE to check PBS's Doctor Hotspot on Camden. 

Greater Central Jersey Clergy Association Meets With Muhlenberg/JFK, JFK Announces Application to the City for an Expanded ER and Today's Meeting

Yesterday the Greater Central Jersey Clergy Association met with Muhlenberg/JFK representatives at the YWCA, which is located on E. Front Street here in Plainfield.  The meeting happened at a rather convenient time for me, at 1 PM, so I decided to stop by and see if it was open to the public; it was.

The meeting set up was at one of the conference rooms at the YWCA and attendees sat in at 4 tables arranged in a square-shaped setting with Muhlenberg's three representatives sitting at the far right.  I only saw one familiar face, that one of school board member Brenda Gilbert. I apologize for not going around asking names of the around 15-20 clergy representatives although I was able to catch up a couple of names.

Apparently, and if I understood well, JFK will be submitting, in April, an application to the city to go ahead and start the approval process to move forward with their vision of building an improved ER facility at the Muhlenberg campus.     I was told that the information on the proposal for a "state of the art" emergency room was going to be posted at the website that is now dedicated to the Muhlenberg site, Moving Muhlenberg Forward.


The floor was opened for questions and two questions stood out:  One came from Reverend Tracey Brown.  Rev. Brown wanted to know if the proposal included affordable housing.  A brief discussion went on about affordable housing, the great need for it that some feel there is for it; the discussion was ended by Dr. Kirkwood saying how it is already felt by many that Plainfield has more than its share of affordable housing.  Dr. Kirkwood is the founder of King's Temple and CEO of the YWCA. 

The other question was on how many of the patients that go to the emergency room here in Plainfield end up at JFK hospital, Edison.  There was no definite answer to this question but it would be worth getting the most accurate answer on this.

JFK, in response to one of my questions after I read two paragraphs from HOPE CAP's health assessment, announced that they (JFK) will now be conducting a "Community Health Needs Assessments" for Plainfield as they have to conduct their own mandated 3-year, in depth, assessment of the areas JFK serves.  Plainfield's needs assessment will be focused on just Plainfield.  Ironically I had suggested to the council that we start our own health needs assessment the night before, my suggestion was blogged about the day of and the day after, and, most importantly, a JFK representative was at Monday's council meeting.  Coincidence?  Serendipity?  Co-option? Whatever.  Most important thing here is that we make sure that whatever gets done gets broad representation of Plainfield's very, very diverse community and that a community's public health agenda gets done and set for the improvement of Plainfield.

Overall, the most significant news that came from this meeting was the announcement that JFK is moving forward in April with their application to extend their ER department at the Muhlenberg site.  Hopefully plans will be posted soon at JFK's own website, Moving Muhlenberg Forward.  The application, the drawings and any documentation tied to this project are all public documents that will become public once they are submitted to the city.  The next community meeting with JFK representatives is tonight, apparently the meeting is open to the public as an e-mail announcing it has been circulating. 

You can catch up with JFK representatives and hear what your neighbors have to say on JFK's proposal for the Muhlenberg site at:

 7:30 pm, Cedar Brook Block Association, 1272 Park Avenue

Did you know about this? 2010 Community Assessment of Needs of Low Income Families of the Plainfield, N.J. Community, by HOPES.org

Last night I presented the idea of a health needs community assessment to the council, the idea came about a few months ago after reading something about such efforts somewhere else.  The idea was well received by the council and the public and much work awaits if such a task is undertaken, I will expand on this more on the next few days. 

But today's post is not on last night's presentation but rather about some information I found on the web this morning and that is related to health and needs of what seems a good portion of the community, the information is a 2010 Community Assessment of Low Income Families.  This assessment was made by what seems to be the new provider of Head Start (childcare provider) and it provides a window into how Plainfield is perceived.  The document contains data on health, social needs, non-profits in the city and their work and much more.  I am still trying to figure out if this assessment made by HOPES CAP, Inc., was discussed at any public venue.  Take a look at the document, maybe you have seen it already, I never had, have you?  Just a warning:  some of the information, if you have never seen it, might just feel like a "bucket of cold water" that has been thrown on your head.

HOPES 2010 Plainfield Community Assessment of Low Income Families

Check Dan's New Posts....

HERE and HERE.

Plainfield Polarized Politics: Break the polarization by joining the other side? Why Not?

Much, mostly behind doors, has been said about the sudden change of heart that councilman Adrian Mapp (new democrat) has had by accepting the endorsement from local democratic party chairman, long-time state assemblyman and most recently NJ Speaker Pro Tempore, Jerry Green (old democrat).

I have read comments here and there about the perceived motives for Mr. Mapp's change of heart and about Jerry's "evil intentions".  I also witnessed Mrs. Hernandez, BOE president and team member of the Grand Slam, which is supported by John Campbell and his wife, come after Mr. Mapp and Mr. Green at a council meeting as apparently the Grand Slam team is now looking to run for a council seat, or at least that was what was said in the heat of the moment of that council meeting.

I ask:  To whom does it serve to have such a polarized position on all three situations above?  It certainly hasn't served the community of Plainfield and it is time we all take a good look at how we can all end the polarization that has only been hardened with our help.

If you are daring enough you will want to read on, and understand, the process of polarization, sadly it pretty much describes what has happened to politics here in Plainfield.  The good news is that reading about the process and the possible ways to address it will make you take a second look at how we can all deal with those who would rather have a divided Plainfield than an united one.

Today I thank Adrian Mapp for breaking - a little bit - the polarization that there is between new and old democrats and while there is, apparently, confusion and hurt feelings on both sides, the opportunity to break away from polarization will hopefully not be lost despite the calls, from some, to keep it going. 

As for the Grand Slam team?  As the young political group that they are we will have to wait and see what their appeal is to a community that says is eager for change.

Here are some excerpts on polarized relations from THIS WEBSITE, I encourage you to read them and then decide whether you want to continue to be part of any given polarized group or not.  If not, call the members of your group and ask them to join the other group on a group hug! :-)

CAUSES OF POLARIZATION

Polarization is caused by a number of related psychological, sociological, and political processes. It is closely tied up with escalation in a bi-directional relationship. In other words, escalation causes polarization and vice versa.

As conflict escalates, the emergence of enemy images and stereotypes damages the relationship between adversaries. Important lines of communication and interaction that are normal to peaceful relationships are cut off, and trust diminishes. As parties begin to attribute their grievances to the other side, they often reduce the number of non-conflictual relations and interactions that they have with that party. Adversaries tend to become increasingly isolated from each other, and any inter-group communication is channeled through more antagonistic lenses. Because parties have fewer ties to individuals from the other group, they may feel freer to employ more severe actions against that group.[3] Group isolation and polarization is further aggravated by the tendency of partisans to try to win bystanders to their side, forcing people to take sides. As more people are drawn into the conflict, that conflict intensifies.

Conversely, escalation seems to increase polarization. Formerly neutral parties are pulled to one side or the other and fewer community members can retain their moderate positions. In part, this is because those involved in the conflict demand that neutral non-participants decide whether they are "with us or against us."[4] Those who would normally urge moderation and attempt to mediate the conflict are recruited by participants in the controversy, and forced to take sides. It is difficult for community members to remain neutral when people are fighting, damaging each other's property, and injuring each other. In such situations, there is a tendency to cast blame and to side with one party or the other.



Radical positions are further reinforced by group homogeneity and cohesiveness. Kriesberg notes that adversaries with little internal diversity are more prone to escalation.[5] They are more prone to polarization as well. This is because homogeneity makes it less likely that a group will consider alternatives to the severe tactics being advocated or employed by extremists. As parties assume more radical positions, group members tend to reinforce each other's negative stereotypes and enemy images.[6] Any moderate positions go unheard or their proponents ostracized -- or worse -- as they are seen as traitors to the cause. As this process continues, parties are often further segregated, and their relationship with outsiders becomes increasingly hostile and competitive.[7]

ADDRESSING POLARIZATION

Parties engaged in conflict typically focus on their differences, which can result in pushing the parties toward polar opposite positions. Strategies that encourage parties to consider their common interests can help to mitigate such effects. Planning and pursuing joint projects, for example, can help parties to focus on commonalities rather than contentious issues. Because fear and distrust often play a central in producing polarization, trust building strategies are also beneficial. The establishment of personal relationships between adversaries can help to improve their communication, increase their level of mutual understanding, and make them less likely to view each other as evil enemies. Better understanding of a party's true motives can help to reduce anger and hostility and eliminate actions that unwittingly threaten or annoy one's opponent.[11]

If possible, third-party mediators or consultants should help parties to better understand the dynamics of their conflict and to address their negative perceptions and attitudes. This sort of transformative mediation can enhance trust and help parties to refrain from taking hostile actions.[12] If parties can move toward productive negotiation, they have taken the first step towards reconciliation.

Dan Damon Sends His Regards to His Readers

I saw Dan yesterday and he asked me to say "Hi" to his readers.  Dan looks good, is in good spirits, and is looking forward to join the local blogsphere at his return. 

Plainfield and Its Intractable Conflicts: Which Role Do You Play?

I have been in Plainfield for now almost 7 years and while I see progress on some parts of the city, there are others that well, don't seem to move much from where they were when I first got involved with community matters, politics is one of them and whether we like it or not politics have a deep impact in our quality of life here in Plainfield.  For years I have been hearing about how evil old democrats are (old democrats are represented by Jerry Green and his followers) and how the new democrats are trying to change things (new democrats are represented by Adrian Mapp and his followers).  Never mind that there is also the always present, never mentioned, kingmaker, John Campbell (an ex-republican turned democrat who has supported new democrats and now is supporting his own group, the Grand Slam).  

But are these three groups the only guilty ones for the state Plainfeld is in when it comes to politics and who gets elected to power?  What if we were to look at the different roles we all play on this (comic at times) rather comfortable setting that has been set for us and that has been widely accepted by most?

So, I searched for conflict-resolution methods and I found the web has a lot more answers that I was looking for.  The following excerpts come from THIS WEBSITE.  Take a look below at the roles, and their links, and see if you can tell which role all players you know are playing; then take it a step further (gulp!) and see which role you have been playing.  Understanding the different roles we all play here in Plainfield might help us all to see things in a different manner, what is more, this might help us all to see if the role we are playing is really the role we want to play.

By the way, I find assets on all three groups, the old and new democrats as well as the kingmaker's, this despite the conflict they always seem to find themselves in.  If only we could take all three, mixed them all in, and take the best of each....

By
Heidi Burgess
January 2004


The people involved in conflicts hold many roles. These are described briefly below, and then in more detail in the associated essays.


Disputants or first parties differ in the directness of their involvement and the importance of the outcome for them. Primary parties are those who oppose one another, are using fighting behavior, and have a direct stake in the outcome of the conflict. Secondary parties have an indirect stake in the outcome. They are often allies or sympathizers with primary parties but are not direct adversaries.[1] Disputants also can be divided up according to their stance towards the other side. We divide interest groups into moderates, hardliners, external supporters, conflict profiteers, and spoilers.

[]


In addition to the disputants, there are third parties. Some may be acting in active intermediary roles, such as mediators, arbitrators, or dialogue facilitators, while others may be by-standers. As conflicts become increasingly polarized, however, the by-standers tend to be pulled in, being forced to join one side or the other, and polarizing the conflict even further.


In addition to the traditional intermediaries, William Ury suggests that there are other "third-siders" who can help play a transformative role. These include:


Most intractable conflicts are so deeply-rooted that the parties need outside help to transform the conflict into something more constructive. Most often, people think in terms of mediators. But there are many more roles people can play to help transform intractable conflicts. In his book, The Third Side[1], Ury suggests that there are at least 10 roles that people can play: provider, teacher, bridge-builder, mediator, arbitrator, equalizer, healer, witness, referee, and peacekeeper. Some of these roles are traditional "third party roles," while others are not. The chart below summaries what each role does.


Process:  Prevention  

Roles and What they say:

Provider:   What is needed here?


Teacher:   Here's another way. (Or, let's look at this more carefully.)


Bridge Builder:   I'd like to introduce you to ...

Process:  Resolution


Roles and What they say:

Mediator:  Let's work it out.


Arbitrator:  What's fair here is ...


Equalizer:  Let's level the playing field.


Healer:  Let's make amends.

Process:  Containment

Witness:   Hey! Look what they are doing!


Referee:   No knives! No guns!


Peacekeeper:  OK! Break it up!


All of these people can contribute to making a conflict less intractable. With many people in each role working at different levels of a conflict, a great deal of good can be accomplished, even when the conflict is not ripe for resolution.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From:  Burgess, Heidi. "Parties to Intractable Conflict." Beyond Intractability. Eds. Guy Burgess and Heidi Burgess. Conflict Information Consortium, University of Colorado, Boulder. Posted: January 2004 . 

League of Women Voters of Plainfield Meets This Wednesday

The LWV-Plainfield meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 5 at 6:30 pm at the Plainfield Library, in one of the Lower Level meeting rooms.

The LWV's Mission

The League of Women Voters, a non-partisan political organization, encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

One of the few long standing organization that Plainfield has at this time is the Plainfield League of Women Voters.  The League of Women Voters was started, here in Plainfield by Plainfield citizens, on 1920.  I do not know what the membership has been throughout its history but what I do know is that current membership is very small and if it wasn't because this very small membership is so dedicated and passionate about the League maybe the LWV/Plainfield would be another organization to add to the disappearing organizations list that Plainfield has.

This coming Wednesday you have the opportunity to stop by the local Public Library and find out more about their work.

To find out more about the League of Women Voters click HERE.  And remember, every vibrant and strong organization needs a strong and vibrant membership.  Please consider joining them.  Men are welcome!

2nd Ward Councilman Cory Storch Has Updates at His Blog

For those who do not live on Plainfield's second ward  and are wondering who is Cory Storch.  Mr. Storch has been the second ward council representative (Plainfield has four wards, council info HERE).

Councilman Storch's blog is HERE.  Subjects of interest?  PMUA, City Audits and more.  Check it out.

Development: The Big Picture and the Plainfield Picture

For those interested on development here are two documents you will want to read before heading out to any future development planning meeting:

The newly revised State Strategic Plan (Final Draft) that has been presented to the public at different venues can be found HERE.

And then for the recent Plainfield's own study made by the Edward J. Blounstein School of Planning and Public Policy click HERE.

As Bernice said it very well, please channel your inner watchdog and take the time to educate your inner watchdog on development matters.

Plainfield and Community Loses Through the Years

With the imminent changes coming to the community through the Muhlenberg Hospital site I was reminded of one booklet that made an impact on me some time ago.  The Plainfield History Collection Catalog, put together by the Plainfield Public Library, talks of what Plainfield once had and while some might mourn the entities we must remember that entities are supported by people.  Some of the organizations that listed at the catalog are still here, but they need the support of caring and dedicated people in order to continue to be part of Plainfield's fabric.  Take a look not only to learn what was here at one time, but to find out those organizations that are still up and running and that need your support. 

Plainfield Library Catalog

Muhlenberg: JFK Offers a Meeting Calendar for March

A look into the Muhlenberg Moving Forward website revealed that JFK is setting March dates to meet with those interested on the future of the Muhlenberg site.  Below find what seems to be a tentative schedule:

Calendar of Events

March 1 at 7 pm

Union County Freeholder Board

Union County Administration Building 10 Elizabethtown Plaza

March 6, 1 pm

Greater Central Jersey Clergy Association Meeting

YWCA 232 East Front Street, Plainfield

March 7 at TBA

Cedar Brook Block Association

TBA

March 8 at 6 pm

Public Meeting for Muhlenberg Neighborhood

Muhlenberg Hospital Lobby

March 16 at 6 pm

Public Meeting for Muhlenberg Neighborhood

Muhlenberg Hospital Lobby

Mark Your Calendar: OPRA Seminar County Watchers

By Tina Renna

February 20, 2012
The public is invited to take advantage of free training on how to understand a government budget and using the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) to obtain public documents on Wednesday, March 7th at 7pm, at the Cranford Community Center, Room 200, located at 220 Walnut Avenue, Cranford, NJ.

The free event is sponsored by the Union County Watchdog Association in response to requests from local residents seeking information on how to understand and participate in their local governments.

Presenters: 

Walters Luers, Esq.

Understanding the OPRA and OPMA
Walter Luers is the president of the The New Jersey Foundation for Open Government, a state advocacy organization dedicated to open government. Topics will include an overview of the OPRA, enforcement policies, how to make an effective OPRA request to avoid common mistakes, and much more. The Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) will also be discussed.

Gerard B. Gruenfelder

Understanding a government budget
Gerard Gruenfelder is a board member of the New Jersey Taxpayers Association and a former Chief Financial Officer for the East Orange Board of Education. Among Gruenfelder’s numerous credentials is a M.B.A., And Finance And Economics, The Stern Graduate School Of Business At New York University and a M.Ed. And M.Phil., Public Finance And Administration, Columbia University.

“Hosting these events in Union County gives us the opportunity to educate the public on their rights and give them the necessary knowledge and tools to watch over their government” explained Tina Renna, President of the UCWA.

Light refreshments will be served. Space is limited. Reserve your seat early by email at info@UnionCountyWatchdog.org or phone 908-709-0530.