April 29, 2008

\”I hope that you all are up for the fight, for it is my intention to take whatever action, no matter how drastic and explore whatever venue, no matter what the cost to prevent this from happening\”, Mayor William James 

Dear Citizens of Gloucester City,

Today I met with a representative of South Jersey Port Corporation regarding the proposed relocation of the Camden City Methadone Clinic to the Port Facility in South Camden. As I expressed my extreme displeasure with the plans to go forward with the project I was informed that a new location for said clinic has been identified.

The new location explained to me is the Air Products Facility directly on the right-hand side at the base of the Broadway Bridge. I\’ve been advised that this is a recently identified location that the Port facility owns.

After expressing my thoughts on the matter, I advised the Port representative that the fight is on and that I would do everything in my power to prevent this from happening.

After the meeting I contacted the Mayor of Camden City. And spoke with her regarding the new location selected by the Port. Mayor Faison was unaware of this new development and expressed her deepest concern as she no more wants the clinic at her entranceway than we want it on our entranceway. The Mayor referred me to The Camden City CEO former Superior Court Judge Theodore Davis. Judge Davis called me back later in the day and was caught off guard by the new information. The Judge promised that he would look into the matter and expressed his concern with placing the clinic anywhere near a city entranceway. He further advised that he would be contacting Joe Balzano of South Jersey Port as well as the Counsel to the Governor\’s Office.

I hope that you all are up for the fight, for it is my intention to take whatever action, no matter how drastic and explore whatever venue, no matter what the cost to prevent this from happening. The statistics don\’t lie, the clinic offers services to approximately 700 drug addicts a day and with all of our efforts to beautify our community entrances and exits in progress this would be absolutely devastating to our efforts not even taking into consideration the societal impact this facility and clientele would have upon our community and the Broadway Corridor.

We have already met with our neighbors in South Camden regarding the proposed plans of placing the clinic within the port facility and now with this new plan in existence I feel as though it\’s time to step up to whoever is responsible and forbid them from again dumping upon the City of Gloucester and the City of Camden.

I know we have a lot going on right now but I am placing this project at the top of our agenda. This situation that we face will have a dramatic impact upon the present and future quality of life within our community and I hope every one of you (members of Council), the news media and the fine citizens of Gloucester City are behind me for the \”Good Fight\”.

William P. James
Mayor of Gloucester City

PHOTOS BY BRUCE DARROW

GHS Prom Photo Gallery

DOLSON

Elizabeth Virginia \”Aunt Lizzy\”

 On April 28, 2008. Age 88. (nee Harvey) Of Gloucester City. Loving wife of the late Joseph Dolson. Loving and devoted mother of Richard E. (Gail) Dolson, William (Darlene) Dolson and the late Joseph Dolson. Predeceased by her brother Richard Harvey and her sisters; Rebecca Stewart and Caroline Dick. Loving grandmother of Theresa (Bob), Deana (Bill), Richard (Cindy), Joshua, Christopher (Nicole) and Joseph. Loving great-grandmother of Dean, David, Tiffaney, Courtney, Brittney, Gabrielle, Natalie, Melissa, and Olivia. Elizabeth was a lifelong resident of Gloucester City. Elizabeth was a loving mother who devoted her life to caring for her loved ones. She was a faithful and devoted parishioner of St. Mary’s R.C. Church.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend her viewing on Friday morning from 8:30 to 10:30 am at the McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 851 Monmouth Street, (at Brown Street) Gloucester City. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 am at Saint Mary’s R.C. Church: 426 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City.

Interment New Saint Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr. In lieu of flowers, the family strongly requests memorial donations in Elizabeth’s memory to St. Mary’s R.C. Church: at the above address. Please write in memo of check: Elizabeth Virginia Dolson.

Expressions of sympathy can be e-mailed to the family through our funeral home website www.mccannhealey.com under online obituaries of Elizabeth Virginia Dolson.

 

 

 

Earlier this month I wrote a column about the Pimp your Prom contest sponsored by the radio station 102.Q FM. At first I was hesitant to post the contest because of the word Pimp. I thought it was strange for a radio station to use that word for a contest. After all I remember the word to mean whoremaster. It must be a generation thing I thought. And because of the number of schools participating in the event I felt I was over reacting and went ahead with listing it on my blog.

Shortly after it appeared on ClearysNotebook I received comments from people who thought it was awful that Gloucester City High School was participating in the event.

As the day unfolded more remarks came in and one in particular got me upset. The person wrote, \”Does anyone recall that just a few years ago the Q-102 DJs came through Gloucester City making fun of us? I will not forget and that is why I think this is a shame. I also have to agree with this \”pimping\” word becoming fashionable. It is leading to many negative behaviors. Please reconsider this.\”

I remembered that incident the DJ\’s said, and I am paraphrasing \”all Gloucester girls are toothless, fat and ugly\”. 

As I reflect on the article I believe I took offense to that remark more so then the use of the word Pimp. Should I promote a contest for a radio station that trashes the women of our community? So I removed the post from CNB.

A few days later I spoke with my older grandchildren about how is the word Pimp used in their vocabulary? And they explained that today\’s hip-hop generation is using the word as slang. Think for a moment one of them said. Didn\’t your generation use words that had different meanings than what was written in the dictionary?

They were right. As corny as it may sound we used some of the following slang.

(Cat) A hip person

(Beats) Chariot Car

(Cherry) Originally, an unaltered car. Later, anything attractive

(Hot-rodders) Chrome-plated Dressed up cars

(Circled) Married

(Classy chassis) Great body

(Cloud 9) Really happy 

I know that I enjoyed being a rebel in the fifties and sixties as much as the next guy. Long hair, (yes at one time I had hair) cutoff jeans, a bandana wrapped around my head, patches sewed on my jeans, long beads around my neck, a beard, and an earring. That was just some of the things I and others did to standout in the crowd when we were teens. I still can fit into those jeans……

And using a word such as Pimp, wearing bagging pants below their knees, putting their hats on sideways or backwards are apparently this generation\’s way to show their independence.

It is inevitable we all eventually lose touch with the next generation as we age… And once that happens we soon forget what it was like to be young and carefree. We take ourselves too seriously.

And it appears this is exactly what happened to me in this case.

I had forgotten what it was like to be a \”Rebel\”.

So to the students of Gloucester City High School and to all the students in South Jersey and Philadelphia please accept my apology for making The Pimp Your Prom contest such a negative issue.

At the age of 63 I guess it is safe to say I have become my parents. And in some ways that isn\’t a bad thing. This too will happen to you…..eventually. And when it does you too will say to yourself…..\”How Soon We Forget\”!

Related: Bill\’s Point of View

Related: A Few Thoughts