Why Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan is Important |
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Dear Friend,
COVID-19 has been devastating for our nation, it has affected the economy, the health care system, small businesses, and predominantly black and brown communities everywhere, and we've felt its impact in our Plainfield community. However, the pandemic revealed deeper cracks within our socio-economic infrastructure that need urgent attention. President Biden's infrastructure bill proposes to invest $550 Billion of federal investments in America's infrastructure.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure agenda promises to address several socio-economic issues, including managing roads, bridges, and other significant projects, transportation safety programs, modernizing transit and improving accessibility for the elderly and people with disabilities. Implementation of EVs (electric vehicles) to address the climate crisis and support domestic manufacturing jobs. Reconnect communities divided by transportation infrastructure. The program will fund planning, design, demolition, and reconstruction of street grids, parks, or other infrastructure. Clean Drinking Water systems. Reliable High-Speed Internet access for all Americans. Environmental Remediation by addressing blighted and polluted areas in rural and urban communities
This comprehensive plan would change the landscape of urban communities across the country and improve the quality of life for every American. We can't continue to turn a blind eye to the reality that most Americans live. If we don't begin addressing these urgent issues, we will experience a bigger uprise in preventable deaths, poverty, high crime rates, and lack of social services. President Biden's plan could support new projects like the Elmwood Garden re-build, transforming aging, blighted residences into quality affordable housing. I don't need to emphasize how important that could be for our city and other cities across the US.
Our plan has always been to lift as we grow, and President Biden's Build Back Better platform directly supports transforming the landscape of America one community, one neighborhood, and one city at a time.
The Queen City's rich diversity of residents also means that we have a high population of residents who don't have adequate access to quality health care opportunities and who depend on federally funded social services to get by. Unfortunately, Black and Brown communities have a longstanding history of chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. In the last few years, the reduction of federal funding has delayed and halted our ability to secure quality healthcare for all, amongst other pressing matters.
We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the disparities that exist so blatantly in our communities and how a lack of building and maintaining infrastructure affects us all. Union County is rated among the higher counties whose residents have difficulty affording quality healthcare. Our Hispanic community suffers the most, standing at 36.9% of the population unable to afford a doctor. Meanwhile, 18% of African Americans cannot afford to seek medical services (source).
I want to suggest the addition of a long-term- sustainable healthcare plan and allocation of funds to agencies such as HUD, which can utilize them in areas that need revitalization.
I ask for your support by acting as the voice of Plainfield. Use your resources like social media, and tag the significant Media outlets, reach out to politicians, policymakers, celebrities, and others who have the direct influence to make or break this bill. Exercise your voice; we are 54,586 valuable, diverse voices who have the power to shape our nation.
Sustained pressure must be applied to the nation's policymakers in Washington and political leaders in Trenton to get to support for President Biden’s bold build back better agenda. It’s time for Senators Manchin and Sinema to do right by the American people and stop being roadblocks to progress. Holding the President hostage on the infrastructure bill is holding the American people hostage. Leaders at every level of government must come together and begin the deep healing process that will result in building back better our urban centers and diverse communities that have been victims of infrastructure neglect for far too long. The time to invest in our communities is now.
Creating One Plainfield. One Future.
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Porqué El Plan de Infraestructura de
Biden es Importante
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Querido Friend,
COVID-19 ha sido devastador para nuestra nación, ha afectado la economía, el sistema de atención médica, las pequeñas empresas y las comunidades predominantemente negras y marrones en todas partes, y hemos sentido su impacto en nuestra comunidad de Plainfield. Sin embargo, la pandemia reveló fisuras más profundas dentro de nuestra infraestructura socioeconómica que necesita atención urgente. El proyecto de ley de infraestructura del presidente Biden propone invertir $ 550 mil millones de inversiones federales en la infraestructura de Estados Unidos.
La agenda de Infraestructura Bipartidista promete confrontar varios problemas socioeconómicos, incluido la gestión de carreteras, puentes y otros proyectos importantes, programas de seguridad en el transporte, modernización del tránsito y mejora de la accesibilidad para los ancianos y las personas con discapacidades. Implementación de vehículos eléctricos (EVs) para abordar la crisis climática y apoyar los empleos de fabricación nacional. Reconectar comunidades divididas por infraestructura de transporte. El programa financiará la planificación, el diseño, la demolición y la reconstrucción de redes de calles, parques y otra infraestructura. Sistemas de agua potable limpia. Acceso confiable a Internet de alta velocidad para todos los estadounidenses. Remediación ambiental abordando áreas arruinadas y contaminadas en comunidades rurales y urbanas ( fuente).
Este plan integral cambiaría el panorama de las comunidades urbanas en todo el país y mejoraría la calidad de vida de todos los estadounidenses. No podemos seguir haciendo la vista gorda ante la realidad que vive la mayoría de los estadounidenses. Si no comenzamos a atender estos problemas urgentes, experimentaremos un mayor aumento en las muertes prevenibles, la pobreza, los altos porcentajes de criminalidad y la falta de servicios sociales. El plan del presidente Biden podría apoyar nuevos proyectos como la remodelación de Elmwood Garden, transformando residencias envejecidas y arruinadas en viviendas asequibles de calidad. No necesito enfatizar lo importante que podría ser para nuestra ciudad y otras ciudades en los Estados Unidos.
Nuestro plan siempre ha sido levantar a medida que crecemos, y la plataforma del presidente Biden de “Build Back Better” apoya directamente la transformación del paisaje de Estados Unidos, una comunidad, un vecindario y una ciudad a la vez.
La rica diversidad de residentes de nuestra ciudad reina también significa que tenemos una alta población de residentes que no tienen acceso adecuado o oportunidades de atención médica de calidad y que dependen de los servicios sociales financiados por el gobierno federal para salir adelante. Desafortunadamente, las comunidades negras y marrones tienen una larga historia de enfermedades crónicas como la diabetes y la presión arterial alta. En los últimos años, la reducción de los fondos federales ha retrasado y detenido nuestra capacidad de garantizar una atención médica de calidad para todos, entre otros asuntos apremiantes.
No podemos seguir haciendo la vista gorda ante las disparidades que existen tan descaradamente en nuestras comunidades y cómo la falta de construcción y mantenimiento de infraestructura nos afecta a todos. El Condado de Union está clasificado entre los condados más altos cuyos residentes tienen dificultades para brindar atención médica de calidad. Nuestra comunidad hispana es la que más sufre, parado en el 36.9% de la población que no puede pagar un médico. Mientras tanto, el 18% de los afroamericanos no pueden permitirse buscar servicios médicos ( fuente).
Quiero sugerir la adición de un plan de salud sostenible a largo plazo y la asignación de fondos a agencias como HUD, que pueden utilizarlos en áreas que necesitan revitalización. Les pido su apoyo actuando como la voz de Plainfield. Use sus recursos como las redes sociales y etiquete los medios de comunicación importantes, comuníquese con políticos, legisladores, celebridades y otras personas que tengan la influencia directa para hacer o deshacer este proyecto de ley. Ejercita tu voz; somos 54,586 voces valiosas y diversas que tienen el poder de dar forma a nuestra nación.
Se debe ejercer una presión sostenida sobre los responsables políticos de la nación en Washington y los líderes políticos en Trenton para que apoyen la audaz agenda de construcción de la mejor del presidente Biden. Es hora que los senadores Manchin y Sinema hagan lo correcto por el pueblo estadounidense y dejen de ser obstáculos para el progreso. Mantener al Presidente como rehén en el proyecto de ley de infraestructura es mantener al pueblo estadounidense como rehén. Los líderes de todos los niveles de gobierno deben unirse y comenzar el proceso de sanación profunda que resultará en reconstruir mejor nuestros centros urbanos y diversas comunidades que han sido víctimas de negligencia de infraestructura durante demasiado tiempo. El momento de invertir en nuestras comunidades es ahora.
Creando Un Plainfield. Un Futuro.
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Mayor Adrian O. Mapp Announces New Direction for PMUA |
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PRESS RELEASE
Mayor Adrian O. Mapp Announces New Direction for PMUA
November 2, 2021- Plainfield, NJ - Mayor Mapp lays out plan for change at the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority (PMUA) amid rising discontent from residents.
In an announcement made at the Plainfield Democratic Campaign Headquarters on Tuesday, November 2, after winning a historic third term as Mayor of the City of Plainfield, Mayor Mapp revealed his plan to make changes at the sanitary services organization PMUA.
Calling the Authority a failed twenty-five (25) year experiment, he expressed his intent to seek support to disband the Authority and roll its services into the city's operations.
The PMUA has, arguably, long been viewed by some residents as controversial at best and expensive and incompetent at worst. It has faced increasing criticism over the past few years as chronic garbage accrual began dotting the citywide landscape. With things coming to a head after the crisis faced by many households after Tropical Storm Ida, it was time, said Mayor Mapp, to take decisive action.
"Over many years and most recently over the past two, we've had a spotlight shone on the insufficiencies of the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority (PMUA). We have all seen and heard the complaints from residents. We've been bombarded with images and posts on social media. We've seen our trash and recycling cans sitting at the curb full to overflowing with no notice of when they will be emptied. City Hall staff and I have fielded queries, complaints, and comments about the agency's inability to adequately respond to concerns of our residents and meet the demands of the public that they serve." Said Mayor Mapp, "In recent months, the situation has progressed from annoying and inconvenient to chronic and dire with missed pickups, poor communication, garbage
pile-up, and general degeneration of the sanitary services that are expected and should be provided."
He further spoke about the level of evolvement needed by city agencies to keep pace with the growth and development taking place, indicating that the PMUA had failed to meet the challenge of that growing need.
A transition team comprised of members of the administration and the leadership of the PMUA with the assistance of legal and financial advisors will be appointed to study the proposed dissolution and make recommendations. The team will lay out the necessary steps for a smooth transition and recommend a new structure under the city's umbrella.
Further details will be provided in the coming weeks
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Below is the Updated Recycling Collection Schedule Through January 2022.
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REMINDER | City Council Meeting Scheduled for Monday, November 8th at 7:00PM
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RECAP | Ribbon-Cutting for Elmwood Square Apartments |
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On Thursday, October 28, the City of Plainfield held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Elmwood Square Apartments. Mayor Adrian O. Mapp, joined by Plainfield City Council, the Housing Authority of Plainfield, and other distinguished guests, celebrated the accomplishment of completing this project which will provide market-rate affordable housing for Plainfield residents. Powerful remarks were heard from Mayor Adrian O. Mapp, Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver, Assemblywoman Linda Carter, Union County Commissioner Vice Chair Rebecca Williams, Council President Steve Hockaday, and Council Vice President & Liaison to the Housing Authority of Plainfield Barry Goode.
Elmwood Square is a beautiful, 58 units, 43 2br, and 15 3br, townhouse apartment complex. Each apartment features an in-home washer & dryer, dishwasher, smart home electric stove, and so much more. All ground floor units are handicap adaptable, and all units have Section 8 project-based assistance.
Elmwood Square is the second affordable housing project that sets a new standard for workforce housing in Plainfield.
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THE SENIOR CENTER IS OPEN |
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CITY OF PLAINFIELD | Vaccine Lottery
Drawing Winners and Vaccine Clinic Locations
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Mayor Adrian O. Mapp Congratulates one of our Vaccine Lottery Winners, Cynise Reaves.
Congratulations to the winners for September - Cynise Reaves, Jose Membreno, Marco Jocho.
Congratulations to our previous winners for August: Celestino Garcia, Ventura Perez Hernandez, Sergio Monvou, and Mari Livia Finzo.
July Winners: Jorge China, Guadalupe Aguilar, Melina Coleman, Katherine Costro
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VACCINE UPDATE - For the month of September 316 individuals received the first dose and 157 individuals received the second dose of the vaccine.
Additionally, since the vaccine lottery was implemented in July 2,300 individuals have been vaccinated.
We continue to urge residents to get vaccinated as we work together to fight the effects of the Delta Variant. There is so much misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine and its side effects and efficacy. Speak with your health care provider to address any concerns.
Get vaccinated through the City of Plainfield, Union County, the Neighborhood Health Center, or any other approved Plainfield location for your chance to win $5,000. Plainfield residents must be 18 years or older to qualify, and proof of residency must be shown at the time of vaccination. Four winners, two who received their first dose and two who obtained their second dose, will be chosen each month.
The next lottery drawing will be on Friday, November 12th. You could be a winner!
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We are committed to keeping our residents and community safe. The below schedule highlights locations throughout the City until November 20th. Review for the location convenient for you and your family. |
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#LOVEPLAINFIELD | #AMOPLAINFIELD
SPOTLIGHT
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Welcome to the City of Plainfield! Our annual Fall Newsletter has been mailed to all households. To view click the below image.
#LovePlainfieldNJ #LovePlainfield #AmoPlainfield
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UNION COUNTY: Nominations Open for 2021 Union County Women of Excellence Awards |
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Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of County Commissioners reminds residents, business owners and non-profit managers to submit nominations for the 30th annual Women of Excellence awards. The nomination period will run from Monday, November 1, to Wednesday, December 1, 2021.
The Women of Excellence awards celebrate women who have made a powerful impact on life in Union County. The awards are given out to women who have made strides for significant enhancements of the lives of the members of the community in which they work or live by the Union County Commission on the Status of Women.
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FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE:
Open Enrollment Period for Get Covered New Jersey Begins Nov 1, With Record Levels of Financial Help Available to Make Health Insurance More Affordable
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Majority of consumers receiving financial help can find a plan for
$10 a month or less
More options available to consumers for 2022, Residents can preview available plans now at GetCovered.NJ.gov
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TRENTON, NJ – The Murphy Administration announced the Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Period at Get Covered New Jersey (GetCovered.NJ.gov), will begin Monday, Nov. 1st, with more plan choices and record levels of financial help available to make health insurance more affordable. Residents can view available 2022 plans and compare costs now, before the enrollment window opens, using the Get Covered New Jersey Shop and Compare tool.
Nine out of 10 residents enrolling at Get Covered New Jersey will qualify for financial help to lower the cost of quality, affordable health coverage. The majority of people receiving financial help will have access to a health plan at a cost of $10 a month or less, due to historic savings that remains available for 2022 from the federal American Rescue Plan Act and the State of New Jersey.
“Open enrollment is the one time of year residents who do not have health insurance through an employer or other program can enroll in a plan. This year, because of the work of the Biden Administration and our state, we will continue to offer historic levels of financial help to improve access to quality, affordable health coverage,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “Our administration continues to be guided by our belief that health care is a basic human right. We opened our own health insurance marketplace, following attacks on health care by the former federal administration, to improve access to coverage and care. With the expanded financial help available, we want to ensure as many people as possible get covered. We encourage residents in need of health insurance to prepare for the start of open enrollment, and to spread the word to family and friends who may need coverage.”
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FROM THE WHITE HOUSE:
Remarks by President Biden Announcing Framework for his Build Back Better Agenda and Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill
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I am pleased to announce that after months of tough and thoughtful negotiations, I know we have a historic economic framework.
It’s a framework that will create millions of jobs, grow the economy, invest in our nation and our people, turn the climate crisis into an opportunity, and put us on a path not only to compete, but to win the economic competition for the 21st century against China and every other major country in the world.
It’s fiscally responsible. It’s fully paid for. Seventeen Nobel Prize winners in economics have said it will lower the inflationary pressures on the economy.
And over the next 10 years, it will not add to the deficit at all; it will actually reduce the deficit, according to the economists.
I want to thank my colleagues in the Congress for their leadership. We’ve spent hours and hours and hours over months and months working on this.
No one got everything they wanted, including me, but that’s what compromise is. That’s consensus. And that’s what I ran on.
I’ve long said compromise and consensus are the only way to get big things done in a democracy, important things for the country.
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Issue or Concern ? Report it |
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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, and the city will work to resolve the issue or complaint.
You have the power to be the eyes and ears of our city! Your reports can greatly increase the quality of life in Plainfield. Let's work together to keep our city safe- If you see it, say it with Report It.
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As we navigate these uncertain times please know that everyone at City Hall is working to ensure that you are safe, secure and healthy. If you need anything addition please contact us at 908.753.3000
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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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