Posted by Urban Times News on August 31, 2004 at 16:07:58:

GOES TO SHOW

Urban Times News
August 27, 2004 - September 2, 2004

On Tuesday August 17th, the Glenn D. Cunningham Branch Library and Community Center was officially opened to the public. Though there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony performed by the Acting Mayor, the event was most assuredly focused on the beloved, popular, political icon Mayor Glenn D. Cunningham.

The event was an auspicious occasion, hosted by NAACP President and resident orator Kabili Tayari. A large white tent that could house about one hundred guests and speakers was erected in the middle of Martin Luther King Drive, requiring traffic to be redirected around Myrtle and Bostwick Avenues. City and state dignitaries were present including U.S Attorney Christopher Christie, and of course the mayor's widow, Sandra Bolden Cunningham. The dedication lasted over two-hours with comments from friends and colleagues alike, none the least of which were those offered by Mrs. Cunningham herself. She raised a rousing ovation behind her comments on the legacy of the late mayor, echoed by the U.S. Attorney.

"Only two of the City Council's members could see the seeds," she said referring to Councilman Steven Lipsky and Councilwoman Viola Richardson, the only City Council members who supported Cunningham's policies and political direction. "Not all Hudson County mayors, not all Jersey City congressmen saw the seed. He stood alone because he realized he had to be unbought and unbossed."

Christie supported this sentiment saying, "He (Cunningham) stood for the people who elected him mayor and senator. Stand for something and have integrity - that's what Glenn would demand. Enough is enough! It is time to take this government back."

A satisfying aside to the event was the participation of students from the Library's Miller Branch. They held up letter-shaped placards that spelled out Glenn Dale Cunningham stirring a latent tear in many eyes of the crowd.

An equally unsatisfying aside was the attempt of Acting Mayor Smith to usurp the mood of the event by presenting a citation to the group, Kool & the Gang. While they remain Jersey City natives worthy of recognition, this was clearly not the time. It just goes to show how considerate our Acting Mayor is. Unfortunately, Acting Mayor Council President L. Harvey Smith had not gone to the ceremony with the same reverent heart as all the other well-wishers and observers honoring Glenn D. Cunningham and the first of many monuments to his legacy. Acting Mayor L. Harvey Smith only came for his show.

In an attempt to secure some response to letters that were sent to the Acting Mayor, citizens from the Currywood Housing Project staged a morning demonstration outside City Hall on Tuesday morning.

Their picket was an outcry against the escalating violence in their area, in particular the shooting deaths of two Jersey City youths, Michael Taylor and Michael Henderson. The delegation included the boys' families, friends, and local ministers the Rev. George Saab and the Rev. Michael Thomson. About fifteen people met with the Acting Mayor in hopes of hearing some explanation why he failed to acknowledge the grieving families, and what would be done about the incidence of violent crime in their area. According to an aunt Delores Altenor, "He (Acting Mayor City Council President L. Harvey Smith) said he was doing his best to clean up the police department and that he had fired the police chief. The city has only 800 police. He didn't see my family because a police officer was murdered that same night. I said, 'my nephew's life isn't worth as much as a police officer?' Even a five minute phone call would have meant something." Mrs. Altenor added, "That was something that would have never happened if Glenn Cunningham was around. His (Acting Mayor Council President) explanation for not responding to our letters was that he was preparing a response, but when we wrote to other officials, they responded. I got phone calls from Mr. Manzo and Mr. Corzine's offices, and Mr. Chiappone called and wrote a letter to the Mayor Smith himself." When asked if there would be any action taken, she remembered, "He did say he would schedule a follow-up meeting next Tuesday." The Urban Times News called the Mayor's office to confirm when and where, but received no return call. It just goes to show.

That same day, the Acting Mayor "fired" the Chief of Police, Ronald Buonocore. Upon his ascendance to the Mayor's office, Smith attempted to fire Buonocore in his sweep of former Cunningham loyalists and personnel from city administration. This, in the midst of his "open door" policy, intended to maintain calm and order in the midst of Jersey City's grief. Before their court date, they reached an "amiable" settlement. Buonocore stayed. He has since made public his intention to run in the November elections.

While not officially discharging the Police Chief from his position the Acting Mayor has justified his actions with the assertion that, "He went on vacation. He didn't leave the payroll. I took him off the payroll." In. an election race that will likely include several more working public officials, including the Acting Mayor himself, the imperative of unpaid for the Police Chief at this juncture seems a bit targeted. This goes to show just how amiable our Acting Mayor can be.

The Urban Times inquiries called the office of the Acting Mayor about the dismissal of the police chief also, but received ... you know what happened.

Follow Ups:

• Books only at the Cunningham Library The Librarian 17:55:05 08/31/04 (2)
  • Re: Books only at the Cunningham Library FUNNY -FUNNY -HA -HA- 20:22:22 08/31/04 (1)
    • Re: Books only at the Cunningham Library Stephanie Queen 20:28:47 08/31/04 (0)

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: GOES TO SHOW

: Urban Times News
: August 27, 2004 - September 2, 2004

: On Tuesday August 17th, the Glenn D. Cunningham Branch Library and Community Center was officially opened to the public. Though there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony performed by the Acting Mayor, the event was most assuredly focused on the beloved, popular, political icon Mayor Glenn D. Cunningham.

: The event was an auspicious occasion, hosted by NAACP President and resident orator Kabili Tayari. A large white tent that could house about one hundred guests and speakers was erected in the middle of Martin Luther King Drive, requiring traffic to be redirected around Myrtle and Bostwick Avenues. City and state dignitaries were present including U.S Attorney Christopher Christie, and of course the mayor's widow, Sandra Bolden Cunningham. The dedication lasted over two-hours with comments from friends and colleagues alike, none the least of which were those offered by Mrs. Cunningham herself. She raised a rousing ovation behind her comments on the legacy of the late mayor, echoed by the U.S. Attorney.

: "Only two of the City Council's members could see the seeds," she said referring to Councilman Steven Lipsky and Councilwoman Viola Richardson, the only City Council members who supported Cunningham's policies and political direction. "Not all Hudson County mayors, not all Jersey City congressmen saw the seed. He stood alone because he realized he had to be unbought and unbossed."

: Christie supported this sentiment saying, "He (Cunningham) stood for the people who elected him mayor and senator. Stand for something and have integrity - that's what Glenn would demand. Enough is enough! It is time to take this government back."

: A satisfying aside to the event was the participation of students from the Library's Miller Branch. They held up letter-shaped placards that spelled out Glenn Dale Cunningham stirring a latent tear in many eyes of the crowd.

: An equally unsatisfying aside was the attempt of Acting Mayor Smith to usurp the mood of the event by presenting a citation to the group, Kool & the Gang. While they remain Jersey City natives worthy of recognition, this was clearly not the time. It just goes to show how considerate our Acting Mayor is. Unfortunately, Acting Mayor Council President L. Harvey Smith had not gone to the ceremony with the same reverent heart as all the other well-wishers and observers honoring Glenn D. Cunningham and the first of many monuments to his legacy. Acting Mayor L. Harvey Smith only came for his show.

: In an attempt to secure some response to letters that were sent to the Acting Mayor, citizens from the Currywood Housing Project staged a morning demonstration outside City Hall on Tuesday morning.

: Their picket was an outcry against the escalating violence in their area, in particular the shooting deaths of two Jersey City youths, Michael Taylor and Michael Henderson. The delegation included the boys' families, friends, and local ministers the Rev. George Saab and the Rev. Michael Thomson. About fifteen people met with the Acting Mayor in hopes of hearing some explanation why he failed to acknowledge the grieving families, and what would be done about the incidence of violent crime in their area. According to an aunt Delores Altenor, "He (Acting Mayor City Council President L. Harvey Smith) said he was doing his best to clean up the police department and that he had fired the police chief. The city has only 800 police. He didn't see my family because a police officer was murdered that same night. I said, 'my nephew's life isn't worth as much as a police officer?' Even a five minute phone call would have meant something." Mrs. Altenor added, "That was something that would have never happened if Glenn Cunningham was around. His (Acting Mayor Council President) explanation for not responding to our letters was that he was preparing a response, but when we wrote to other officials, they responded. I got phone calls from Mr. Manzo and Mr. Corzine's offices, and Mr. Chiappone called and wrote a letter to the Mayor Smith himself." When asked if there would be any action taken, she remembered, "He did say he would schedule a follow-up meeting next Tuesday." The Urban Times News called the Mayor's office to confirm when and where, but received no return call. It just goes to show.

: That same day, the Acting Mayor "fired" the Chief of Police, Ronald Buonocore. Upon his ascendance to the Mayor's office, Smith attempted to fire Buonocore in his sweep of former Cunningham loyalists and personnel from city administration. This, in the midst of his "open door" policy, intended to maintain calm and order in the midst of Jersey City's grief. Before their court date, they reached an "amiable" settlement. Buonocore stayed. He has since made public his intention to run in the November elections.

: While not officially discharging the Police Chief from his position the Acting Mayor has justified his actions with the assertion that, "He went on vacation. He didn't leave the payroll. I took him off the payroll." In. an election race that will likely include several more working public officials, including the Acting Mayor himself, the imperative of unpaid for the Police Chief at this juncture seems a bit targeted. This goes to show just how amiable our Acting Mayor can be.

: The Urban Times inquiries called the office of the Acting Mayor about the dismissal of the police chief also, but received ... you know what happened.


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