From Plainfield City Hall
  Mayor Adrian O. Mapp
One Plainfield.  One Future.
 
Happy Hanukkah and best wishes to everyone at this joyous time of year. 

I wanted to take this opportunity to connect with you and give you some updates on recent developments and important initiatives.

Wishing you and family a great weekend!

Creating,
One Plainfield - One Future

Mayor Adrian O. Mapp
City of Plainfield
Conference Call with Jerry Abramson, Deputy Assistant to President Barack Obama and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs
My administration will keep residents connected with Federal issues that impact our Plainfield families.  On December 16, 2014 my Chief of Staff participated on a conference call with the White House on three important issues that face the Plainfield community: 

My Brother's Keepers Program
 
This is a program that aims to help more of our young people stay on track. And provides the support they need to think more broadly about their future. Building on what works - when it works, in critical life-changing moments.  As the country has seen post Ferguson and Staten Island, it is very important we engage young men of color, the communities, and our police to develop stronger relationships and trust. 

And as you may recall, I have started just that, through the Next Steps to Justice and Peace Community Forum held last week at Shiloh Baptist Church.


President's Executive Order on Immigration
The President has a bill that has been sitting in Congress for 550 days with no vote. The President moved on this issue through an executive order to help in areas he could assist:
  • Crack down on illegal immigration
  • Prioritize deporting felons over families
  • Allowing undocumented who pass a criminal background check to apply to stay in our country temporarily

The executive order is a power used by all of our former Presidents, tracing back to President Eisenhower.   

 

My administration will be holding a community workshop at City Hall in January 2015 on the President's executive order on immigration, as this impacts many of our residents.  

 

ACA (Affordable Care Act) 

The second open enrollment period started on Nov. 15, 2014 and closes on Feb. 15, 2015.     

 

There have been notable accomplishments:

  • Last year, 161,000 NJ residents registered in market place plans
  • Over 40,000 residents are covered because of Medicaid expansion
  • Rates were reduced for the uninsured by 46% in just 14 months            

As a reminder, open enrollment closes on Feb. 15, 2015.  We have a qualified ACA Navigator right here at the City Hall Annex! To schedule an appointment call: (973)-500-6031  

Click here to watch this informative ACA PSA  

 
Raritan Valley One-Seat Ride Off-Peak Evening Trains - Start January 12, 2015
I am excited to announce that the long awaited off-peak evening direct trains to New York Penn Station will begin on January 12, 2015.  NJ Transit was able to achieve this after securing funding from the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA).  The ultimate goal is to have the one-seat direct train service to NYC (all rides), without having to transfer in Newark.                     My administration will keep you posted on these updates.
New Jobs Created for Plainfield Residents - Dunkin Donuts Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
This past Monday December 15, 2014, I was delighted to performed one of what we hope to be many ribbon cutting ceremonies.      This was for the grand opening of a new Dunkin Donuts at the intersections of West Front Street and Clinton Avenue.  This ribbon-cutting event is important to Plainfield for the following reasons: nine more residents of Plainfield now have jobs; this is the first new business in the west side of town in many years; and the opening of the first "green" Dunkin Donuts in the state of New Jersey.  
Kwanzaa Ceremony
I am excited to announce the Fourteenth Annual Kwanzaa Ceremony.  Join the City of Plainfield for a Celebration of family, community, and culture. There will be African storytelling, Traditional Candle Ceremony, music, dance, poetry, and an African Market Place. 

 

When: On Saturday, December 27, 2014

Where: Washington Community School "Cafetorium"

427 Darrow Avenue, Plainfield, NJ

From 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Doors open at 12:00 p.m.

This celebration is free to everyone, we invite you to come out and be a part. 

Economic Development Update 
City of Plainfield Loan Fund Program
An important part of my administration's goals is to strengthen "Main Street" and local businesses in our great City of Plainfield with resources to help them grow.  To that end, I have partnered with the Regional Business Assistance Corporation (RBAC) to create the City of Plainfield Loan Fund.  This is a revolving loan fund that provides between $25,000 and $250,000 for new start-ups and expansion of businesses in the City of Plainfield:
  • Used for commercial real estate, inventory, equipment, working capital, etc.
  • Rates start up at prime plus 3%
  • Term up to 25 years
  • No prepayment penalty

For additional information, please contact the City of Plainfield Office of Economic Development:

908-226-2513 or visit the RBAC website at www.rbacloan.com 

 

TRC (Technical Review Committee)
I am sure you have heard the saying, "time is money."  This is what we hear quite a bit as developers, businesses and home owners go through the application process for approval from the PB (Planning Board) or the ZB (Zoning Board).  There have been instances where the same applicant would appear before one of these boards over the span of four months and be in the same place month after month - not a very efficient process.                                 My administration will make the process efficient and focus on customer service through the creation of the TRC (Technical Review Committee).              The TRC's objective is to review certain applications for development, variance and/or other review prior to a presentation to the planning board or the zoning board of adjustment. The committee would then advise and provide technical recommendations to the applicant but under no circumstances does the committee have authority to approval or deny any potential application/project.   The committee consists of the Director of Economic Development, Chairperson of the Planning Board, and four other members. 

Economic Development Community Meeting
Economic Development is a priority to my administration. Your engagement and support in this area is key.  I invite you to a Community Meeting to discuss Economic Development and the following:
  • Economic development initiatives
  • Entrepreneurs' programs
  • Business incentives
  • Other Topics

When: Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at 9:00AM 

Where: Los Antojitos Restaurant - 25 Watchung Avenue, Plainfield, NJ 07060 

Everyone is welcome to attend and participate!  

 

Click here to view Flyer     

Click here to view Flyer (Spanish)                                      

 

Administration & Finance Update 
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Giving My Administration the Tools They Need to Succeed
My administration firmly believes in leveraging technology to improve internal processes.  An area in need of improvement stemming from previous administrations is time and labor management.  I want to bring City Hall into the 21st century by controlling labor costs by eliminating redundant manual processes, reducing time theft, and eliminating errors in payroll through the use of a time and labor management tool developed by Paycom.  I am pleased to inform you that on December 15, 2014, the resolution for the implementation of a bio-metric time and attendance system was approved by the governing body. It is scheduled to take affect in early 2015.

Reducing Information Technology Infrastructure Costs

My administration is always looking for ways to improve service and reduce costs.  Comcast proposes to build and implement a fiber/Ethernet network to deliver both Internet and Ethernet Virtual Private Lines to specific City sites such as:  City Hall, City Hall Annex, Police Division, DPW, Senior Center, Bilingual Daycare and two Sub Stations. Comcast will absorb all construction costs and provide all terminating fiber at no cost to the City of Plainfield.  With this improved network, the City will be reducing its telecommunication costs by a minimum of $89,000 annually.   I enthusiastically report that this resolution authorizing Comcast to implement this network was approved by the governing body.

Public Affairs and Safety Update
Public Safety is my administration's top priority.   We held a promotional ceremony at City Hall on Wednesday, December 17, 2014 for the Plainfield Police Division.  I swore in  Officer Bryan Baber, Detective Nuno Carvahlo, and Officer Alana Walker  as Plainfield Police Division Sergeants.   I offer my congratulations to our newest Sergeants!  And, I appreciate everything that "Plainfield's Finest" do each and everyday to serve and protect. 
Department of Public Works Update

"Light up the City Campaign"

 

I have an update regarding the Light Up the City Campaign. The Department of Public Works has been working with the Police Division, and a street light survey was completed in the first and fourth wards of our city identifying light outages due to bulb failure and poorly lit areas. 126 light outages were reported to Public Service and have been repaired. If you need to report a light outage, please contact our Public Works Department at (908)753-3427. If possible please have the pole number or closest street address.

 

Shop Local Shop Plainfield!
With the holidays right around the corner, I urge you to shop local!  My administration has provided free Meter Parking in the downtown and municipal lots.  Starting December 15th thru January 2nd 2015 - holiday shoppers can park at any municipal parking meter for up to 2 hours free.      For more information, please contact the Division of Public Works "Parking Bureau" at (908)-753-3427
Until Next Time
Have a blessed and enjoyable holiday and a safe, healthy, and prosperous new year.  See you back here in 2015.

Happy Hanukkah - Merry Christmas - Happy Kwanzaa


 

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