All Politics Are Local: Stop Tearing Down Schools And Building Prisons!

At last night's City Council Meeting, representatives from other wards gave us the person they want to represent us. It kind of takes you back to the days when we had no choice, doesn't it? We do not want any more open sewers left to stew in the hot sun until one of our children falls in. We do not want to be Master Planned right out of the City. We do not want the special interest groups in the 3rd Ward and SEEK running the school district into the ground. We do not want more prisons and fewer school buildings across this state because state and local land barons have sold the free public education that was promised in the constitution.

In the brook by the 3rd Street bridge
or where the 3rd st. bridge used to be.

It is a good thing that those days are over. Yes, friends, those days are over. You and your neighbors are strong together. It is time to start gearing up, 4th ward residents. The days are over when they told us how to vote, eat, think and worship, because they controlled where we worked. This time they started their campaign by eliminating where we work. We have nothing left to lose. I have been accused of grand standing at school board meetings and even in an email. A friend reminded me that WE are not grand standing. WE ARE STANDING GRAND. And we need more residents of Englewood to stand beside us.

The former entrance to Mackay Park
at the end of Elmore Ave. The City now
dumps there. It is no longer used as a
beautiful green place for holiday picnics.

Are we willing to give over those small freedoms again? Does anyone want to see separate water fountains and movie theatres again? News flash: We already have that right here in good old Englewood and more are coming. All of the new housing complexes have their own movie theatres, swimming pools, and recreation centers. How many of you know someone who lives in the apartments on the south side of route 4? Some folks are willing to return to the days when we were subservient just because we had less money and lived in the Valley. They meet in back rooms and offices and broker deals for themselves, their families and their friends. That type of attitude is destroying our school system and our community. Is that what we want? Only we have the power to change the tide of events. It is high time we used it.

In a town where the lowest paid are fired because they have a union and benefits, it speaks volumes about the turmoil in the world. If folks have real power and real money, they go after the real benefit packages.  Try the benefit package of one Congressman. How many jobs do you think one of those packages equates to in the scheme of things?

Located at the entrance to
Elmore Ave. 

They are already controlling the educational system and our children. Do we all see bright futures for our children after being neglected in this school district and this town? How do you like the way that is going? 2 years ago I watched a video created by a 15 year old that brought tears to my eyes. He said that grownups had forgotten about the teens. He no longer felt protected and complained about being forced to play in the streets, while other towns have Recreation Centers. That young man ended up in jail. Is this town and this school system preparing all of our children for the orange jumpsuit?  They are certainly not preparing them to enter college or for a career upon graduation from high school. They are dead set on getting us all to move or die trying to survive. That is the Master Plan.

I have nothing against the selection. He is one of my neighbors. The question is this. How do we trust someone that the other wards think is best for our Ward when the representatives from those wards have already demonstrated that they do not care about anything other than the real estate in the 4th Ward? It is not such a puzzle. We don't. We use the power of our vote and let our voices be heard loud and clear. Is is a new day. The beginning is here!

Some OSHA regulated gloves would have helped to protect this
youngster while performing a civic duty. More police surveillance
in the vicinity would probably help alleviate the problem that
made it necessary for him to stand here in the first place.

Who else does not wish to imagine Englewood with no 4th Ward representation on the School Board and now on the City Council? It is time for us to have our say.
On all blocks. Turn off the TV and go outside.
Talk to your neighbors.
Make sure that the person to the left and to the right of you is registered to vote.

Dust off your votes. Make sure you know where to vote. There has been some weirdness going on with polling places in the last 2 elections. The weirdness is called voter suppression. It is happening all over the country, because folks are afraid that in the next 4 years our President will be able to do some good. Make sure the 18 year old in your home votes. Make sure that the 18 year old's friends are registered to vote.

It is no coincidence that the prisons of this country are packed to the ceiling with the children of people of color. A friend once told me that "all politics is local" and now I understand that statement. If we want fewer people of color in the prison institution and more in institutions of higher education, we must start in our own neighborhoods. Too many children of color are getting a higher education in the prison system.

There are states, such as Ohio, that have sold their prison population to private industry along with a deal to keep the prisoners coming. All parents must understand that this may be coming to a state that YOU live in very soon. Less than a 100 years ago prison labor was the way to go. Cheap labor supposedly saves taxpayers money.  Big business and private industry may just be depending on the indiscretions of our husband, sons, daughter, other relatives and friends in order to make the big bucks.  Some feel that prison labor is not a money making proposition for private industry. They maintain that there is an even darker motive. Regardless of why our children seem primed for jail by a larger society, we must work diligently when they are babies to make sure that they have options.
,

I do not see the humor in this prison jumpsuit that is sold in all sizes by Abercrombie and Fitch. It does not bode well knowing that the prison population is growing everyday. If Abercrombie and Fitch are selling it, someone is buying into the hype.

Are we tired of our children being fitted for the orange jump suit in pre-kindergarten? We recognize the Prisoners, the Warden, Parole Board, the Prison Guards and the Trustees. Which one are you?

The 4 Wards Coalition 4 Empowerment

The Beginning is Near!

The first official meeting of the Executive Board of The 4 Wards Empowerment Coalition took place at the Elks Lodge on Bennett Road on Thursday night.

A group of concerned residents representing the 3rd and 4th wards met and discussed the ideas, concerns and needs of the community. Some of these concerns have also been expressed at City Council, Planning Board and School Board meetings. Concerns from community gatherings over the last few years were voiced as well at the Master Plan Public Hearing.

We are looking for candidates for the following offices.
Mayor
City Council
Planning Board
Board of Adjustment
School Board
Board of Health
Housing Authority
Library Board
Recreation

We are stepping up to the plate. This is our town. We are encouraging
participation in the governing process. We are looking for young able bodied people who
want to learn about civic duty and participation in local government.

       Join the movement!

The Auditor's Report

Totally broke and still spending. Do we believe that? What happened to the $5 million dollars for the sale of Liberty School?  Money is missing. We need to hear more about the deficit and less about imaginary concessions that both the Teachers and the Board are keeping close. Do we see the Mayor in full support of  the Board of Education?

Community Baptist Church Hosts The Master Plan Public Hearing

June 27, 2012. Englewood's Master Plan Public Hearing at Community Baptist Church was so well attended that the line of participants waiting to sign in extended out the doorway of fellowship hall through the lobby to the front door. Several of the presenters came into the lobby with sign in sheets when it became clear that the process of signing in was burning daylight.


The fellowship hall filled with a diverse group of eager Englewood residents overwhelmed the Mayor and his staff. They had set up the room expecting 50 people and there was well over a hundred. Mayor Huttle started the meeting with comments about diversity and slogans like "one body," "one city,". He alluded to being happy about the city wide excited faces in the group. He introduced it as the Planning board's Master Plan. "We want as much input as we can possibly get from the general public." 

"A Master Plan is a policy document that guides the use of land within a municipality in a manner that protects public health and safety and promotes the general welfare. A Master plan identifies community objectives and strategies for achieving them. The Master Plan lays down the framework for the planning board and governing body to develop the elements of good land management and use. This includes meeting local housing and economic development needs and protecting important natural resources. The State of New Jersey requires that each municipality’s Master Plan be updated at least every 10 years." 

He introduced the team of consultants selected by the City of Englewood to prepare the Master Plan and facilitate the public engagement process. Mark Keener of Brown & Keener Urban Design, a division of RBA,  Use this link to learn more about this company. http://www.bkurbandesign.com/?page_id=96
Rob Lane and Rob Freudenberg of Regional Plan Association (RPA)      
Use this link to check out Regional Plan Association's websites and past projects. http://www.rpa.org.

It was explained that a Master Plan was not needed if the town in question was built out. It was also suggested that if the Plan was thought "Perfect" action should be taken to keep it that way. It was suggested that Englewood was not perfect. Wow! You think? The first Consultant was introduced as Mark. They all seemed nervous. We were instructed to consider the following topics:

• Job accessibility 
• Bedroom community
• Concerned with institutions, hospital, library, schools
• Centers of life in the community
• How does one keep Commerce relevant
• Re-purposing of industrial area
• 
  

It was suggested that this is where things are likely to change

This does not appear a happy
camper.

• light rail
• Car dealerships
• Use of space to park cars downtown
• Hospital can creep out into community and neighborhoods (Creep was his word)
• Decommissioned schools
• Industrial Area
• There was no mention of James Street. Why? That is downtown...Uhmmmmmm...
• Rob Lane was the next speaker. He is a pleasant seeming guy that reminds one of Woodstock. He many have just been a bit too impressed with the number of people of color in the room. He admitted that he had never conducted a session with so many people. (He told us what we were allowed to discuss) He wanted us to come up with the top 3 things the Master Plan should take on in the following areas:
• Economic health

• Revitalize industrial area, decide what would be best use 
• Objective: Live, work, create jobs in town
• Community health
• Bring Community together
• Integrate Houses of Worship
• Expansion
• Manage Traffic and Parking
• Support and integrate the Library
• Downtown
• Neighborhoods
• Industrial
• Hospital
• Parking Deck..route 4 park and ride

Dacey was the Facilitator of my group. We drew the short
straw and got the Industrial area. There was leading talk about changing the zoning of the area to include other types of businesses. There was no talk of what specifically the area is zoned for right now. 

• How progressive does Englewood want to be?
• It was suggested that the Green Way was the way to go.
• Object to increase the resale value
• Employ more people
• Encourage entrepreneurs
• Create an area where people will live and work together in mixed use structures
• Create jobs and tie the area to downtown
• Apple store..apps
• Gizmos demonstration stores that have parent store in another place
• side walks
• bike racks
• parking
• trolley (rumor is that this service will be discontinued)
• Entertainment
• How do we connect downtown to Crowne Plaza and buildings south of route 4
• Suggestion was to spruce up Van Brunt St. to make is more attractive a route
• bike racks, bike lanes, perhaps cobble the street, light posts like the Ave.
• Make it and extension of the Ave straight through to route 4 up an over.

Then it was time to quit and report back to the large goup. The groups were encouraged to give short reports of suggestions agreed upon in each. Unless, I missed one, there were 15 groups. I jotted down phrases and key words from each group. This went quickly and my notes are a bit less than copious in this area.

1. Parking resources used and allocated. Stores are serving one population and not others. This needs to be addressed
2. Unification and less segregated. Lincoln & Liberty Schools still related to Education or Recreation Traffic- inefficient system
3. Recreation Center - young and old people to have access. Get rid of the animals and deer- control - re-route trolley to cover more of the City...add another one
4. Industrial area - mixed use residential for just young people commuting to the City. Retail service
5. Jobs. Tax revenue. Subdivide in mixed use space. Community Center. Senior Citizens. Youth. Revitalize 
6. MacKay Park. Revitalize Sports.
7. High Tech - businesses must be supportive of each other. Focus is on residents time & work
8. Revitalize Downtown - recreation center for youth. An open space plan
9. More dynamic Chamber of Commerce
10. Repair Ice Rink. Deal with the flooding on Forest Avenue. Reprogramming of Historic Preservation
11. Neighborhoods - MacKay Park re-open. House and work connect each other. Unity Day. Interfaith Day. Public Schools need work. Better utilization of funds or 
12. Downtown - vacancy issue. Attract businesses more people using downtown. Community Center. Lincoln School and Fire House area. Educational Center. How will the Light Rail service the Community.
13. Community Neighborhoods - Environmental activity that services the neighborhood. Keep the character of the neighborhood. Deal with the public schools. businesses. light rail
14. Industrial area. The area should be rezoned to create a mixed use of space. Entrepreneurs should be encouraged to bring in their businesses. Loft type residences with a live where you work idea. Vibrant community. Van Brunt St should be spruced up as a connecting thoroughfare from Downtown to Crowne Plaza, up and across route 4 to the residential area on the South side. Green ways. Bike paths and bike racks. Light rail to connect folks from hospital through downtown to the south side of route 4.
15. Neighborhoods is core of Englewood and should be focus. Retail encroachment. Community Center needed. Repair the ice skating rink. Provide roller skating. Deal with traffic problems, parking problems, speeding accountability for Master Plan is responsibility for everyone. The information included on Master Plan should be in other languages of the residents in town.
16. Neighborhoods - Community Center. Vocational Training- Have Englewood Day again. Whatever is done must benefit the current residents of Englewood. Attract business and firms that help keep the neighborhood healthy and stable.

Wrap up: Envision an improve a quality of life recognizing the compromises, gathering the facts. Stay tuned. The next 2 meetings will be in different parts of town. 

The Master Plan Public Hearing was a start on a long journey to visibility. We are not invisible in the Community and our children are not invisible in the school buildings. Our children are not invisible. Everyone is visible. It was a beginning. The conversation has begun.

More photographs: if member of
facebook. I like walking away from meetings like these with something in my hands. The definition of Master Plan would have been a good idea.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.257837767662863.56497.214938478619459&type=3