Once More, With Feeling

To Whom It May Concern:

"Choose your leaders with wisdom and forethought. To be led by a coward is to be controlled by all that the coward fears. To be led by a fool is to be led by the opportunists who control the fool. To be led by the thief is to offer up your most precious treasures to be stolen. To be led by a liar is to ask to be lied to. To be led by a tyrant is to sell yourself and those you love into slavery."

--Octavia E. Butler

No more room for cowardice, equivocation, or avoidance.

Stand and deliver. 

 

My Pledge to You: Ethical Leadership for Change in Plainfield

"Choose your leaders with wisdom and forethought. To be led by a coward is to be controlled by all that the coward fears. To be led by a fool is to be led by the opportunists who control the fool. To be led by the thief is to offer up your most precious treasures to be stolen. To be led by a liar is to ask to be lied to. To be led by a tyrant is to sell yourself and those you love into slavery."--Octavia E. Butler

The above quote was re-posted as a special request!

I am writing to offer my humble thanks to the Rebecca Williams for Council Campaign Team, to the New Democrats for Plainfield, and to the Second and Third Ward voters of Plainfield for your support in this year's election. Unofficially, I received 4,426 votes compared to my Republican opponent, who received 780. Once the official results are posted by the county clerk, those numbers may change a bit.  

OFFICIAL RESULTS (Union County Clerk): 

Rebecca 4,590
Jim           842
 
I want to thank Jim Pivnichny, a gentleman and a scholar, for being a worthy opponent. Jim lives in my neighborhood and, although we do not share the same political ideology on many issues, he has demonstrated his love for our city time and time again through his community volunteerism and continued advocacy for ethical leadership and transparency in government. I know that he will continue to be speak out on the issues of most concern to Plainfield and, now, as one of my constituents, I am beholden to him as well as the rest of the Second Ward and Third Ward residents of our great city. 

I want to congratulate my friend, Freeholder-Elect Linda Carter, on winning her seat on the county freeholder board. Linda bested the other freeholder candidates, due to Plainfielders coming out and supporting her. I directed Linda's very first campaign back in 2003 when she successfully ran for the 1st and 4th Ward At-large council seat running off-the-line as a New Democrat for Plainfield. It was fun being on the ballot with her this time around--go, Linda! I also want to congratulate First Ward Councilman William Reid on his re-election as well. I look forward to working with Bill and the other councilors to move the city forward.


Sincere thanks go as well to Second Ward Councilman Cory Storch and Third Ward Councilman and New Democrats for Plainfield President Adrian Mapp. These two councilors stood firmly behind me from the day I announced my candidacy, through the rigorous primary campaign, and on through to the general election. Their strong, unwavering, and sincere support clearly illustrated their commitment to moving Plainfield in the right direction. I look forward to working with them drafting progressive legislation for the benefit of our city.

I want to thank all my neighbors and friends for your help during the fall campaign season. Those of you who know me know that I LOVE knocking on doors and meeting residents. Unfortunately, with the shortened days of autumn, along with a very demanding fall teaching schedule, I was unable to canvass as much as I did this past spring. However, I remain committed to grassroots activism, and I will continue to visit block association meetings, events, and as many other community activities as I can, as well as to advocate on behalf of my constituents from my council seat beginning in January of 2011.

I want to thank my campaign team, especially Paul, Carmencita, Dorothy, Donald, Nat, Frank, Liz, Dan, Inez, Christian, Rick, Jeanette, Kieran, Carol B., Carol A-L., Siddeeq, Amelia, Linden, Carrie, Bobby, Shep, Nat B., Joylette, and the other dozen or so volunteers who helped canvass the Second and Third Wards on behalf of myself, Column A, and especially Congressman Frank Pallone.
 

I also want to thank ALL the folks who came out to vote last week. Plainfield DELIVERED on November 2, on the local, county, and state level! Plainfield delivered the plurality of votes for Congressman Frank Pallone in this year's election. Out of a roughly 15,000 vote victory over his Republican (so-called "Tea Party") opponent, Plainfield ALONE contributed about 8,000 of those votes--we must make sure that our representatives keep that bit of information in the forefront of their minds! 


Finally, I want to make sure that everyone understands that my service on the Plainfield City Council will be focused on good government. We are all aware of the issues facing Plainfield, and my pledge to you is that I will do my best to make sure that Plainfield residents receive a proper accounting of where our tax money has gone for the past few years; that Plainfield passes the strongest municipal pay-to-play reform ordinance possible; that Plainfield ends political cronyism and opens true competitive bidding for all public contracts--which will save taxpayers money; and that I will offer honest and ethical leadership. I take my role very seriously, and I hope to prove that in the coming years. Thank you again--I have great confidence in you, Plainfield, and I hope that I can inspire your confidence in me as your new elected official in 2011.

All best,

Rebecca

Vote!

Tuesday, November 2nd, is Election Day. President Obama is under attack, and he needs our help. The so-called "Tea Party" Republicans are trying to derail the Democratic reform agenda. Our Congressman, Frank Pallone, is one of President Obama's strongest allies in the House. We have to keep Congress Democratic, but we can only do this if YOU come out to vote. Plainfield is crucial to Rep. Pallone's victory, as we all know. We need folks to come out. Our great city showed its support for the President two years ago--this year, your support for our congressman is how you can show that you still support President Obama.

I am urging you to vote for Frank Pallone for Congress--he is at the top of the Column A ticket. I am also on the ballot, running in Column A for the 2nd and 3rd Ward At-large city council seat. 

Please don't forget to read and vote on the ballot measure, the "New Jersey Wage Assessment Amendment," (Public Question 1). I am urging you to vote YES on this question!

I would also like to invite you to join me, along with my campaign team, friends, and supporters, along with my special guests Councilman Cory Storch and Councilman Adrian Mapp, at the New Democrats Headquarters (110 East 7th Street) as we watch the election returns come in. We will be gathering at about 7:30 pm with food, drink, music, and camaraderie as we await the election results.

All best,

Rebecca

Fall Library Grounds Clean-Up: Community Service

On a beautiful autumn day last weekend, a group of community volunteers got together and performed a clean-up of the Plainfield Public Library exterior grounds. We met on the steps outside the library and focused on the parking lots at the 8th and 9th Street entrances and the rest of the grounds surrounding the building. With the help of many community volunteers, we were able to get the area cleaned in a little over an hour. Below are photos of some of the folks who came out to help.

In addition, I want to make another plug for the "Library Champion" initiative--here is the link once again:

Join the Plainfield Library Champions! 

Many thanks to Cricket, Jim, Julie, Shari, Tom, Tressa, Adrian, Craig, Jon, Lamar, Tony, Cory, Joan, Piv, and Carmencita and the girls! 

 

Library Grounds Community Clean Up Saturday, October 9

Library Grounds Community Clean Up

Saturday, October 9, 2010, 10 am – 12 pm

Volunteers Meet on Library Steps at 9:45 am

Gloves, rakes, bags will be provided

Contact: Rebecca Williams

Tel: 908-447-6268; Email: rebelwill7@gmail.com

Hey, Plainfield residents! It's that time again! The Community Service Team of the New Democrats for Plainfield club will be leading the fall volunteer library grounds clean up this coming Saturday, October 9th, beginning at 10:00 am.* All interested residents are welcome to join as as we beautify the grounds by removing the litter, raking, and and sweeping. 

We will meet on the steps outside the library at 9:45 am to clean the areas around our wonderful library--the parking lots at the 8th and 9th Street entrances, respectively, and the rest of the grounds surrounding the building. If enough folks join us, we should have the areas spic-n-span in just a couple of hours! 

In addition, if you haven't already done so, you can sign up to be a "Library Champion" and show your support Here is the link to the Plainfield Public Library's new initiative:

Join the Plainfield Library Champions!

Come out and support YOUR library!

All best,

Rebecca

*It's supposed to be a beautiful autumn day, but in case of heavy rain, we will reschedule!

Cory Storch, an Exemplar of Public Service in Plainfield's 2nd Ward

Just one day after making a plea for unity and asking that “we all work together,” words from Assemblyman Jerry Green at the vigil marking the 2nd anniversary of the closing of Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center, he published yet another blog post attacking Second Ward Councilman Cory Storch, both as Executive Director of Bridgeway Rehabilitation Services and as a councilman here in Plainfield. It is characteristic of Assemblyman Green to smear his political opponents (as he apparently characterizes Cory, a fellow Democrat!), but this time, he has gone too far in his attempts to distort Cory’s excellent record as a mental health professional by publishing a letter from a constituent whose course of action would be better served by contacting the EEOC with claims of unjust treatment by a former employer.

I have known Cory for about 10 years, and he is honest, ethical, and caring. I served as his campaign manager in his first successful general election back in 2003, and I got to know him very well. His insights and knowledge of Plainfield, along with his desire to serve, are what gave me the impetus to work with him and try as hard as I could to get him elected.

Cory and other New Democrats (myself included) are used to these specious, baseless attacks by the assemblyman, but I feel the need to set the record straight on the Cory Storch that I know. Cory has often been lauded for his work as Bridgeway’s ED, and rightly so. The supportive housing that Bridgeway promotes is the kind of housing that works—I know this because I know many mental health professionals. The lame attempts by the assemblyman at racial and class divisiveness are so transparent that I cannot imagine why he would continue to make them in the age of Obama.

Cory’s dedication to making Plainfield a better place for all of us is clear in his former service on the school board, in his community work and support for many of Plainfield’s boards and commissions, and in his role as the Second Ward council representative. When my constituents (I am an elected Democratic committeewoman in the Second Ward and serve also as Second Ward Leader of the Plainfield Democratic City Committee) and other Plainfield residents have an issue—code enforcement, speeding, trash pick-up, dead trees, crime, etc.—Cory has been accessible and helpful in directing them to the right city agency to correct their problem. He is reform-minded and progressive, and that is why I continue to support him.

Cory is the councilman who brought the visioning study to Plainfield—in addition, he is the one who continues to advocate for LEEDS, and he is very involved in improving the quality of life for Second Ward residents—regardless of political persuasion (including those who are not voters). The assemblyman ought to take a look at the demographics of the Second Ward—I have—like the other wards, the Second Ward also contains a majority of black residents. When Cory and I were out canvassing this spring for my primary election campaign, we once again spoke to many of these residents, many of whom Cory has known for a couple of decades. They support him, and with his endorsement, they also supported me.So, when Assemblyman Green uses coded words to appeal to race, he is demonstrating profound ignorance of his own ward—yes, Assemblyman Green lives in the Second Ward as well and, ironically, he, too, benefits from Cory’s leadership in our ward.

I am excited at the possibility of joining Cory and the other progressive voices on the city council—if he chooses to run for re-election next year, he can count on my support once again, along with the support of our fellow Democrats in the Second Ward.

All best,

Rebecca

Remembering Octavia E. Butler, and "Speculations" on Leadership in Plainfield

"I have a huge and savage conscience that won't let me get away with things."      --Octavia E. Butler

June 22 was the birthday of the late  Octavia E. Butler (1947- February 24, 2006). In addition to being a brilliant writer and one of the first African American authors to make a name for herself in speculative fiction (aka science fiction), Butler was also a feminist, a lesbian, and a humanist. I know that many of you have probably read her most famous works, The Parable of the Sower, The Parable of the Talents and, of course, Kindred, among other works. If you have ever read Butler, you know that she is truly unforgettable. The above quote is my MOST FAVORITE quote by her, and one that guides my life (or at least I would like to think so).

In the wake of the recent Democratic primary election and of what some also are viewing as an ongoing crisis of leadership in Plainfield, I also have been thinking about what it means to be a leader--Butler's writing on leadership seem particularly apropos--I hope that as we all move into what Oswald Chambers would call "the invincible future" together (this year, next year, and beyond!), Plainfielders will keep these words in the forefront of their minds:

"Choose your leaders with wisdom and forethought. To be led by a coward is to be controlled by all that the coward fears. To be led by a fool is to be led by the opportunists who control the fool. To be led by the thief is to offer up your most precious treasures to be stolen. To be led by a liar is to ask to be lied to. To be led by a tyrant is to sell yourself and those you love into slavery." 

--from The Parable of the Talents

I will be out canvassing again (for the fall general election) after the July 4th holiday weekend to catch up to the 2nd and 3rd Ward voters I missed during the primary, and I will keep the above words in mind.  I am excited about continuing the conversation about Plainfield with you and sharing my ideas about how to move our city forward.

All best,

Rebecca