To the Editor:
We are writing to express our support for Marina Rubina for Princeton Council, and to encourage other voters — especially newly registered 17- and 18-year-olds — to support Marina as well.
Elena has known Marina for a very long time. We met when I was a 1-year-old in preschool and have known each other ever since, making ours close to a 16-year friendship.
Throughout our friendship, even when I was very young, I always felt Marina was listening to me when I spoke; she considered my participation a valuable part of the conversation and she treated my thoughts and ideas as important contributions. This shows Marina’s amazing skills as a listener who genuinely takes the thoughts and opinions of others into account. As a member of the youth of Princeton, I often feel that my ideas and opinions aren’t really heard — even though my age group does make up a significant portion of our town’s population. I believe that Marina’s election to Council would make it possible for me and other young people to be heard on issues important to us.
Margaret is a 17-year-old who is extremely excited to vote for Marina in the Democratic primary. Voting in local New Jersey elections is now possible for any 17-year-old who will turn 18 before the November General Election. This allows young people to have more influence in choosing our local leaders, which is increasingly important as more issues impact and interest the youth of Princeton. I believe that Marina will listen to young voices — and to all voices — in governing our town.
Among the issues most important to the youth of Princeton is access to the town’s “third spaces.” These are spaces where young people can spend time and socialize, do school work and projects, relax, and have fun. The Princeton Public Library is one of those spaces — beloved by the youth, and many others as well. The reduction in the library’s hours had a direct impact on young people because we can only use the library after school. Cutting the evening hours had an effect on the youth, but that impact doesn’t seem to have been considered when the difficult decision to reduce the Library’s hours was made.
That is why we support Marina Rubina for Council. We believe that Marina’s skills in listening, seeking out a variety of opinions, and valuing all points of view will make her an important addition to Council. Marina’s ability to find solutions to tough problems while balancing the needs and interests of all — including youth — will help our town address complicated matters similar to those faced by the library in a way that values and respects the needs and interests of all of us.