Sincerely,

Mayor Adrian O. Mapp

City of Plainfield

Querido Plainfield,

Históricamente, las probabilidades siempre han estado en contra del éxito de las empresas de dueños morenos en los Estados Unidos. Desde el fin de la esclavitud hasta la segregación, el racismo sistémico e institucionalizado, el rechazo a los préstamos comerciales, la exclusión del Programa de Protección de Cheques de Pago, hasta las prácticas de préstamos predatorios, las personas de color han tenido que luchar con uñas y dientes por cada centímetro de progreso. Ha tomado largas décadas para ver vestigios de la equidad, la igualdad y la libertad por la que nuestros antepasados anhelaban y trabajaron tan firmemente para lograr, contra probabilidades desalentadoras. Mientras nos preparamos para decir adiós a agosto, queremos reconocer y celebrar el Mes Nacional de Negocios Negros.

No hace mucho, la idea de un propietario de negocio negro parecía un concepto extraño. Prácticas discriminatorias, una grave falta de bienes tangibles y la ausencia de riqueza generacional cultivo la idea de poseer un negocio fuera solo un sueño para muchas personas negras. Hoy, sin embargo, aplaudimos y celebramos a aquellos que han perseverado a través de estos desafíos para hacer realidad su sueño de emprendimiento. Mientras viajo por todo el estado, no puedo evitar la sensación de alegría y orgullo que surge al ver la cantidad de negocios de propietarios negros que han sembrado raíces en Plainfield y en otras ciudades. Algunos han existido durante generaciones, exitosamente estableciéndose como señas de identidad de la comunidad. Otros son más nuevos, pero sus contribuciones a la economía de Nueva Jersey no son menos a medida que continúan evolucionando y creciendo.

A veces desearía que viajar por el tiempo fuera una realidad para poder retroceder en el tiempo y mostrarles a nuestros antepasados lo mucho que hemos logrado gracias a su trabajo, sacrificios, tenacidad y coraje.

El Mes Nacional de Negocios Negros fue establecido en agosto de 2004 por el Historiador John William Templeton y el Ingeniero Frederick E. Jordan Sr. para ampliar el apoyo y promover la existencia de empresas de propietarios negros en todo el país (fuente). "Estamos muy cerca de lograr la tierra prometida que el doctor King profetizó en su último discurso", compartió Templeton en una entrevista con News Channel 8, "Realmente se trata de información e implementación" (fuente).

En 2020, el Mes Nacional de Negocios Negros se vio en mayor consideración dado el impacto desproporcionado de COVID-19 en las comunidades negras. Antes de la pandemia, los economistas indicaron que los empresarios minoritarios, que paseaban el 37% de todas las empresas, enfrentaban desafíos más significantes para iniciar, administrar y hacer crecer sus entidades. Se predijo que el 40% de las empresas de propietarios negros no sobrevivirían a la pandemia (fuente).

Como alcalde de la ciudad de Plainfield, no podía en buena conciencia quedarme de brazos cruzados y ver cómo esto sucedía, al menos no en nuestra ciudad. Con la nación quieta, aislada en sus hogares y operando bajo órdenes ejecutivas para cerrar lugares de reunión públicos, mi administración y yo sabíamos que nuestras empresas locales y residentes en la industria de servicios pronto sentirían el aguijón. Para evitar el cierre de negocios en Plainfield, la Ciudad estableció un Fondo de Asistencia de Emergencia COVID-19 de UEZ para apoyar a nuestros negocios locales que estaban perdiendo ingresos muy necesarios. Además, utilizando el Programa de Subvenciones de Letreros y Fachadas, la Ciudad también ayudó a los negocios establecer restaurantes al aire libre con carpas y muebles de comedor.

Lo he dicho muchas veces; somos "UN PLAINFIELD" trabajando hacia "UN FUTURO". Las ganancias y pérdidas de nuestros compañeros son nuestros. Cada nuevo negocio se suma a la prosperidad de nuestra Ciudad; agrega un nuevo tono de color a nuestra cultura, da forma a nuestra historia y enriquece nuestro vínculo como comunidad porque estamos aquí para cuidarnos unos a otros.

• Les pido que se tomen un tiempo y celebren el Mes Nacional de Negocios Negros mostrando algo de AMOR a nuestras empresas locales de propietarios negros:
• Compre localmente para satisfacer sus antojos de comida. Plainfield es un paraíso de alimentos y cultura. Cocinas de todo el mundo se pueden encontrar en algún lugar dentro de la Ciudad Reina.
•  Corre la voz. Cuando la gente te pida recomendaciones, hazles saber que Plainfield es el lugar para estar. Comparta información sobre nuestros negocios locales y muestre su orgullo por la ciudad que llama hogar.
• Ayude a promover las empresas locales en las redes sociales. En la actualidad, las redes sociales es la forma de comunicación más fácil y rápida. Usa el poder que tienes en tus manos para el bien de la comunidad. Si tienes una tienda favorita en la que compras, PUBLÍQUELO. Si hay un restaurante que te hace la boca agua, PUBLÍQUELO. Si sabe de la apertura de un negocio pronto, PUBLÍQUELO. Hacer una publicación tomará segundos, pero la exposición de la empresa será interminable. Así que asegúrate de publicar, etiquetar la tienda y etiquetar la ciudad, para que la gente sepa a dónde deben ir a continuación.

Una vez más, Feliz Mes Nacional Negocios Negros a todos nuestros establecimientos de propretarios morenos en la ciudad de Plainfield y en el estado de Nueva Jersey. Estoy orgulloso de sus logros y sepan que mi administración y yo siempre estaremos aquí para apoyarles. Esperamos que Plainfield sea el hogar de su negocio durante muchos años exitosos.

#celebranegociosnegros

#loveplainfield

#amoplainfield

Creando Un Plainfield. Un Futuro

Alcalde Adrian O. Mapp

Ciudad de Plainfield

What inspired you to get into the restaurant/catering business?

My food journey started in 1967 in Barbados. I used to watch my mom cook, I would get in the kitchen when she wasn't watching and recreate plates she made for my siblings and me, and by the time I was 14, I could cook for my entire family.

So, it's in my family, and it's in my blood. We know how to cook well and bake well. I love people, and I love seeing them happy, seeing them smile, and providing them with my food. Seeing you enjoy it pleases me. I value customer service and making my guests feel special because, without my customers, my business doesn't exist.

What motivated you to open your catering business in Plainfield?

There are two parts to that question- my wife of 50 years moved from Barbados to Plainfield, and so I came to meet her, and so Plainfield has been my second home for over 30 years.

I worked at an Italian restaurant; I saved money, bought this location, gutted it, fixed it, and opened it in 1988.

How has your restaurant influenced the culture in Plainfield?

First, I'm from Barbados, but I'm not a Caribbean restaurant. I make all the Caribbean dishes, plus a lot more. The flavors and seasonings we use are different from the many other city cultures. I can match recipes with anybody, but I can also outdo them. I bring quality to Plainfield's food culture.

How has Plainfield influenced your business?

You know I've been here a long time; I saw Plainfield go through extraordinary times, then really tough times, and now it's starting to feel more like the Plainfield I experienced when I first came.

My loyal customers are Plainfield residents; they advertise for me on Facebook, especially in the church community. I have worked with every Mayor from Lattimore to now without fail and

I give back; I donate to the churches in Plainfield; we've established ourselves as different; you can come here and get full service, and I do my best to price reasonably but provide an upscale experience.

What can guests expect when coming to Adrian's caterer

The great thing about coming to Adrian's caterer is that we've never had a problem in 30-plus years (1988). To me, it's important that my customers feel safe and secure at my restaurant.

I also feel like we're different; you can come in and get full service. I focus on doing things with high quality. That includes food, the ambiance in my restaurant, and our private catering of events. You'll never see a dirty rag on the floor (Adrian laughs).

What's next for Adrian's Catering?

Short term- the most challenging transition will happen in the next two weeks as children begin to return to school, and things around here will slow down.

But one of my main focuses is to get more delivery orders. I must maintain this place regardless of whether I have one or 50 customers, and a lot of my clientele have been coming for years, so we're all familiar. And we're currently upgrading our website, which will include our menu, history, hours, and other information for our customers, and it'll be ready by this fall!

Long-term- I see myself managing Adrian's for another three years before passing it down, hopefully to a family member who can take care of it, expand on the current design, and continue to engage the community. This is my legacy; I'm not selling it or giving it to a stranger. I want to pass it on to someone with our family name. It's easier to build on something that already has a foundation, so whoever comes in can create, change, update the business and make it their own.

I am steady and keep it this way, but I know Adrian's catering has excellent potential. And the city is steadily climbing, so we must have something unique for people to come to, and believe me, in 30-plus years, they have come and continue to come.

What would you like to happen in Plainfield in the next five to ten years?

The Mayor is doing excellent work rebuilding the community. A lot of what you see now is being rebuilt. I noticed when it began to decline and then hit rock bottom. He's done so much in the last six to eight years.

I would like people to take care of their neighborhoods more. I've seen people eating or drinking, and they just throw it in the streets. I'm pretty sure you don't go to your house and just start dumping garbage everywhere.

If you can't take care of your neighborhood, do you expect strangers to take care of it for you? It's like raising children, and it's your responsibility; otherwise, someone else will have to teach them what you can't. But it's your responsibility to maintain what is yours.

"It's a village thing," we need to come together; we're centrally located, and the train takes you to New York City in a flash. It's a great place to live, and I don't let anyone speak badly about Plainfield. I defend my city; I believe in my city.

President Biden’s move means the student loan balances of millions of people could fall by as much as $20,000. This F.A.Q. explains how it will work.

President Biden announced on Wednesday that the federal government would cancel up to $20,000 worth of federal student loans for millions of people. But not everyone with debt will qualify.

The action includes rules that will maintain the balances of debtors who currently have high incomes. Those who do qualify will need to navigate the balky federal loan servicing system and keep a close eye on their accounts and credit reports for any mistakes.

It also extends the pause on monthly student loan payments, which means that borrowers won’t have to resume payments until at least January, and provides details on a new proposal to create a more affordable income-driven repayment plan.

Photo credit - Queens College in Flushing by Jonah Markowitz for The New York Times

The Plainfield Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of our acclaimed music director Charles Prince, invites you to share in a musical journey as we explore old favorites, discover new works and experience pieces from near and far, real and imaginary.

The 103rd season opens on October 15, 2022 with “Once Upon a Time,” showcasing two works from the imaginary world. Tapiola, Op. 112, "Realm of Tapio,” is a tone poem Jean Sibelius. Also featured will be the well-known Scheherazade, Op. 35, a symphonic suite composed by the Finnish composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and based on The One Thousand and One Nights.

On November 19, 2022, the audience favorite Pops Concert, entitled “Life is a Cabaret,” will include works by George Gershwin, Kurt Weill, Cole Porter and other surprises. The soloists will be returning critically acclaimed tenor Brian Cheney along with musical and operetta performer Monica Arnó. 

Our annual free afternoon Family Concert will take place on January 28, 2023. “All That Jazz” will feature a collaboration with students from the Plainfield Academy for the Arts & Advanced Studies (PAAAS) magnet school.

“The Maestro and Apprentice 1792” is the theme for the March 25, 2023 concert. Haydn’s Sinfonia Concertante in B flat major will showcase several PSO principal players: Evelyn Estava, Jameson Platte, Nancy Vanderslice and Lee Doswell. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 in Eb major, Op. 35 (“Eroica”) will conclude this uplifting program.

The season will conclude on April 29, 2023 with a “Tchaikovsky Festival.” His Overture/Fantasy Romeo and Juliet will be presented along with Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64, a journey from darkness to light.

Wonder. Pathos. Joy. Experience an array of human emotions during this upcoming unforgettable Plainfield Symphony season where great music is brought to life.

The Plainfield Symphony is New Jersey's oldest community symphony and the third oldest in the country.

Season tickets for the 2022/2023 concerts are now on sale and can be purchased on our website, www.plainfieldsymphony.org. Tickets may also be purchased at the concert. Subscription concerts are held at the Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church located at 716 Watchung Avenue, Plainfield, New Jersey.  

New Jersey residents are encouraged to participate in the Hurricane Ida Survey, which is currently required if you want to apply for future Ida recovery programs.

The State of New Jersey has been awarded $228 million in Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to assist with the recovery from Hurricane Ida. The funds will create housing recovery and mitigation programs to help individuals and communities.

To access these federal recovery funds, the State must develop an Action Plan for how it will use these funds and submit it to HUD for approval. Developing the Action Plan and recovery programs will take several months to complete.

CLICK HERE to read full article.

Mark Your Calendars - Upcoming Events

September City Events

September Boards & Council Meetings

AVAILABLE RESOURCES

In recognition of August as National Immunization Awareness Month, the Union County Board of County Commissioners reminds residents that free immunizations are available to eligible children and adults at the Union County Immunization Center. The Immunization Center is located at 40 Parker Road in Elizabeth.

“Union County’s immunization clinic helps to ensure that every infant and child in our community can receive protection from preventable diseases, regardless of their insurance status or family circumstance,” said County Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. “We encourage everyone to check the eligibility for themselves and their children, and keep up to date on all needed vaccinations.”

Residents who are uninsured, underinsured, or who are covered by Medicaid Plan A are eligible for services at the Union County Immunization Center.

A three-part plan delivers on President Biden’s promise to cancel $10,000 of student debt for low- to middle-income borrowers

President Biden believes that a post-high school education should be a ticket to a middle-class life, but for too many, the cost of borrowing for college is a lifelong burden that deprives them of that opportunity. During the campaign, he promised to provide student debt relief. Today, the Biden Administration is following through on that promise and providing families breathing room as they prepare to start re-paying loans after the economic crisis brought on by the pandemic.

Since 1980, the total cost of both four-year public and four-year private college has nearly tripled, even after accounting for inflation. Federal support has not kept up: Pell Grants once covered nearly 80 percent of the cost of a four-year public college degree for students from working families, but now only cover a third. That has left many students from low- and middle-income families with no choice but to borrow if they want to get a degree. According to a Department of Education analysis, the typical undergraduate student with loans now graduates with nearly $25,000 in debt. 

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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Volume 9 - Issue 33