To the Editor:

We are residents of the Princeton-Murray neighborhood (bordered by Nassau Street, Harrison Street, Prospect Avenue, and Princeton University). Princeton Avenue and Murray Place are thoroughfare streets in our neighborhood. We have been vocal in opposing the Permit Parking Task Force’s (PPTF) plan. However, we share this town with our fellow neighbors in the Witherspoon-Jackson (W-J) and Tree Street neighborhoods and with the many businesses that make this town vibrant. Their concerns about parking are just as important as ours.

Many of us attended the January 11 Council meeting, wherein opponents to the PPTF plan were asked to provide an alternative solution. We now propose the following two-phased plan, which provides a working solution for everyone. Phase 1 can be implemented immediately at low cost and with minimal intrusion. Afterwards, should unfulfilled parking need still exist, then Phase 2 will provide for a fully vetted plan.

Phase 1:

1. Issue one free, 24-hour residential permit upon request to residents with limited parking in the W-J and Tree Street neighborhoods, with the option to purchase an additional permit. Residents can park anywhere in the neighborhood. Remaining spots will continue to be used as they are today, which is parking by anyone, including employees. more

To the Editor:

I have only been peripherally following the work of the Permit Parking Task Force and the Cannabis Task Force, but my hat goes off to our civic-minded and thick-skinned neighbors who volunteered their personal time to try to address the perennial parking issues we face and the opportunity to sensibly address cannabis regulation in light of its legalization.

Both task forces feature a broad cross section of Princeton residents who began their work without any particular unified perspective. Rather, they both took the time to hear from as many people as possible, conduct independent research, discuss among themselves (in public I might add), and collectively develop recommendations.

With issues of this scope, there are going to be many people who have objections to portions of the recommendations. As is usual in Princeton, small groups have formed to voice their discontent and attempt to scuttle the work the task forces have done. The majority of people, I’m sure, understand that there is a give and take with these public policy issues, and have trust that the task forces will work in good faith to best balance all competing interests. more

To the Editor:

In 1994, the CEOs of the leading tobacco companies testified to Congress on whether or not nicotine was addictive. The CEOs of Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds, U.S. Tobacco, Lorillard Tobacco, Liggett Group, Brown and Williamson Tobacco, and American Tobacco were all unanimous in their declaration that “no, nicotine is not addictive.” Anyone watching the replay of this event today, 28 years later, would likely view it as one of the most stunning attempts at public deception with devastating consequences on future public health.

A more recent example of organized public deception was Purdue Pharma’s deliberate suppression of evidence of OxyContin’s powerful addictive properties which led to the opioid crisis. Purdue Pharma’s President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Friedman and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Paul D. Goldenheim pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor “misbranding” charge and the executives paid a combined $634.5 million in fines.

Today, Princeton is facing its own glaring example of a breach of public trust with the potential for tragic consequences. more

To the Editor:

Congratulations, PCS [“Princeton Charter School Celebrates 25 Years of Educating Local Students,” January 19], and brava “Mme.” Toma for so beautifully describing what was — and is — uniquely wonderful about this school.

As the parent of a child that first year (and another who entered a year later), I have vivid memories of the energy and ingenuity that informed those early days, from the serious commitment to learning (giving standardized tests to students at the beginning of the year instead of at the end, to determine where gaps needed to be addressed during the coming months), to the sheer exuberance of sports events (boys handing over their sweaty pinnies to the girls for their turn at intramural basketball games because there weren’t enough to go around).

Of course, there’s the most compelling fact in last week’s article: admission to PCS is by a random lottery. Here’s to 25 more years of “high expectations and kindness.”

Ellen Gilbert Castellana
Stuart Road East

To the Editor:

It’s that time again to name our winners! Morven Museum & Garden is delighted to announce the winning 2021 Festival of Trees decorators:

First Place Tree Exhibitor: American Spaniel Club Foundation/Southern NJ Cocker Spaniel Club, “A Merry Cocker Spaniel Christmas!”; Second Place Tree Exhibitor: West Trenton Garden Club, “A Peacocks and Paisley Palette”; and Third Place Tree Exhibitor: Mount Laurel Garden Club, “Chinese New Year.”

First Place Mantel Exhibitor: Neshanic Garden Club, “Winter Wonderland”; Second Place Mantel Exhibitor: Princeton Public Library, “Winter Warmth: The Books of Jan Brett”; and Third Place Mantel Exhibitor: Nottingham Garden Club of Hamilton Township, “Nature’s Seasonal Gifts.”

In yet another season of uncertain times, we were thrilled to see a 50 percent increase over last year’s in-person attendance. Online visitors and voters were at a record number with 493 votes cast. The Festival of Trees party saw record breaking attendance with over 200 guests joining our winter fundraiser safely outside amid twinkling lights and firepits. This would not have been possible without the leadership of our event chairs Colleen Goggins, Carolyn and John Healey, Rachel Herr, and Eileen and Robert O’Neil.  more

To the Editor:

Princeton’s Cannabis Task Force has recommended that Princeton allow up to three shops to sell marijuana in our town in clear violation of federal law. While Princeton has no obligation to enforce federal law, it would be irresponsible to knowingly encourage federal crimes. Marijuana shops would attract more criminal activity, potentially including armed robberies, thefts, and burglaries, and increased sales of marijuana to minors.

The large amounts of cash and drugs on hand at marijuana retailers make them attractive targets for violent criminals. Many credit card payment processors will not deal with marijuana retailers because their businesses are unlawful. So marijuana retailers accumulate large amounts of cash, creating far greater risk of armed robbery than other merchants. Recently, a man armed with a handgun threatened a Bethlehem, Pa., pot shop worker before fleeing with stolen marijuana. Robberies of dispensaries in Oregon and Oklahoma left two people shot dead. There have been strings of armed robberies in Portland, Denver, and San Francisco. Marijuana retailers across the country have suffered similar crimes. more

To the Editor:

While reading the recent Town Topics annual review of significant events in Princeton during 2021 [“Year Starts and Ends at COVID Peaks, as Town Moves Forward,” December 29, 2021], we were disappointed to discover that there was no mention of the June 17 rally addressing hate, anti-Semitism, and rising overt anti-Jewish incidents in Princeton and Mercer County. This peaceful and upbeat event was organized by the Jewish Federation and co-sponsored by a broad coalition of Jewish organizations and religious institutions. More than 300 people attended the rally, which featured local clergy of many faiths, local and statewide office holders, local Jewish teenagers, and Jewish and non-Jewish community leaders expressing their commitment to eradicating anti-Jewish bias and other manifestations of causeless hatred and endorsing tolerance.  more

To the Editor:

I would like to thank Mayor Freda, Emergency Manager Yeh, and Assistant Administrator Grosser for putting our local mask mandate in place. Princeton joins at least 15 other New Jersey municipalities — from small towns like Montclair to our largest city, Newark — with this move.

It’s hard to fathom how inconsiderate and selfish some people can be. I personally experienced this on Christmas Eve, with the Omicron variant already pushing Princeton’s daily COVID case numbers to their highest levels since the start of the pandemic. I went to one of my favorite small local restaurants to pick up takeout food I had ordered. It was a cold evening and about 10-12 people were waiting in a very small area inside the store. All were masked, as were the employees — all of whom have been since March 2020. All that is except for one inconsiderate family of three who insisted on standing right in front of the pick-up table maskless, although their food was not yet ready. Shameful!

I know that many restaurant and store owners already have signs in their windows saying “mask suggested” or “please wear a mask.” I hope that they will change these signs to “Masks required by Princeton Emergency Order of January 10, 2022.”

John Heilner
Howe Circle

To the Editor:

By now many readers of Town Topics may have heard of the Princeton Cannabis Task Force, which includes three members out of the six on the town Council. There have been several articles about their initiatives, and many reactions from people in town surprised at the rapid and aggressive direction they have been taking. They have not been in alignment with the majority of town residents or the PPS Board of Education. 

For example, they have been sticking to a recommendation that we should open up to three cannabis dispensaries in town, and that they need only be 200 feet away from schools, with no setbacks required for child care centers, houses of worship, or drug treatment centers. This stands as the most aggressive position in the state of New Jersey.  more

To the Editor:

The morning of New Year’s Eve, I thought I would walk over to my new neighborhood bakery, Delizioso, and grab some goodies for our celebration that night. My guide dog stopped to point out the public garbage can and, while we were stopped, I reached into my pocket and put on my mask. When I reached into my pocket again to pay for my purchases, I discovered that the money was gone. The daughter of the owner of the bakery generously offered to quickly retrace my steps to find my money, but it wasn’t there.

They insisted that I take my treats and we headed home. About an hour later, I discovered my $20 bill had gotten tucked up in my sweater, and of course we headed back to the bakery.

Their generosity was such a special way to end a seriously stressful year. May we all find ways to do a mitzvah in this new year for someone we don’t really know. And did I say their baked goods are absolutely Delizioso? 

Sue Tillett
Moore Street

To the Editor:

The 3,799 students attending Princeton’s six public schools deserve the community’s support on Tuesday, January 25, 2022. This is the date of the special election to approve the $17.5 million Facilities Stewardship Referendum. In approving this referendum, Princeton’s citizens will be choosing to fund urgent repairs and replace aging roofs at our public schools.

The Board of Education is responding to critical needs by presenting this referendum, and has worked diligently to take advantage of time-sensitive state aid (approximately $7 million) to offset the cost to taxpayers. Leaky roofs, crumbling masonry, and mold issues must be fixed; these are not luxuries. Few adults would happily endure these problems in their homes or workplaces.  more

To the Editor:

Princeton residents will have the opportunity to vote on a Princeton Public Schools Facilities Stewardship Referendum on Tuesday, January 25, 2022. We are writing to encourage residents to inform themselves and to vote by mail or in person on January 25.   

After a comprehensive review of building systems, the Board is proposing a multi-year schedule of significant repairs and improvements to the six district school buildings, funded by a $17.5 million bond issue that will be paid for in part by approximately $7 million in debt service aid from the state of New Jersey.  Bonds are the most cost-effective way of paying for these repairs because state debt service aid is available. It is anticipated that the net school capital tax levy will decrease next year, even with the issue of new bonds, due to retiring debt from past facilities investments.

The largest part of the proposed project involves roof replacements at all six schools, including replacement of outdated rooftop HVAC equipment. After many years of patchwork and emergency repairs, a majority of the roofing is past or near the end of its useful life. As part of the proposed improvements, at no extra cost, roofs would be made “solar ready,” facilitating the installation of solar panels at a future date, reducing energy costs and aligning with community sustainability goals.  more

To the Editor:

Housing Initiatives of Princeton (HIP) would like to thank the Witherspoon-Jackson Development Corporation (WJDC) for their recent contribution of $5,500. This donation has allowed HIP to assist 20 households in Princeton’s W-J neighborhood to pay rent. WJCD’s generosity is an uplifting example of community partners pooling resources and working together during difficult times.

For those unfamiliar with our work, HIP helps low-income working families in our community avoid homelessness by providing transitional housing and emergency rental assistance. Our transitional housing program provides families with an affordable, temporary safe place to live coupled with emotional and mental health support, career counseling, financial planning, access to education, and additional wraparound services. HIP’s support system has empowered dozens of families in our community to move from the brink of homelessness to the security of permanent housing, employment, and hope. more

To the Editor:

I’d again like to make some comments regarding the Permit Parking Task Force and the odyssey that we, the community, have all been swept up in during this past year due to their efforts and actions.

I’d like to preface this by stating that I can only imagine how crushing it must be at times to be dead set on something — put in the time and work on it — and then have it met with mass criticism, opposition, and unpopularity. On this, the PPTF members have my sincere empathy. I’ve been there in my own endeavors.

With that said, it is vital, for the PPTF to actually listen to their constituency and not simply dismiss their concerns; confident their own opinions are 100 percent correct — thus medicine that must just be accepted. I would ask them to consider the tremendous strain their efforts have put upon many in the community, who have felt under siege throughout this past year. One would think that, with so many residents making their views and concerns known — directly at meetings, as well as in public forums and letters — that some heed would be paid, and that the PPTF would’ve taken these strongly expressed concerns into account. Instead, it appeared that they were exceedingly dismissive, stubbornly entrenched in their ideas, and determined to do what they pleased. They have demonstrated this repeatedly, through a lack of transparency and with a seeming vested interest in favoring the desires of businesses over residents — all culminating in a decided disinterest in these expressed concerns. Their efforts to push through with their plans during times when people were generally away — distracted in the summertime, and recently during the holidays — optically appear exceedingly disingenuous. more

To the Editor:

The Permit Parking Task Force has issued a press release with recommendations that it intends to propose to Princeton Council. These include an extremely controversial recommendation that employees of Princeton businesses receive permits to park on residential streets. If you live on a residential street in Princeton that is within 1/2 mile of Princeton businesses, your street is at risk. Many people also object to the Task Force’s town-wide overnight parking recommendation.

Fortunately, there will be a virtual public meeting, with mayor and Council in attendance, to hear residents’ opinions. Be sure to attend and to speak in opposition to the Task Force’s recommendations.

The meeting is on Tuesday, January 11, at 7 p.m. To obtain the link, on Monday, January 10, go to princetonnj.gov, click on Calendar, go to January 11 and click on Special Council Meeting — Work Session on Permit Parking, click on More Details, then click on the link.

Why should you oppose the “employee permit parking” recommendation? more

To the Editor:

After reading the Town Topics article entitled “Permit Parking Task Force Revising Recommendations in Response to Feedback” (December 8, page 1), we were dismayed to read that off-street parking for employees of businesses was still being considered as a part of the proposal for the Tree Streets and Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhoods. This was a surprise particularly since the article described the exclusion of the Western Section (without any explanation for the reversal).

We very much agree with the authors of “Revised Parking Proposal Should Not Single Out Residential Neighborhood for Employee Parking” featured in the December 22 Town Topics Mailbox. Particularly when it comes to the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood, off-street parking is a significant challenge since many houses have shared or no driveways. We similarly question why off-street parking for business employees is being considered over identifying alternative surface lot options.

In addition to the successful negotiation of securing 240 spaces within the Westminster Choir College and MacLean lots, perhaps discussions could also be initiated with Princeton University to use spaces within the new garage near Jadwin Gym. We applaud the efforts to secure off-street parking for Princeton residents (via permit parking), but believe further discussions need to continue to exhaust the surface lot options for employees of businesses.

Lance and Latonya Liverman
Witherspoon Street

To the Editor:

Regarding residential street parking, we are recommending no business employee permits, one permit per house without a driveway, and no second car permit. The cost of a permit for houses without a driveway should relate to property tax paid on houses with a driveway.

Business parking on the Tree Streets: Businesses need employees and customers to thrive. A parking spot can be used by one all-day employee, or say six short-term customers. A parking spot used by one employee means six customers driving away, annoyed — or 42 a week or perhaps 160 per month. The multi effect is staggering. Shoppers give up, change their habits, and don’t return. Businesses fail.

Twenty years ago I ran a business in Lambertville. Employees were allowed to “feed the parking meter,” i.e., an “all-day permit.” It was a disaster.

Residential Parking on the Tree Streets: Selling all-day employee parking space eliminates perhaps eight short-term customers per day. It also eliminates the ebb and flow of residential parking which allows for services, vital caregivers, deliveries, and family and friends, as you would expect in a residential neighborhood. Depriving residents and customers of parking on the residential streets in favor of all-day business employees is a poor choice. more

To the Editor:

“I want to remind everybody that the roads are public property, they are not the property of the residents who live on the streets. To say that nobody else can use the parking because you want the occasional luxury of being able to park on the street in front of your house doesn’t make sense to me.” These are the comments of Councilman David Cohen, the Permit Parking Task Force’s chief architect, talking to the Princeton High School neighborhood last Spring (https://vimeo.com/623580557/f383ea1737).

For the past several years, Mr. Cohen has been tallying up the residential parking spots which the Council could appropriate then lease to for-profit enterprises as a “low cost solution” to subsidizing business parking expenses. Couple that with maps Mr. Cohen recently presented of mile-wide circles showing neighborhoods across Princeton that could be used as commercial parking lots, and there is no ambiguity as to the long-term intent: all of Princeton’s residential streets are at risk of being appropriated for business parking.

The Task Force’s final proposal, to be presented at a meeting on January 11, includes the first step towards that goal. It includes the establishment of a business parking subsidy program in which the municipality appropriates up to 50 percent of street parking in Jackson-Witherspoon and Tree Streets and leases them to businesses. Voters from across Princeton are uncomfortable with the conflicts of interest of the Task Force that drafted the proposal. For one, its members include the very merchants who would profit from the policy they had a hand in writing. Jack Morrison, its most vocal merchant, is both the former president of the Merchants Association and also a political donor to Councilmembers leading the Task Force. The mayor and Council have failed to respond to inquiries about what, if any, ethics standards are in place to prevent self-dealing and conflicts of interest in Princeton’s policy-making process, a question voters see as extending beyond the issue of just parking.  more

To the Editor:

We want to thank Jonathan Hopkins for accurately quoting David Cohen’s statement regarding Princeton’s public rights-of-way. A fundamental postulate of the work of the Permit Parking Task Force (PPTF) over the past three years has been that these roadways, which are public property, are an asset that must be managed to benefit all members of the public, not just a select few who happen to live nearby.

To extend Mr. Hopkins’ helpful analogy comparing our roads to our public parks, we couldn’t agree more — just as Princeton’s public parks are open to all members of the community, and indeed members of the public from outside the community who choose to visit Princeton, so should our roads be open to all. Just as we take care to ensure that use of our public parks does not negatively impact neighbors who live nearby, so should we manage our roadways to protect nearby residents. Our parks are not open for midnight soccer games, or for drunken carousing, but we would never dream of requiring proof of residency to bring an afternoon picnic to Community Park or Herrontown Woods, or even worse, to restrict access to only those residents whose property happens to abut the parks. Similarly, we are looking to put in place rules that preserve parking access for the convenience of residents while also allowing non-residents to park.

Regarding Mr. Hopkins’ allegation that the work of the PPTF somehow is tainted by a conflict of interest, we vigorously defend the composition and conclusions of the Task Force. Residents of every affected neighborhood have been represented on the Task Force. It would have been an unpardonable tilting of the playing field if members of the business community had not also been included in the deliberative process. The give and take has been feisty, and in the final recommendations, the business owners have gotten much less than they would have wished.  more

To the Editor:

Our elected officials often point to various task forces and committees as vehicles for community members to shape town policies and as evidence of collaborative decision-making. The relentless push for retail cannabis dispensaries in Princeton while our neighboring towns have opted out calls into question the exact purposes of the Cannabis Task Force (CTF).

The 23-member CTF, according to its mission statement, serves in an advisory capacity to provide input to the mayor and Council on the major areas of concerns regarding legal cannabis. It was noted [Town Topics, June 2, 2021, page 9] to include local representatives from, among other areas, law enforcement, public schools, and social services. Clearly, public safety, underage use, and drug abuse aren’t “major areas of concerns” for the CTF as representatives from these areas had no presence in any of the CTF public meetings. Neither are there any meeting minutes or voting records that can prove representatives from these areas have ever meaningfully participated in the deliberation. It was no coincidence that the 90-minute CTF presentation on November 30 made little mention of public safety and the underage use portion of the presentation lasted less than 90 seconds.

According to Councilwoman and CTF Chair Eve Niedergang, one third of the CTF members were absent when the official CTF recommendations were voted on. Yet, that didn’t stop the CTF from calling their recommendations to allow up to three recreational cannabis dispensaries “unanimously supported.” This fixation over consensus is probably best explained by one CTF member who described one of the main objectives of the CTF as “manag(ing) the narratives.” more

To the Editor:

As the year comes to a close, I’d like to thank all those whose participation and support have made 2021 a special year at Herrontown Woods, the nature preserve perched on the ridge in northeastern Princeton. At our weekly Sunday morning volunteer sessions and through the week, those who give freely of their time and talents are continuing a tradition that began with the original gift of the land by mathematician Oswald Veblen and his wife Elizabeth. That gift, 64 years ago, ushered in an extraordinary era of natural lands preservation in Princeton that continues to this day.

The year 2021 saw the expansion of the Botanical ARt garDEN, nicknamed the Barden, where diverse native plantings mix with art and whimsy. Whether it be turning fallen trees into bridges, or the rescuing of a gazebo otherwise headed for the landfill, the project at Herrontown Woods exemplifies the role of creative repair and reuse in smuggling joy and utility into a shared future. Lending inspiration is, of course, nature, which has been in the business of creative repurposing since life began.

Having repaired and improved trails since 2013, the Friends of Herrontown Woods was this year fortunate to find a highly skilled carpenter to begin repairing Veblen House and Cottage. These two structures, each with a fascinating history, had been patiently waiting for some positive action since they were boarded up in 1998. more

To the Editor:

Lovers of the performing arts in Princeton, central Jersey, and beyond owe a debt of gratitude to Richard Tang Yuk, general and artistic director of the Princeton Festival, for the quality and variety of programs he brought to us every June for 16 consecutive years. As many people know, he stepped aside from his position in 2020, but continued to maintain a home in our community.

When he recently decided to relocate to his native Trinidad, a group including former Festival board chairs Laney Kulsrud, David Brown, and Costa Papastephanou and longtime board members Pamela Bristol and Tom Lento, all who have worked with him over the years to make the Festival a joyous and successful enterprise, got together to express their gratitude for his formative leadership of this Princeton institution. We are sure many in the community share our sentiments.

We would like to share the following Resolution, which was presented to him on November 17 on the occasion of his departure:

On the occasion of Richard Tang Yuk’s resigning as general and artistic director of The Princeton Festival and relocating far from the Princeton area.

Whereas in the winter of 2004 Richard Tang Yuk proposed to a small group gathered for coffee at The Princeton Diner to lament the demise of Opera Festival of New Jersey that they should found a festival for the performing arts in Princeton; more

To the Editor:

Future generations will be left to solve the most complex and existential challenges young generations have ever faced. We will be leaving the burden of solving for climate change, biodiversity loss, and pandemics to our children. Young people will need to harness a tremendous amount of intellectual energy and sheer collective will to solve these profound threats if they are to survive.

What messages are we sending young people when they see adults prioritizing easy access to marijuana only steps away from their schools? From children’s perspective, watching leaders of their community vigorously pushing to have cannabis dispensaries must lead them to believe that enabling people to get high is our top priority. Given the tremendous weight young people have on their shoulders, shouldn’t we be directing their gaze to higher aims?

It is insidious that the Cannabis Task Force (CTF), along with its Council liaisons, is emphasizing retail access to drugs as a social justice initiative. Paterson, New Jersey, is deeply committed to social justice and its leaders have rejected retail cannabis dispensaries. “Just because it’s legal doesn’t make it right,” said Kenneth L. Simmons, the president of the school board in Paterson, who opposes a proposal to permit cannabis start-ups in a city where one in four people lives in poverty. “A revenue stream for City Hall,” he added, “is not prosperity, especially when it brings another possible pitfall closer to our youth.”  more

To the Editor:

I urge you to join me in voting “yes” on Princeton Public Schools’ Facilities Referendum.

The special election will take place on January 25, 2022. If passed, the referendum provides our community with a smart, timely, and cost-effective blueprint: these 20-year bonds would fund the replacement of older, out-of-date roofs in every one of our six school buildings; ensure that the new roofs are able to sustain future solar panels; and replace siding and other critical maintenance needs. All of these needs have been publicly identified and listed on the district’s website.

The timing is right — thanks to our district’s AAA bond rating, the interest rate for these longer-term bonds currently are and should remain at near-historic lows. Moreover, if we approve this referendum, the state of New Jersey would provide grants for up to 34 percent of the amount of principal and interest. Because of the timing of the proposed new bonds being issued as older debt is retired, the annual cost to Princeton residents for capital debt will go down, even with this new $17.5 million referendum. And these new costs will be spread across 20 years, as it is only fair for Princeton families who move here in the future to also contribute to the upkeep of our schools. more