Welcome, Councilwoman Bridget Rivers!

January 1, 2010 marked a new beginning for the city of Plainfield as former Board of Education president Bridget Rivers joined the city council. I worked very well with former Councilwoman Joanne Hollis, Bridget's sister, when she served as 4th Ward council representative during the administration of Al McWilliams. Bridget brings to the council a genuine desire for positive change, the energy and work ethic that are needed at this time, and a passion for the city and the 4th Ward, which she represents. I do believe that as the 4th Ward goes, so will the city; no ward can be left behind.

Hence, we must do all that we can to revitalize the 4th Ward and to make it once again a driving force of the city's economic engine. We must find a solution to the many Brownfields that proliferate in the 4th Ward; we must clean them up and make them ready for development. I have long thought that the Brownfields in the 4th Ward were perfectly suited for conversion into shopping outlets. I am confident that Route 28 in the 4th Ward can be made into an outlet shopping destination for neighboring communities.

I stand ready to work with Councilor Rivers and the administration of Mayor Robinson-Briggs to address the needs of the 4th Ward. I extend to Bridget a heartfelt welcome and a wish for much success as she embarks on her new journey with us!

Regards,

Adrian

A Resounding "No!" to Tax Abatement on Monarch Condominium Project

The issue of tax abatement, in the past few days, has been raging like a wild fire out of control, and Plainfield’s elected officials have been challenged to put it out. I’ll take this opportunity to state my position on the concept of five-year tax abatements, in general, and the tax abatement pertaining to the 63 condos in particular.

During the council agenda fixing session of July 17th and the regular meeting of July 20th, I explained at great length my opposition to the PILOT (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) application for 1272 Park Avenue, as well as my issues with the abatement application for the 63 condos on East Front Street.

In the case of 1272 Park Avenue, it is my position that the owner has enjoyed the benefit of a PILOT incentive for the past 37 years; therefore, it is now time for Plainfield to benefit from a full tax assessment on that property. The owner(s) of 1272 Park Avenue should not be allowed to profit on the backs of our fixed-income seniors and other struggling tax payers; in addition, refinancing through the NJHFA should not be used as a vehicle to guarantee lucrative profits in perpetuity.

The PILOT on 1272 Park Avenue should end and the City should collect full taxes based on the property’s assessed value. Mine was the only "NO" vote on this agenda item at the July 20th meeting.

As for the East Front Street condominium project, I told my colleagues and the public in attendance on Monday that I felt the project was a horrible one from the very beginning. It was given life by a council that was too weak to do the right thing, too concerned about self-preservation, and too eager and willing to abandon Mayor Al McWilliams in the wake of his 2005 election primary loss.

As a result, instead of moving ahead with an investment in a new senior center with commercial space that would be a guaranteed revenue stream for the City, as Al and his team had begun with a bonding process, council members at the time fell for the misguided notion that the seniors would get a center for "free" from a developer. Thus, it traded a senior center and debt service that would have been covered by a commercial revenue stream for what is now known as "The Monarch at Plainfield," with its 63 condos and all of the issues (or additional burdens) this project will bring, including additional costs for city services and education, which would be greatly exacerbated if the developer were to be allowed to have this abatement at the Plainfield taxpayers' expense.

Plainfield was let down by the previous council, which gave away prime parcels of real estate for $1 and allowed the Monarch to happen. Knowing the work that went into tearing down the properties that once stood there, and the time, costs, and effort that went into assembling the parcels of land, I felt an incredible feeling of betrayal for our seniors and for the City. It was for all of these reasons that I expressed some very strong sentiments at the last two council meetings regarding the request for abatement by the developer.

Now, I must make a confession: in spite of my very vocal opposition to this proposal, which is on the record, I fell for this past week's bait and switch hysteria that the condos could become rentals without the abatement. This was a mistake--a momentary lack in judgment that prevented me from seeing the request for what it really is--an attempt to preserve the profit margin of the developer at the expense of Plainfield’s tax payers. My hesitating "YES" vote should have been a resounding "NO!"

However, my first vote not withstanding, I knew at the time that I would have a second opportunity to make it right. Now that the public has weighed in on this firestorm, I am convinced that what I communicated to another blogger (and to numerous other residents who have contacted me over the past few days) is the right thing for me to do. That is, I will be casting a resounding "NO" vote on the second reading of the ordinance.

I know that I may face some tough critics, and I accept your criticism with humility--my feeling, though, is that a blunder corrected quickly is better than a mistake preserved with all its negative impact on Plainfield's tax base and taxpayers for years to come. Mea culpa! I said when I was elected onto the council last year that I wanted you to hold me accountable. I said I would listen to you, and I thank you for your thoughtful and passionate feedback on this issue. It is my hope that my council colleagues, too, will see this ordinance for what it is and vote "NO" as well.

P.S. In my next post, I will provide you with the true tax abatement numbers and the 5-year impact on Plainfield, meaning on you and me.

Regards, Adrian

Plainfield Residents Need a CAR

Much has been made about the twenty-four hour use of city-owned cars by City Administrator Marc Dashield and Public Safety/Police Director Martin Hellwig. I am in total agreement with all who view the twenty-four hour use of city cars by certain department heads as an unnecessary perk. I voted “No” on twenty-four hour city car use by Messrs. Dashield and Hellwig. I believe that my vote was reflective of the views of most Plainfield residents, who, from the comments I have received thus far, feel that these officials should commute from their homes in their own vehicles.

However, although I remain opposed the twenty-four hour car use by municipal employees whom I feel don't need it, I am in favor of Plainfield residents having a CAR 24 hours a day, seven days a week!

The CAR I am referring to is an online tool that I am proposing, which I call a Citizen’s Assistance Request (CAR). Citizens would use it to request services from the city and as a vehicle to grade the performance of elected officials and department heads. It would be available on the city’s website to every Plainfield resident who has access to the Internet (there is free Internet access at the library).

Such a CAR would require the mayor and council to be more responsive to citizens’ requests for services. Plainfield residents using a CAR on a 24/7 basis would be able to do the following:

· Request city services
· Grade the performance of elected officials
· Grade the performance of department heads and staff
· Provide constructive feedback and suggestions
· Register as a volunteer

The City Administrator would be responsible for monitoring all CARs and for providing swift responses to citizens requesting city services.

In the interest of transparency, the grades assigned by citizens to the performance of their elected officials would be published on a regular basis. This would be one sure way of making Plainfield’s government more accountable and responsive to the needs of its citizens.

Let's provide all Plainfield residents with a 24/7 CAR!

Regards, Adrian

Voters beware

Voters beware—on the eve of this historic election, the poorly and inaccurately-designed weekend mailer from Jerry Green, chairman of the Plainfield Democratic City Committee, may end up confusing voters at my expense. In the glossy, full-sized mailer sent to voters by Jerry Green, my name is listed as being in Row 10A. In actuality, THERE IS NO 10A. My name, Adrian Mapp, is in Row 9A, the last name on the ballot in column A.

This is reminiscent of a similar occurrence in the recent June primary. During the primary, we received calls at our headquarters from 3rd Ward voters asking whether there was a deliberate attempt by the Union County Clerk to confuse voters in the 3rd Ward by placing my name in the same column as one of my opponents, something that, until then, was unheard of in primary elections. My name, along with Olive Lynch's, was placed in Column E, making it appear as if she and I were running on the same slate.

Many of you called our campaign office last spring with questions as to why this unprecedented and confusing ballot was prepared. The answer from Ms. Rajoppi was that there was not enough room on the ballot. Please note that the current ballot has many more columns than the primary. Let us be vigilant to make sure that this strange and unprecedented inconsistency does not emerge on future Plainfield ballots.

Fortunately, however, voters in Plainfield were (and are) far too smart and sophisticated about the ballot process. The Secretary of State, Nina Mitchell Wells, the official in charge of elections in the state of New Jersey, has herself stated, “Go to the polls with the utmost confidence that your vote will be counted.”

Plainfielders as well as all other Union County residents should rest assured with the knowledge that the Secretary of State will be called in to monitor any future ballot inconsistencies.

So, please note, 3rd Ward voters: my name is the last name on the ballot in column A, so please cast your vote for me as your 3rd ward councilman. Let local leaders know that you cannot be fooled or misled.

In the 3rd Ward, the local Democratic candidates running with Barack Obama and Joseph Biden (1A) are:

Annie C. McWilliams 8A
Adrian Mapp 9A

Polls are open from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm!

Regards,

Adrian

Hello Again, Third Ward Residents!

As we say goodbye to summer and welcome the crisp autumn weather, I want to take this opportunity to say a special hearty hello to 3rd Ward residents; you have been extremely supportive of me over the years as your councilman (2nd and 3rd Ward At-Large from 1998-2004) and as your freeholder (I completed a 3-year term in 2007). I want to continue the very close working relationship that I have had with you during my years as your representative. I knocked on many of your doors during the recent democratic primary campaign and I have spoken with many of you about the issues that are nearest and dearest to you.

During the next six weeks, I will again be walking the districts throughout the 3rd Ward in the hopes of catching up with those of you who were not at home when I visited back in the spring. I am also looking forward to revisiting some of the issues I discussed with many of you who welcomed me then; I look forward to continuing the dialogue we started. I want to hear from you first-hand, and I want to give you the opportunity to question me on the concerns you feel are of greatest importance to Plainfield right now.

I want to continue to partner with you as we work together to bring about change on the local and national levels. I want you to join me in working to get Barack Obama elected as the next president of the United States. This is an opportunity for us to stand together, united as one for change. I encourage you to visit this blog on a frequent basis to become more familiar with my position on the issues facing the city, Union County, the state of New Jersey, and the nation. I welcome your feedback.

Watch for me as I travel throughout the 3rd Ward in the coming weeks; I’ll be watching for you!

Regards, Adrian