Adrian O. Mapp's American story started in the beautiful islands of Barbados. He is from a hard-working family with humble means. Although faced with social and economic challenges, he was taught the importance of education and embraced it wholeheartedly. He developed a love for academics and began to debate and challenge the status quo. He would often go to school with a bottle of "sugar water" as his only source of nourishment and sometimes depended on his schoolmates' generosity to share their lunch to get through the day. Adrian excelled in his studies through passion and perseverance, nurturing a love for mathematics and history while playing an occasional game of Cricket. Overcoming hardship and through love for family, he learned the importance of lifting others, giving birth to his desire to give back through public service.
In 1977, at the age of 21, Adrian and one of his brothers migrated to the US. He worked hard and took advantage of the opportunities around him, matriculating at several New Jersey Colleges and earning multiple degrees. He followed his desire to give back and eventually ran for public office.
In January 2018, Adrian O. Mapp was sworn in as Mayor of the City of Plainfield for a second term. Since assuming office in his first term in 2014, he embarked on an aggressive plan focused on rebuilding the city's economy and ensuring opportunity for all residents. Under his stewardship, the city is experiencing an economic renaissance marked by a billion dollars in new redevelopment projects. He has also successfully implemented progressive legislation focused on fairness and equity, including new laws requiring paid sick leave for workers.
In keeping with his commitment to uplift every part of the city, there are development projects underway in every ward. These projects include new single-family homes, mixed-use and multifamily buildings, and commercial developments. In 2014, under Mayor Mapp's leadership, the New Jersey Department of Transportation awarded Plainfield a Transit Oriented Designation, an essential catalyst for its economic resurgence. The city was also awarded New Jersey Future's 2015 Smart Growth Award for its transformative "Netherwood Transit-Oriented Development Plan," which is ushering in new high-quality retail, housing, and employment opportunities.
In 2017, Mayor Mapp cut the ribbon on a 44,000 SF state-of-the-art facility for ABC Supply Company. This $30 million project revitalized a brownfield site that had been blighted for over 30 years and is the largest mixed-use redevelopment project in the Fourth Ward in more than five decades. The next phase of this development featured an ultra-modern structure with a luxury layout and high-end fixtures and finishes for 90 workforce housing units. The Station at Grant held its Ribbon Cutting Ceremony in March of 2021. With a focus on Quality of life, significant infrastructure changes include paving almost fifty percent of Plainfield's streets and investing several million dollars on improving recreational spaces across the city.
Fulfilling his promise to improve the quality of life in Plainfield We have aggressively tackled crime utilizing tools such as community policing, and assistive technology. It's not an accident that since 2014 to now crime has fallen by 50% in the City of Plainfield. We took deliberate and focused action that yielded tangible results
As part of his effort to ensure equal access to opportunity, Mayor Mapp has implemented several major policy initiatives to address economic inequality and health disparities. These initiatives include Plainfield Promise and Healthy Plainfield. Most notably, Plainfield Promise seeks to provide every child in kindergarten, whose parent(s) or guardian(s) reside in Plainfield, with a bank account for college savings as well as financial literacy training. Additionally, it will create a scholarship fund for economically disadvantaged high school graduates who live in Plainfield. It will also create targeted vocational and job training initiatives. Since 2018, the city has offered free Cisco classes and certification to Plainfield residents, creating new careers and improving community lifestyles.
Before his mayoral election, Mayor Mapp served Plainfield for 16 years as a Councilman and was also a Union County Commissioner from 2005 to 2007. A certified public accountant and municipal finance specialist, Mayor Mapp is currently the Director of Finance and the Qualified Purchasing Agent for the City of Orange Township. The Mayor serves presently on the Local Finance Board for the State of New Jersey and is the Chairman of NJ Black Mayors Alliance for Social Justice. He is also the Vice President of the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association.
Mayor Mapp's successes and service have not gone unrecognized; he has received awards from numerous organizations, including the Plainfield Fire Officer's Association; the Gateway Regional Chamber of Commerce; NJ Center for Science, Technology & Mathematics; the National Forum of Black Public Administrators (NFBPA); Genesis Seventh-day Adventist Church; and the Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of ELKS of the World.
Mayor Mapp was honored by the Consulate General of Ecuador in NJ for bringing about change to the diverse cultures in the community, the Rotary Club of Plainfield/North Plainfield for his steadfast approach to enhancing the Quality of life for residents and property owners in the city of Plainfield. He received the Service Above Self Award from the Rotary Club of Plainfield.
Mayor Mapp is a member of the NJ Conference of Mayors (NJCM), the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM), the New Jersey State League of Municipalities (NJLM), the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), the NJ Legislative Committee, the Gateway Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Government Finance Officers Association of NJ (GFOA).
Mayor Mapp was born on the Caribbean island of Barbados and migrated to the United States in 1977. He has resided in Plainfield for over 40 years and is married to his childhood sweetheart, Amelia Mapp, née Morris; they are the proud parents of two beautiful daughters, Shermona and Ayisha. Mayor Mapp and his family are active members of Saint Mark's Episcopal Church in Plainfield, where he and Amelia were married over 40 years ago. Mayor Mapp served on the vestry and was a devoted Sunday School Teacher and mentor for many years.
Mayor Mapp holds an M.B.A. in International Business from Fairleigh Dickinson University, a B.S. in Accounting from Rutgers University, and an A.A. in Public Administration from Union County College. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a Certified Municipal Finance Officer (CMFO), and a Qualified Purchasing Agent (QPA).
908 - 561-5038
31 Watchung Ave., Plainfield, NJ 07060
mayormapp@gmail.com
