The
mayor of Plainfield has done it again—broken the law, that is. Her "honor" had "Emergency
Parking" signs illegally placed on meters in one of Plainfield's municipal
parking lots in an outrageous abuse of power. The city council did not (as the
law dictates) approve the use of our lot for the mayor’s political gain (nor would we!). In
addition to stealing revenue from our city for her campaign use by preventing
shoppers and other citizens from being able to park and pay the meters as they
attend their errands, the mayor apparently decided that theft of the city’s
parking revenue was within her powers. It is not.
This is a blatantly illegal
use of Plainfield Police Division resources, as well as being a violation of
election law. To state that there is some sort of “emergency” at the rear of a
nightclub where she is hosting a campaign fundraiser for her re-election is
reprehensible. Breaking the law is
something this mayor has done before, as everyone knows, but to demand that these
signs be placed in the lot so that spaces could be "reserved" for her campaign contributors demonstrates extreme contempt for the residents of Plainfield as well as for the law itself. The
mayor, like any other resident of our city who wants to hold a private event, is required to come before the city
council to ask for a permit to waive fees, and she would have to pay the fee.
Plainfield residents may remember that just recently, the city council upgraded
fees for the use of our lots by private entities. The mayor vetoed this
ordinance, but through a council override, the fees were increased.
Apparently,
she decided that she did not have to adhere to the law, and decided to forgo
the lawful process of applying for a permit for her personal campaign event.
This is most egregious when one considers that she is supposed to uphold the
laws of our city, not deliberately break them for her personal gain, compromise the division of public safety, and endanger the careers of those city workers who were forced to participate in any deception. I believe that the city council should censure the mayor for this willful abuse of authority. She remains an embarrassment to our city and has absolutely no credibility. She should resign the position she has brought such shame to.
Rebecca
It's illegal... it's wrong... it's not going to go anywhere and she knows it. You ( thankfully ) have a problem with it and your other 2 semi capable people on the City Council will back you up.
ReplyDeleteHer 4 pocket people will ensure nothing happens. Unless the state has a problem with it..it's a dead issue.
On a side note about the Mayor...I met one of her former co-workers... WOW...I'll leave it at that.
DeleteRob,
I cannot imagine that any of the councilors will excuse illegality and wrongdoing when it comes to our public safety resources. An investigation will be forthcoming. Those "Emergency Parking" notices cannot be used for anything other than an emergency. To willfully mislead residents about there being an emergency when there is none should be something that the Public Safety Director, the Union County Prosecutor, and the Attorney General take a dim view of. We have enough public safety issues in Plainfield without the mayor fabricating one so that she can raise money for her personal political campaign. Anyone who was party to this fraud should face disciplinary action.
Rebecca
Well said. We don't need another politician who thinks she if above the law. In Sharon's case, she has done this repeatedly and with contempt for the people of Plainfield and the law. Let's get the dump Shady Sharonda campaign rolling!
ReplyDeleteRebecca, you cannot be shocked. This mayor cares for nothing other than herself, and in my opinion, I wonder if she even has a conscience.
ReplyDeleteAlso, your wards, I believe, are the only ones that care about this. The first and fourth wards probably look at her as a strong woman who does what she wants, and isn't that great. Too bad they don't understand finances, and that she is costing them money in taxes, rent, safety, and overall quality of life.
Anonymous,
DeleteI must take issue with your statement that only the 2nd and 3rd wards care about the mayor's wrongdoing. The folks of the 1st and 4th wards care deeply about our city--it is not fair to paint with a broad brush those who look askance at illegaility. We are one city, and the folks I know (and they are many) who live in those wards are quite done with the mayor's refusal to adhere to the law.
Rebecca
Anon 12:36 pm: You have just insulted approximately half of the citizens of Plainfield--shame on you! Stereotyping by ethnicity or place of residence is one of the things that keeps our city from moving forward, and you have just contributed to it. I hope Rebecca will rebuke you, as she should.
ReplyDeleteDottie,
DeleteI had already responded to this anonymous person's remark when saw your comment. Again, I see one Plainfield when I survey our city. It is unfortunate that the mayor (the city's premier demagogue-in-chief, by the way) has once again decided that the law is for others, not for her. I hope you will as well rebuke the mayor for this latest instance of malfeasance. Her actions (and inaction), more than anything else, are what is keeping our city from moving forward.
Rebecca
Maybe you can get the answers
ReplyDeleteWhy were 8 police officers promoted to sergeant when there were only 4 positions available?
What is this Re-Elect Sharon unit that the Director is forming?
Where are the officers coming from to create this what I call A Re-Elect Sharon Unit?
Why is this Unit being created in an Election Year?
If crime was so ramped why not create it years ago?
How much overtime will this unit create?
How will the Re-elect Sharon Unit impact street patrols?
WHAT WAS THE OVERTIME COST TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM STAFFING LEVELS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT LAST YEAR?
ReplyDeleteHello, Anonymous at 7:59,
DeleteI will get that figure for you and post it on this blog.
Rebecca
This is the abuse you get When you Don't have a Chief of Police.
ReplyDeleteThe Director will do as the Mayor wants.
Dottie-
ReplyDeleteI see you have spoken up for your Plainfield and have defended Wards 1 and 2 against the "insults" of Anonymous but, ...
What do you say about what the Mayor has done?
Sometimes it is what you don't say that tells me what you haven't said. You are asking Rebecca to rebuke what Anonymous has written but I did not read anything about you rebuking or supporting what this Horrible Mayor has done.
Crime or Not? Or do I need to ask where you stand? That's okay Dottie- its what you don't say ...
Yep I Said It!
Hi, "Yep,"
DeleteI think you meant to write that Dottie defended wards 1 and 4. She did not weigh in on this illegal action by the mayor, as you noted. I would hope that Dottie would rebuke all the wrongdoing and corruption that this mayor has participated in and allowed to occur under her administration. I have no idea what Dottie thinks of this latest instance of the mayor breaking the law.
Rebecca
P.S. I don't want my blog to become a "back and forth" on Dottie's response--she is a private citizen, so she can say what she wants. I will not be posting any more commentary about Dottie. She has a blog, so perhaps you can comment there and she will respond.
Rebecca,
ReplyDeleteWhile I do believe in one Plainfield, I do wonder then, who votes for the mayor? The crime rate has increased, she spends the taxpayers money foolishly and on herself (taxpayers paid for her lawyer), and she does nothing for economic development.
Who votes for her?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous at 10:43 am,
The mayor has her "diehard" supporters, some of whom hope to benefit from patronage appointments and other things. There are also those who only look at the mayoral position as she has promoted it--giving out food and empty platitudes while not noticing (or overlooking) the extreme incompetence she demonstrates at every turn. I cannot speak for her voters, though, but they comprised (in the past) more than what I have just listed. The more people I speak to, though, are disenchanted with the irresponsible way she has run the city--this includes people who voted for her in the past. She has no professional skills to bring to bear as chief executive of Plainfield, as evidenced by the level of corruption, ineptitude, and incompetence we have had to witness over the past 7+ years. We expected her to deliver a competent and professional "state of the city" address for this year, and all we got was a vague "speech" about how many people sought birth records in the past year. This unacceptable. From the WBLS affair to the July 4th corruption scandal, to the theft in the tax office, to the 4th Ward carnival/PMUA employee incident that was outlined by Ms. Royster when she came before the council, this mayor has piled on embarrassment after embarrassment. Instead of running our city, she prefers to break the law in support of her reelection campaign. I can't imagine that she let the police director know of her deception with the "Emergency Parking" signs--she thinks she is above the law, as incident after incident shows.
Rebecca
Still waiting for the answers?
ReplyDeleteWhat was the overtime cost of police officers to maintain minimum staffing levels for 2012 excluding hurricane sandy?
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI have forwarded your question to the Public Safety Director and await a response!
Maybe you can get the answers
ReplyDeleteWhy were 8 police officers promoted to sergeant when there were only 4 positions available?
What is this Re-Elect Sharon unit that the Director is forming?
Where are the officers coming from to create this what I call A Re-Elect Sharon Unit?
Why is this Unit being created in an Election Year?
If crime was so ramped why not create it years ago?
How much overtime will this unit create?
How will the Re-elect Sharon Unit impact street patrols?
What was the overtime cost to maintain minimum staffing levels for street patrols in 2012 excluding Hurricane Sandy. My Questions have yet to be answered I see the wheels of government grinded to a halt.
Surely is a sad state when I still can't get the answers to my questions.
ReplyDeleteI have more questions but should I even bother asking you to find out?
DeleteI am getting answers to all questions asked of me by constituents. I will be posting the information regarding overtime, as that is public record.
Rebecca
Maybe Gov. Christie can weigh in on this. This incompetent mayor needs to go already!!! Thank you for saying what so many of us are feeling and thinking. The Queen City deserves better!
ReplyDeleteA Plainfield resident asks his council person a question of Feb 17 2013.
ReplyDeleteAs of March 15 2013 it still hasn't been answered. What should the resident think?
(a) The council person is very busy getting the answer for you
(b) The council person is to busy to get the answer for you
(c) The council person forgot about you
(d) The wheels of government fell off the track
(e) Give up
I received information in my packet this week--it will be posted.
Delete