Friday, May 18, 2012
Writer praises Lempert's commitment to the environment and the library, among other issues.
To the Editor: I write to urge my fellow Princetonians to support Liz Lempert for Mayor in the coming election. As the President of Friends of Princeton Open Space, I have attended many Township Committee meetings during the time Liz has served on Committee, and have also worked with her on a number of important land preservation projects and conservation issues. I have consistently been impressed by Liz’s openness, thoughtfulness, quickness to grasp an issue, and ability to see things through. She is responsive to citizen concerns, and concerned about our most vulnerable citizens. Liz has been a leader in working to protect the eastern Princeton Ridge and create a Princeton Ridge Preserve. This benefits our town in many ways – not …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Writers say Matteo would bring an end to petty squabbles that have paralyzed Borough government.
To the Editor: We urge our fellow Democrats in Princeton to support Tamera Matteo for Borough Council in the primary on June 5. She believes that united Princeton deserves the best Borough Council. We agree. A vote for Tamera would be a vote for results-oriented leadership and an end to the petty squabbles that have paralyzed our Borough government. Drawing on her ten years as a small business owner in Princeton, she would bring elements of our community together for win-win solutions to problems ranging from downtown parking to cost sharing by local tax-exempt organizations. She would draw on her civic activism as a Parent-Teacher Organization president and community volunteer to engage a broad cross-section of Princeton residents in…
Monday, May 14, 2012
Writer says Lempert would help foster a vibrant business climate in the consolidated Princeton.
To the Editor: As a person who lives and works in Princeton, I want to make sure that our first mayor of the consolidated Princeton is someone who will support and encourage local small business. That is why I am supporting Liz Lempert for Mayor. Liz, like many of us, wants to keep downtown Princeton from becoming dominated by high-end chain stores and wants to maintain a unique dining and shopping experience. Liz will work with local merchants and members of the business community to address traffic and parking. She is an active, visible spokesperson for shopping locally and will continue to promote events and programs aimed at bringing business and customers into Princeton. I know from personal experience that Liz is a …
Writer says the hospital is not living up to its responsibility to the Princeton Community.
To the Editor: The hospital (the University Medical Center) has a very important moral responsibility to the Princeton community. Unfortunately, the hospital is not living up to it. The hospital's moral responsibility dates to 2004-2006, when the hospital, Princeton Borough, and the neighborhood surrounding the hospital's Witherspoon Street site had lengthy negotiations about what could be built on the site when the hospital vacated it. The goal was to make the site attractive to potential buyers so that the hospital could get a good price for it, while still safeguarding the neighborhood. The neighborhood and the Borough made great concessions--among them, much higher density than any other site in Princeton, and the retention of two …
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Assemblywoman Donna Simon serves NJ Legislative District 16 (Hunterdon, Somerset, Mercer and Middlesex)
To the Editor: Teacher Appreciation Week is a fitting time to thank the dedicated women and men of who have helped shape our children in public, private, special education and religious schools. Teachers have a key role in the emotional and academic development of students and are notably one of the most influential people in the life of a child. When my children were younger, I not only volunteered in their classrooms, but I also worked as a classroom assistant in other districts. I witnessed the fostering of confident students who are well-prepared for college and successful futures. Caring and qualified teachers offer a nurturing and academically enriched environment that remains with a person throughout life. We can all recall a …
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Writer outlines why he supports Lempert's candidacy.
To the Editor: November’s vote for consolidation was a monumental turning point in Princeton’s future. But this was only the first step… it is now incumbent upon us to vote for the right leader to make this vision of consolidation, of a more efficient and effective government, a reality. The Princeton Community Democratic Organization (PCDO) and the local Princeton Democratic Party have done this with their overwhelming endorsement of Liz Lempert. I've worked closely with Liz in my role as the chairman of the Environmental Commission, and I couldn’t agree more. Liz brings the leadership needed for a United Princeton. She has spearheaded many initiatives that are critically important to the existing Township and Borough: keeping …
Writer says developer who wants to develop the hospital property on Witherspoon Street has a history of tax appeals.
To the Editor: I thought you might be interested in my statement and the materials I provided to Borough Council tonight, May 2. "Avalon Bay's Annual Report states that "we aggressively pursue real estate tax appeals" (p. 4). I found the corporate brochure on the web of the national company they use for such purposes. Property Tax Assistance Company states in their brochure that "Since 1992, we have reduced their tax liability by nearly 30%." I thought our public officials should know about this. At a recent Planning Board meeting, Councilwoman Barbara Trelstad mentioned the number $1M in property taxes from the Avalon development and I would like to know where she got that number. Mayor Moore mentioned over $1M in costs to the town …
Monday, April 16, 2012
Writer hopes everyone will come to see the educational efforts of the Princeton Battlefield Society.
Dear Editor, In the recent battle between the Institute for Advanced Study and the Princeton Battlefield Society before the Hearing Board, many letters commented on the Society and our lack of doing things at the battlefield. Comments were freely written that we wasted the money given us on litigation, when we should have spent the money on the park. First, the money donated from around the country could be spent on nothing but litigation. It was donated with that understanding. Second, this weekend coming, April 21-22, we are entertaining multiple groups portraying American, British and Hessian units. I hope those who support us will come out. I also hope that those who bashed us in the papers will come out and see what we do when we …
Writer extols Lempert's commitment to the environment, education, smart growth and social justice.
To the Editor: Liz Lempert supports public education, smart growth, environmental protection and social justice, and she knows how to bring people together to resolve difficult issues. That’s why I support her for mayor. She is open-minded, fair, pragmatic and gets things done, as evidenced by her founding Save Our Schools, preserving 66 acres of open space including the Princeton Ridge Preserve, saving the Human Resources Commission and helping to keep taxes flat in spite of increased costs. As Liz’s fellow member on the Princeton Environmental Commission, I can say that her commitment to the environment and sustainability has been unsurpassed by any other municipal official who has served on the PEC. As a fellow mom of two children in …
Friday, April 13, 2012
Princeton's school elections are scheduled for Tuesday, April 17.
To the Editor: We enthusiastically support Rebecca Cox and Martha Land for election to the Princeton Regional Schools Board of Education. They have real experience working for our kids, in our public schools, in our town. They understand the current, complex challenges facing public schools, the needs of our students and the high standards and aspirations of our community. Rebecca Cox has served on the school board for six years. As the board’s President during the last two years, Rebecca has steered the board through drastic state aid cuts while still accomplishing significant positive changes in the district; achieved several taxpayer-friendly contracts with unions; and passed extremely conservative budgets several years in a row. …
Democracy
6:24 am on Sunday, April 15, 2012
Mr. Tibbens, Moving the BOE election to November politicizes a non-patisan election by combining it with a highly-partisan one. Nationally, school board races have become increasingly partisan as wealthy ideologically driven donors such as the Koch brothers pour millions into school board elections to push through their candidates, who then implement policies destructive to public education. Just… more ›