Payneful, But the Truth of Relative Cronyisim and Nepotism

[J. Sharpe James, J.D.]

If you understood my post there is a HUGE difference between evaluating work ethic/vision than saying "someone's family has too many government jobs", NONE of which are new. P.S. Booker brags about visions everyday and hasn't done SQUAT to improve the quality of life in Newark.

In 2006 there were no complaints when Ron and Don ran together. None in 07, 08 or 09. Especially none in 2010 when they ran together AGAIN. So ONLY NOW, in fighting over this congressional seat, do folks smear Payne's family. I haven't seen ONE attack from the Payne family on the Rice family; Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

The main point is WE PREVIOUSLY BLAMED THE OLDER GENERATION ON SMEAR POLITICS, yet now with two YOUNG candidates, its popping up again. Why?

Secondly, the At-Large Council seat ISN'T guaranteed. Sharpe couldn't get me South Ward in 06 or At-Large in 2010, so when is it all of a sudden a lock? If I get in its because I have continued to work in the community with EVERYONE (except Booker) and the Booker team's failures have made folks second guess throwing the James family and home grown folks like Baraka, Bessie and others under the bus in 2006.

In 2014, I will campaign on Newark's BUDGET and STRUCTURAL DEFICIT, because without beginning to reign those two areas Newark will either go bankrupt, be taken over by the state, continue to see property taxes increase AND lose more services such as Police and Fire. Newark's fiscal crisis has been exacerbated by a Booker Team who placed ZERO emphasis on fiscal accountability from day one. When the first Business administrator you hire, in charge of organizing a $750 million dollar budget, has a degree in African American studies, then your priority IS NOT improving Newark finances. In 2014, Newark will be digging out from the scraps let by the Booker Administration. http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/essex/...800.xml&coll=1.

WE'VE SAID NOTHING WHILE TRUE INCOMPETENTS ARE RUNNING AMUCK IN CITY HALL

But another name surfaced last week, when Bill Letona, the chief of staff to the business administrator, was listed as the acting engineering director on a council meeting agenda. It turned out to be a mistake, but Letona, who does not have an engineering or bachelor's degree, has been running the administrative operations of the engineering department for more than a year. Kemp, who hired Letona, said he did not complete his degree at Central Texas College because his wife died while he was doing his course work.

Lastly, I'll say again, Evaluating candidates on work ethic, vision or capabilities/character is FINE with me. Saying someone's family has TOO many jobs is a smear, ESPECIALLY when you knew it for over a decade and said NOTHING, while allowing OTHERS do it EVERYDAY and you STILL say nothing.

I will never forget the VENOM and PERSONAL FAMILY ATTACKS sent our way in 2006 and NEVER want to see that style of attack go against ANYONE IN ANY RACE going forward. WE should be FAR PAST THAT as YOUNG PROGRESSIVES who ALL KNOW EACH OTHER.

Solutions - My best solution for Newark's future was in 2001 when I told the world Booker should NEVER become Mayor of Newark and gave out the Blackcommentator articles about Booker being a puppet. I was called jealous because I wouldn't EMBRACE the new CHANGE and Sharpe wouldn't be in power. WHO danced around with BROOMS following the Booker Team sweep in 2006?, certainly not I, but Rice and Payne both did. Here we are 11 years later and NOT ONE SINGLE NEWARKER is in POWER as they took our jobs, schools and police. Way back then I said Booker was sent here to push charters schools, vouchers and bring in outsiders to take jobs away from NEWARKERS. Some, like yourself, felt in 2006 it was TIME for someone looking young and progressive like Booker. In 2012, you don't even want to discuss what he has or hasn't done. As you said, lets discuss political FACTS.

Check out MNC's comments folks in 2006
http://www.newarkspeaks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2519

Finally a government that seeks to WORK WITH and INCLUDE the people!

It's not going to be easy. Far from it. Cory has a lot of factors beyond his control that he will have to frame and deal with. This country has a half-trillion for war, but is generally very wanting in generating opportunities in its cities. I guess they expect all the poor people to join the army.

Anyway, I look forward to honest discussion about making Newark a better place. No more "Lord's work" rhetoric while underselling Newarkers for their own political game.

Originally Posted by Policy...Man

Listen:

If Payne wins, John becomes Councilman at Large, his father will see to it, I will even support it. Next, if you find criticism in my post then you don't like the truth, however, key to my post, "Payne, himself said he didn't want to be Congressman, I heard him, many others were in that meeting,".

My other point was about ideas and work ethic and understanding of the issues, I never said that Ron Jr.,to quote 5 Reasons, wasn't "a lucky spermer", and didn't benefit from his father's name and politics, hence the support of Codey and West Orange Suburbanites. He is just the one I am supporting, out of the 2 lucky spermers running for the 10th Congressional Seat.

Now, I am about measuring and evaluating a candidate based not only on what they propose they can do but how they can articulate how they look to get there proposals done. Now, John James, and driven, are you telling me that you really believe that Donald Payne Jr. has articulated a vision for the 10th Congressional District of New Jersey, let alone America?

Okay, so not to pick a fight, and start with what will be misconstrued and called personal attacks, I will leave my debating points for 2013 and 2014 when the State, Municipal and County Governments look to completely turn over. I will revisit this post, and John, when you run I definitely will.

I will be consistent, I will be listening for solutions and not the restatement of problems. We know what Booker and his "Team for Newark" has and hasn't done while in power. My question for the next generation of "us" leaders, side-liners and all, "WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?" and "HOW?"

Respect!!!!

[Policy...Man]

Originally Posted by J. Sharpe James, J.D.

If you understood my post there is a HUGE difference between evaluating work ethic/vision than saying "someone's family has too many government jobs", NONE of which are new. P.S. Booker brags about visions everyday and hasn't done SQUAT to improve the quality of life in Newark.

In 2006 there were no complaints when Ron and Don ran together. None in 07, 08 or 09. Especially none in 2010 when they ran together AGAIN. So ONLY NOW, in fighting over this congressional seat, do folks smear Payne's family. I haven't seen ONE attack from the Payne family on the Rice family; Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

The main point is WE PREVIOUSLY BLAMED THE OLDER GENERATION ON SMEAR POLITICS, yet now with two YOUNG candidates, its popping up again. Why?

Secondly, the At-Large Council seat ISN'T guaranteed. Sharpe couldn't get me South Ward in 06 or At-Large in 2010, so when is it all of a sudden a lock? If I get in its because I have continued to work in the community with EVERYONE (except Booker) and the Booker team's failures have made folks second guess throwing the James family and home grown folks like Baraka, Bessie and others under the bus in 2006.

In 2014, I will campaign on Newark's BUDGET and STRUCTURAL DEFICIT, because without beginning to reign those two areas Newark will either go bankrupt, be taken over by the state, continue to see property taxes increase AND lose more services such as Police and Fire. Newark's fiscal crisis has been exacerbated by a Booker Team who placed ZERO emphasis on fiscal accountability from day one. When the first Business administrator you hire, in charge of organizing a $750 million dollar budget, has a degree in African American studies, then your priority IS NOT improving Newark finances. In 2014, Newark will be digging out from the scraps let by the Booker Administration. http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/essex/...800.xml&coll=1.

WE'VE SAID NOTHING WHILE TRUE INCOMPETENTS ARE RUNNING AMUCK IN CITY HALL

But another name surfaced last week, when Bill Letona, the chief of staff to the business administrator, was listed as the acting engineering director on a council meeting agenda. It turned out to be a mistake, but Letona, who does not have an engineering or bachelor's degree, has been running the administrative operations of the engineering department for more than a year. Kemp, who hired Letona, said he did not complete his degree at Central Texas College because his wife died while he was doing his course work.

Lastly, I'll say again, Evaluating candidates on work ethic, vision or capabilities/character is FINE with me. Saying someone's family has TOO many jobs is a smear, ESPECIALLY when you knew it for over a decade and said NOTHING, while allowing OTHERS do it EVERYDAY and you STILL say nothing.

I will never forget the VENOM and PERSONAL FAMILY ATTACKS sent our way in 2006 and NEVER want to see that style of attack go against ANYONE IN ANY RACE going forward. WE should be FAR PAST THAT as YOUNG PROGRESSIVES who ALL KNOW EACH OTHER.

P.S. My best solution for Newark's future was in 2001 when I told the world Booker should NEVER become Mayor of Newark and gave out the Blackcommentator articles about Booker being a puppet. I was called jealous because I wouldn't EMBRACE the new CHANGE and Sharpe wouldn't be in power. Here we are 11 years later and NOT ONE SINGLE NEWARKER is in POWER as they took our jobs, schools and police. Way back then I said Booker was sent here to push charters schools, vouchers and bring in outsiders to take jobs away from NEWARKERS. Some, like yourself, felt in 2006 it was TIME for someone looking young and progressive like Booker. In 2012, you don't even want to discuss what he has or hasn't done. As you said, lets discuss political FACTS.

John James:

I want a clean campaign between them both, but clean campaigns are a farce in this town and if I can have a "Solutions Driven Campaign" I would appreciate that more than anything. But this is a partial clarification to what I mean. The rest we can debate, in Public, at a location of your choosing, stacked with yours and Payne supporters, whomever for that matter, and I will show up, just myself and supporting documentation to defend my claims. But here is my first point:

According to dictionary.com- Solution: (noun)
1.the act of solving a problem, question, etc.: The situation is approaching solution.

2. the state of being solved: a problem capable of solution.

3.a particular instance or method of solving; an explanation or answer: The solution is as good as any other.

4. Mathematics: a.the process of determining the answer to a problem.

b.the answer itself.

5.Chemistry: a.the process by which a gas, liquid, or solid is dispersed homogeneously in a gas, liquid, or solid without chemical change.
b.such a substance, as dissolved sugar or salt in solution.

c.a homogeneous, molecular mixture of two or more substances.

A solution is not telling the world what most of us in this town knew. A solution comes after a problem has arisen and you have a blue print to get the problem burdened people out of it, so if your solution is to offer rhetorical political soothsaying about what should have been done back in 2001, it won't play in 2012 nor will it in in 2014. The problem here is that you offer no solutions, you just restate the problem.

John, I love you, but leave me alone on this one, ask your father, please leave me alone on this one. You just proved my point with your response. Saying Booker is bad and was bad for Newark isn't a solution, as a matter of fact, to continuously talk about Booker and offer no alternative solutions to his ineptitude is inability to govern, is a bigger part of the problem than Booker is.

Also, be for real, I never supported Booker, never, not even through default by blocking other potential candidates from mounting a formidible campaign and raising money, that was the biggest help to Booker, even abandoning George Branch and helping Booker because he was "thought" to be a progressive. That is the reason for his existence. Now, I can attach a lot of prominent, nepotistic names to that list, but I won't.

Oh, Payne was one of them, he is a part of the Booker Team, he did thwart Mildred's effort to become Council President, which in that case your dad helped Mildred, who now along with Bessie Walkers says it should be a woman to replace Payne Jr. if he goes to Congress, yet they beg your dad for money every chance they get. Okay John I get it, we are playing who can hedge their bets the best.

My post wasn't personal, it was factual. Oh, John, by the way, the breakdown and avenue to search when looking to see where all the Payne's jobs were, I was directed there by your father, just through general conversation. So don't become a Payne lover because you stand to benefit. Your support is political and nothing more.

Furthermore, you didn't when the south ward for a lot of reasons, one was because you didn't listen. Man I am begging you, I know you are a war hero, but this war, don't go there, at least not with me, please John, please, stop..... There is a lot more going on here and my path will be cleared to present my case, no matter who is in my way. So let's not put you in my way to find out, please. I am asking you in the most humble of tones, leave me alone on this one.

Besides, your bets are covered, $5k to the Essex County Independent Democrats, a check you delivered personally, and now "you" are defending Payne who is on the line A all the way ticket.

John, leave me be on this one, you have no idea where I am going with my post and what is going to happen when I get there, it is a place where you should not nor, should you want, to be. This one I would let all parties fight their own battles, prisoners will not be taken and between now and 2014, the TITANS will fall....

Respect!!!!

[J. Sharpe James, J.D.]

You miss my WHOLE point.

1. Want a clean race
2. Don't want personal attacks (you say it can't happen) (Your opinion)
3. Payne family jobs were well known (not originated by a conversation between you and Sharpe)
4. Told everyone Booker wouldn't be good for Newark (Nobody including yourself listened)
5. Haven't endorsed RON OR DON
6. Have nothing to hide about donations made to the community
7. Will continue to speak the truth whether you like it or not and REMIND folks of my previous political positions/comments, which they most likely ignored.
8. Don't care what path you take or where you are going as long as it helps the community
9. As you know, don't have anything personal against you.....You should run for office!

[Make Newark Clean]

LOL!

OK, J Sharpe. Yes, I was taken by the Booker mystique, too, and with both eyes open. You only get two choices. What's more, given the same set of circumstances and candidates of 2006, Booker would have still been my vote. Remember, politicians aren't sports teams.

One good thing, at the very least, is that Booker 2010 reelection kept Newark from the EMBARRASSMENT of yet-another indicted mayor. Wasn't he your guy? How's YOUR judgment?

Look, a lot of us in Newark at the time were all kinda tired of the usual shady, back-slapping pols making a mint exploiting government. I don't regret my choice of Booker; who else was there really?

You are engaging in smear yourself if you intend to say that Booker has done nothing good at all for the city of Newark. At least he interrupted the scheme by a "concerned" former mayor and his voted-out council from making Newark 80 million dollars poorer.

Thoughtful points on Payne. BTW he wasn't an original (broom-wielding) member of the Booker team.

[J. Sharpe James, J.D.]

I declare a truce and let's work together to improve Newark.....FAIR ENOUGH?

[Make Newark Clean]

Originally Posted by J. Sharpe James, J.D.

I declare a truce and let's work together to improve Newark.....FAIR ENOUGH?

Sure. I'm that dude who picks up the the trash on his block and I purposely challenge myself not to be smug/narcissistic about it because there are always going to be people who throw it down and I'm not perfect either (although mine goes in the can). Maybe if those who do see someone who cares there may be a little less trash to pick up next time. There's always a next time.

Not necessarily on target, Sharpe Jr, but you get what I'm saying: It's all about the end result.

PS If it's possible I do think being the fifth-most vote getter out of the four who went to office, you should be appointed to Payne's at-large seat. The people have already spoken. Interesting. How does that happen if it does?

PPS Will still speak my mind -- hopefully fairly