May 15, 2009

Reading Adrian Mapp’s blog today, I am surprised that he does not understand that people in the City, County, State, and Country, recognize that there are side affects to the economic detriment this nation is enduring. Property crimes are such a side affect. These sorts of crimes are those that are very difficult to prevent, but with the offensive the Mayor has launched in instituting crime prevention programs, this effort is an avenue toward progress and regulation.

Public Safety Director Martin Hellwig, Council President Rashid Burney and I met with the Police department and the 2nd ward community to discuss these sorts of crimes. The public acknowledges that there is a heavier police presence in the City, a feeling that was not enjoyed by the City under the past administration. This presence has done an excellent job in reducing violent, brutal crimes by 300%, and is focusing that same effective effort in routing property crime and defeating it, just as the current administration has done with violent crimes in the City of Plainfield.

Now my question to Mr. Mapp: Under the past administration, which he was part of, did we or did we not have 15 murders within the City of Plainfield in one year? Secondly, I met with the State, county, and city law enforcement agencies to establish working relationships to deal with this crisis in our City. Not once as a Freeholder, did Mr. Mapp attend these meetings, nor participate as an elected official to promote these relationships.

What he did then is exactly what he is doing today, showing up once a week for his paycheck. This is why when he sought reelection for Freeholder, he lost by 25,000 votes. While some in Plainfield are deceived by his lies, the other 20 municipalities recognize he did nothing for the taxpayers of Union County. All Mr. Mapp can show the people here in the City of Plainfield is one project that he was a part of, which was a low-income project in downtown Plainfield that should have never happened.

As a point of personal preference, let us compare efforts of Mayor Sharon and Mr. Mapp. Mayor Sharon is currently supporting a Senior Facility that will house our Senior Citizens’ Center, as well as 65 condominiums that will bring in people seeking to invest in the City of Plainfield. Mr. Mapp’s record shows his endorsement of the Teppers site, a low-income project. Comparing Mayor Sharon’s record with Mr. Mapp’s enables one to clearly see that the Mayor is focused on moving the City is a productive vein of governance, while Mr. Mapp is focused on continual business-as-usual practices.

Also, under council members Storch and Mapp, we had a halfway house operating in the downtown area without the knowledge of the public, and I am working with the State to make sure these types of facilities are not just housed in cities like Plainfield. As realtors, the Mapp and Storch families have closed their eyes to such facilities being brought into the City.

Just yesterday, I was out knocking on doors and I was alerted by a mother who felt very uncomfortable living with her children, next to a facility that houses 20 men. Councilman Storch would not know of this issue because he does not knock on doors but once every four years. I have yet to hear Mr. Storch publically say ‘Plainfield has had enough,’ when it comes to this sort of issue. I wonder if he is more concerned with prolonging his job, or with the safety of Plainfield.

Ps

Dan, time is running out, so let us cut through the nonsense: What did you get paid $65,000 a year for under the past administration? My math tells me, since you have a hard time configuring such knowledge, that you received over half a million dollars (over the 8 years term) from the City, a City that still is unaware of your contributions to it.

By the way, Dan, I failed to bring to the public’s attention the $20,000 your partner received as a member of the PMUA, and allowed this agency to get out of control.

I have nothing against any Hispanic community, especially the New Jersey Hispanic community that actively supports me statewide. In fact, the former Speaker of the NJ General Assembly, Albio Sires, gave me my opportunity to become part of Leadership in the State Assembly, opening the door to Deputy Speaker of the Assembly. Our relationship is one that as this stimulus money comes in from Washington; I work with him and the Congressman of our district, Frank Pallone, to establish contacts in Washington that our Legislative District, including Plainfield, can benefit from daily.

Lastly, Chris, does your wife receive $100,000 as an employee of the school district? Did she receive a rather large raise in one year? Has she even worked in the School District for 5 years? If this matter does not scream politics, this inside horse-trading is harming the learning environment of the City’s children.