A little after 9:00pm I called Rebecca and congratulated her on her win for the Plainfield City Council seat for the 2nd and 3rd wards. I pledged to her my support in her fall campaign.
I will take a few days off, but will continue to fight for the issues that I have been fighting for these past years:
* Government transparency
* Efficiency in our government
* Greater community engagement
* Resulted-focused cooperation between the Council and administration
Finally, I want to thank all those who came out and helped on this campaign. You know who you are, and your support was invaluable to me and meant a lot to me.
Thank you.
Rashid Burney
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
The Truth
Yesterday's mailing by Jerry Green on Rebecca Williams was Jerry Green's mailing. Not mine.
Rebecca 's campaign has had one theme: "Jerry owns Rashid. Vote for Rebecca".
Jerry Green does not own me. He is a powerful force in this City and I work with him when I agree with him. When I disagree with him I work hard to get him to see things my way.
My record on the Council stands for itself. My support of gay rights is well known: I initiated and got passed equal benefits for same sex partners of City employees. I held a fundraiser in my home for the Plainfield Pride Film Festival. I fully supported Ray Blanco from day 1. I would never condone any "gay bashing".
Rebecca has tried to make this election about Jerry and there is a lot of hate in this campaign, as evidenced by the mailers and Dan Damon's blogs. At this late date, can we move beyond the Rebecca psychodrama with Jerry? Can we get past the endless self-victimization by Rebecca?
I think we must.
My campaign has been about accomplishments, ideas, achievable goals for our City and a strategy to reach those goals:
Click here to see my vision for Plainfield
Click here to see my accomplishments
I am the ONLY candidate willing to speak on our schools. See my goals here.
Please remember, this election is about Plainfield and what we can get done. Will you vote for the person best qualified to move our town forward?
Thank you
Rashid Burney
Rebecca 's campaign has had one theme: "Jerry owns Rashid. Vote for Rebecca".
Jerry Green does not own me. He is a powerful force in this City and I work with him when I agree with him. When I disagree with him I work hard to get him to see things my way.
My record on the Council stands for itself. My support of gay rights is well known: I initiated and got passed equal benefits for same sex partners of City employees. I held a fundraiser in my home for the Plainfield Pride Film Festival. I fully supported Ray Blanco from day 1. I would never condone any "gay bashing".
Rebecca has tried to make this election about Jerry and there is a lot of hate in this campaign, as evidenced by the mailers and Dan Damon's blogs. At this late date, can we move beyond the Rebecca psychodrama with Jerry? Can we get past the endless self-victimization by Rebecca?
I think we must.
My campaign has been about accomplishments, ideas, achievable goals for our City and a strategy to reach those goals:
Click here to see my vision for Plainfield
Click here to see my accomplishments
I am the ONLY candidate willing to speak on our schools. See my goals here.
Please remember, this election is about Plainfield and what we can get done. Will you vote for the person best qualified to move our town forward?
Thank you
Rashid Burney
Monday, June 7, 2010
Straight Talk • Results • Accomplishments
We Must Fix Our Schools, Plainfield!
The state of the public schools might be Plainfielders ' biggest concern . I've learned this on the campaign trail, from talking with parents, teachers, merchants, business people, people trying to sell their homes, people wanting to start businesses. Plainfielders feel that our schools have not lived up to their full potential for far too long.
Aside from the injustice to public school students and to parents who feel forced to pay to send their children to private schools, a broken school system hurts all of Plainfield: by suppressing property values, hindering growth and industry and contributing to crime. As so many of our citizen's have told me: There is no fixing Plainfield until we fix our schools.
If we could fix our schools, families with children looking for homes would give Plainfield a second look. Even childless potential homeowners would give Plainfield a second look, no longer fearing that if they buy in Plainfield they will never be able to later sell to families with children. Improved property values could also lead to improved tax revenues. If we can fix the schools we can fix Plainfield.
But more importantly, most importantly, if we could fix the schools we could fulfill our obligation to the next generation, to rear well rounded students, ready to compete for spots in colleges, the job market, the world at large.
Failed solutions of the past.
Plainfield has been thrashing around for years, looking for answers. Prior studies and reports have not yielded the results we need. Is it because of inaction? Inadequate action? I don't know. What I do know is that in the past five years, the school system has gone through five superintendents. We must stop looking for a knight in shining armor to come to our rescue. It is now apparent that no one is coming to save us. We must save ourselves.
A mandate from the People.
The easy out for the City government is to say the schools is the School Board's problem. But the voters' rejection of the school board budget for two years in a row is a mandate to the Council to address the problem of our public schools.
The start of the solution - a blue ribbon Education Commission.
From my discussions with my constituents an idea has arisen - not a solution but the start of a solution. I will propose the Council establishes a blue ribbon Education Commission made up of volunteer members appointed by the Council, to seek the answer to the problem of persistent underperformance of our schools. This commission, who like the 9-11 Commission will be formed to look deeply into the issues, report and then disband.
Such a Commission would require the cooperation of the Board of Education and of course the willingness of the Council.
Who would be on the Education Commission? The Education Commission would be comprised of:
* Plainfield residents and those with teaching experience
* Plainfield parents with school age children who attend public and private school
* A State education representative
* Administrators and educators from the district
* A representative from another Abbott district that is doing well - like Union City or Jersey City.
All of the above must have one overriding concern: the betterment of our schools
What would the Education Commission do? The task of the Education Commission would be to:
- honestly assess the actual state of our schools, examining it from every angle
- honestly determine where the real problems lie
- dust off older studies and re-evaluate recommendations, see if they are still valid today
- search for real, meaningful answers no matter how difficult
- seek input from the People
- make recommendations for change
- The curriculum…or lack of a curriculum
- Training and evaluation of teachers and administrators
- School Board elections: move school board to November?
- The value of electing versus appointing members of the School board
- The budget and allocation of funds
- What tools (books, lab equipment, programs) teachers need to help them give our children the qualified education they deserve
- What administrative and other forms of support do our teachers need in order to perform at peak levels
- What support and parental involvement issues are the children facing at home
- Anything else a creative engaged Commission can propose to improve our schools
You can help. I need your help to make this happen. Tell me what you think. Encourage all elected officials, whether the School Board, the Council, the Administration, the General Assembly or the State to support this search for solutions. Volunteer to serve on the Education Commission.
We need an Education Commission!
Our public schools affects every aspect of our city life: justice for our children, property values, tax revenues, crime rates , growth and development, quality of life , and our very future. You deserve a City Council which will turn its attention to the problem of the schools. Our children deserve the opportunity to excel scholastically in a safe nurturing environment. An Education Commission is not the solution. But I believe it would be the start of a solution.
On June 8th, I ask for your vote to allow me to address the many difficult issues before us.
Rashid Burney for CouncilA proud record of accomplishments
Endorsed by:
US Congressman Frank Pallone
Councilwoman Linda Carter
Councilman Bill Reid & (former Councilman) Elliott Simmons
Sunday, June 6, 2010
My Vision for Plainfield
"Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality."
"The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it."
As I have walked the streets of Plainfield knocking on doors campaigning for re-election, on of the most frequent questions I hear is "what have you done for the past four years?" The easy answer: a lot! If you'd like a list of what I've accomplished in my time on the council, click here.
— Warren Bennis
"The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it."
— Michelangelo
****************
As I have walked the streets of Plainfield knocking on doors campaigning for re-election, on of the most frequent questions I hear is "what have you done for the past four years?" The easy answer: a lot! If you'd like a list of what I've accomplished in my time on the council, click here.
The next most frequently asked question is, "what is your vision for Plainfield?"
I believe we all have one vision.
We all want many of the same things...
We want a safe, thriving downtown that serves all of Plainfield.
We want a community of people living downtown, and close to the Netherwood station.
We want a downtown with available recreation where all of Plainfield shops and dines: a downtown with restaurants, cafes, music halls.
We want wider, pedestrian friendly streets, parks and jitneys.
Some might think I'm crazy, but I want to go shopping after work on a Thursday night in downtown Plainfield.
I want to go to a movie in downtown Plainfield on a Friday night. I want to meet friends at a restaurant in downtown Plainfield on a Saturday night and afterwards go out for a beer and hear some live music.
Plainfield was once a regional center for commerce and culture. There is no reason it can't be again. I will not stop until we make it so.
We want a safe, thriving downtown that serves all of Plainfield.
We want a community of people living downtown, and close to the Netherwood station.
We want a downtown with available recreation where all of Plainfield shops and dines: a downtown with restaurants, cafes, music halls.
We want wider, pedestrian friendly streets, parks and jitneys.
Some might think I'm crazy, but I want to go shopping after work on a Thursday night in downtown Plainfield.
I want to go to a movie in downtown Plainfield on a Friday night. I want to meet friends at a restaurant in downtown Plainfield on a Saturday night and afterwards go out for a beer and hear some live music.
Plainfield was once a regional center for commerce and culture. There is no reason it can't be again. I will not stop until we make it so.
We all want a thriving industrial corridor humming with trucks and employees going in and out of these industrial tracts, enjoying the town they work in and, most of all, shopping in Plainfield and paying taxes.
Residents should not be the only tax payers. Plainfield was once a center of industry and it can be again.
Residents should not be the only tax payers. Plainfield was once a center of industry and it can be again.
We all want a town where we aren't afraid of crime.
We want a school system which routinely produces scholars, athletes and happy, well-rounded students, who are ready to compete in college, vocational schools or the job market. We want every parent in town to be comfortable, even proud of sending his or her children to our schools.
We want a school system which routinely produces scholars, athletes and happy, well-rounded students, who are ready to compete in college, vocational schools or the job market. We want every parent in town to be comfortable, even proud of sending his or her children to our schools.
We want a town that embraces our diversity and promotes our history.
How do I know what Plainfield wants?
Along with my colleague Councilperson Storch, we led the move to conduct a visioning study.
Money from the city's Urban Enterprise Zone was used to fund this study, conducted by NJIT, to envision our town's realistic potential, focusing on the future of the Raritan Valley line. Residents shared their visions for the future of our area and graduate students recorded and organized the information into a cohesive vision. It was a moving, positive experience for those who really do believe in the future of Plainfield.
A resident at one of the sessions commented to me "I have hope."
I have hope, too. Not an irrational hope, but one founded on facts and a realistic ability to create the town of our dreams.
Money from the city's Urban Enterprise Zone was used to fund this study, conducted by NJIT, to envision our town's realistic potential, focusing on the future of the Raritan Valley line. Residents shared their visions for the future of our area and graduate students recorded and organized the information into a cohesive vision. It was a moving, positive experience for those who really do believe in the future of Plainfield.
A resident at one of the sessions commented to me "I have hope."
I have hope, too. Not an irrational hope, but one founded on facts and a realistic ability to create the town of our dreams.
My job is to make this vision a reality.
As your council-person, my job is to make YOUR visions into reality. I want to take your dreams for this community and turn them into substance. I hope to continue to serve you in this task.
We are laying the foundation for the future of Plainfield . The train corridor will dominate this town for the next century . The soul of Plainfield will be tied to this train corridor.
My record of accomplishment shows that I am not a man of empty promises. I have the skills and determination to make our vision a reality.
On Tuesday, I hope you choose me to serve you, to fight for our vision , to represent you on the Plainfield City Council.
Rashid Burney for CouncilA proud record of accomplishments
Endorsed by:
US Congressman Frank Pallone
Councilwoman Linda Carter,
Councilman Bill Reid
Former Councilman Elliott Simmons
Community Activist Jim Spear
Community Activist Jeanette Criscone
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Unsolicited Emails from Block Leaders
STRAIGHT TALK • RESULTS • ACCOMPLISHMENTS
These two emails are examples of emails I have received this campaign. These emails are from block leaders whom I have worked with and know my track record of commuity involvement and legislative leadership.
"Good afternoon Rashid,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all you have done and will continue to do for the City of Plainfield. As a resident of 31 years, i feel you have accomplished the most I have seen in many years. "
Netherwood Heights Resident
"Rashid,
I want to thank you for coming out to speak with us. It is clear, at least to me that you work very hard to make Plainfield a better place. There is no one, in the 15 years that I have lived here that has done as much as you have and I know you have an up hill battle all the time. I also feel no one has the qualifications you have to lead us.
........ I wish you the very best and I feel you will win. You should think about running for mayor, ....
Thank you again for being who you are."
Near West Side Block Leader
Rashid Burney for Council
A proud record of accomplishments
Endorsed by: US Congressman Frank Pallone
Councilwoman Linda Carter, Councilman Bill Reid
Former Councilman
Elliott Simmons
Community Activist Jim Spear
Community Activist Jeanette Criscone
Friday, June 4, 2010
More Politics from Dan Damon?
Rebecca Willaim supporter continues his smear campaign on me, like his candidate has been doing all week.
Come on Dan. Didn't you know the taxes are determined on property assessment. Size does not always matter. Further you know full well property taxes are determined by the tax office. Not Council members.
Funny, you had no problem with my property taxes when I ran as New Democrat!!
Also, got a great comment from Jim Spear. I will post it in full here:
Oh my Dan. . .there you go again. . . Your house is MUCH larger than that 'cottage' you mentioned and you ONLY pay $10,089 !!!
I would think that whole cottage would fit on your front porch. Plainfield hasn't re-assessed since 1992. That cottage was built after that. Of course it will be assessed higher . . . . O my Dan. .
And speaking about that Cottage, I asked one of the owners of it last week if he considered appealing his taxes (again). He told me "NO". He said they were interested in moving to another section of town.
In my opinion, his taxes would have been reduced if he appealed again. Appeals are based on recent market rate sales. Market is down Dan. That pretty Mansion might have gotten a reduction too. Oh my Dan. . . . Oh my. . time for a retraction? jim spear PS so you know my taxes are 16k , all my neighbors with similar houses pay, 8,9,10 & 11K. I'm the guy you should be speaking up for Dan
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Accomplishments! Not Retoric, not promises.
Straight Talk • Results • Accomplishments
My work on the council can be summed up with two words: For Plainfield. This is important to understand, as I have not worked for a political party or faction. I have worked for Plainfield. By being focused on getting things done, I can now bring to you what I have done! Not just "worked for" or "fought for". These are accomplishments. These are actual results.
Transparency
- Put Council meetings on Comcast and FIOS cable stations - 2009
- Personally made council doc available on www.RashidBurney.com 2006
- Council documents are now available at Plainfield Public Library (Reference section) 2009
Increasing Public Safety
- Got a Police Traffic Enforcement unit started in Plainfield - 2008
- Speed bumps on Kensington Ave. - 2008
- Got more tools, technologies into the hands of our Police and Fire departments - 2006-Present
Taxes:
- Every year, I have fought to eliminate waste and improve efficiency
- Today we have fewer employees then in 2005 when I came on the Council
- Today (after taking out inflation, and contractual salary increase) we are running city hall for fewer dollars than in 2005
- We have more Police officers on the streets then in 2005
- Successfully got a drug rehab center for non-Plainfield patients, off the Plainfield tax base - 2009
- Negotiated a 6-point settlement with PMUA. More to come! - 2009
Legislative Accomplishments
- Led inititive to create Plainfield's Shade Tree Commission - 2006
- Children’s safety: Created sex-offender-free zones in Plainfield - 2006
- Retained funding for Cultural and Heritage Commission & Shade Tree Commission - 2006
- Domestic partners now get the same benefits as married couples - 2006
Increasing Community Engagement
- Created the Citizen's Budget Advisory Committee - 2008
- Created the IT, Economic and Budget committees - 2009
Responding to Constituents
- Halloween Safety: made Halloween night a safe holiday for everyone - 2008
- Got resident-only parking for Hillside/Randolph residents - 2006
Planning for the Future of Plainfield
- Successfully led efforts to bring NJIT to Plainfield for Community Visioning project - 2009
Voting for What is in Plainfield’s Interest
- Voted against budget that took out six Plainfield Police officers and eliminated 150K in the Plainfield Library’s budget – 2010
Rashid Burney for Council
A proud record of accomplishments
US Congressman Frank Pallone
Councilwoman Linda Carter, Councilman Bill Reid
Former Councilman Elliott Simmons
Community Activist Jim Spear
Community Activist Jeanette Criscone
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