Police Consolidation: A Shared Service Whose Time Has Arrived

On March 25th of this year, I submitted a proposal to Union County Prosecutor Ted Romanow that, if adopted will lead, in my view, to a radical transformation in the way crime is addressed in Union County from its eastern end at Elizabeth to its western end at Plainfield. An article in yesterday's Star-Ledger has prompted me to go public with my proposal, given the number of similarities to what I proposed and what officials in Somerset County are now reviewing. My proposal is highlighted below in blue:

March 25, 2011

“Hello Ted:

You may recall that a couple weeks ago, at the Gun Summit in Plainfield, I proposed the consolidation of all police departments in Union County under your leadership as Union County’s Chief Law Enforcement Officer. I was pleasantly surprised to open the Star Ledger yesterday to a story that talked about Governor Christie pitching the very same idea in Camden County, and that Joe DiVincenzo, Jr., Essex County Executive Director, and representatives from Mercer County were in attendance. I firmly believe that the time for shared service consolidation of all twenty-one police departments and the County Police under one law enforcement umbrella has arrived.

Hence, I believe it to be in the best interest of all twenty-one municipalities in Union County, for a plan to be put in place, or for what I would describe as a Blue Ribbon Panel to be assembled to begin a study that would, hopefully, lead to consolidation. The harsh economic realities of today require all leaders to think creatively and out of the box in order to find the most cost effective and efficient ways to deal with, not only our economic issues but our social issues as well, not least amongst them, drugs, gangs and guns. The gathering threat from an increase in violent crimes in the eastern and western ends of the County, and the rising tide of property taxes that threaten to overwhelm homeowners require bold action and leadership from all of us.

With that said, I am again stepping out on a limb to recommend consolidating all of the police departments in Union County, and creating regional precincts and sub precincts headed by Deputy Commissioners and senior Captains. All precincts would report to a County Police Commissioner who would in turn report to the County Prosecutor. What gains can be achieved from the consolidation of all twenty-two police departments, including the Union County police? I would suggest the following:

1. By appointing one Police Commissioner and four Deputy Commissioners to manage and direct countywide police operations, greater accountability and efficiency at a reduced cost can be achieved

2. The elimination of the rank of Police Chief/Director would result in significant cost savings

3. Reduction in the number of Police Captains and lieutenants would result in significant cost savings

4. The closing of all local police departments would reduce overhead costs

5. The establishment of four regional police precincts headed by Deputy Commissioners and sub-precincts, maybe four, headed by senior Police Captains would streamline operations and reduce costs over the long term

6. The creation of joint municipal courts or regional courts could be a bi-product of police consolidation

7. More effective police deployment and a greater police presence would be the end result

8. Heavier concentration of officer in hot spots to the eastern and western ends of the County would be a likely outcome

9. The replacement of the current 4 on 4 off work schedules with needs based work schedules would result in more officers being available on a daily basis

The above list represents some of the possible outcomes of consolidation, and is offered as a jumping off point for discussion. The need for a capital investment in new regional precincts or to expand existing facilities to create precincts will weigh heavily in the discussion. I am sure that there are a myriad of other issues that will have to be identified and addressed, hence the need for a Blue Ribbon Panel.

It is my hope, that my comment at the Gun Summit of a couple weeks ago, and this email, will be the spark that ignite a broader discussion about how best to provide police services to all of Union County more efficiently and more cost effectively. If these thoughts are already simmering in your mind, I encourage you to bring them to a boiling point.”

It is my hope that the above proposal that was sent to Prosecutor Romankow will spark a serious discussion by municipal officials, law enforcement personnel and citizens across Union County.

Let me close by acknowledging the excellent work done by our Plainfield Police Department in policing the streets of Plainfield with limited resources and manpower. The lack of sufficient resources and the right complement of officers, stemming from budgetary, disciplinary, legal, and other constraints affects our dedicated law enforcement personnel’s ability to deal as effectively as possible with crime in a way that would make all of our citizens feel safe on the streets and in their homes. The reality of crime and the accompanying perception of our city being a place to avoid are challenges that we must collectively work to overcome.

Hence, I am of the view that we must look beyond our borders for long term solutions that will allow for systemic remedies to Plainfield’s most pressing social ills: drugs, gangs, and guns. The consolidation of the twenty-two police departments, including the Union County Police, will result in lower cost to tax payers through greater economies of scale, enhanced neighborhood safety resulting from a greater police presence, better coordination of countywide crime fighting strategies, and the eventual elimination of disparities in police salaries. Police consolidation is a win for law enforcement and a win for the affected communities.

Police consolidation is a shared service whose time has arrived.

Regards,

Adrian

Give Generously to Help the Family of Eduardo Leaty

Plainfield’s Latest Victim of Gun Violence

It was with great sadness that I learnt of the tragic death of Eduardo Leaty in a senseless act of gun violence at the family store on East Sixth Street. Eduardo was the brother of City of Plainfield employee Marilyn Leaty-Nieves, and brother-in-law to one of Plainfield’s bravest, firefighter Samuel Nieves. This latest homicide is Plainfield’s 8th since January of this year and the 13th in the past 12 months.

The death of Mr. Leaty is a sad reminder of the terrible toll that gun violence and other criminal acts have taken in our city. No family should have to experience the loss of a loved one at the hands of another human being. We must, now more than ever, come together using the CGPS approach (see my blog post dated May 18, 2011) to address this problem if we are to save lives and save our city. Politics of division have no place in a city where a hurricane of volcanic proportion has been erupting to consume many innocent lives in its path. We must act cooperatively, collectively, and collaboratively to stem this ever rising tide of violence; if we do not, more Poppy Harlows (the CNN correspondent whose report contained much inaccurate information) will come knocking, and the city’s reputation will continue in a free fall.

Hence, a month or so ago, I provided Mayor Robinson-Briggs with templates on successful crime strategies used in Salinas and San Jose, cities that are comparable in size to Plainfield and that once experienced the level of gang and gun violence that Plainfield is experiencing today. The templates were provided by Pastor Dr. Lamont Thomas through his anti-gun violence initiative. I offered myself as a resource to work with the mayor on the formulation of strategies aimed at eliminating gangs, guns and violence from our city.

In the meantime, the tragic and violent death of Eduardo Leaty has left the family in great need of financial and other assistance. I am asking those of you who are able, to make a financial contribution to help with the funeral arrangements; your contributions can be made to:

Marilyn Leaty-Nieves 632 West Front Street, Plainfield, NJ 07060

Please be as generous as you can. I know that Marilyn and her entire family would be grateful for your assistance. I take this opportunity to express my deepest feelings of condolence to Marilyn and Samuel Nieves, and to the entire Leaty family.

Regards,

Adrian

The Creator Will Smile on Me

I just got word, a short while ago, that information regarding a debt that I owe to a credit card company has been distributed on cars throughout the City of Plainfield. I was served with papers on Thursday by a local police officer who works through the Sheriff’s office. The papers pertain to a lawsuit that was filed on behalf of the credit card company that seeks to recover the $46,000 that I owe. The papers that were served on me give me 35 days to respond; failure to respond could result in a judgment against me for the debt owed. Those are the facts.

As most of you know, I have been unemployed for almost two years, and like many of you I have been feeling the pain of the very harsh economy that has seen an unemployment rate hovering close to 10%. I am not immune to financial hardships; I am like all of the other people whose financial lives have been turned upside down due to their unemployment status and other special situations. Unlike most of the unemployed, I am also the victim of a very hostile political climate; one that has brought me to my knees and has rendered me BROKE. Over the past two years I have exhausted all of my financial resources, yet through the grace of God I have been able to make ends meet.

With that said, the attempt by those in law enforcement and politics to embarrass me has not and will not succeed. I am not ashamed of my current financial reality, and will not allow my financial reality to prevent me from reaching my goal of transforming Plainfield’s political landscape. Those who will attempt to use my unearned financial hardship, which was borne of political hatred and venom, will be very disappointed. I remain undaunted, undeterred, unbroken, unbowed, and unbent.

The behavior of those who seek to gain from my financial crisis and misfortune will be called into question, weighed in the balance, and found wanting. Those responsible for the dissemination of court papers served on me just this past Thursday will be investigated and held accountable.

I know beyond any doubt that my wife Amelia and our daughters love me, the Creator loves me, and the scores of friends that I have do love me, and so do the people of Plainfield who elected me as one of their trusted servants. This is what keeps me strong, this is what keeps me going and fighting for Plainfield. This is why I am asking all who read this post to let the rest of Plainfield know that we must reject this cruel act and those who are behind it.

On Tuesday June 7^th, vote for Honest, Ethical Leadership for Plainfield, vote for all of the candidates in Column C.

I know, beyond any doubt, that the Creator will smile on me and I will repay every debt that I owe.

Regards,

Adrian

Vote Column C this Tuesday, June 7

This is it, the countdown to Tuesday, June 7th, a day that, with your HELP, will transform our local Democratic Party. This is the best opportunity since 2003 that the voters in Plainfield have to chart a new course for the Plainfield Democratic City Committee, known as the PDCC. The New Democrats, in Column C, are-well positioned to bring new leadership to our Democratic Party and to the City, but this can only become a reality with your support. That’s why it is so important for you to come out and support all of the candidates in Column C.

Our opponents in another column are taking you for granted and are making a lame attempt to have you believe that those of us who demand accountability are Republicans. But you know better. The New Democrats are the progressive arm of the Party, and we believe in Honest Ethical Leadership for Plainfield (HELP). With this election, HELP is here.

Therefore, I am asking you to reject the failed leadership of the past, reject the name calling, reject the lies, and embrace a new vision, new ideas, and new leadership. Please help the New Democrats usher in a new era with a changing of the guard and a passing of the baton.

Vote Column C and elect a new Democratic Party in the City with new leadership. I ask you to vote for Cory Storch in Ward 2, DeLois (Dee) Dameron for Ward 1&4 at-large, and for all of the New Democrats for City Committee.

Vote Column C on Tuesday, June 7th.

Regards,

Adrian

The Community, Government, Parents, and Schools (C.G.P.S.) Must Work Cooperatively, Collectively, and Collaboratively to Fight Crime Epidemic

When violence plagues a community, the average citizen looks to government as the panacea that would eliminate it from amongst its midst, but nothing can be further from the truth. If a community is to be truly safe, it must police itself; citizens have to get involved and must be the eyes and ears of law enforcement. Passive community involvement breeds apathy, whereas active community involvement leads to safer neighborhoods. We, the residents of Plainfield, must be more civic-minded and must demonstrate a willingness to be more involved, to the point where our vigilance keeps the criminals on their toes, constantly moving until they discover the path that leads away from our neighborhoods or away from a life of crime. We must not allow the new criminal enterprise to view our community as a safe haven for their sordid behavior, and we must become friendly with the cops and allow them to use our homes as staging areas for some of their intelligence gathering. A community that polices itself will, ultimately, be a safer community.

Another part of the solution to the epidemic of crime that is plaguing Plainfield is an intergovernmental partnership; one that brings together the resources of the city, the county, the state of New Jersey, and the federal government. The high level of competence of the local Plainfield Police Department is no match for a criminal enterprise that has amassed an arsenal of weapons and a level of sophistication that are the envy of a four-star general on the frontlines of a battlefield. What Plainfield needs in order to effectively counter this level of violence is a surge in troops from other law enforcement agencies that will complement the local PD so as to overwhelm and overpower, with force and good crime fighting strategies, an army of social deviants that is wreaking havoc locally and sullying the city's reputation across the Tri-state area. Our law enforcement agencies need to identify and use some of the proven methods to break the code of silence that exists amongst gangs; extraordinary challenges require extraordinary solutions. The time for an elaborate intergovernmental law enforcement approach without regard for borders has arrived, and we must embrace it as a part of the solution to our crime epidemic.

However, any solution to our current crime epidemic must involve our very first line of defense; it’s the parents of our young people. Too often the vicious cycle of poverty, the tender age of parents who are slightly older than their kids, and the many broken homes with no fathers are major ingredients in an intoxicating mix that leads to wayward and out of control youths who use the gang life style as a symbol of power and, for far too many, as a symbol of love. We need parents to be more involved in the lives of their children and, yes, we need fathers to be the men they need to be. Fathers must be role models to their children and must also be those whom their children turn to for love and advice. A child should never feel that s/he can get more love from in the streets than in the home. I grew up without a father in my life, but I had a support system and an extended family that helped to guide me through my adolescence right into my young adult years. Our young people need a support system that will help to break the stranglehold of poverty that keeps them mired in a life of crime; they need extended families that are empowered to discipline, and loving and caring parents who can be parents and not be in need of parenting.

Having said all of the above, the schools have a significant role to play in the fight to save our young people. Most of the young people in our city are in our schools each and every day for most months of the year. Our schools must teach more than just the three “R's”; they must also contribute, in a very structured way, to the development of character and social consciousness that leads to radical social transformation. But this is not a job for only the teachers and administrators; it is the responsibility of all of us. We must go into the schools and be mentors, career counselors, entrepreneurial advisors, and coaches. And most important of all, our schools must build a solid academic foundation and provide the students with the tools they need to construct a life of which all Plainfielders can be proud.

I firmly believe that we can tackle our crime epidemic with a high degree of success if we follow the CGPS model that I outlined above. That is, the community, government, parents and schools must work cooperatively, collectively, and collaboratively to fight the crime epidemic and to apply a tourniquet to a gaping wound in order to stop the bleeding.

Regards,

Adrian

North Avenue Road Project Should Not Be Used Play "Politics"

This is campaign season in Plainfield, and the red herring (known as the North Avenue pipes) is beginning to dart across the trail so as to create a diversion from the real issues and financial challenges facing the City. These are issues such as:

• unauthorized expenditures;
• the squandering of $460,000 federal dollars on the partial sheet rocking of the Tepper's basement;
• the waste of city funds and grant dollars on the construction of a bathroom that is a little bigger than a 6’ x 12’ shed at a cost of over $220,000 in Bryant Park on East 6^th Street;
  
• the complete breakdown of controls in the purchasing division;
  
• the refusal of the mayor to allow the CFO to meet with the Finance and Administration Committee;
  
• the refusal by the Mayor to allow any department head to attend the Council’s ward meetings; the doling out of city funds to non-profit organizations in violations of Article VIII, 3,2 of the new State Constitution;
  
• the refusal to put the budget documents online;
  
• the failure to cooperate and to collaborate with the council on an early start to the budget process;
  
• the failure to negotiate with the collective bargaining units, and the list goes on and on.
  

Meanwhile costs continue to escalate. These are some of the many issues the council has been wrestling with, and we have been making good faith efforts to meet with the Administration to address them. However, we have been stymied by a wall of frustration erected by the Mayor (now "acting" as the city administrator).

Now, back to the red herring known as the North Avenue pipes: sadly, one very important point being missed in the discussion about the North Avenue pipes is the tremendous benefits the residents on North Avenue as well as other residents in the surrounding neighborhoods have derived from that great project. The flooding that once plagued that neighborhood has all but disappeared as a result of that well thought-out and designed project. I am happy to have been one of the councilors who supported the McWilliams administration on that project. All elected officials who supported it have a great deal to be proud of, and I am sure that Mr. Muhammad who lives on North Avenue can attest to the benefits that he as a homeowner has derived.

If only the current Administration would get busy working with FEMA to redraw the flood maps, the residents of the First Ward would be able to get the financial relief they seek. They deserve to realize a drastic reduction in the flood insurance premiums they currently pay. As a matter of fact, many of the residents in the First Ward could make a very strong case for the elimination of flood insurance all together, all as a result of the North Avenue road reconstruction and flood remediation project, a project that was conceived in the minds of individuals who wanted nothing but the best for the residents of the First Ward. It is shameful that some would allow the trees to blind them, causing them to lose sight of the beauty that is the forest.

The North Avenue road reconstruction and flood remediation project should be seen for what it is: a success story that needs to be replicated, not one to be criticized for the purpose of scoring cheap political points.

Regards,

Adrian

My Proposal for the Calendar Year: An Idea Whose Time Has Come!

Two years ago, when I returned to the Plainfield City Council, I recommended to the Mayor and to my council colleagues that the City of Plainfield should revert from a fiscal year to a calendar year. At the time, I was told that the absence of a CFO would make it somewhat challenging for the administration to do the work that would be necessary to prepare the application to the Division of Local Government Services in the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

However, I never gave up on the goal of having the city revert to a calendar year. Out of the 51 municipalities that were previously on a fiscal year, roughly 26 have already reverted. When the 2011 goals of the Finance and Administration Committee were announced earlier this year, we knew that reversion had to be a priority. As the Chairman of the Finance and Administration Committee I laid out the steps that would be necessary in the process of reversion as well as the advantages to doing so.

As has been reported by the current CFO, the city faces a budget gap of $3.4 million. The gap has been expanded as a result of the Council’s decision to restore funds to two of the city’s operating divisions, and will expand even further when the city receives a bill from Union County for the county’s 5% share of all PILOT revenues paid to the city since 2005. Prior to 2005, all PILOT revenues went to the city, with none going to the county or to the local school district. However, due to a change in the law dating back to 2005, all counties must now receive 5% of PILOT revenues. Therefore, what was thought to be a $3.4 million budget gap could easily balloon to over $4 million, depending on the bill that has been or will be sent to the city from the county.

Hence, in light of the rising expenses, declining revenues, and a budget gap that continues to grow, the idea of reverting to a calendar year, which I first proposed in 2009, is one whose time has come. I am happy to report that the city now has a CFO who is savvy enough to be able to put all of the required pieces together to assists the council in making this idea a reality. The primary benefits of reverting from a fiscal year to a calendar year are as follows:

1. A fiscal year that runs with the calendar year from January to December would be aligned with the election cycle and would allow newly elected official to participate in the budget process from the outset. Newly elected official would no longer be able to say that they had nothing to do with the budget.
2. The confusion stemming from the use of two tax rates, one for the fiscal year and one for the calendar year, will disappear and property owners will be better able to understand their tax bill.
3. The city will be able to pull in all state aid into the transitional year budget between July 1 and December 31, thus regenerating surplus and regaining a more solid financial footing.
4. On January 1, the City would become eligible for a new round of state aid as a calendar year municipality.
5. The potential loss of jobs and services that could result from the challenge of complying with the governor’s mandated 2% CAP (when faced with a potential budget gap that could reach over $4 million) would be minimized.
   

Although what I have outlined above are key benefits of reverting from a fiscal year to a calendar year, I must caution that this is not a panacea; these financial benefits must be viewed as one-time hits. They do not eliminate the need for the city to be fiscally prudent and for the collective bargaining units to come to the table in good faith to work with the Mayor and Council to find long term solutions to the financial challenges the city faces. All parties must now work together to ease the property tax burden while, at the same time, preserving as many jobs as possible and maintaining quality municipal services.

Regards,

Adrian