Mayor's Message:

Indigenous Peoples Day!

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Dear Jazz,


For decades the United States has celebrated Columbus Day as the joyous "discovery" of the Americas. Our children learned of his courageous journey across the Atlantic Ocean in search of an alternate route to the far east, only to stumble upon a New World. But to say discovery implies the revelation of an unknown. And the land that Christopher Columbus claimed to uncover was far from undiscovered. Although Columbus was unaware of the existence of this land, man had already explored its fruits, established its roots, and built a future. When you encounter a new location, the logical and ethical action is to embrace the culture and adapt to the people; instead, Christopher Columbus took us down a darker path that has led to man's inhumanity to man.


And although Christopher Columbus never set foot on the continent of North America and could not have discovered America, October 12, 1492, marked a defining moment in our world history. The colonization of the western hemisphere was plagued with the captivity, sale, and enslavement of Native Indians, which later led to the enslavement of Africans.

Given our history, asking how this nation went down the path of such injustice may be pointless; however, the weight of our nation's inhumanity is too heavy to ignore. Actions taken throughout history toward people of color raise many more questions than can be answered. Far beyond inequality, segregation, and discrimination, it begs the question, what degree of humanity did early European settlers have that could allow them to justify the inhumane actions taken against Native Americans and, subsequently, other black and brown nations? And what thought processes do people today continue to have that explain similar actions now? Slavery has long ended, yet we still wrestle against racial discrimination, social disparities, and oppressive policies created to disfavor minorities.


But not all hope is lost; change is on the horizon. In 2021, President Biden's administration announced the rebranding of Columbus Day into Indigenous Peoples' Day. But we must not become complacent with this small victory. We need change, and for that, we must take action. Indigenous people's day reminds us to celebrate, respect, and honor Native American history and culture. As the day approaches, I ask my beautiful Queen City to join me and do our due diligence as Americans on October 10, 2022, in honor of Indigenous Peoples' Day. Support your brothers and sisters of color and help spread the word of inclusion.


Today, I pledge to honor and promote the importance of celebrating Native Indian, Black, and Brown history. Let us celebrate our ancestors' incredible resilience and unbelievable ability to survive against all odds. Let us remove the mental and physical chains that have bound us for far too long. They found the courage and motivation to persevere, although confronted with the hardships and suffering of living while enslaved and brutalized. When faced with adversity, people of color have stood against injustice, and through continuous action, we have progressed to this moment in time. We must continue to pass down the torch that lights up the path as we continue our efforts to attain equal human rights and justice, protecting and serving all people regardless of race, culture, and religious beliefs. 

Creating One Plainfield. One Future

Sincerely,

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Mayor Adrian O. Mapp

City of Plainfield

¡Día de La Gente Indígenas!

Querido Plainfield,


Durante décadas, los Estados Unidos ha celebrado el Día de Colón como el alegre "descubrimiento" de las Américas. Nuestros hijos aprendieron de su valiente viaje a través del Océano Atlántico en busca de una ruta alternativa hacia el lejano oriente, solo para tropezar con un Nuevo Mundo. Pero decir descubrimiento implica la revelación de un desconocido. Y la tierra que Cristóbal Colón afirmó descubrir estaba lejos de ser descubierta. Aunque Colón desconocía la existencia de esta tierra, el hombre ya había explorado sus frutos, establecido sus raíces y construido un futuro. Cuando te visitas una nueva ubicación, la acción lógica y ética es aceptar la cultura y adaptarte a la gente; en cambio, Cristóbal Colón nos llevó por un camino más oscuro que nos ha llevado a la inhumanidad del hombre hacia el hombre.


Y aunque Cristóbal Colón nunca puso un pie en el continente de América del Norte y no pudo haber descubierto América, el 12 de octubre de 1492 marcó un momento decisivo en nuestra historia mundial. La colonización del hemisferio occidental estuvo plagada de cautiverio, venta y esclavitud de los indios nativos, lo que más tarde llevó a la esclavitud de los africanos.


Dada nuestra historia, preguntar cómo esta nación siguió el camino de tal injusticia puede ser inútil; sin embargo, el peso de la inhumanidad de nuestra nación es demasiado pesado para ignorarlo. Las acciones tomadas a lo largo de la historia hacia las personas de color plantean muchas más preguntas de las que se pueden responder. . Mucho más allá de la desigualdad, la segregación y la discriminación, surge la pregunta, ¿qué grado de humanidad tenían los primeros colonos europeos que les permitiera justificar las acciones inhumanas tomadas contra los nativos americanos y, posteriormente, otras naciones negras y marrones? La esclavitud ha terminado hace mucho tiempo, sin embargo, todavía luchamos contra la discriminación racial, las disparidades sociales y las políticas opresivas creadas para desfavorecer a las minorías.


Pero no toda esperanza está perdida; el cambio está en el horizonte. En 2021, la administración del presidente Biden anunció el cambio de marca del Día de Colón en el Día de los Pueblos Indígenas. Pero no debemos ser complacientes con esta pequeña victoria. Necesitamos un cambio, y para eso, debemos tomar medidas. El día de los pueblos indígenas nos recuerda que debemos celebrar, respetar y honrar la historia y la cultura de los nativos americanos. . A medida que se acerca el día, le pido a mi hermosa Ciudad Reina que se una a mí y haga nuestra debida diligencia como estadounidenses el 10 de octubre de 2022, en honor al Día de los Pueblos Indígenas. Apoye a sus hermanos y hermanas de color y ayude a difundir la palabra de inclusión.


Hoy, me comprometo a honrar y promover la importancia de celebrar la historia de los indios nativos, negros y marrones. Celebremos la increíble resiliencia de nuestros antepasados y su increíble capacidad para sobrevivir contra viento y marea. Eliminemos las cadenas mentales y físicas que nos han atado durante demasiado tiempo. Encontraron el coraje y la motivación para perseverar, aunque se enfrentaron a las dificultades y el sufrimiento de vivir mientras estaban esclavizados y brutalizados. Cuando nos enfrentamos a la adversidad, las personas de color se han opuesto a la injusticia, y a través de la acción continua, hemos progresado hasta este momento en el tiempo. Debemos continuar bajando la antorcha que ilumina el camino mientras continuamos nuestros esfuerzos para lograr la igualdad de derechos humanos y justicia, protegiendo y sirviendo a todas las personas independientemente de su raza, cultura y creencias religiosas.


 

Creando Un Plainfield. Un Futuro

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Alcalde Adrian O. Mapp

Ciudad de Plainfield

 Commemorating Indigenous Peoples Day

Social Security Administration Establishing National Native American Office

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Plainfield Police Department Welcomes

 Two Returning  Officers

On Monday, October 3rd the Plainfield Police Department welcomed back to it’s ranks, Officers Eric Groething and Robert Jastrzebski. 

 

Police Director James T. Abney opened the ceremony and spoke about the combined years of experience of these officers along with the value this experience provides for our community.

 

Mayor Adrian O. Mapp thanked Plainfield's Finest for their service and commitment to the City and its residents. He also thanked the families of the officers for their continued support and the journey they take every day with the officers. He reinforced his pledge to continue providing the necessary resources for the police department. He also made a call to other officers who had stepped away to consider re-joining the the Plainfield Law enforcement family.

 

Both officers cited their love of Plainfield and the feeling of homecoming they experienced when making the decision to rejoin the ranks of Plainfield’s finest. Both left for a short while to explore other options but ultimately decided that Plainfield was the community they wanted to serve.

 

Also in attendance were Council President Barry Goode, Councilwoman Ashley Davis, Councilwoman Terri Briggs-Jones and members of the administration.

 

To the returning officers - Welcome Home!

Uniting the Community One Step at a Time

Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)


Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining"!

Welcome to Plainfield!

REMINDER - Affordable New Jersey Communities

for Homeowners and Renters (ANCHOR) Program

The deadline for filing your ANCHOR benefit application is December 30, 2022. ANCHOR benefits payments will begin in the late Spring of 2023. ANCHOR payments will be paid in the form of a direct deposit or check, not as credits to property tax bills.


ANCHOR benefit information is currently being mailed to homeowners and tenants. Allow until the first week in October to receive your mailer. Homeowners who filed a homestead benefit application last year may be able to obtain their ID and PIN numbers online. Tenants do not need an ID or PIN number to file.


Visit the Division's ANCHOR page for all filing information. Due to high call volume, the ANCHOR and Homestead Benefit Hotline may be unable to take your call at certain times. If that occurs, please try your call at another time. Our hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

General Info about ANCHOR
How to File

Mark Your Calendars - Upcoming Events

Upcoming City Events

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AVAILABLE RESOURCES

Love Plainfield Initiative

¿ How Do You Show Love For Plainfield?

WHAT IS LOVE PLAINFIELD?

The Love Plainfield Campaign Launched in March 2021 and focuses on fostering a spirit of love, pride and unity in the City of Plainfield while encouraging residents to work together to celebrate and promote the Queen City's rich history and vibrant culture. 


Through this initiative we will support small businesses, help residents in need, restore pride in our community, and commit to keeping our city clean and green. 


What defines a place is its people, and our people are diverse and unique. Our residents are the best resource that Plainfield has.

READ MORE ABOUT LOVE PLAINFIELD

How Do You Show Love For Plainfield?

#LovePlainfield

#AmoPlainfield

#RespecttheQueen

2022 Spring Newsletter

Click below to read it virtually

A MESSAGE FROM UNION COUNTY: 

The Union County Women Mean Business Summit Returns with "Lessons in Leadership", on October 25

The Union County Board of County Commissioners would like to announce that after two years, the annual Union County Women Mean Business Summit (UCWMB) is back and will be held in person on October 25th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Galloping Hill Golf Course, located at 3 Golf Drive in Kenilworth.


“Whether an attendee is just starting out, a manager or a business owner, this seminar will provide the tools needed to grow their network, learn new skills and develop a plan to further themselves in their respective industries and help meet the challenges of today’s economic climate,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. “Connecting women in our diverse community is more important now than ever and I am hoping to see a great turnout at this event.”


This powerful forum, titled “Lessons in Leadership,” is a once-a-year conference with an immersive experience that will feature a series of workshops and discussions for women of all stages in their career. This year, the UCWMB Summit will feature Keynote Speaker Judith Persichilli, R.N., B.S.N., M.A, Commissioner of the New Jersey State Department of Health.

VISIT UCNJ.ORG TO READ FULL ARTICLE

A MESSAGE FROM THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY: 

Governor Murphy Signs Bill Amending State Child Tax Credit, Allowing for New Jersey Taxpayers to Receive Relief a Year Sooner

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Amendment Provides for Child Tax Credit to Become Available in 2022 Tax Year


TRENTONGovernor Phil Murphy signed

S-3046/A-4640, amending the effective dates for a previously signed bill regarding state child tax credits. The original bill, S-2523, was scheduled to take effect for the 2023 tax year, making credits available to taxpayers in 2024. The bill signed today pushes that schedule forward, allowing for the tax credit to take effect for the 2022 tax year and for credits to become available to taxpayers in 2023.


“Making New Jersey more affordable for our families has been one of my highest priorities since day one,” said Governor Murphy. “Tax relief is critically important and this amendment will put money into the pockets of families as early as next year. I look forward to our continued progress in making New Jersey stronger, fairer, and more affordable for all of our residents.”


The child tax credit program, estimated to be a $100 million state revenue loss for FY 2023, is available to New Jersey taxpayers with incomes of up to $80,000 and is broken down as follows:


  • Resident households with an income of $30,000 or less will receive a refundable gross income tax credit of $500 for each child
  • Resident households with an income of $30,000 to $40,000 will receive a refundable gross income tax credit of $400 for each child
  • Resident households with an income of $40,000 to $50,000 will receive a refundable gross income tax credit of $300 for each child
  • Resident households with an income of $50,000 to $60,000 will receive a refundable gross income tax credit of $200 for each child
  • Resident households with an income of $60,000 to $80,000 will receive a refundable gross income tax credit of $100 for each child


“This will make the lives of working families more affordable and more manageable,” said Senate President Nick Scutari. “It will provide direct tax relief as quickly as possible to help families during challenging economic conditions. The child tax credit is part of our ongoing commitment to tax relief, financial assistance and affordability for the people of New Jersey.”  

VISIT NJ.GOV 

A MESSAGE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE:

Biden-Harris Administration Strengthens the Federal Government's Resilience to

Climate Change Impacts

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Today, the Biden-Harris Administration announced new actions by more than 20 agencies to bolster the Federal Government’s resilience to the worsening impacts of climate change. These actions are detailed in annual agency adaptation progress reports and highlight an Administration-wide commitment to confronting the climate crisis by integrating climate-readiness across every agency’s mission and programs.


More frequent and severe weather events, including droughts, extreme heat, wildfires, floods, and hurricanes, create mounting climate-related damages nationwide. Climate-related disasters impact millions of Americans each year when roads wash out, power goes down, homes and businesses burn, crops fail, and schools flood. Last year alone, the United States faced 20 extreme weather and climate related disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each—a cumulative price tag of more than $145 billion. The Federal Government’s employees, assets, and operations are exposed to these same impacts. With a footprint of over 300,000 buildings, over 600,000 vehicles, and the responsibility for delivering critical goods and services, the Biden-Harris Administration is minimizing disruptions, creating safer working conditions, strengthening supply chains, saving taxpayer money, and sustaining our mission.

VISIT WHITEHOUSE.GOV TO READ FULL ARTICLE


HELP US TAKE CARE OF OUR CITY!

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Exercise your civic duty-- be the eyes and ears of our City! Your reports can greatly increase the quality of life in our Plainfield community. Let's work together to keep our city safe- If you see it, say it with ReportIt.

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Use the app, or text

reportit to 63975

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Mayor Adrian O. Mapp and the City of Plainfield are committed to making it as easy as possible to report concerns in our city. To that end, we've partnered with REPORT IT, which is now live in Plainfield and ready to be used as an important supplemental reporting tool.


Report it makes community reporting easier than ever! Residents and visitors can download the app by scanning the barcode above or by going to your phone's app store. Your reports will be submitted to the appropriate City department to be resolved.


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Creating One Plainfield. One Future

Volume 9 - Issue 39

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