Letter to the Editor: 'Town Government Needs Better Emergency Response'
The following is a letter to the editor from Township Commissioner Ed O'Malley.
To the Editor:
Cranford’s emergency responders came up big in the early days after the storm as they usually do. Since Thursday however, town actions and communication have not been appropriate to the scale of the ongoing emergency needs of large numbers of citizens still without power and heat. As we approach next week, temperatures have begun to drop and there’s a Nor’easter in the forecast.
The Police Department has communicated effectively, the town has not. I understand that a large part of the issue stems from a lack of information from and coordination with PSE&G and higher government jurisdictions are addressing that issue. Many still lack phone and internet service. Nevertheless, the town can offer much more help with the resources available. We need to set up an emergency response desk with responsibility for ongoing coordination and to constantly update people on the changing situation with respect to blocked streets and down wires, where gas is available, access to emergency supplies, available generators, the status of schools and voting places. We should host townwide conference calls as Westfield has done for those without internet or TV and, yes, we should shamelessly steal such good ideas from other towns. We should provide a central point for volunteer and donation coordination. I have conveyed more specific proposals to the Township Committee and other officials. We need to act immediately.
Coming as this message does three days before an election some may dismiss its urgency as partisan. All I can say is that I act out of genuine concern and a sense of urgency that we are not doing enough within town government at this critical time. I wish everyone the best with respect to the storm aftermath and will continue to work for better service delivery.
Ed O’Malley
Commissioner, Township of Cranford
Donald
5:47 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
TV35 was of little or no use during Sandy. Much of Cranford was without power for days in the aftermath of the storm. And the TV station was sometimes unable to broadcast on both Verizon and Comcast outlets. Furthermore, the generalities provided by the station, once it could be viewed, were usually of little practical use.
Instead, the township's emergency AM radio station -- apparently abandoned some few years ago -- would have been of much greater utility and readily available to all in Cranford (only requiring an inexpensive battery-operated radio to receive its signal). The radio station could be used in the future to provide much of the coordination and real-time distribution of emergency information wisely suggested by Commissioner O'Malley, at much less expense than a "high-tech" and costly TV station.
I suggest putting money into restoring Cranford's AM radio station -- a true asset during an emergency -- rather than solely (if at all) concentrating on TV35, which few people I know ever watch, in any event.
Political spin
5:54 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Commissioner O'Malley,
Are YOU not "Town Government??" Where have YOU and other members of the Township Commitee been while the police, fire, EMS, DPW and other township departments and administration have been working day and night??? As Commissioner of Public Affairs it seems to me the information buck stops with YOU!!!
Pcisme77
12:33 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012
I TOTALLY agree with this statement!!!! Where was/is the Mayor? And the Deputy Mayor was not very good either. I find it all an outrage. When the going got tough, the Committee disappeared and for Mr. O'Malley to fire off such a missive is incredible and at the very best, ludicrous.
Chris
8:42 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
There is only one appropriate response to town government and that is to dismantle it entirely. The only communications we received were either excuses (we can't clear streets until PSE&G does x, y, & z) or reprimands (follow the leaf pile rules). We appreciate the gravity of the situation but cannot accept the pathetic response. You have done enough damage to our self confidence town government. Please spare us the platitude that you are going to " look into the matter"
Jennifer Kirby
7:55 pm on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
I have met a number of "very nice" people in this town, but not a lot of results-driven people. There are wonderful aspects to Cranford, but so few in city government have the intestinal fortitude to push for what is needed.
Pcisme77
12:38 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012
Both of your e-mails are indicative of people disappointed by their government. I was diappointed too in the Committee members, several of whom had electricity and lacked any sense of urgency of helping those who did not help. In particular, the Deputy Mayor, also known as Clueless Kallins, had electricity and wasted oxygen reporting nothing on Channel 35 toe the 5 people who could watch Verizon FIOS. There were no volunteers handing out literature or anyone from the Committee going door to door to look after the citizens.
Teresa Montani
10:16 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
As a resident without power, I agree that the township government could improve communications regarding the restoration of power. It is very frustrating to wait day after day without a clear idea of when the power will be restored in specific areas.
Jennifer Kirby
7:53 pm on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
I sent the following to the township committee and Mayor Robinson
To: D-Robinson@cranfordnj.org
Dear Mayor Robinson,
In the event that you did not see the email I sent to the Township Committee:
I am appalled that there has been just the most cursory presentation of information regarding power restoration.
If you go to Westfield or Fanwood town websites, they are MUCH more proactive about sharing information. Westfield went as far as to record and share town meetings on the site, including conversations with PSEG.
My personal favorite is being told that there are broadcasts on TV35, which is not helpful to those of us without power.
We are now on Day 8 with no power, and I was told by PSEG that we might have power back by NOVEMBER 14TH!!
Someone please step up and get some answers about what is going on, and share it widely.
My understanding is that PSEG speaks to the townships on a daily basis. The citizens of Cranford have a right to know what is being said.
--
Jennifer Kirby
201-780-0126
Pcisme77
12:40 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012
Jennifer is right. Unbeknownst to her, I wrote a very similar direct e-mail to the Committee and got ZERO responses.
Pcisme77
1:20 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012
I respectfully disagree with Mr. O'Malley. He is a Committee member and besides firing off nasty missives with mediocre recommendations timied to an election and telling everybody else what to do, he did nothing.
As someone who is a communications professional, I have been very impressed by how the Cranford Police Department has communicated via Nixle, FaceBook and Twitter. The Police Department's efforts, led by Lt. Wozniak and Mr. von Bergen, have been exceptional and with the Committee disappearing for 6 days before even saying nothing, the Cranford Police Department did all that it could to fill the gap of no informaiton. Through Nixle, the Police Department was even knocking down rumors regarding Elizabethtown Water.
Mr. O'Malley, the Cranford Police Department were great. But as The Who would say, "Where were you? I really want to know."
As for Channel 35, Mr. Davenport and crew did their best and are to be commended. Channel 35 had its Comcast cables cut by some vandal. It is ashame. But Channel 35 is the messenger and not the message. The message should have been both the Committeee and the Cranford Police Department. The Police Department held up their side of the deal, but you and the Committe did not.
Shame on you!!
I voted against Mayor Robinson this year and if all you can offer are empty missives, then I will vote against you too.
Donald
9:01 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
Some "communications professional":
"I respectfully disagree with Mr. O'Malley. He is a Committee member and besides firing off nasty missives with mediocre recommendations timied [sic, "timed"] to an election and telling everybody else what to do, he did nothing.
As someone who is a communications professional, I have been very impressed by how the Cranford Police Department has communicated via Nixle, FaceBook [sic, "Facebook"] and Twitter. The Police Department's efforts, led by Lt. Wozniak and Mr. von Bergen [sic, "Van Bergen"], have been exceptional and with the Committee disappearing for 6 days before even saying nothing [sic, "anything"], the Cranford Police Department did all that it could to fill the gap of no informaiton. Through Nixle, the Police Department was even knocking down rumors regarding Elizabethtown [sic, "New Jersey American"] Water.
Mr. O'Malley, the Cranford Police Department were ["was," as used supra] great. But as The Who would say, "Where were you? I really want to know." [sic, "Who are you? . . . I really wanna know."]
As for Channel 35, Mr. Davenport and crew did their best and are to be commended. Channel 35 had its Comcast cables cut by some vandal. It is ashame [sic]. But Channel 35 is the messenger and not the message. The message should have been both the Committeee [sic] and the Cranford Police Department [sic, makes no sense]. The Police Department held up their [sic] side of the deal, but you and the Committe [sic] did not."