To the Editor:
It gives me great pleasure to write a letter of support on behalf of Marina Rubina’s candidacy for Princeton Council. I am writing in my capacity as a private citizen in Princeton, and the views expressed herein are not being offered in my capacity as a long-term member of the Princeton Zoning Board.
Marina offers a unique combination of practical business experience and community engagement. She is an extraordinarily talented architect and professional planner, and has proven her business acumen through not only the success of her architectural practice, but also through her involvement with Tiger Labs. As a volunteer, she was a member of Experience Princeton’s Economic Development Committee, the board of Princeton Future, and our former Site Plan Review Advisory Board (SPRAB). Marina routinely demonstrates her passion for affordable housing, walkable neighborhoods, and opportunities for small businesses to thrive and succeed in town.
I know that many in our community are not particularly involved with local matters. However, the reality is that Council’s official actions actually affect us all. There are practical and legitimate concerns about traffic, parking, walkability, and bike safety; whether we are receiving our fair share from the University; downtown and neighborhood streetscapes; ongoing infrastructure issues; as well as continued development, PILOTs, and density. As a member of Council, Marina will be sensitive to such issues and has the practical wisdom to recognize our concerns and address them in a straightforward manner.
Moreover, our community now faces two significant challenges that will affect us for years to come: the rewriting of our land use laws, and the redevelopment of the Westminster Choir College property. It is wonderful that we are finally addressing the issues of land use, and who better to provide overview and insight than Marina, a professional planner? As for the Westminster site, concerns about the cost of any projected development need to be a priority. Doesn’t it make sense for someone, like Marina, who has experience running an actual successful business to be involved in this important business venture of our local government? She will be judicious in her decision-making and careful about costs, tax allocation, and community impact.
I also want to note that to avoid any conflict of interest, Marina has pledged to move her architectural and design work out of Princeton while serving on Council. That demonstrates both ethics and integrity.
This election we have the opportunity for a representative on Council who is not only professionally experienced and dedicated, but who also possesses the practical wisdom necessary to make critical decisions that affect our daily lives and will have meaningful and significant impact on the future of our community.
That person is Marina Rubina.
Please join me in voting Marina Rubina for Council.