Mayor's Message:
Labor Day
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Dear Jazz,
On Monday, September 5th, our nation will celebrate its 128th Labor Day. Some may say it's bittersweet as it's synonymous with the end of summer. For others, our autumn lovers, Fall is welcomed with open arms. Nevertheless, Labor day weekend is celebrated nationwide with barbeques, parties, beach trips, and more. But do you know the true reason for our celebration?
The height of the industrial revolution took root in the late 1800s. During this time, your average American was forced to work 12-hour shifts, seven days a week, simply to make ends meet. Not even children were spared. Despite restrictions, children as young as five or six worked in mills, factories, and mines only to earn a fraction of their adult co-workers' wages. And the grievances didn't end there. The working conditions facing the average person were horrendous. The poor and the migrant laborers, in particular, worked with limited and sometimes no access to sanitary facilities, insufficient access to fresh air, and restricted break times. As years went by and the manufacturing demands increased, labor unions became more vocal and prominent. Workers organized rallies and strikes nationwide to protest the poor working conditions. Many of these events were violent, and some even resulted in deaths and injuries.
September 5th, 1882, marked a monumental moment for workers nationwide. On that day, ten thousand workers committed to taking unpaid time off to march from City Hall to Union Square in New York City, holding the first Labor Day parade recorded in U.S. history. The idea of a "workingmen's holiday," celebrated on the first Monday in September, spread like wildfire to other industrial centers across the nation. Many states passed legislation recognizing the day. But congress would not legalize the holiday until twelve years later, when Pullman Palace Car Company in Chicago made significant wage cuts and fired union representatives. In retaliation to Putman's actions, the American Railroad Union, led by Eugene V. Debs, issued a boycott of all Pullman railway cars, crippling railroad traffic nationwide. And on June 28th, 1894, in an attempt to repair ties with the nation's workers, Congress and President Grover Cleveland officially designated Labor Day as a legal holiday (source).
Can you imagine trying to make a living during these times? I am deeply sympathetic to the families who had to live through the industrial revolution and fight for their fundamental rights. Thanks to their efforts and determination, today's workforce protections and rights have evolved. Rules and regulations are in place to protect the workers from hazardous working conditions, the safety of workers is viewed as a top priority, and fair wages are regulated. In life, there will always be those who wish to cheat the system for selfish gains. We must take a page from our history books and remember that no one will hear us if we don't speak up. Don't ever conform to a situation or work condition that makes you uncomfortable. Regardless of your legal status, with a few exceptions, undocumented workers enjoy all of the legal rights and remedies provided to workers by both federal and California law.
We must thank organized labor for the many gains made over the many decades of struggle.
As we prepare for Labor day weekend, I want to thank all our working-class residents for their commitment to working hard every day. Your actions have not gone unnoticed. I see you striving to provide for your families and your future. I admire the strength that keeps you motivated and determined to get up every morning and face the daily challenges at work. Thank you for being strong role models and inspiring the young people here in our beautiful Queen City.
But more importantly, I want to thank the labor movement for changing the working conditions of all workers, and for fighting to ensure workers received decent wages and are protected in their jobs.
I wish everyone a wonderful Labor Day weekend, and may you continue to find fulfillment, joy, and peace in your career.
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Creating One Plainfield. One Future | | |
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Mayor Adrian O. Mapp
City of Plainfield
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Querido Plainfield,
El lunes 5 de septiembre nuestra nación celebrará su 128° Día del Trabajo. Algunos pueden decir que es agridulce, ya que es sinónimo del final del verano. Para otros, nuestros amantes del entretiempo, el otoño se recibe con los brazos abiertos. Sin embargo, el fin de semana del Día del Trabajo se celebra en todo el país con barbacoas, fiestas, viajes a la playa y más. ¿Pero sabes el verdadero motivo de nuestra celebración?
El altura de la revolución industrial tomo raiz a fines de los 1800s. Durante este tiempo, el estadounidense promedio se vio obligado a trabajar turnos de 12 horas, siete días a la semana, simplemente para llegar a fin de mes. Ni siquiera los niños se salvaron. A pesar de las restricciones, niños de cinco o seis años trabajaban en molinos, fábricas y minas solo para ganar una fracción del salario de sus compañeros de trabajo adultos. Y los agravios no terminaron ahí. Las condiciones de trabajo que enfrentaba la persona promedio eran horrendas. Los trabajadores pobres y migrantes, en particular, trabajaban con acceso limitado y a veces sin acceso a instalaciones sanitarias, acceso insuficiente a aire fresco y tiempos de descanso restringidos. A medida que pasaron los años y aumentaron las demandas de fabricación, los sindicatos se hicieron más vocales y prominentes. Los trabajadores organizaron mítines y huelgas en todo el país para protestar las malas condiciones laborales. Muchos de estos eventos fueron violentos, y algunos incluso resultaron en muertes y heridos.
El 5 de septiembre de 1882 marcó un momento monumental para los trabajadores de todo el país. Ese día, diez mil trabajadores se comprometieron a tomar tiempo libre no pagado para marchar desde el Ayuntamiento hasta Union Square en la ciudad de Nueva York, realizando el primer desfile del Día del Trabajo registrado en la historia de los Estados Unidos. La idea de una "fiesta de los trabajadores", celebrada el primer lunes de septiembre, se extendió como pólvora a otros centros industriales de todo el país. Muchos estados aprobaron leyes reconociendo el día. Pero el congreso no legalizaría el feriado hasta doce años después, cuando Pullman Palace Car Company en Chicago hizo graves recortes salariales y despidió a los representantes sindicales. En represalia por las acciones de Putman, la American Railroad Union, dirigido por Eugene V. Debs, boicoteó todos los vagones de tren Pullman, lo que paralizó el tráfico ferroviario en todo el país. Y el 28 de junio del 1894, en un intento por reparar los lazos con los trabajadores de la nación, el Congreso y el presidente Grover Cleveland designaron oficialmente el Día del Trabajo como feriado legal (fuente).
¿Te imaginas intentar ganarte la vida en estos tiempos? Simpatizo profundamente con las familias que tuvieron que vivir la revolución industrial y luchar por sus derechos fundamentales. Gracias a sus esfuerzos y determinación, las protecciones y los derechos de la fuerza laboral actual han evolucionado. Existen normas y reglamentos para proteger a los trabajadores de condiciones de trabajo peligrosas, la seguridad de los trabajadores se considera una prioridad máxima y se regulan los salarios justos. En la vida, siempre habrá quienes deseen engañar al sistema para obtener ganancias egoístas. Debemos tomar una página de nuestros libros de historia y recordar que nadie nos escuchará si no hablamos. Nunca te conformes con una situación o condición de trabajo que te haga sentir incómodo. Independientemente de su estado legal, con algunas excepciones, los trabajadores indocumentados disfrutan de todos los derechos y recursos legales proporcionados a los trabajadores por las leyes federales y de California.
Debemos agradecer a los trabajadores organizados por los muchos logros obtenidos durante las muchas décadas de lucha.
Mientras nos preparamos para el fin de semana del Día del Trabajo, quiero agradecer a todos nuestros residentes de clase trabajadora por su compromiso de trabajar duro todos los días. Tus acciones no han pasado desapercibidas. Los veo esforzándose por mantener a sus familias y su futuro. Admiro la fuerza que te mantiene motivado y decidido a levantarte cada mañana y enfrentar los desafíos diarios en el trabajo. Gracias por ser fuertes modelos a seguir e inspirar a los jóvenes aquí en nuestra hermosa Queen City.
Pero lo que es más importante, quiero agradecer al movimiento laboral por cambiar las condiciones laborales de todos los trabajadores y por luchar para garantizar que los trabajadores reciban salarios decentes y estén protegidos en sus trabajos.
Les deseo a todos un maravilloso fin de semana del Día del Trabajo y que continúen encontrando satisfacción, alegría y paz en su carrera.
Creando Un Plainfield. Un Futuro
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Alcalde Adrian O. Mapp
Ciudad de Plainfield
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Mayor Adrian O. Mapp, the City Council and City Administration Wish You a Happy Labor Day | |
Celebrating the Plainfield Symphony Orchestra's Upcoming 103rd Season | |
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The Plainfield Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of our acclaimed music director Charles Prince, invites you to share in a musical journey as we explore old favorites, discover new works and experience pieces from near and far, real and imaginary.
The 103rd season opens on October 15, 2022 with “Once Upon a Time,” showcasing two works from the imaginary world. Tapiola, Op. 112, "Realm of Tapio,” is a tone poem Jean Sibelius. Also featured will be the well-known Scheherazade, Op. 35, a symphonic suite composed by the Finnish composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and based on The One Thousand and One Nights.
On November 19, 2022, the audience favorite Pops Concert, entitled “Life is a Cabaret,” will include works by George Gershwin, Kurt Weill, Cole Porter and other surprises. The soloists will be returning critically acclaimed tenor Brian Cheney along with musical and operetta performer Monica Arnó.
Our annual free afternoon Family Concert will take place on January 28, 2023. “All That Jazz” will feature a collaboration with students from the Plainfield Academy for the Arts & Advanced Studies (PAAAS) magnet school.
“The Maestro and Apprentice 1792” is the theme for the March 25, 2023 concert. Haydn’s Sinfonia Concertante in B flat major will showcase several PSO principal players: Evelyn Estava, Jameson Platte, Nancy Vanderslice and Lee Doswell. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 in Eb major, Op. 35 (“Eroica”) will conclude this uplifting program.
The season will conclude on April 29, 2023 with a “Tchaikovsky Festival.” His Overture/Fantasy Romeo and Juliet will be presented along with Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64, a journey from darkness to light.
Wonder. Pathos. Joy. Experience an array of human emotions during this upcoming unforgettable Plainfield Symphony season where great music is brought to life.
The Plainfield Symphony is New Jersey's oldest community symphony and the third oldest in the country.
Season tickets for the 2022/2023 concerts are now on sale and can be purchased on our website, www.plainfieldsymphony.org. Tickets may also be purchased at the concert. Subscription concerts are held at the Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church located at 716 Watchung Avenue, Plainfield, New Jersey.
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REMINDER - Hurricane IDA Recovery Registration Survey
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New Jersey residents are encouraged to participate in the Hurricane Ida Survey, which is currently required if you want to apply for future Ida recovery programs.
The State of New Jersey has been awarded $228 million in Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to assist with the recovery from Hurricane Ida. The funds will create housing recovery and mitigation programs to help individuals and communities.
To access these federal recovery funds, the State must develop an Action Plan for how it will use these funds and submit it to HUD for approval. Developing the Action Plan and recovery programs will take several months to complete.
CLICK HERE to read full article.
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Mark Your Calendars - Upcoming Events | |
September Boards & Council Meetings | |
Love Plainfield Initiative | |
¿ How Do You Show Love For Plainfield? | |
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A MESSAGE FROM UNION COUNTY:
Union County Offers Convenient, Expert Guidance for Seniors Seeking Services
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Union County’s “ASK” program will visit four locations in September, including bilingual assistance in Spanish
Union County seniors and their caregivers can come to any one of four Union County Aging Services Kiosk events this September and meet in person with professional staff for expert guidance on senior programs and resources, including help with filling out applications and forms. Bilingual staff will be available to assist residents in Spanish during the event on September 21.
“The ASK program is a friendly, convenient way to find out about helpful programs and services, and our bilingual staff will help ensure that we can reach everyone who is seeking assistance,” said Union County Commissioner Chair Rebecca L. Williams.
ASK is a program of the Union County Department of Human Services through the Division on Aging and Disability Resources, serving seniors age 60-plus and their caregivers.
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A MESSAGE FROM THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY:
Governor Murphy Unveils Statewide
School Security Initiative
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$6.5 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds Will Further Strengthen Efforts to Protect Students and Teachers
PARAMUS – Governor Phil Murphy visited East Brook Middle School to announce a $6.5 million investment in American Rescue Plan funds toward a statewide school security initiative to collect and digitize school building blueprints and make them available to first responders. Accurate and uniform maps are critical to enable law enforcement personnel to swiftly respond to emergencies in unfamiliar environments.
Currently, New Jersey first responders have access to Collaborative Response Graphics (CRG) for approximately 1,500 of the state’s 3,000 public and private schools. The initiative unveiled by Governor Murphy today will help the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (NJOHSP) and the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) map the remaining 1,500 schools in an effort to further safeguard New Jersey students and educators.
“With the epidemic of gun violence reaching every part of our communities, including our schools, we offer our families not empty promises, but concrete investments in tools and resources that will keep our students safe,” said Governor Murphy. “Nothing is more important than the safety of our children and the educators who help our children achieve their full potential. In order to protect our children and educators, we must equip our first responders with the most up-to-date 21st-century technology so that they can respond to emergencies without unnecessary delay.”
“This new school security investment will ensure that law enforcement has immediately accessible digital blueprints of every school building in the state, God forbid there is an active shooter situation or other attack. This technology will help law enforcement act quickly and decisively,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer. “And this new investment was made possible by the federal American Rescue Plan that Congress passed last year. It’s hard to think of a better use of these federal resources than to ensure we’re protecting our schools, educators, and children by giving our law enforcement the resources they need to keep them safe.”
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A MESSAGE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE:
Biden-Harris Administration Announces Public and Private Sector Actions to Strengthen Teaching Profession and Help Schools Fill Vacancies
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Our nation’s teachers prepare and inspire the next generation of leaders that are critical to our future. Yet for years, our education system has faced challenges in attracting, recruiting, and retaining qualified teachers – challenges that were made worse by the pandemic. As children across the country start the 2022-2023 school year, too many schools are struggling to fill vacancies for teachers, including with qualified teachers, and other critical school professionals – such as bus drivers, paraprofessionals, nurses, and mental health professionals – positions that are essential to help our students recover academically, access the mental health supports they need, and thrive in and out of the classroom.
Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing new efforts to strengthen the teaching profession and support schools in their effort to address teacher shortages as the new school year begins. This announcement includes new commitments from leading job platforms to make it easier for Americans to find opportunities in the education field, and new initiatives from teachers unions and national and state organizations to expand high-quality pathways into the profession for future teachers.
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HELP US TAKE CARE OF OUR CITY!
DOWNLOAD THE REPORT- IT APP
Available in IOS and Android Mobile Phones
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Exercise your civic duty-- be the eyes and ears of our City! Your reports can greatly increase the quality of life in our Plainfield community. Let's work together to keep our city safe- If you see it, say it with ReportIt. | |
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Use the app, or text
reportit to 63975
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Mayor Adrian O. Mapp and the City of Plainfield are committed to making it as easy as possible to report concerns in our city. To that end, we've partnered with REPORT IT, which is now live in Plainfield and ready to be used as an important supplemental reporting tool.
Report it makes community reporting easier than ever! Residents and visitors can download the app by scanning the barcode above or by going to your phone's app store. Your reports will be submitted to the appropriate City department to be resolved.
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|THE CITY OF PLAINFIELD NJ|
515 WATCHUNG AVENUE | 908-753-3310| MONDAY-FRIDAY | 9 A.M.- 5 P.M.|
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Creating One Plainfield. One Future | | | | |
