We're Winning the War on Crime

In a recent press conference, Union County Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow highly praised Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs and the city of Plainfield for its monumental efforts in the reduction of major crimes. This tenacious war on crime was birthed when Mayor Robinson-Briggs was sworn into office. Her first initiative was the establishment and maintenance of communication, camaraderie, and cooperation between the state police of New Jersey, the Attorney General's office, and the Union County Prosecutor's office. Her keen insight and attention to detail, coupled with the city's resounding cries for justice and stability, blossomed this idea, which made it easy to help her bring this initiative to fruition. Our unity on the matter shaped the framework of things to come. For indeed, the state police, the Attorney General's office, and the Prosecutor's office have established an interdependent and successful front on the war on crime within our community.



Our current administration has realized that the time is NOW for change, which is why major crimes in the Queen City are drastically down. The former administration's efforts in the matter resulted in 15 murders, while our current administration has mounted a front on major criminal occurrences, yielding only two this year. Fruits of our "extraordinary, exceptional, and remarkable" effort, as stated by city Public Safety Director Martin Hellwig can be seen in the rapid apprehension of the three principal suspects in last month's brutal attack of an 82 year-old man. In just TWO WEEKS, the Plainfield Police Department, through efficient police work, apprehended two of the three suspects, while the third was captured just days later.



What makes the efficiency and dedication of our current administration and the Plainfield Police Department a colossal achievement is that Prosecutor Romankow has decided to create a Homicide Task Force for Union County, aimed at continuing the successful decrease in major crimes, as well as ensure the public safety of our community. Romankow lauded Plainfield as "the template" for police cooperation. Romankow also stated, "The reality is that the police administration decided that they were going to do something about it [crime]." The Task Force will be comprised of 16 professional investigators from Union County, including two from the Queen City, as well as the County Prosecutor and his five attorneys embarking on a vigorous endeavor to investigate and remedy all criminal and suspicious deaths. The past administration told both you and me that our city, the Queen City, did not have any gang problems. Shortly after that heedless statement was made, gang violence began to consume our community like a wildfire. Union County Prosecutor Romankow said that, "this gang problem was not only out of control, but civilian safety was in jeopardy." Our current administration, since gaining the reigns of leadership, has thus doused the burning threat of gang activity and major crimes with this polished Task Force.



This assault-on-crime initiative is powerful and conducive to our county's unity, community, and harmony because it is a PROACTIVE agenda. Instead of waiting for criminal activity to arise, much like the former administration did, our current administration is taking a stern, hands-on approach to combat and sustain a healthier, more enjoyable, and safer Union County. And it is VITAL that YOU, my fellow neighbors, continue to take an active, persistent role in reporting crime and suspicious activity. I, along with my administrative team, both extol and applaud YOU for YOUR steadfast efforts to transform the Queen City from good, to better, to BEST!

Muhlenberg News

Here are two items regarding Muhlenberg Hospital that I thought would be of interest. The first item is a letter from Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs to Governor Jon Corzine. The second item is a news release from the People's Organization for Progress.

Something Interesting...

The following email came to me recently as part of the SaveHospital mailing list and I thought it was very interesting. I wanted to take the time to share it with my readers.

From: Dottie Gutenkauf <dottiegutenkauf@gmail.com>Subject: City appealing decision to close MuhlenbergTo: SaveHospital@yahoogroups.com, SaveHospital-owner@yahoogroups.comDate: Wednesday, September 10, 2008, 11:04 AM

Plainfield has filed a Notice of Appeal of the Commissioner's decision to approve closing Muhlenberg. Here's the story, posted on the Courier News website September 9: http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080908/NEWS/80908048/1018/NEWS0401
There's an updated story in the Courier News print edition September 10: http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080909/NEWS/809090364/1018/NEWS0401 Councilman Rashid Burney has posted the City's Notice of Appeal on his blog: http://rashidburney.blogspot.com/2008/09/plainfield-notice-of-appeal.htwhml together with a copy of the news release issued by the administration and council: http://rashidburney.blogspot.com/2008/09/statement-from-administration-and.html. The POP/Restore Muhlenberg Coalition is joining the appeal, and leaders of surrounding communities are being contacted and urged to sign on. Interesting note: Second Ward Councilman Cory Storch's position, according to the article: "Councilman Cory Storch said Tuesday he needed to review more information on the matter before coming to a decision, saying 'I need to get up to speed on this before I can take a position.' Storch abstained from voting." He is the only Council member who did not support the City's appeal.

My comment: Where has Councilman Storch been, and how much more information does he think he needs? This situation has been going on for more than six months...Plainfield's citizens have been united as never before in their efforts to keep our hospital open...and we have been at every Council meeting since March talking about the problem and urging the City and the Council to act. And it was Mr. Storch, in talking with my husband and me after a recent Council meeting, expressed concern about what would happen to JFK Hospital if Muhlenberg reopened. Could it be that Mr. Storch is pandering to the members of the Muhlenberg Board of Trustees, all Second Ward residents, who apparently went along with Solaris's decision to close our hospital and who have not raised a single voice in protest? And I say "Bravo!" to the Mayor for going forward with the appeal and the six Council members who support it!

Some Good News From Trenton

Democrats to Support in Union County

This Saturday...

Governor Corzine Assembles Task Force on Day-Workers

Recently, Governor Corzine has assembled a task force to deal specifically with issues related to day-workers. Plainfield Board of Education member Christian Estevez was appointed by the Governor, and I asked that the Governor also appoint Ms. Carol Brokaw, Esq. Ms. Brokaw is an attorney who specializes in Labor matters.

Concerns over day-laborers are affecting our entire state, and are certainly of great concern to the City of Plainfield. This is an issue that has not been appropriately addressed at either the State or Federal level, and so it has been my position to hold off on making any recommendations here in Plainfield until we have a State or Federal policy that is legally sound and fair to all involved. But the matter has reached crisis levels here in Plainfield. In the city’s downtown area, the daily congregation of laborers is affecting the flow of traffic and merchants are complaining. For the past six months I have been meeting with various organizations that deal with issues surrounding day-laborers as well as community leaders and city merchants in order to try to come up with fair solutions and policies to address the concerns of all involved. It is paramount to me that everyone, regardless of their ethnic background, is dealt with in a professional and respectful manner.

Last week, I had the opportunity to meet with Ms. Brokaw to discuss these issues, and I feel confident that she will add a valuable perspective to the task force and help to move in the right direction toward addressing these issues. Her recommendations involve dealing not just with laborers but with anyone in our community in need of services in terms of employment, housing and health care.

If you have any recommendations that you would like me to pass along or you would like to participate in finding good, fair solutions to these problems, please feel free to contact my office.