On June 28, in mediation, negotiators for Orange and O.M.E.B.A, OPEIU Local 32 reached an agreement that could enable 11 of the 22 non-fire and non-police employees laid off in January to return to their jobs.

Under the agreement, the union agreed to givebacks of $600,000. The agreement also provides no cost of living increase for union members from July 1, 2008 through June 31, 2011. To become effective, the agreement must be ratified by the union’s membership on June 30^th and by the City Council this Tuesday, July 5^th.

If ratified, four full time Public Works laborers would return to work on July 11^th and three additional on August 8^th. They would be retuned in the order of seniority. Two full-time Court Aides would return on July 11^th with an additional two returning on August 8^th, also in the order of seniority.

Can the current councilpersons win like they normally do, or can a full slate challenging team make a dent on the incumbents? Only the June Primary Election will tell who will represent the city of East Orange for the next four years. Right now, there are two councilpersons in each ward. Every two years, one councilperson runs in an election to represent the people. The term limit for each council person is four years. For the first time since the inception of Local Talk, one team has challenged the incumbents with a new idea of changing the charter. Instead of two councilpersons in each ward, they think that should be one council person in each ward and a total of two at-large councilpersons to represent the whole city. Cutting down three council seats will save money, as per their opinion. According to the law, they need 750 signatures to place the question in the referendum for the people of East Orange to decide.

I invited all of the council candidates for interviews, and we will try our best to bring each candidate opinion for Local Talk’s readers to make their best judgment for electing the right person to the council. I interviewed four persons, Muzammil Mohamed-Stevens, Michael G. Corbitt, Yvonne C. Blake, and Royston Allman from the “Real Change Charter Change” team on May 2nd. Originally, Clinton Robinson was to join this team, but it seems like he will be running as an independent with his motto “Failure Is Not An Option.”

Can the current councilpersons win like they normally do, or can a full slate challenging team make a dent on the incumbents? Only the June Primary Election will tell who will represent the city of East Orange for the next four years. Right now, there are two councilpersons in each ward. Every two years, one councilperson runs in an election to represent the people. The term limit for each council person is four years. For the first time since the inception of Local Talk, one team has challenged the incumbents with a new idea of changing the charter. Instead of two councilpersons in each ward, they think that should be one council person in each ward and a total of two at-large councilpersons to represent the whole city. Cutting down three council seats will save money, as per their opinion. According to the law, they need 750 signatures to place the question in the referendum for the people of East Orange to decide.

I invited all of the council candidates for interviews, and we will try our best to bring each candidate opinion for Local Talk’s readers to make their best judgment for electing the right person to the council. I interviewed four persons, Muzammil Mohamed-Stevens, Michael G. Corbitt, Yvonne C. Blake, and Royston Allman from the “Real Change Charter Change” team on May 2nd. Originally, Clinton Robinson was to join this team, but it seems like he will be running as an independent with his motto “Failure Is Not An Option.”

Members of the East Orange Democratic Party faithful will have 13 men and women to choose from to fill five City Council seats June 7.

All five incumbents, whose current four-year terms are to expire Jan. 1, will be running. There are also eight challengers - a blend of familiar and new faces - who are seeking those same seats.

The names are being placed on the June 7 ballot along with primary candidates for Essex County Freeholder and Surrogate plus relevant seats in the New Jersey State Legislature and in the United States Congress.

The June 7 primary has both statutory and practical significance. Statutorily speaking, the primary will yield standard-bearers for the major parties prior to the Nov. 8 General Election.

About two percent of East Orange's voters, however, are registered Republicans. The June 7 primary for East Orange City Council, practically speaking, is tantamount to the General Election.