Greg or Jerry
Soul_29 said:
joan_crystal said:
The garden at the Elks grows food for the food banks at St Joseph's and OLS. It is tended under the aegis of Rent Party and as such is not part of the community garden program.
Wow! How did Rent Party get dragged into this?!
No good deed goes unpunished. 
author said:
It was my understanding that Rent Party was part of the project and contributed so as to be able to donate some of the produce to those in need.
The function of the Maplewood Community Garden people was strictly advisory. Not proprietary.
"Part of the project" would be a misstatement. Rent Party, in conjunction with the South Orange Elks, conceived, organized and funded the entire effort.
We remain grateful for the support that members of the MCG provided during the first season. The South Orange Elks Rent Party Garden (official name) has more than doubled in size since the first season and last year we donated almost 2,400 pounds of fresh produce to the pantries that we support. It's a great story and we are always looking for volunteers ...
Once again, I think that the community garden (and whatever people want to assert about the past) is not and should not be part of the discussion in the current primary. It's just something that some people are grasping at, apparently, with partial and inflammatory assertions.
nohero said:
Once again, I think that the community garden (and whatever people want to assert about the past) is not and should not be part of the discussion in the current primary.
I was just minding my own business and ...
We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.
Same stuff as on his website if I recall; nothing new. Very energetic guy handing stuff out. Everyone around Greg seems excited except Greg.
My name is Danielle Perrotta and I am a teacher at Tuscan Elementary. I have spoken at Board of Education meetings and I am becoming more interested in the Township Committee. As a relatively new mom (my kids are 4 and 1), I have become friends with wonderful families through the New Moms coffee meetings the former Kari’s Cafe. As we have put down roots here, I find myself becoming more and more interested and involved in discussions and debates about the decisions being made at the Board of Education and on the Township Committee. It’s a great feeling to be engaged in local politics - the more I learn, the more I want to take part in discussions and coming up with solutions.
I have been friends with Greg and Alex, his wife, for 4 years since our babies were about 8 weeks old. I am now fully engaged in his campaign. Greg and Alex moved to Maplewood about the same time that we did and have developed roots in Maplewood. I have known him primarily as a dad and a friend - he is energetic, caring, intelligent and dynamic. We first started talking politics when he told me about the work he has done as a Democratic activist and that he grew up with his Dad being part of the political scene during his own childhood. He is a committed resident and has tremendous enthusiasm for this town and this position. He is looking at his role in taking part in the decision-making process that will have a long-term effect on the town and it’s residents. While Fred may be part of his campaign committee, Greg has the support of lots of young moms and dad who have been out stumping for him all over town. And know this: Greg is a unifying force - he is open to listening to ideas, as any committee member should be, but he also is an independent thinker and definitely no one’s puppet.
I leave you all with this - Greg is kind-hearted, brilliant and engaging - he would welcome the chance to talk to all of you and discuss his ideas. Email him or come to an upcoming event that is listed on the website. I would also welcome the chance to talk with you about Greg - I will be hosting a play date at DeHart Park on Sunday, May 17th at 10:30 am. Stop by!
I understand how these kinds of threads work - we can’t hear the tone of your words, but we can hear the passion in the comments. Thank you for sharing your passion and interest in the upcoming election. For good or for bad, the discussions speak to Maplewood - our town that is made up of people who care about the longevity of the decisions that will be made by the committee and caring individuals that want the best for all of us. I hope to meet you soon!
Maybe I missed it when I had to step out, but Greg attended the MVA meeting tonight and had a prime opportunity to make a public statement opposing the Post Office site, supposedly one of his big issues, but instead he sat silently and clapped. What a missed opportunity to voice your opinion. If he did speak and I missed it, maybe someone can tell us what he said.
btw, that Beth Janson who started the Save the PO petition, why isn't she running for office? Because she can clearly articulate a message, succinctly and on target as shown at tonights MVA meeting. I don't agree with her on this issue, but I'd probably vote for her anyway if she were running. We need more female representation, no?
It seems like a bunch of people are campaigning for Greg, but Greg isn't one of them ... why?
Greg can only win if it's a low turnout election (most primaries are).
Greg is a lawyer and understands this.
Greg is silent.
QED
ArchBroad said:
Maybe I missed it when I had to step out, but Greg attended the MVA meeting tonight and had a prime opportunity to make a public statement opposing the Post Office site, supposedly one of his big issues, but instead he sat silently and clapped. What a missed opportunity to voice your opinion. If he did speak and I missed it, maybe someone can tell us what he said.
No he didn't speak. He applauded Mr. Profeta's various comments.
Rather than being a mirror in which various of us can see our varied positions on the PO site reflected, it would be nice if Greg could come out with a concrete statement on just what it is he believes should be done regarding this issue. There is certainly enough information out there for a person running for a seat on the Township Committee to have formed a personal position on the subject by now. It would also be nice to hear from him where he stands on any of the other issues facing the town at this time. Jerry and Nancy both have reviewable records which enable the informed voter to determine where they stand on a variety of issues and the skills each will bring to the TC. Greg does not have this and needs to be more specific about his position on the issues and more demonstrative as to his skills if he hopes to compete against two well-established opponents. I agree that not speaking at last evening's meeting was a missed opportunity and there are not too many left between between now and primary election day. Hopefully, he will be able to provide us with something of substance at the candidate forums.
I think Dave is on the money about Greg. A successful litigator with a speaking prize from Columbia Law School is not going to embarrass himself when he speaks. But where's the value in it? He wasn't going to change any minds at that meeting. I suspect the Post Office is Fred's issue, not Greg's. So he showed up to wave the flag for his sponsor and didn't put himself on the spot. As Dave said, Greg's strategy seems to be to get Fred's people's support and bring in as many new voters as he can by reaching out to his friends around town, then hope for a low turnout so these numbers will push him over the edge.
So how about meeting him? Any takers? I would love the chance to meet you all and I think it would be great for you to meet Greg. I was sad to see no RSVPs to the May 17th event!
Don't worry, I will keep inviting you. Have a great day!
My youngest is 14 and wasn't up for the play date plus, to be fair, Greg isn't likely to get my vote.
danip said:
So how about meeting him? Any takers? I would love the chance to meet you all and I think it would be great for you to meet Greg. I was sad to see no RSVPs to the May 17th event!
Don't worry, I will keep inviting you. Have a great day!
My 35 year old isn't up for a play date either. Plus he works during the day. I think you have to realize that the demographics in Maplewood extend beyond the parents of pre-schoolers. There are other opportunities for potential voters to meet Greg and I am sure those who are following this thread will take advantage of one or more of those opportunities if they do not participate in your play date.
As it happens, I have spoken with Greg one-on-one and not been too impressed, mostly because I could not get a satisfactory response to my questions of what he sees as the main issues facing Maplewood at this time, what his vision is for Maplewood going forward, and what his priorities would be if elected. The answers he did give showed that he did not have enough understanding of the proposals he did make to support his conclusions. Hopefully, that understanding will improve between now and election day. However, I have yet to hear from him or anyone else connected with campaign as to how his positions on the matters we discussed may have evolved.
Since Greg does not have a record of community service in Maplewood or even any community similar to Maplewood, i would at least like to know what service he would perform for Maplewood going forward, whether or not he is elected. Frankly, the "politics in my blood" endorsement is contrary to Maplewood's long history of citizen leaders with a strong foundation in local community service prior to being elected.
In my opinion, the "politics in my blood" statement smacks of hubris. Just sayin'...
joan_crystal said:
danip said:
So how about meeting him? Any takers? I would love the chance to meet you all and I think it would be great for you to meet Greg. I was sad to see no RSVPs to the May 17th event!
Don't worry, I will keep inviting you. Have a great day!
My 35 year old isn't up for a play date either. Plus he works during the day.
A classic Ms. Crystal response. Applause.
danip said:
So how about meeting him? Any takers? I would love the chance to meet you all and I think it would be great for you to meet Greg. I was sad to see no RSVPs to the May 17th event!
Don't worry, I will keep inviting you. Have a great day!
I can't vote in the primary, so any meeting with Greg wouldn't help me or him right now, to be honest. That, coupled with the facts that: a) he's got miles to go to earn the trust I already have in Jerry and to match his capable stewardship, and b) that I've heard firsthand the concerns of friends and neighbors who HAVE actually met him, and who were greatly disappointed with his indirect answers, all but assures I likely never will, at least in the short term.
For better or worse, by not speaking out more, Lembrich is allowing himself to be defined as a proxy for Profeta. Maybe he thinks that's a winning strategy. Who knows? Maybe in a low turnout primary that will be enough. He isn't getting my vote.
deborahg said:
My youngest is 14 and wasn't up for the play date
Yeah, I'd say that would be a long-shot ... At best.
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A brief and final detour to the Maplewood Community Garden............when the Elks graciously donated part of their front lawn to grow vegetables they had a problem in that they had no expertise in growing. The Maplewood Community Garden helped give instructions as to how to build the wooden beds and proceed with the planting etc.. The Community Garden has a number of members who are Master Gardeners and are more than qualified to give instruction.
It was my understanding that Rent Party was part of the project and contributed so as to be able to donate some of the produce to those in need.
The function of the Maplewood Community Garden people was strictly advisory. Not proprietary.