Dear Friend,
The fact that America has spawned a rallying cry of “Black Lives Matter” is an indictment of its failure to live up to the promise in the Declaration of Independence that “all men are created equal; that their Creator endows them with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The systemic oppression of black people has spawned a frustration so deep that it needed a voice, an expression to convey our deep cry for justice.
We have seen black men executed in public at the hands of deputized keepers of the law. We have seen them hunted and shot to death by armed white citizens, our young sons have not been exempt, and we worry each time they leave home, that they may not make it back. Black people have been executed in their places of worship by racist white people, and we cannot stand by and watch this happen anymore. The phrase Black lives matter is wrenched from deep inside our souls, it says, LOOK AT US, we are here, we matter, we are EQUAL.
If all lives truly mattered, these murders would never happen. All lives cannot matter until black lives do. All lives cannot matter if groups of people are targeted based on their skin color, while others aren't. Black Lives Matter isn't a movement of black supremacy; it is a movement for equality. We never said ONLY Black Lives Matter, we never said Black Lives Matter MORE, we say they Matter PERIOD.
The inability of some to grasp the significance of the phrase and immediately counter with All Lives Matter fuels the racial divide in America. Because Black Lives Matter doesn't mean other lives matter less, it means our lives matter the same. It's not a hard concept to grasp if you are sincere in trying to understand the frustration of black people.
Saying all lives matter is like telling a lifeguard to save everyone in a swimming pool when only one person is drowning and needs help. Those who try to counter the BLM movement by saying “all lives matter” are simply not ready to acknowledge the crimes, the racial injustice, the systemic racism and their own prejudice that have been the bedrock of a system that was created to keep Black people in a perpetual state of subjugation and a position of inferiority.
Unfortunately, black people have become far too familiar with oppression. They’ve been enslaved and then forced to assimilate. They were given a door to freedom that led to their disproportionate imprisonment. The strategies of systemic racism were designed to guarantee the failure of the vast majority of black people, making it almost impossible for them to achieve the same level of success as whites.
Racism is hardwired into America's DNA, and it touches Black lives every single day. From police killings to predatory lending, to poorly-funded schools, inadequate healthcare and so much more. The Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921 was one of the many markers of violence against black people in this country. It was one of the deadliest single acts of racial violence committed by the government against its own people. In two days, one thousand black-owned homes and businesses were destroyed, and hundreds of black people killed. Tulsa was a thriving, wealthy, black community, home of the second-largest African-American city. By the end of the massacre, it was destroyed.
History has shown that black lives seldom mattered to those who built this system on the backs of our enslaved ancestors and their descendants. Innocent black lives have ended due to racism. Black activists have been killed for defending their people. Black communities have deteriorated and continue to deteriorate due to systemic racism. To say 'Black Lives Matter' acknowledges that in many ways, and for far too long we never mattered to the oppressors who built the system. We are proclaiming our humanity, our equality, and our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
It's been a long time coming, but we're not there yet, however people seem to be listening across our nation and the world. Conversations are happening. Our children now protest to add their voices to those of the many generations that proceeded them. They don't want to live a marginalized life the way their parents and grandparents did. I call on all good men and women, of all races, religions, cultures, sexual orientation and political stripe to join me in the fight to make Black Lives Matter more than a movement but a reality.
Creating One Plainfield. One Future.
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Por Que las Vidas Negras Importan
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Querido Plainfield,
El hecho de que los Estados Unidos haya generado un grito de guerra de "Black Lives Matter" (Las Vidas Negras Importan) es una acusación de su incumplimiento de la promesa de la Declaración de Independencia de que "todos los hombres son creados iguales; que su Creador les otorga ciertos derechos inalienables; que entre estos están la vida, la libertad y la búsqueda de la felicidad.” La opresión sistémica de los negros ha generado una frustración tan profunda que necesitaba una voz, una expresión para transmitir nuestro profundo clamor por justicia.
Hemos visto hombres negros ejecutados en público a manos de guardias de la ley. Los hemos visto cazados y asesinados a tiros por ciudadanos blancos armados, nuestros jóvenes hijos no han estado exentos, y nos preocupa cada vez que salen de casa, que no puedan regresar. Los negros han sido ejecutados en sus lugares de culto por blancos racistas, y no podemos esperar y ver que esto suceda más. La frase “Black Lives Matter” viene de lo más profundo de nuestras almas, y dice: MÍRANOS, estamos aquí, somos importantes, somos IGUALES.
Si todas las vidas realmente importaran, estos asesinatos nunca sucederían. Todas las vidas no pueden importar hasta que las vidas negras importen. Todas las vidas no pueden importar si todavía hay grupos de personas que son discriminados por su color de piel, mientras que otros no. Black Lives Matter no es un movimiento de supremacía negra; Es un movimiento por la igualdad. Nunca dijimos que SOLAMENTE las vidas negras importan, nunca dijimos que las vidas de negros importan MÁS. Decimos simplemente que IMPORTAN.
La incapacidad de algunos para comprender el significado de la frase e inmediatamente contrarrestar con decir que “todas las vidas importan” alimenta la división racial en los Estados Unidos. Debido a que Black Lives Matter no significa que otras vidas importen menos, significa que nuestras vidas importan igual. No es un concepto difícil de entender si eres sincero al tratar de entender la frustración de los negros. Decir que todas las vidas importan es como decirle a un socorrista que salve a todos en una piscina cuando solo una persona se está ahogando y necesita ayuda. Aquellos que intentan contrarrestar el movimiento de Black Live Matter, diciendo "todas las vidas importan", simplemente no están listos para reconocer los crímenes, la injusticia racial, el racismo sistémico y sus propios prejuicios que han sido la base de un sistema creado para mantener a los negros en un perpetuo estado de subyugación y una posición de inferioridad.
Desafortunadamente, los negros se han familiarizado demasiado con la opresión. Han sido esclavizados y luego forzados a asimilarse. Se les dio una puerta a la libertad que condujo a su encarcelamiento desproporcionado. Las estrategias de racismo sistémico fueron diseñadas para garantizar el fracaso de la gran mayoría de las personas negras, haciendo que sea casi imposible para ellos alcanzar el mismo nivel de éxito que los blancos.
El racismo está conectado al ADN de Estados Unidos, y afecta a las vidas de los negros todos los días. Desde asesinatos policiales hasta préstamos abusivos, escuelas mal financiadas, atención médica inadecuada y mucho más. La Masacre de Tulsa en 1921 fue uno de los muchos marcadores de violencia contra los negros en este país. Fue uno de los actos de violencia racial más mortíferos cometidos por el gobierno contra su propio pueblo. En dos días, mil casas y negocios propiedad de negros fueron destruidos y cientos de personas negras fueron asesinadas. Tulsa era una comunidad próspera, rica y negra, hogar de la segunda ciudad afroamericana más grande. Al final de la masacre, fue destruida.
La historia ha demostrado que las vidas de los negros raramente importan a quienes construyeron este sistema sobre las espaldas de nuestros ancestros esclavizados y sus descendientes. Inocentes vidas negras han terminado debido al racismo. Activistas negros han sido asesinados por defender a su gente. Las comunidades negras se han deteriorado y continúan deteriorándose debido al racismo sistémico. Decir que "las vidas negras importan" reconoce que, de muchas maneras, y durante demasiado tiempo, nunca fuimos importantes para los opresores que construyeron el sistema. Estamos proclamando nuestra humanidad, nuestra igualdad y nuestro derecho a la vida, la libertad y la búsqueda de la felicidad.
Ha tardado mucho en llegar, pero todavía no hemos llegado, sin embargo, la gente parece estar escuchando en toda nuestra nación y el mundo. Las conversaciones están sucediendo. Nuestros niños ahora protestan para agregar sus voces a las de las muchas generaciones que les sucedieron. No quieren vivir una vida marginada como lo hicieron sus padres y abuelos. Hago un llamado a todos los hombres y mujeres buenos, de todas las razas, religiones, culturas, orientación sexual y tendencias políticas para que se unan a mí en la lucha para hacer que Black Lives Matter sea más que un movimiento, sino una realidad.
Creando un Plainfield, un Futuro
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Black Lives Matter VS. All Lives Matter
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What Black Lives Matter Means (and Why it's Problematic to say "All Lives Matter")
By Lizz Schumer
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Saying that black lives matter doesn't mean that other lives do not.
As protests against racist police brutality sweep across the United States and spread around the globe, rallying cries of "Black Lives Matter" echo through our streets and our digital avenues. As we all digest the news and think about how to respond and participate at such a pivotal time, it’s important to recognize what Black Lives Matter really means — as well as why the phrase "All Lives Matter" is problematic.
At its face, "All Lives Matter" sounds like a we're-all-in-this-together statement. Some may be using the phrase to suggest that all races should join hands and stand together against racism, which is a sentiment that comes from a good place. But the problem is, the phrase actually takes the focus away from those who need it. Saying "All Lives Matter" redirects the attention from Black lives, who are the ones in peril.
Instead, it's important to understand what drives the BLM movement and how to support it — by using the phrase and standing behind what it means. It can be an uncomfortable experience for many of us, especially if you're someone that hasn't taken the time to grapple with your own role in the systemic oppression that exists in our society. But it's also an essential education, no matter where you are in your journey
.
What Does Black Lives Matter Mean?
Black Lives Matter is an anthem, a slogan, a hashtag, and a straightforward statement of fact. While it is not a new movement, the message is central to the nationwide protests happening right now. BLM speaks out against the police brutality and systemic racism that caused the recent deaths of
George Floyd
,
Ahmaud Arbery
,
Tony McDade
and
Breonna Taylor
, as well as the thousands of violent incidents that happen to Black people that aren’t recorded, aren’t reported or aren’t afforded the outrage they deserve. At its most basic level, it calls for a shift in the statistics that Black people are
twice as likely
to be killed by a police officer while unarmed, compared to a white individual. According to a 2015 study, African Americans died at the hands of police at a rate of
7.2 per million
, while whites were killed at a rate of 2.9 per million.
One of the goals of the Black Lives Matter movement is to raise awareness that we, as a nation, need to reconsider our priorities. Right now, there are U.S. institutions and systems that act as if black lives don't matter. For example, according to
a report by American Progress
, in 2015, each of the 10 states with the highest percentage of Black residents reported state and local policing expenditures of more than $230 per resident per year. That’s at least 328 times more than what each state spends on enforcing anti-discrimination laws.
How Did Black Lives Matter Start?
While racism in the United States goes back hundreds of years to the country's founding, the Black Lives Matter timeline started much more recently. The movement arose out of the acquittal of George Zimmerman after he killed Trayvon Martin in 2013.
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SOMA Sewing Volunteers through New Jersey Institute for Social Justice Donate Face Masks to Plainfield
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Yesterday
the City of Plainfield received a donation of 500 face masks from
SOMA (South Orange, Maplewood) Sewing Volunteers through the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice.
The presentation was made by Frank Barszcz representing SOMA Sewing Volunteers and Patricia Williamson representing New Jersey Institute for Social Justice. Accepting on behalf of the City were Jazz Clayton-Hunt, Chief of Staff/Director of Communications & Technology and Ron West, Director of Finance.
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Tropical Storm Fay Warning
Flash Flood Warning Issued for Plainfield
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Tropical Storm Fay will move northward along the Mid Atlantic coast today before making landfall near New York City tonight and continuing north into the Hudson Valley by Saturday morning. Flash flooding will be possible, especially this afternoon into this evening as the heaviest rain moves across the area.
A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect for the entire forecast area with a slight risk for excessive rainfall. The strongest winds are expected late this afternoon into this evening as Fay tracks over the area, with gusts up to around 50 mph possible.
The strongest gusts are expected across NYC, Long Island, and coastal Connecticut, but parts of New Jersey could see high, damaging wind gusts as well. Winds will then diminish overnight as Fay moves off to the north.
Please note there is a flash flood warning in effect for Plainfield until 8:00pm tonight. Be careful and stay safe.
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CITY COUNCIL
Combined Council Meeting on July 13
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COVID-19 Testing Date for Plainfield Residents has Changed to July 18, 2020
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IMPORTANT UPDATE - Please note that due to the weather forecast COVID-19 testing has moved from Saturday, July 11th to Saturday, July 18th from 8:00am to 3:00pm.
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ACTUALIZACIÓN IMPORTANTE: tenga en cuenta que debido al pronóstico del tiempo, las pruebas COVID-19 se han trasladado del sábado 11 de julio al sábado 18 de julio de 8:00 a.m. a 3:00 p.m.
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COVID-19 Testing Procedure
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Cooling Center Available to Residents
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Plainfield Must be COUNTED!
Complete the 2020 Census
It Will Shape Our Future for 10 Years
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The 2020 Census - We All Count!
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There are 112 Days Left for Plainfield to be COUNTED!
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Plainfield residents we need your HELP! If we are not COUNTED in the 2020 census we will lose millions of dollars in federal funding for the next 10 years.
We will lose access to programs and resources our community needs and depends on.
Currently our response rate is trending 10+ points lower than the national, state and county rates.
As of 7/9/2020:
National - 62.0%
New Jersey - 64.0%
Union County - 65.8%
Plainfield - 52.9%
If you haven't yet done so complete the census to ensure that Plainfield is COUNTED!
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¡Residentes de Plainfield, necesitamos su AYUDA! Si no estamos CONTADOS en el censo de 2020, perderemos millones de dólares en fondos federales durante los próximos 10 años. Perderemos el acceso a los programas y recursos que nuestra comunidad necesita y de los que depende.
Actualmente, nuestra tasa de respuesta tiene una tendencia de más de 10 puntos por debajo de las tasas nacionales, estatales y del condado.
A partir del 7/9/2020:
Nacional - 62.0%
Nueva Jersey - 64.0%
Condado de Union - 65.8%
Plainfield - 52.9%
Si aún no lo ha hecho, ¡complete el censo para asegurarse de que Plainfield esté CONTADO!
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COVID-19 Relief | Daily Lunches
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City Hall - COVID-19 - Modified Schedule
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Skip the Trip to City Hall - Do Business Online!
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Additional Resources to Navigate
Through COVID-19
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Federal Stimulus Check Update
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𝐍𝐉 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟔.
The COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program (CVERAP) will provide temporary rental assistance to low- and moderate-income households that have lost income or become unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Applicants may be eligible for up to 6 months of emergency rental assistance.
• The assistance will be capped at the Department of Community Affairs' (DCA’s) fair market rent standard or the total of the rent, whichever is lesser.
• All participants will be reviewed after a 3-month interval to see if they are still in need of assistance.
• Any person applying must meet all applicable CVERAP income and eligibility requirements (see below for details).
• You must be eighteen (18) years of age or older to apply, or you must be an emancipated minor.
• Only one (1) pre-application per household will be accepted
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The situation with the Coronavirus changes rapidly and we want to ensure that you are aware of all resources available to you. Please click on the below button for a COVID-19 resource Guide
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Emergency Food Providers & Resources
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The Importance of Wearing a Face Mask as it Becomes a Requirement
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The CDC is recommending that everyone wear a face mask or cloth covering when they go out in public along with continuing social distancing and other preventive measures.
A cloth face covering is not intended to protect the wearer, but may prevent the spread of virus from the wearer to others. This would be especially important in the event that someone is infected but does not have symptoms. A cloth face covering should be worn whenever people must go into public settings (grocery stores, for example).
As the State and local municipalities continues to re-open it is vitally important that we continue to flatten the curve and prevent the further spread of COVID-19.
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Hospitals Need Communities to Wear Masks | ABC News
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Proper Disposal of Face Masks & Gloves
and the Importance of Hand Washing
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July 11th is World Population Day
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World Population Day aims
to increase people's awareness on various
population
issues such as the importance of family planning, including gender equality, poverty, maternal health and human rights.
The
day
is celebrated worldwide by business groups, community organizations and individuals in many ways.
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UNION COUNTY: Phone Banking Initiative Urges Union County Residents to Participate
in the 2020 Census
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UNION COUNTY
- As part of a broad effort to encourage participation in the 2020 Census, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders has launched a phone bank initiative to remind residents about the importance of returning their 2020 Census survey, and to assist them with any questions they may have.
“The Census count has a direct impact on funding for education, roads, and health care in Union County,”
said Freeholder Chair Alexander Mirabella.
“There is so much at stake, and the phone banking initiative is an important part of the County’s commitment to achieve a fair and accurate count of all Union County residents.
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If you have not responded to the 2020 Census and receive a phone call from the Union County phone bank, please take a few minutes to help us meet that goal.”
Union County personnel will operate the phone bank, on temporary reassignment during the COVID-19 outbreak. They are trained to provide reliable guidance on the 2020 Census and provide accurate answers to questions, including those regarding confidentiality and other concerns.
The Union County phone bank will call more than 30,000 individuals during the next few months, targeting hard-to-count areas. The initiative will begin directing calls to low response communities in the City of Plainfield.
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the County has employed social media to explain the importance of completing the Census. In addition, 30-second public service announcements featuring Chairman Mirabella in English with Spanish subtitles were aired through various media outlets covering all Union County municipalities.
Other Union County initiatives include the countywide “It Makes Sense to…Come to Your CENSUS 2020” campaign created by high school students who participated in Union County’s annual UC-STEP youth leadership conference in December.
The County will continue to encourage all residents to complete and return the Census questionnaire by mail, phone, or online. The Census has only nine questions and takes about 10 minutes to fill out.
For more help with responding to the U.S. Census, County residents can complete an online survey on the County website at
ucnj.org/census
For additional information and assistance on responding, visit the U.S. Census Bureau at
2020census.gov/en/ways-to-respond
, or call 844-330-2020. Phone assistance is available from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance on the Union County Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University, visit
ucnj.org/coronavirus-update
.
For general information about COVID-19 and phone contacts for 24/7 assistance with questions, visit the New Jersey Department of Health at
nj.gov/health
.
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FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE:
Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order Requiring Individuals to Wear Masks in Outdoor Public Spaces When They Cannot Social Distance
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TRENTON, NJ --
Governor Phil Murphy today signed Executive Order No. 163, which requires individuals to wear face coverings in outdoor public spaces when it is not practicable to socially distance and keep a six-foot distance from others, excluding immediate family members, caretakers, household members, or romantic partners, except where doing so would inhibit that individual’s health, where the individual is under two years of age, or in situations where individuals cannot feasibly wear a face covering, such as when eating or drinking at outdoor dining areas.
The Order, which takes effect immediately, also reiterates New Jersey's policy of requiring face coverings in indoor spaces that are accessible to members of the public, such as retail, recreational, and entertainment businesses, areas of government buildings open to the public, and mass transit buses, trains, and stations, again with exceptions for health reasons and children under two.
“As I’ve said before, we know this virus is a lot less lethal outdoors than indoors, but that does not mean it is not lethal,”
said Governor Murphy.
“The hotspots we’re seeing across the nation and certain worrisome transmission trends in New Jersey require us to do more. In the absence of a national strategy on face coverings, we’re taking this step to ensure that we can continue on our road back as one New Jersey family.”
The Order notes that situations when wearing a face covering would inhibit an individual’s health include when an individual is engaging in high intensity aerobic or anaerobic activities, when in the water, and in other situations where the presence of a mask would pose a risk to the individual’s safety.
The Order also notes that for indoor commercial spaces that are not open to members of the public, such as office buildings, those spaces must have policies that at a minimum, require individuals to wear face coverings when in prolonged proximity to others. The Order also notes that child care centers, other child care facilities, and youth summer camps are not governed by this Order, and those settings continue to be governed by Executive Order No. 149 (2020) and applicable standards issued by the Department of Health.
Furthermore, the Order clarifies that for outdoor dining purposes, outdoor areas shall be defined as open air spaces that either 1) have no roof or cover, or 2) have a fixed roof or temporary or seasonal awning or cover, with at least two open sides that would comprise over 50 percent of the total wall space if the space were fully enclosed.
Lastly, the Order clarifies that practices and competitions for sports defined as “Low Risk” by the Department of Health’s “Guidance for Sports Activities” are permitted in both outdoor and indoor settings. No-contact practices for sports defined as “High or Medium Risk” are permitted to resume in outdoor and indoor settings. Contact practices and competitions for sports defined as “Medium Risk” are permitted to resume in outdoor settings only. Contact practices and competitions for sports defined as “High Risk” remain prohibited in both indoor and outdoor settings. All sporting activities are subject to the “Guidance for Sports Activities”, and such activities must comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and Executive Orders.
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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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