Bloomfield -- 2013 In A Box

It has been a year of changes and adjustments. Promises kept and broken. The New Year promises many more. How many of this year's issues can you recall from just the thumbnails? (Click on graphic to enlarge)

New Years Hopes on Christmas Eve for Memphis Supporters

Jeff Coltenback posted this update on his Facebook page. It has received 389 likes in 24 hours:

Memphis Update: It's been a while since I last posted anything. But, i did want everyone to know that Diana and I have retained L.I.D.A. Attorney, Isabelle Strauss to proceed with litigation to get Memphis back home. Unlike last time, we now are extremely confident with our position and legal standing. Additionally, we will be retaining other legal representation for issues stemming from the Township's treatment of Diana and me including, but not limited to, civil rights infractions. 

We are not going away and we want OUR dog back home. Oh and the for the record.... any money we are awarded from the courts will be donated to various non-profit animal rescue organizations. Diana and I will NOT be profiting from this at all.... All we want is MEMPHIS back home!!

Either by coincidence or master plan, the South Dakota "trainer," who received Memphis from Bloomfield's Neighbor to Neighbor Network, chose Christmas day to post on Facebook the first photo of Memphis anyone has seen since last winter.
When one of Bloomfield's leading advocates for Memphis politely shared a bit of her history with the dog, the trainer immediately shouted back her intention to keep him:

Karen Banda -- Is that supposed to be Memphis, the dog the Bloomfield Health Dept. had railroaded out of town for no good reason? That dog was a doll from day one, I know. As a volunteer at that shelter I saw him right after he came in. He belongs with Jeff and Diana at home in Bloomfield NJ. PLEASE release him.
2 hours ago · Unlike · 1

2 hours ago · Unlike · 1

Teresa Richardson Karen Banda FIRST OFF HE DOES NOT BELONG TO THE COLTENBECKS. HE WAS SENT TO THEM FOR TRAINING TO CORRECT ISSUES HE HAD AN SOME HE STILL HAS. HE HAD HIM 9 DAYS THAT'S ALL. HE HAS BEEN WITH ME OVER A YR NOW. I POSTED THIS PIC TO PROVE TO ALL THAT SAY HE IS DEAD. HE IS ALIVE AN WELL TAKIN CARE OF. I AM NOT INTO THE DRAMA BETWEEN THE TOWN, BOARD OF HEALTH OR THE SHELTER. PER A LETTER I RECEIVED FROM THE TOWN OF BLOOM FIELD AN THE LAWYER RICCI I OWN MEMPHIS. IF YOU WANT TO SEE COPIES OF THE DOCUMENTS I WILL BE MORE THEN HAPPY TO SHARE THEM.

Vet-Gate Welcomes Even More Lawsuits

Bloomfield has become backlogged with so many scandals and lawsuits that it is becoming hard to keep track of them. Bloomfield's latest scandal is still looking for a memorable name. For now let's call it Vet-Gate It's very much a work in progress.
 According to Bloomfield Life Online:

Michael McCracken and Hector Cartagena, who are airmen in the Air Force Reserve, may be fired from the Bloomfield force on administrative charges for allegedly misusing military leave time, said their attorney Catherine Elston at a press conference Friday in Newark. Elston said both are upstanding officers who followed all procedures when they reported for military duty. State Sen. Ron Rice, also speaking at the press conference at the Fraternal Order of Police's union hall, called for the New Jersey Attorney General's Office to investigate the Bloomfield Police Department's actions against the officers. 

 As with other unforced uproars in our town that appear to represent an unnecessary exercise of power over the powerless, this one has most residents wondering "What were they thinking?"

In the first day after the press conference, the story was picked up by The Patch, FIOS1 News, WABC7, Fox News, numerous blogs, and the NJ Fraternal Order of Police who posted:

"In a show of solidarity, we had standing room only participants consisting of the officers’ family, our police brothers and sisters, community leaders, and the press. Kudos to State Sen. Ron Rice for standing with us today. We commend our Bloomfield Lodge President Anthony Argento and attorney Catherine Elston for the awesome work they’re doing on this case." 

Out of state police groups are also expressing support. The Colorsdo FOP commented

"It is not unusual for to see discrimination, intimidation, and abuse of law enforcement officers who serve in the US Armed Forces. It happens far more than it is reported. The sad fact is it does not sit well with employers who are required to make accommodations for our nation’s warriors, and they will take illegal action to remove them from employment. "

Among the factors that may delay a resolution of this issue is the fact that Bloomfield's newly elected Mayor and Council won't meet until early January to address it. It presumably came up in a closed session of the departing Council and it's still not clear what facts were presented to them -- if any.

BPD lawyers may cloud the case if incriminating tapes are not allowed as evidence by a court judge. That may explain the BPD's refusal to comment on the evidence revealed by the vets.
We're wondering how long the BPD can keep up it's Wall of Silence. This may wind up as another lawsuit that gets billed to taxpayers. If the council approved the suspension, they have some explaining to do along with BPD. We know they've been misled in the past by high paid employees trying to cover their mistakes. Transparency is still the best disinfectant.
UPDATE: ON MONDAY IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE SUSPENDED VETS WILL GET FULL PAY DURING THEIR INVESTIGATION
CHRISTMAS EVE UPDATE: "NEVERMIND"....THE VETS WILL ONLY FIND COAL IN THEIR STOCKINGS
12/26 UPDATE A NEW FACEBOOK SITE HAS BEEN SET UP TO SUPPORT THESE VETS. HUNDREDS OF FOLLOWERS IN THE FIRST FEW HOURS: https://www.facebook.com/istandupforwarveterans

Why We Need a Butterfly Park

This was my public comment to the Bloomfield Council before it voted, 4 to 3, to reverse it's earlier approval of a Butterfly Park on its recently acquired parkland on Liongate Drive:

As some of you know, my 2nd Ward councilman and I have a long history together,going back about 13 years. I’ve supported him in just about everything he’s advocated and campaigned for. We’ve probably attended a couple of dozen planning board meetings over the years mostly dealing with Liongate. Our main goal as a group, The Third Riverbank Association, was to reduce flooding along the Third River and preserve one of our last bits of open space for passive recreation. 

Here’s where I’m forced to depart from my councilman’s latest campaign to put a soccer field in our newest park. Soccer is NOT passive recreation...and it only serves the needs of a tiny percentage of our residents. This year we’ve had soccer fields available all over town. Huck Field, Demarest School, Brookdale Park, Foley Field, Watsessing Park, Wrights field, Felton Field. Have I missed any? 

My wife and I happen to live a soccer balls kick from Nick’s proposed field of dreams. I’ve seen how many cars fill up the Huck Field parking lots and side streets when games are scheduled. Liongate can handle about 10 more cars than park there everyday. Along with a number of our neighbors, facing Liongate, we have no driveway and have to park our cars on Broad Street. 

I know of no one in our neighborhood -- or the Greenbrook townhouses -- who favors a soccer field here. As a Realtor, I can guarantee you that just about all our home values in this area will be hurt by such a soccer field here as opposed to being helped by a park like the imaginatively designed Butterfly Park.