Politics & Government

Moore Sworn in as Mayor: Says Princeton is "Strong, Thriving"

This is the text of the speech Moore gave following her swearing-in on Tuesday as Princeton Borough Mayor.

 

Friends, family and all citizens of Princeton,

I am honored to be here today, as your new Mayor, to offer this address. It is less a State of our Town address and more of a snapshot of our historic last year as the Borough. It is a charting of our new course for an exciting new future as one consolidated Princeton.

At a time when towns across this nation are reeling from the worst economic recession in many of our lifetimes, Princeton remains strong, thriving, and it will be enthusiastically planning for an even brighter future.   

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While one way of measuring strength in traditional economic terms as job growth and new housing starts, I take great pride in the fact that the Borough gauges its health as a community on rare and laudable core values:

  • Our ability to continue to respect our history and environment in the face of growth pressures,
  • Our interest in sustaining the character of our neighborhoods and the quality of our public schools, and 
  • Our commitment to strengthening diversity, in terms of people and opportunities.

Last year, in brief, saw the community debate and decide the issues of the new pool and pool complex, the arts neighborhood zoning, and consolidation. Private developers presented proposals to save the Dinky and redevelop the hospital. The Robeson House was dedicated and the demolition began at the former nursing home at Merwick.

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With the good fortune of mild winter weather, the pool is progressing ahead of schedule and on budget. With extensive effort, the Planning Board will revise the Master Plan Vision, update the Historic Resources Element, to comprehensively lists our historic sites, it will update the Circulation Element, to emphasize the importance of mass transit and alternate modes of mobility. We will usher in a new reality of accessing health services and facilities while the prospect of new housing will replace a vacated hospital.  

This year, in the Borough of Princeton, we are looking forward to the completion of the 100-unit luxury housing development at Hulfish North and the new revenues it will bring to our coffers. In addition, the development will create 10 affordable housing units that will become available in the existing Palmer Square development.

In anticipation of applications seeking approvals for over 700 housing units between the hospital site, Merwick and the redeveloped Stanworth housing, we will see our population grow with housing that will help meet affordable and diverse housing needs and pricing that will address the middle income market.
Princeton’s place in the region, nationally and internationally will continue to have prominence due to its place in our nation’s history, as home to an internationally reknown academic institution, and for its exceptional community and quality of life. 

I can't emphasize enough how proud we should all be and why it is so important that we continue working together to make it possible for our next generation to be able to live here in Princeton. As the foundation of our future, they understand that having a vision is not dependent upon rejecting Princeton’s unique history.
So, we start this new year full of promise.

When you see me in a spirited debate, I am singularly focused on my commitment to ensure our policies, practices and processes move Princeton forward.

I believe I was elected by you with a mandate to reach for higher goals.

And although in deference to poet Emily Dickinson who said: "Not knowing when the dawn will come, I open every door." I know when the dawn will come, as my term is only one year. A year when I will open many doors and close one.

I believe my job is to serve you and to lift our community up to be a better place for all of our citizens. In order to make for a more sustainable and inclusive Princeton, I will be proposing two new initiatives - the creation of a Downtown Neighborhoods Commission and an Institutional Relations Committee.

The Downtown Neighborhoods Commission will be constituted by representatives of the neighborhoods and businesses in what is being referred to as the “downtown”, inclusive of residential neighbors, institutions, and the central business district.  It will be charged with elevating common and disparate concerns to better address these issues through our shared community values.
The Institutional Relations Committee, made up of citizens, elected officials, and a cross section of the PU community, including students, faculty, alumni and administrators, is intended to create a new conversation amongst all parties in a new forum to identify, discuss and address our mutual concerns.

I will be asking the Affordable Housing Committee to expand its vision to look beyond its role in administering the former COAH program and policies.   The affordable housing problem is broad and we have the talent and conviction of many experts and citizens to think more creatively, including sustaining existing affordable housing stock through a review of our property tax and assessment methodologies, lowering energy costs through government programs, implementing aging in place strategies already codified in our zoning, as well as retaining existing private market supply.

So, I ask you tonight to choose to work together for a better community rather than let fear and negativity tear us apart.  

I am looking forward to working with many of you in focusing on the many aspects of our community and finding ways to work together to address many issues.

Thank you.


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