RESPONSE TO THE STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS

[rice2006]

The members of Reform Newark invite all of you to our Second Community Response to the Mayor's State of the City Address on Thursday, January 27, 2005 immediately following the address in the basement of City Hall in Newark, NJ.

We will provide our critique of the Mayor's plans, vision and goals for the 2005 year and present our goals for 2005 as well.

We will be working on three (3):

1) Proposing a complete overhaul of the city's budgeting process;

2) Continuing our civic empowerment seminars throughout the city of Newark; and

3) Proposing Ethics Reform in the city of Newark with specific initiatives

We hope to see you there. Copies of our press release will be made available for all in attendance.

For more information, please e-mail us at reformnewark@hotmail.com

[jazzyken]

Ron, need a time. I will be there.

[5Reasons]

I wonder what Mayor "They Ain't Shootin' At Me" is going to say. 2004 won't be remembered as one of the City's banner years.

I hope that Mayor James is upfront and doesn't include a lot of spin in this address. I also hope the friggin council shows some RESPECT and gets their a$$ to the address on time and stays for the whole thing (amazing what this crew gets away with).

James needs to be upfront about where we are at. And James needs to come correct on 5 issues.....

1. How is he going to comfront the crime problem? (Please don't cite the 'crime is down 8%' chart.) I want to hear issues like more cops on the street; hiring more cops by XYZ date; more community policing etc.

2. How is this City going to deal with the budget? This backwater budgeting has got to stop. Budgets should be proposed and passed ON TIME. Yes, that means someone is going to have to make some hard decisions. But that's why they're leaders, right?

3. Please tell me what is going on with development in this city. (AND PLEASE DO NOT MENTION THE FRGGIN ARENA.) I've seen and heard enough of it. So, unless he has a SPECIFIC DATE when that puppy is going up, SKIP IT. Talk to me about SPECIFIC TIMELINES when stuff is going to be COMPLETED in this city, otherwise, you can save it.

4. Please, I pray, tell me you have some quality of life initiaves that you can start implementing. That means you have some issues to deal with littering, loitering, city beautification plan, etc.

5. I need to hear a clear VISION for middle-class Newarkers. I need to hear something to tell me that there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Otherwise, I need the Mayor to tell me to get the F out because we're going to continue to market our City to downscale income folk.

Note: Let's try to keep the usual positive propaganda to a minimum. I don't need NOR DO I WANT TO SEE the usual assortment of new houses that have been built. Yes, you can take credit for this work but if it goes beyond 5 minutes, I'll start to think that it's all fluff.

[Maximus]

1) A contest among the toadys on who can clap/cheer the loudest. Castros' marathon speches get the same response in Cuba.

2) At least on rant against Booker either indirectly or by name. Every good story needs a bad guy to boo against

3) A multimedia presentation that cost enough to send a kid to Seton Hall (or at least Rutgers) for a year.






*Same Old Crap

[J. Sharpe James, J.D.]

You could provide excitement by jumping up and disrupting the speech like the guy did Pres. Bush! I'll clap for ya :D

[jazzyken]

Hey guys... still looking for a time :rolleyes:

[LastCubanStanding]

[QUOTE=Maximus]1) A contest among the toadys on who can clap/cheer the loudest. Castros' marathon speches get the same response in Cuba.


We get shot when we don't clap. What's their excuse? :)

[rice2006]

So, our response will follow immediately thereafter, possibly around 8:30 or 9:00 PM, depending on the length of the speech.

Just to emphasis the point, this year's response will be exactly like last year's response, meaning that this is NOT an anti-Sharpe event. We were clear on last year as to what we supported and what we did not. We actually supported about 90% of what was proposed.

In the absence of a city council response and/or a city council presentation about THEIR legislative agenda for the upcoming year and the failure of other community and/or policy groups like Cornwall to critique it, good and bad, we felt the need to stand in the gap.

[jazzyken]

Thanks Ron. I have to view a house at 6pm but I should be sure to make it!

[Maximus]

...I like to go to the circus. The Horse Tooth Jackass, the Fat Lady, and the World's Oldest Councilman will provide some laughs.

[jazzyken]

The Horse Tooth Jackass, the Fat Lady, and the World's Oldest Councilman will provide some laughs. FUNNY FUNNY :D :D

[5Reasons]

Our council NEVER has a yearly legislative agenda. I don't know why I never noticed that before. Look, I realize most of them are probably too slow to actually put something in PowerPoint and talk coherently for 20 minutes, but they could at least pump out 2 or 3 press releases on what they believe are the pressing legislative issues. It is amazing what these guys get away with.

Note: Cornwall Center is too cowardice to actually critique the SOC address.

[jmax]

I'm looking forward to the speech and to Ron's response.

[5Reasons]

I'm going to try a get a little face time. Worse comes to worse, I'll just stand next Ron Jr. :D

[counterattack]

Make sure your not carrying Booker's water tonight Team James will no longer tolerate betrayal from those who eat off our table.......... message to you and Daddy.

Tonight team James will set the stage for your teams second defeat and Bookers demise let the battle begin.

[rice2006]

You assume that because our organization gives a response to the Mayor's State of the City address, something your alleged Team James has never done, that it is automatically negative, attacking and pro-Booker.

You obviously did not come to last year's response or know what we said. If you had (and I can send you our complete response, specifically and point by point), you would have seen that we were supportive of over 90% of what the Mayor proposed.

Your knee-jerk and negative reaction to what you think we might say is what is wrong with Newark and the development of a real and thoughtful debate among folks of goodwill on the direction of our city.

And what is up with that comment about my dad? And when do I eat off of the Mayor's table as you put it?

[Maximus]

He's just throwing around some terms he heard without really knowing what they mean. The problem with this forum is that you have some folks who are wannebe pundits while still paying mama rent money.

[J. Sharpe James, J.D.]

...I like to go to the circus. The Horse Tooth Jackass, the Fat Lady, and the World's Oldest Councilman will provide some laughs.


YOU ARE OUT OF CONTROL!!!

[counterattack]

Ron I was just nudging you I know you are a descient guy just wanted too see your response, Max I really don't have time to check you so I will sum it up in two words F**K YOU!!!!!!!

[ProSouth]

Calm down, you don't want to bust a gasket or something do ya fella. If you have a heart attack the last place you wanna be is in Charlie "Chicken" Bell's ward.

[rice2006]

You got me, counter. I was like, whoa, where is this coming from?

I bit. How, my name is Ron and I just got punked !!!!