Council Candidates Outline Platform, Respond to Residents' Questions

On Monday, Sept. 16, the League of Women Voters of the Princeton Area held a public forum at Monument Hall, allowing candidates for Princeton Council to outline their platforms and answer residents' questions.

Jenny Crumiller (incumbent Democrat), Patrick Simon (incumbent Democrat) and Fausta Rodriguez Wertz (Republican challenger) are vying for two, three-year seats on Council. 

What follows are some of the highlights from the forum. Full replays of the forum will be available on Princeton TV30 and the League of Women Voters' websites.

Crumiller said the months following consolidation have been both rewarding and challenging. She has lived in Princeton for more than 20 years and raised three children. She wants to preserve Princeton's scale, character and sense of community. She does not want to see Princeton turn into a city. Top issues: high property taxes driving people out of town or keeping people from moving here, she supports a zero percent municipal tax increase and to Princeton's tree lined streets and open space. 

Rodriguez Wertz said if elected, she will be the first Latina in the history of Princeton Council. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, she has lived in New Jersey since 1977 and in Princeton since 1989. Her son graduated from Princeton High School in 2010. Top issues: high taxes, traffic and the police department. She said she stands for diversity, transparency and fiscal responsibility. 

Simon is a 12-year resident of Princeton. Before serving on council, he was a member of Princeton's Consolidation Commission and on the finance and IT subcommittees of the Transition Task Force. Top issues: fiscal responsibility while maintaining services, emergency preparedness for weather events and the town's relationship with Princeton University. 

What's the most serious problem facing Princeton and is is what you would address first?

Rodriguez Wertz: Taxes are the most serious issue, plus high municipal debt and debit service. This is pushing longtime residents out of town. She wants to schedule regular expenses, avoid lawsuits, hire fewer consultants and evaluate which public buildings are being put to best use and possibly sell some. 

Simon: Major challenges are taxes, emergency management, traffic and development/planning. Severe weather has crippled Princeton in recent years and addressing emergency management needs to be a priority or it will fall by the wayside. 

Crumiller: Taxes are a top issue, and are being addressed through consolidation. Largest savings will come through consolidating the police force. She said the Police Department is another issue, which Council members are addressing through improved communication and hiring a consultant to evaluate the department and make recommendations for improvement. 

Should the local police department enforce federal immigration laws? 

Simon: Leave this job to federal authorities, undocumented workers are already subjected to wage theft and rental issues, even though they're making contributions to the community. We can't have these residents fearful of the police and afraid of reporting crime, this will jeopardize everyone's safety.

Crumiller: Borough Police never enforced these laws. It's best to have mutually trusting relationships, local police should not be involved in this issue. 

Rodriguez Wertz: This issue is best left to federal authorities. There are opportunities for constructive engagement with the Hispanic community that could benefit Princeton as a whole. 

What's your opinion on how to make tax breaks available for seniors and low income residents?

Crumiller: These tax breaks can only be done by the state, the municipality doesn't really have options to do this. 

Rodriguez Wertz: Taxes are a problem. If you live in a modest home paying $12,000 a year in taxes, you can't support that on a middle class income, forcing people out of town. We must find a way to curb spending and reign in debt. 

Simon: It's difficult for municipalities to give special assistance. Still, it's important to be budget-conscious, which is why he supported consolidation. Five years ago, Borough residents were paying more in municipal taxes than they do today. Township residents were paying 1.5 percent less, but now they receive garbage pickup as an added service. Remember that residents expect a certain level of services and that costs money. 

Town-gown relations were a major issue during the last Mayoral election. What would you change or improve RE: University relations and ensure that the town receives sufficient payment in lieu of taxes?

Rodriguez Wertz: It should never be an adversarial relationship, but an open dialogue, enlightened self-interest. The University contributes a lot to the town, paying $10 million on property they own and another $2 million in payments. If they were to contribute more, would it reduce residents' tax burden?

Simon: The University helps make the town unique, but also puts stress on local services and neighbors. They should increase PILOT.  New Council, new municipality and new University president means new opportunity for an improved relationship. He does not support legislation that would exempt the University from participating in planning and zoning. The University is engaged with with town, especially on the Alexander Street Task Force, which is studying community traffic and transportation issues. 

Crumiller: Town-gown relationship is pretty good, despite reports to the contrary in the press. The University is critical to making the town what it is. But sometimes interests diverge, all parties will work through their differences. 

Looking at Princeton's physical heritage- homes along Alexander Street, Princeton Battlefield, Valley Road School and the Dinky- is the town doing its best to protect is historic places?

Simon: It's clear that the community has not reached consensus around historic preservation and its associated costs. For example, the Valley Road School renovation is estimated to cost between $4-!0 million, but how would that be funded? 

Rodriguez Wertz: The reason Princeton is beautiful is in part because of its historic preservation. Supports a moratorium on capital projects during the next six years to lessen taxpayer burden. Keep focus on best use of buildings, but with an eye to expenditures as well. 

What's the most effective way for Princeton to manage and provide oversight of the Police Department?

Crumiller: Council is developing a new police ordinance and Council, not the administrator, should have ultimate authority on disciplinary matters. It's important for Council to be involved in better communication and implementing recommendations of its consultant. Chief would still have oversight on department's daily operations. 

Rodriguez Wertz: Administrator should oversee the police department. Politics should not be involved and the administrator would provide continuity and consistency. As for current situation, why weren't the original charges investigated? Do the taxpayers have to pay for Former Chief Dudeck's legal fees?

Simon: Council should have authority over police department, chief would handle day to day operations. He will wait to hear the consultant's recommendations before making decisions about the future of the department. The department has been proactive this year in community policing and local outreach efforts. 

Rodriguez Wertz, you mentioned that Princeton should reduce the number of lawsuits filed against the municipality, how would you do that?

Rodriguez Wertz: We shouldn't incur lawsuits in the first place. The allegations against Dudeck should have been handled differently. AvalonBay should have been handled differently as well. She would prefer a different approach and thinks Council meets too often behind closed doors. 

Brush Pickup is a controversial issue, how should it be resolved? 

Simon: Part of the promise of consolidation was that people should expect the same or better services. We have heard complaints that former Borough residents are disappointed by brush service. We're looking at increasing the frequency in areas that need it and communicating the schedule better. 

Crumiller: We're working to improve communication, increasing pickup and allowing people more time to get used to the changes. It's a big expense and some towns don't provide this service. But it's important to our residents so we're working to fix it. 

Rodriguez Wertz: This is an important issue, especially for senior citizens. It's a side effect of being a Tree City, but brush service should not be curtailed. 

What are the opportunities for constructive engagement (name one) that would bring together Princeton's diverse communities?

Crumiller: We should make public meetings more open, maybe we should have traveling government meetings in a neighborhood. There's not a lot of diversity at Council or Planning Board meetings and we want to encourage people to come, offer encouragement and make them feel welcome. 

Rodriguez Wertz: Start by electing me to council. This is a great opportunity, because so many are eager to participate during the process to become citizens. 

Simon: We're working on this. One examples is Send Hunger Packing, a public-private partnership that feeds hungry kids in grades K-5. Our library does a great job, but we could provide more multilingual materials. 

Closing Statements:

Simon: He hopes he has demonstrated his commitment to fiscal responsibility while at the same time providing a high level of services. He won't cut taxes if services are cut drastically. Princeton has done an outstanding job at keeping taxes low over the past several years. He is working to prepare Princeton for weather emergencies. He said he brings a thoughtful, proactive approach and leadership to Princeton. 

Rodriguez Wertz: She supports real diversity- of culture, ethnicity and politics. She would be the first Latina on Princeton Council. Princeton has a problem with rising taxes and too much debt service. In her 24 years of living in Princeton, the tax rate has more than quadrupled, more than double the inflation rate. Princeton needs someone with new ideas, who will strive to build consensus. Top issues: traffic, taxes and the police department. Council is responsible to the community, it's not an open checkbook, too many people are being priced out of town. 

Crumiller: She is a former member of Borough Council and started the Borough's Citizens Finance Committee, launching the first year of no municipal tax increase. She believes technology is the key to transparency and hopes to improve the town's website and email notification system. She pushed for putting Council meeting materials online before meetings and having copies available at each meeting.