cityscape

Passaic Police Department

Two recent incidents having to do with city police matters are causing Passaic insiders to wonder about the objectivity of the new mayor, Dr. Alex Blanco.  It seems that some of the Blanco supporters are taking advantage of his lack of experience and using their friendship to further their own goals.

The first event was on December 13, 2008, when police officers were dispatched to an area of Main Avenue to ensure that night clubs there were letting out in an orderly fashion.  When they approached the Milenio Lounge, they heard loud music coming from the establishment, even though it was after the 2:00 a.m. time limit.  The officers were told by an employee that Mayor Blanco was inside--the implication being that this made it O.K. to ignore the law.  Then, Police Captain Diaz, who was off-duty, came from inside and began to interfere with the officers.  A report of this is on file at police headquarters.

The second event was a call to the police responding to a domestic dispute.  It now appears the individuals involved in the written complaint are friends of the mayor.  After the report was filed, information has been supplied that the officers who responded were asked by Captain Diaz and the mayor to drop the charges.

In order to be effective and fair, my advice to Mayor Blanco is to not get involved with matters that are contrary to the law, regardless of personal relationships.

Bail Me out.

 

   Bail Out the Auto Buyer Not the Auto Maker

 

When it comes to economics I am pretty much a moron. My philosophy of stocks is “buy and hold” until the company goes bankrupt. This year I am giving my friends and family shares of Washington Mutual as placemats for the holidays. With that being said I can’t believe that I am compelled to offer economic advice regarding the auto bailout plan. But “nothing ventured nothing gained” which coincidently is what I say to myself before I buy a stock, well here it goes.

           I am sure there are a myriad of reasons that the automobile makers find themselves in the situation they are in and a collapse of the auto industry would have dismal effects on our economy which will translate into hardships and financial catastrophe for many people. But I am going to go out on a limb here and say that the main reason the auto makers are in trouble is that they are not selling enough of the product they produce. Yes I know it sounds like economics 101 but to put it simply they don’t sell enough cars. So whether we give them 15 billion, or trillion in the words of  Joe the auto mechanic it “ain’t gonna help” unless people buy more cars.         

           So then why are we bailing out the auto makers when we should be bailing out the potential auto buyers?  Let’s give people more incentives to buy a car. My family has two cars, my car which is three years old and has lots of nicks and dents and  over 50Kmiles and then there is my wife’s beauty, eight years old and held together with glue and duct tape and we wonder how far over 100K can a car go? We both need our cars to get to work and certainly have considered buying one or two cars, but in this economy we have a hard time justifying the expense. So I am asking my elected officials rather than throwing money at the auto makers, please throw some incentives at this auto buyer and let me help the automaker.

            How about giving me a nice size tax deduction when I choose to buy a car?  It doesn’t have to be the entire cost, but perhaps a ten thousand dollar deduction which would amount to about a $3,000 tax savings.  Why not allow me to deduct my car payments as an allowable expense? After all to many of us a car is a necessity that we need to get to the job where you tax us on the money we earn. You don’t like that idea? Well then allow me to take money out of my IRA or retirement plan without penalty to purchase a car. Or how about suspending sales tax on automobiles? There are many ways government can help the auto buyer and in the wake of this crisis it angers me that all the attention seems to be focused on the auto maker and not the auto buyer. I am sure what I have proposed won’t cost anywhere near the billions that have been suggested and won’t need a “car czar” to oversee it. It won’t be as controversial and in the long run will have a more tangible result, more cars will be sold and more people who need them will be able to afford them in this economy.

 It amazes me that politicians will find new and unique ways to spend our money,  rather than allow us to spend it ourselves. So instead of providing a “bailout plan” to the auto buyer they create corporate welfare for the maker, which sadly won’t address the root problem of people not being able to buy cars. So it looks like instead of buying my wife a new car for the holidays I’ll buy her some more glue and duct tape. Yikes!!  I hope the government comes up with a husband bail out plan soon.

And then there was three.

I do have to apologize for not writing, but taking a page out of the Governor of Illinois book I was trying to sell my spot on the Blog to the highest bidder. Actually to be honest I didn't even know that this blog was still up since there does not seem to beany way to get to it since all the links are gone after the Herald site went away.  So I do hope that they continue this on the NorthJersey,com site. Well any way since I brought it up what can be said about the Illinois Governor and the audacity of politicians? I refuse to believe that people did not know how dirty this man was especially in a state like Illinois where two other governors have spent time in jail. Why is it that all over America it seems we replace one corrupt politician with another? One has to question whether a politician can even rise to any degree a power and not be corrupted. How do we clean up government? I am here let's talk......

Sorry, America has been busy

It has been quite a while.   The drought was caused by an intense interest and fascination with current events and  in the political debate that raged all summer and fall.  This historic presidential campaign with its many twists and turns was captivating and too exciting to turn away from.  I was compelled to follow as much political commentary as I could, on cable and on radio.  I read the online opinions and even some of the newspapers.  Never have I seen or experienced anything quite like this. 

    And so much was at stake as well.  The world held its collective breath as America made it choice, not just on a president, but on the future direction of this country and our place in this increasingly complicated world.  Rarely have so many counted on an election to do so much. 

    Some people will look at what took place and  say all that happened was the election of America's first black president.  Pretty momentous in its own right.  But so much more has happened.  We saw the press run an election like never before.  Wolf Blitzer of CNN made the  election story when he decided to pit Hilliary versus Obama for the first 30 minutes of the first debate, robbing us of the opportunity to determine what the story actually was.  And we went along, denying the other candidates a fair shot at competing.  This went unchallenged and quite possibly changed the course of history.

    The Iraq war was finally trumped by the sagging economy.  Home foreclosures and job layoffs have crippled the nation and really savaged already job poor cities.  Oil prices skyrocketed, sending gas, food and service prices through the roof, then tumbled downward during the election season.  Now oil is in free fall as America finally begins to realize that oil dependence can hurt us long term.  

    Newspapers are closing as the internet invades the reading market.  Foreign news bureaus shut down, decreasing the sources and accuracy of the news.  Fewer and fewer voices reach print and fewer and fewer corporate owners seize more control.  Our news gets increasing filtered through the eyes of corporate sponsors and market analysts.  Can't write it if it won't sell!

     President Bush signed on to a timetable to pullout frm Iraq after he complained about timetables.  Afghanistan is descending into chaos.  Palestine and Israel continue to be worlds apart.  Iran, surrounded by American action on all its borders considers how to retaliate.  Antimissile batteries are comtemplated for Poland.  An enraged Russia is doing military manuevers with Venezuela.  India is in flames. Pakistan is on alert.  China is choking on our debt.  Wall street is in free fall, the banks are sitting on our bailout money and we are trying to decide if we want to let the car industry, with its 3 million associated jobs, go bankrupt.  

    We have absorbed all this and kept on going.  The NJ Supreme court has told Governor Corzine not so fast on his school funding formula and Hilliary is going to be Secretary of State.  With all this happening, who had time to write?...

    

PROMISES, PROMISES

Passaic's election is over and a new mayor, whose term will end June 30, will soon be sworn in.  Campaign promises by the incoming mayor such as "restoring public trust" and "cleaning up our government" will soon be tested.

It is anticipated that among his first actions he will promote one of his staunchest supporters to the position of a third deputy chief in the police department.  Passaic had always had only one deputy chief until former Mayor Rivera, with the full approval of his obliging council, changed the table of organization to three deputy chiefs.  What better way to reward political supporters than to create new openings at the top that then allows for similar promotions, all the way back to sergeants, and for new appointments to fill the vacancies.

There has never been a need for three deputy chiefs.  Even the Technical Asssistance Report by the Department of Law and Public Safety Division of Criminal Justice did not cite a need for increasing the number.

The second deputy chief was put on in November 2003 and the third such promotion was made in January 2004.  For five budget years thereafter, using an average salary of $115,000 for the two extras, the cost to Passaic's taxpayers has been over $1 million.

More of the new mayor's campaign promises were to "stabilize taxes" through "fiscal responsibility."  This cannot be done with political pay backs.  If this does take place, it will look like nothing has changed--just the cast of characters.

Cuisine for a Cause

On Monday, 10/27/08 at 6p you can Cuisine for a Cause...

&

Be part of our 1st Annual Passaic County CASA
Commitment Award

Please look at attachments for more info. Download pc_casa_event.pdf
Download corporateask1.doc

Thank you,

Anna Villlalongo
Passaic County CASA
BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Don't forget tomorrow>>>> 10/4/08

Superintendent Search Community Forums

"What qualities and traits would you most like to see in the next Paterson Public Schools Superintendent?"

The city wide forums are open to all parents, community members, teachers, students, and anyone who cares about public schools. Come and tell the Superintendent Search Committee what you think!

5th Ward Meeting

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Eastside High School

150 Park Avenue

11:00 AM - 1:00PM

Community Forums "Paterson Superintendent Search"

Paterson Superintendent Search
“What qualities and traits would you most like to see in the next Paterson Public Schools Superintendent?”

See attachment in English & Spanish on Community Forums please past the word.Download superintendent_search_flyer_spanish_version.pdf
Download superintendent_search_flyer_revised.pdf

Come celebrate the beautiful heritage of Latin America!

FIESTA LATINO AMERICANA
DE PASSAIC COUNTY

Come celebrate the beautiful heritage of Latin America!

Delicious Cultural Food, Folk Dancers/Music & Much More!
Saturday, October 11th
11AM – 2PM
401 Grand Street, Paterson NJ
Free Admission

For more information call 973-881-8222
Sponsored by the Board of Chosen Freeholders and IRODZ Associates, LLC

PEF "Graduating Every Paterson Child" “Graduando cada niño de Paterson”

Paterson Education Fund

"Graduating Every Paterson Child"
Saturday, September 20, 2008
At Passaic County Community College
One College Boulevard, Paterson, NJ, 07505

Conference Agenda

8:30 – 9:00 Registration & Breakfast
9:00 Welcome
9:15 – 10:35 Morning Workshops:

1. Building Parent Power
Talk with NJ Education Organizing Coalition organizers about building parent power and voice.

2. Creating Parent Resources (Spanish Language session.)
Let’s talk about what parents need as the Paterson Public Schools revises its parent programs.

3. Search for a Superintendent. .
Talk with members of the Newark superintendent search committee about the lessons they
learned from the Newark Search.

4. Navigation 101 Advisory Curriculum
Attend a student-led conference. Hear our students, parents and educators discuss the value
Paterson’s new advisory program.

10:45 – 12:00 Morning Plenary:
What do Patersonians think about education? A talk with pollster Josh Ulibarri about how Paterson compares to the national attitudes about education.

12:05 – 12:35 Luncheon:

12:45 – 2 pm Afternoon Workshops:

5. Building Parent Power (Spanish language session.)
Talk with NJ Education Organizing Coalition organizers about building parent power and voice.

6. Creating Parent Resources
Let’s talk about what parents need as the Paterson Public Schools revises its parent programs.

7. Search for a Superintendent
Talk with members of the Newark superintendent search committee about the lessons they learned
From the Newark search.

8. International High School and School 24 Tour
Hop the minibus to visit our newest school facilities.

2:10 – 3:00 Closing Plenary: Our Children’s day in court on September 22
Hear the Black Issues Convention and the Hispanic Directors Association discuss the importance of Abbott and the School Funding Reform Act of 2008


Name: Organization:
Address: City/Zipcode:
Phone:
Email:

Enclosed is my check for $_____ [$20 per person, scholarships & volunteer exchange available,
call Anna Villalongo at 973-881-8914]

Here’s a donation to help someone else attend: $________

Make checks payable to the Paterson Education Fund.
Send to PEF at 152 Market Street Paterson NJ 07505

Paterson Education Fund

“Graduando cada niño de Paterson”
El sábado 20 de septiembre de, 2008
En Passaic County Community College
One College Boulevard, Paterson, NJ, 07505

AGENDA

8:30 – 9:00 Registración y desayuno
9:00 Bienvenida
9:15 – 10:35 Talleres de la Mañana:

1. Construyendo poder con padres de familia (Sesión en Ingles)
Hable con organizadores de la Coalición Organizativa Educacional de NJ acerca de como construir voz y poder con padres de familia.

2. Creando recursos para los padres (Sesión en Español.)
Hablaremos sobre las necesidades de los padres de familia, al mismo tiempo que las escuelas públicas de Paterson modifican los programas para Padres.

3. Búsqueda por un Superintendente escolar.
Hablaremos con miembros del Comité de búsqueda del Superintendente de Newark, sobre las lecciones que aprendieron ellos en la búsqueda realizada en Newark.

4. Curricula Consultivo de Navegación 101
Atienda a una conferencia guiada por estudiantes. Escuche a nuestros estudiantes, padres y educadores conversar acera del valor del nuevo programa de Asesoría de Paterson.

10:45 – 12:00 Plenario de la Mañana:
¿Que Piensa la gente de Paterson acerca de la educación? Una charla con el encuestador Josh Ulibarri acerca de como Paterson se compara con las actitudes nacionales sobre educación.

12:05 – 12:35 Almuerzo:

12:45 – 2 PM Talleres de la tarde:

5. Construyendo poder con padres de familia (Sesión en Español.)

Hable con organizadores de la Coalición Organizativa Educacional de NJ acerca de como construir voz y poder con padres de familia.

6. Creando recursos para los padres (Sesión en Español.)

Hablaremos sobre las necesidades de los padres de familia, al mismo tiempo que las escuelas públicas de Paterson modifican los programas para Padres.

7. Búsqueda por un Superintendente escolar.
Hablaremos con miembros del Comité de búsqueda del Superintendente de Newark, sobre las lecciones que aprendieron ellos en la búsqueda realizada en Newark.

8. Guía por la preparatoria (bachillerato) Internacional y la escuela 24
Suba al mini-bus (guagua), para visitar las nuevas instalaciones de nuestras escuelas.

2:10 – 3:00 Plenario: EL 22 de septiembre El Día de nuestros hijos en la corte.
Escuche discutir la importancia de Abbott y de SFRA (Acta de Reforma de Fondos Escolares de 2008.) por Black Issues Convention y La Asociación de Directores Hispanos.
.

Nombre: Organización:
Direcćion: Ciudad/código postal:
Teléfono:
Correo electrónico:

Dentro esta mi cheque por $_____ [$20 por persona, cambio voluntarios & becas estan disponibles,
Llame Anna Villalongo al 973-881-8914]

Envíe una donación para ayudar a otra persona atender esta conferencia: $_________

Hagan cheques a nombre del Paterson Education Fund.
Envíelo a PEF al 152 Market Street Paterson NJ 07505

PCCASA “Cuisine for a Cause”

“Cuisine for a Cause”
Taste the Difference- Be the Difference

CASA is a nonprofit organization that provides well trained and well supervised
volunteers to advocate for children throughout Passaic County who
have been removed from their homes due to abuse and or neglect.

Monday, October 27, 2008
6 pm

Best Western Regency House
140 Rt. 23 North, Pompton Plains, NJ

~ $50 per person ~
~Silent Auction ~
~Live Jazz~
~Recognizing founding board member, Robert Guarasci, for his outstanding commitment to CASA~

Restaurants Featured
9North, City Creamery, Cocina De Geepee, Da Vinci's Restaurant, Grasshopper Too, Just Desserts, Mr. Cup Cake, Novelli's, Pauline's Pizza, PG Rufo's, Pompton Lakes' Bakery, Stephen's Chalet, Thatcher McGhee's, Chicken & Rib Crib and More to Come!

For more information call 973-832-4002 or contact Luis Arias via email at Lou@PassaicCountyCASA.org
www.PassaicCountyCASA.org

You can also attach a check to RSVP and mail the form below to:
Passaic County CASA
573 Valley Rd. Ste. 2
Wayne, NJ 07470
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name: _______________________________ Address: ____________________________________
Phone: _________________________ Email(optional): ____________________________________

Number of Seats: _____ Request Special Seating with (optional): ____________________________

Volunteers for Voter Registration Drive

Hello to all,
>
>Please be advised that the Paterson Democrat Club is looking for
>High School Seniors or those that will be 18 before Novembers
>presidential election, would like volunteers for Voter Registration
>Drive. Please inform your youth of the meeting on this coming Saturday.
>
>Location 224 Broadway Masonic Temple
>
>Date Saturday, September 6th
>
>Time 11:30am
>
>If your Church or Organization is conducting Voter Registration
>Drive by the deadline of October 14, 2008. We would like to hear
>from you as well. Please contact Mr. John Givens, President of the
>Paterson Democrat Club @ 973-919-3661
>
>The next Paterson Democrat Club meeting will be on Monday, September
>8th at 7:30 sharp all are welcome to attend the meeting at 128 Ward
>Street YMCA.
>
>Thank you for your service,
>
>Quincy Battis
>Paterson Democrat Club
>Voter Registration Drive committee Member
>973-345-3883 x. 24

Its a party and you are all invited. Katlyn symbololizeS hope and perseverence She turns 18 and we we will work to give her a birthday bash to remember

(by Mollie Gray, Staff Writer - August 29, 2008)

Katlyn Webb was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation when she was 3 years old. She was also diagnosed with Syringomyelia, caused by a blockage of spinal fluid from Chiara Malformation. Webb also raises research funds by selling her line of greeting cards.

The following is an article from this weeks Clifton Journal. Please join us as the entire city celebrates her birthday!!

CLIFTON – Resident Katlyn Webb is turning 18 next Saturday and the whole City is invited to help her celebrate.

On Sunday, Sept. 7, the Clifton Jewish Center will be hosting a brunch and tricky-tray for Webb and her family to raise money to offset medical bills the family has incurred while treating two neurological disorders Webb has lived with for most of her life.

When she was 3 years old, Webb was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation (CM), a disorder that affects more than 300,000 people. The malformation occurs when the back compartment of the skull forms too small, resulting in the crowding of neurological tissues. The lower part of the brain protrudes through the opening at the bottom of the skull and blocks the flow of spinal fluid. Subsequently Webb was also diagnosed with Syringomyelia (sear-IN-go-my-ELL-ya), caused by a blockage of spinal fluid from CM or other cases. Often referred to as SM, Syringomyelia exists when a cyst forms and stretches the spinal cord over time, causing damage to nerve fibers.

Webb endures chronic headaches, backaches and tremors and attends physical therapy three days a week. She travels to the Chiari Institute on Long Island for most of her appointments and surgeries.

The CM has also led to other complications in her health, including hydrocephalus - an excessive building up cerebrospinal fluid in the brain that requires the placement of a plastic tube known as a "shunt" to divert fluid to other areas of the body. Most recently, a bone scan revealed Webb had developed osteoporosis.

Despite the everyday challenges Webb and her family, which includes sister Stephanie, mother Faith and father David, have encountered, "It’s kind of a real celebration to be at this point of 18," said Faith Webb.

At one point, doctors told the family that without surgery, Katlyn might not live to turn 18. The teen had her 15th neurosurgery in June and is waiting for, what she and her family hopes, will be her last major operation to help relieve her symptoms.

In the meantime, the Webbs keep up to date on the latest developments and news surrounding CM and SM. They attend national conferences, and through joining and leading support groups, have met other families who are affected by the disorders. The family is helping to raise money for foundations supporting the research of both conditions.

In 2005, the City Council declared Chiari Malformation and Syringomyelia Awareness Week in Clifton with a butterfly release, which was meant to symbolize "hope," Katlyn Webb said. That week, the Webbs brought attention to the disorders and also raised $4,800 for research.

The same year, Acting Gov. Richard Codey, declared June Chiari/Syringomyelia Month for Awareness.

The Webbs’ efforts have not stopped and they have not given up hope. Katlyn Webb has helped create her own line of greeting cards, which she sells at local fairs and gatherings. "People buy greeting cards and they pay a lot. And we need a lot of money for the research," she said.

More and more studies are being done, especially to determine whether or not CM is hereditary. But it’s not enough, Faith Webb said. According to the Chiari and Syringomyelia Foundation, research is expensive; a single study is likely to cost between $30,000 to $100,000 and the federal government provides very little funding for research on CM and SM.

Webb’s sister and mother also suffer from CM but have less severe symptoms. The progression of their diagnosis must still be regularly monitored, Faith Webb said.

Katlyn Webb has a simple wish for the future: "No pain…never," she said. "How about no Chiari pain?" her mother chimed in. "As parents, I think we hope for the typical pain we all go through everyday, not the pain she’s had for 18 years…that she can have a break from that," she added.

Katlyn’s 18th birthday party and brunch will be held on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 1 p.m. at the Clifton Jewish Center, 18 Delaware St. There is a suggested donation of $25. Tickets can be purchased through Steve Goldberg at 973-472-2578 or Arlene Bayeaux at 973-778-1434. Donations can also be mailed to Hope Reformed Church, with "Katlyn Webb Fund" in the memo field.

Gray@northjersey.com

I Love Rock and Roll and I Like Politics, But I Hate Rock and Roll Politics.

You might not know this about me, but I love music. This summer if you could not find me at home odds were I was probably at a concert. Rock and Roll of course. To me nothing feels more like summer like a good concert preferably outdoors. What can I say I just love rock and roll.

You probably know that I also like politics and never back down form a good political debate. So I like rock and roll and I like politics but I hate rock and roll politics. Almost every concert I was at this summer for some reason the person or band playing decided it was their duty to inform me that there is an upcoming presidential election, just in case I might have been on Mars during the primaries. Some were clear on who they wanted me to vote for others were a bit vague, but they all seemed very comfortable in using their captive audience (many may have been under the influence) as election pawns. By the way it didn't matter to me whether I agreed with who they were telling me to vote for or not, but i found the whole aspect of it off key.

Now mind you if Bruce Springsteen wants to invite me over for a political discussion I welcome it, but I don't think that bringing up politics with thousands of screaming fans waiting to here Born to Run makes for good political dialog. If musicians want to talk politics I think they should go on tour on the Sunday Morning talk shows rather than in arenas and stadiums. Well at least that is what I think. Rock on!!!!

CASA Training Institute sessions

Save the Dates or Register for these upcoming CASA Training Institute sessions, sponsored by CASA of New Jersey. These sessions are open to all CASA volunteers, local CASA staff and trustees, and other stakeholders involved in child welfare in NJ.

The Effects of Substance Abuse on Children & Families, October 10, 2008

Racial Disproportionality in the Child Welfare System, November 21, 2008.

New Jersey's Child Welfare System, March 13, 2009.

Save this date. Check back soon to register for this Training Conference.

PLEASE NOTE:
1) All CASA Training Institute programs are held at the Middlesex Fire Academy, in Sayreville, NJ.
2) A $20 deposit must be mailed along with your completed registration form. Your deposit will be refunded upon your attendance at the training session.

For more information call 609-695-9400.