Kaepernick Takes a Knee, While Trump Wants an Eraser
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Dear
Friend,
Sometimes there comes a moment in someone's life when they become so frustrated, and fed up, and disgusted that it forces them to do something drastic. They get to a point where words become inadequate to express their deep emotion, and something snaps.
Colin Kaepernick got to that point. Colin Kaepernick took to his knee to demand social justice. Colin Kaepernick realized that actions could be more eloquent than a thousand words, and he used his platform as a renowned athlete to send a message to the world that he could not stand by and do nothing, he could not take any more.
In 2016 something snapped inside Kaepernick and he decided to express his frustration with the brutality and discrimination he felt was being shown by law enforcement toward African Americans. He did this by kneeling during the singing of the National Anthem. This one action cost him everything. He was blackballed by the NFL owners who refused to give him another contract and remains unemployed to date.
Colin Kaepernick was not afraid to kneel for what he believed, and it cost him his job. According to an anonymous NFL Executive in 2017 a good proportion of league decision-makers “genuinely hate” the anthem-protesting quarterback “and can’t stand what he did. They want nothing to do with him. They won’t move on. They think showing no interest is a form of punishment. I think some teams also want to use Kaepernick as a cautionary tale to stop other players in the future from doing what he did.”
Just three days after this was revealed, Donald Trump bragged that “NFL owners don’t want to pick [Kaepernick] up because they don’t want to get a nasty tweet from Donald Trump.”
Five months later, Kaepernick—who threw 16 touchdown passes and just four interceptions for the San Francisco 49ers in the 2016 season—remained unsigned, just as Trump predicted
Plainfield, in the words of Colin Kaepernick, “sometimes you have to believe in something even if it means sacrificing everything.”
I believe that we have come to a point in this country where we have to stand up for what we believe, as Trump’s administration has now become an eraser and wants to rewrite the words that have for centuries been the welcoming mantra for America. The Statue of liberty famously has engraved at its base the words “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”
The Trump administration wants to erase that and rewrite it to say, "Give me your tired and your poor who can stand on their own two feet and who will not become a public charge.”
While much of the president’s fire and fury is focused on undocumented immigrants, his administration is now also targeting legal arrivals. Ken Cuccinelli, the acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, just unveiled
new rules
for getting a green card or U.S. citizenship, which penalize those who have taken advantage of the social welfare benefits to which they are entitled. Other disadvantaged categories include those who have a medical condition that interferes with work or school, “financial liabilities,” a lack of English-language skills and even a low credit score. One wonders what kind of credit score
Friedrich Trump
— the president’s grandfather — had when he arrived from Germany in 1885, a failed barber who did not speak a word of English.
Many immigrants came to this country with nothing, but they worked hard and went on to be very successful. The contributions made by immigrants to the American story is significant, and the progress of this country would be nothing without the hard work, the intellect, the ideas, and the infusion of cultures brought here by immigrants.
As Mayor of this beautifully vibrant and diverse city, I see firsthand every day the contributions made by immigrants, and it makes this new proposal doubly egregious, troubling, and offensive. The Trump administration has from its inception, waged an obsessive and terrible war on immigrants. They have separated families and locked women and children in cages, they have carried out massive raids nationwide, and curtailed the basis on which migrants can seek asylum.
If there ever was a time to take a stand for what we believe it is now. If there ever was a time to defend the American ideology of freedom and democracy, it is now. If there ever was a time to take a knee symbolically, or otherwise in protest, it is now. If we don't stand and fight beside the oppressed, then we are just as guilty and culpable as Trump and his administration. The people will always have the power if we decide to use it.
I choose to take a knee and take a stand against oppression, bigotry, hatred, and racism. I promise you that as long as I am Mayor, Plainfield will be a place that welcomes people from everywhere, and treats everyone with dignity, and respect.
Creating One Plainfield. One Future
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Kaepernick Se Arrodilla Mientras Trump lo Borra del NFL
Querido Plainfield,
A veces llega un momento en la vida de alguien cuando se siente tan frustrado, harto y disgustado que lo obliga a hacer algo drástico. Llegan a un punto donde las palabras se vuelven inadecuadas para expresar su profunda emoción, y algo se rompe.
Colin Kaepernick llegó a ese punto. Colin Kaepernick se arrodilló para exigir justicia social. Colin Kaepernick se dio cuenta de que las acciones podrían ser más elocuentes que mil palabras, y usó su plataforma como un atleta de renombre para enviar un mensaje al mundo de que no podía esperar y no hacer nada, no podía soportarlo más.
En 2016, algo se rompió dentro de Kaepernick y decidió expresar su frustración con la brutalidad y la discriminación que sentía que la policía estaba mostrando hacia los afroamericanos. Lo hizo arrodillándose durante el canto del Himno Nacional. Esta acción le costó todo. Los dueños de la NFL lo rechazaron y se negaron a darle otro contrato y hasta la fecha sigue desempleado.
Colin Kaepernick no tuvo miedo de arrodillarse ante lo que creía, y le costó su trabajo. Según un ejecutivo anónimo de la NFL en 2017, una buena proporción de los tomadores de decisiones de la liga "odian genuinamente" al mariscal de campo que protesta contra el himno "y no pueden soportar lo que hizo. No quieren tener nada que ver con él. No seguirán adelante. Piensan que no mostrar interés es una forma de castigo. Creo que algunos equipos también quieren usar a Kaepernick como una advertencia para evitar que otros jugadores en el futuro hagan lo que él hizo."
Solo tres días después de que se revelara esto, Donald Trump se jactó de que "los propietarios de la NFL no quieren recoger a [Kaepernick] porque no quieren recibir un tweet desagradable de Donald Trump".
Cinco meses después, Kaepernick, que lanzó 16 pases de touchdown y solo cuatro intercepciones para los San Francisco 49ers en la temporada 2016, permaneció sin firmar, tal como predijo Trump
Plainfield, en palabras de Colin Kaepernick, "a veces hay que creer en algo, incluso si eso significa sacrificarlo todo."
Creo que hemos llegado a un punto en este país donde tenemos que defender lo que creemos, ya que la administración de Trump ahora se ha convertido en un borrador y quiere reescribir las palabras que durante siglos han sido el mantra de bienvenida para Estados Unidos. La famosa Estatua de la Libertad tiene grabada en su base las palabras "Dame tu cansado, tu pobre, tus masas acurrucadas que anhelan respirar libremente."
La administración Trump quiere borrar eso y reescribirlo para decir: "Dame tu cansado y tu pobre que puede sostenerse por sí mismo y que no se convertirá en una carga pública".
Si bien gran parte del fuego y la furia del presidente se centra en los inmigrantes indocumentados, su administración ahora también se dirige a las llegadas legales. Ken Cuccinelli, el director interino de los Servicios de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de EE. UU., acaba de revelar nuevas reglas para obtener una tarjeta de residencia o ciudadanía estadounidense, que penaliza a quienes han aprovechado los beneficios de bienestar social a los que tienen derecho. Otras categorías desfavorecidas incluyen a aquellos que tienen una afección médica que interfiere con el trabajo o la escuela, "responsabilidades financieras", falta de habilidades en el idioma inglés e incluso un bajo puntaje de crédito. Uno se pregunta qué tipo de puntaje de crédito tuvo Friedrich Trump, el abuelo del presidente, cuando llegó de Alemania en 1885, un barbero fallido que no hablaba una palabra de inglés.
Muchos inmigrantes llegaron a este país sin nada, pero trabajaron duro y tuvieron mucho éxito. Las contribuciones hechas por los inmigrantes a la historia estadounidense son significativas, y el progreso de este país no sería nada sin el trabajo duro, el intelecto, las ideas y la infusión de culturas traídas aquí por los inmigrantes.
Como alcalde de esta ciudad hermosa y vibrante y diversa, veo de primera mano todos los días las contribuciones hechas por los inmigrantes, y hace que esta nueva propuesta sea doblemente atroz, problemática y ofensiva. La administración en Washington, desde su inicio, libró una guerra obsesiva y terrible contra los inmigrantes. Han separado a las familias y encerrado a mujeres y niños en jaulas, han llevado a cabo redadas masivas en todo el país y han reducido la base sobre la cual los migrantes pueden solicitar asilo.
Si alguna vez hubo un momento para defender lo que creemos, es ahora. Si alguna vez hubo un momento para defender la ideología estadounidense de libertad y democracia, es ahora. Si alguna vez hubo un momento para arrodillarse simbólicamente, o de otra manera en protesta, es ahora. Si no nos paramos y luchamos junto a los oprimidos, entonces somos tan culpables como Trump y su administración. La gente siempre tendrá el poder si decidimos usarlo.
Elijo ponerme de rodillas y oponerme a la opresión, la intolerancia, el odio y el racismo. Les prometo que mientras sea alcalde, Plainfield será un lugar que acogerá a personas de todas partes y tratará a todos con dignidad, respeto y humanidad.
Creando Un Plainfield. Un Futuro
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Key Appointments Filled Within
the Administration
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This past Monday
evening two key appointments were filled. Wayne Clarke was sworn in as the new Business Administrator for the City. Mr. Clarke brings a wealth of knowledge from the private sector that includes strategic guidance and operational leadership to cross-functional teams, business initiatives, risk mitigation and audit. He also served in the US Navy.
Kenneth Childress who was with the Fire Department for 28 years before his retirement, was sworn in as the Director of the Fire Department. He has been Acting Fire Director since May 2019 and Lieutenant Taheem Wali Muslim was sworn in as the Fire Official.
Congratulations to the new appointees.
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Important Property Tax Update
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City of Plainfield Celebrates
Restaurant Week 2019
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The City of Plainfield in partnership with the Plainfield Special Improvement District (SID) is hosting its inaugural Restaurant Week from August 8-18. Over thirty local restaurants are participating and highlighting foods from around the world.
There are a few days left to experience #DeliciousPlainfeld so we encourage you to visit one of the restaurants and sample these delicious offerings.
Yesterday Tradiciones de mi Pueblo located at 307 Park Ave - hosted the band "Banda Sensacional" that entertained both patrons and those passing by to a great selection of music.
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The below selections are from Punto Peruano located at 36 Watchung Ave -
which hosted an evening of great food and community that included the Mayor and First Lady and several members of the City Council. #DeliciousPlainfield.
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Netherwood Heights House Tour to Spotlight Historic Homes
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Having been settled 335 years ago and incorporated as a city 150 years ago, Plainfield has seen its fair share of history, especially within its 10 historic districts. Fittingly, "The Queen City" is packed with historic, stately and whimsical homes, especially in its Netherwood Heights neighborhood.
On Sunday, Sept. 29, from noon to 4 p.m., visitors will be able to see seven historic homes in the neighborhood for themselves when the Netherwood Heights Neighbors, a nonprofit community group, hosts the Netherwood Heights House Tour: Past and Present, which will feature historic homes built from 1894 through 1929 in a self-guided tour.
Source mycentraljersey.com
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Public Notice
Comprehensive Housing Assistance Program
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150th Anniversary Committee Presents
Restaurant Week August 8-18
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Mayor Adrian O. Mapp, the Plainfield City Council and the Plainfield Special Improvement District (SID) invite you to join us for Restaurant Week from August 8-18. Thirty restaurants throughout the city are inviting you to stop by and taste Delicious Plainfield.
This week we spotlight Adrian's Caterers located at 1100-08 East 2nd St, Plainfield NJ
For reservations call 908.754.8532 or 908.313.6568. Special for Restaurant Week is:
- After work Lime tonight, Friday, August 16th from 5-9pm. $20 per person.
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Interesting Plainfield Fact
No. 32
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Did you Know
Dr. Charles Stillman was the first superintendent of schools in Plainfield, as well as the president of the Board of Education. He was called "The Father of the Plainfield Public Schools."
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Upcoming Community Events
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Click Here for a Complete List of Restaurants Participating in Restaurant Week.
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The United States Census Bureau is Hiring
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The Census Bureau will be hiring thousands of people throughout the country to update the address list for the 2020 Census. Since March 4th, more than 170,000 recruits have already completed their job applications and 800 individuals have been hired. This massive hiring is due to the vital undertaking that the US Census undergoes every 10 years: working in the office and on the field to make sure all individuals and all addresses are accounted for. An accurate census assures that there are enough representatives in government and that residents receive an appropriate amount of funds for health care, education, and other vital systems. If you or anyone you know may be interested, please click the link below and follow instructions under "Easy To Apply":
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La Oficina del Censo contratará a miles de personas en todo el país para actualizar la lista de direcciones para el Censo de 2020. Desde el 4 de marzo, más de 170,000 reclutas ya han completado sus solicitudes de trabajo y 800 personas han sido contratadas. Esta contratación masiva se debe a la tarea vital que el Censo de EE. UU. realiza cada 10 años: trabajar en la oficina y en el campo para asegurarse de que todas las personas y todas las direcciones estén registradas. Un censo preciso garantiza que haya suficientes representantes en el gobierno y que los residentes reciban una cantidad adecuada de fondos para la atención médica, la educación y otros sistemas vitales. Si usted o alguien que conoce pueden estar interesados, haga clic en al link y siga las instrucciones en "Easy To Apply."
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Just "ASK" for Information about
Senior Services in Union County
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UNION COUNTY, NJ -
Union County residents seeking reliable information about services for adults age 60 and older can come to convenient locations throughout the County and speak in person with experienced staff from the Union County Aging and Disability Resource Connection, a division of the Department of Human Services.
The community visits are scheduled every month through Union County’s ASK (Aging Services Kiosk) program. In September, the ASK program will come to public libraries in Elizabeth, Clark, Cranford, Garwood, Mountainside, Plainfield, Summit and Union, and to the Rahway Senior Center.
“Our goal is to help senior residents access the resources they need to stay connected with their communities,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The ASK program helps seniors, their families, and their caregivers get expert guidance in person, in a comfortable setting close to home.”
Guidance offered through the ASK program includes home delivered meals, respite care, home care, adult day care, and support services for caregivers.
Assistance with completing applications and forms is also provided.
All Union County residents are welcome to attend any ASK event. The dates and locations for September are:
Monday, September 9
Elizabeth Library – LaCorte branch
418 Palmer Street
Elizabeth, NJ 07202
10:00 am – 12 noon
Wednesday, September 11
Cranford Public Library
224 Walnut Avenue
Cranford, NJ 07016
10:00 am – 12 noon
Thursday, September 12
Rahway Senior Center
1306 Esterbrook Avenue
Rahway, NJ 07065
10:00 am – 12:00 noon
Friday, September 13
Plainfield Public Library
800 Park Avenue
Plainfield, NJ 07060
10:00 am – 12 noon
Monday, September 16
Clark Public Library
303 Westfield Avenue
Clark, NJ 07066
10:00 am – 12:00 noon
Thursday, September 19
Garwood Public Library
411 Third Avenue
Garwood, NJ 07027
10:00 am – 12:00 noon
Friday, September 20
Mountainside Public Library
Constitution Plaza
Mountainside, NJ 07092
10:00 am – 12 Noon
Monday, September 23
Summit Public Library
75 Maple Street
Summit, NJ 07901
10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Tuesday, September 24
Union Public Library
1980 Morris Avenue
Union, NJ 07083
11:30 am to 1:30 pm
The Union County Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection is modeled on a national initiative aimed at promoting wellness, independence, dignity and choice. In addition to ASK and other outreach events, printed information is available in English and Spanish.
For more information about the Union County Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection, visit the Department of Human Services online at
ucnj.org/departments/human-services
or call 888-280-8226 (toll free), 908-527-4870, or 908-527-4858. Spanish speakers may call 908-527-4863.
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Governor Murphy Tours Water Distribution Center, Announces Enhanced Efforts to Ensure Access to Clean Water for Newark Residents
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NEWARK, NJ-
Governor Phil Murphy, alongside Mayor Ras Baraka, cabinet members, and local officials, today toured a bottled water distribution center in Newark and announced enhanced partnerships to promote access to clean water and conduct lead screenings for affected residents.
On Monday, August 12th, the State began providing bottled water to Newark for distribution to impacted residents, sourced from emergency reserves. Corporate partners, including Anheuser-Busch and Pepsi, will continue to supplement through donations.
Beginning today, University Hospital will donate five free bottles of clean water to Newark residents who are discharged from inpatient stays for the month of August. The hospital will also conduct free lead screenings for impacted residents on Saturday, August 17th, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on subsequent Saturdays depending on demand. Individuals wishing to receive a screening must make an appointment at (973) 972-9000.
In addition to screenings provided by University Health, the City of Newark provides free lead screenings Monday through Friday.
“Access to clean and safe drinking water is a fundamental right,”
said Governor Murphy
. “The State and City’s efforts, in tandem with University Hospital and our corporate partners, will ensure that Newark residents have access to bottled water. I urge residents – particularly pregnant woman, families with children under six, and especially those caring for infants – to access the free bottled water the City is providing.”
“Our priority is the health and welfare of all Newark residents, particularly the very young, pregnant women, and the elderly,”
said Newark Mayor Ras Baraka
. “Although there are only two homes where testing found that water filters are not working as expected, to be extremely cautious, we are providing bottled water to affected residents with lead service lines in their homes. We have distributed bottled water for the past two days. The City of Newark and the State of New Jersey are prepared to do everything possible to keep residents healthy.”
“Now, more than ever, it is critical that state and federal partners stand together and provide all the resources and expertise we can to help Newark protect the health of its residents, including providing an ample supply of bottled water while we work to better understand the effectiveness of filters provided to residents,”
said DEP Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe
. “We are extremely grateful to University Hospital and our private partners for providing important assistance as we work to address this complex challenge. We are mobilizing these efforts out of an abundance of caution to protect Newark’s residents in the short term while the city works to replace lead service lines and implement water treatment technologies that will protect public health in the long term.”
“No level of lead is acceptable for any child or pregnant woman,”
said Acting Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli
. “Even low levels of lead can affect a child’s ability to achieve milestones at school. That’s why the Department of Health stands ready to support the city in addressing the health needs of its residents.”
“We stand with the State and the City of Newark, and are proud to support their efforts in providing vital resources to our community,”
said Shereef Elnahal, President and CEO of University Hospital in Newark
. “Everyone must have access to clean and safe drinking water. University Hospital is here to help the people of Newark.”
This year, the State has provided $1.8 million in lead testing funding and $12 million to support the City of Newark’s efforts to replace lead service line replacement
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The City of Plainfield Turns 150 Years Old!
Please join us all year long for upcoming events
to Celebrate
Plainfield's 150th Anniversary!
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Please have family and friends sign up to receive these important weekly updates. They can sign up by calling
908.753.3015
or emailing
communications@plainfieldnj.gov
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One Plainfield. One Future
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