There are some who would suggest that the PILOT is a mere fraction of what the University would pay if they did not have tax exempt status and, therefore, $1 million is an inadequate sum. Others like to say that the University has become an endowment with a University attached – that $1 million is a rounding error for University. Some challenge the tax exempt status of all the Ivies because they discriminate in their admissions process by granting preferential consideration to alumni children. All that may be true, but we must deal with this reality: Whatever $1 million is to the University, it is a critical amount to our operating budget.

I know people understand – but it bears repeating — that as a governing body we cannot ask a developer for money in exchange for a zoning change. And, it is well within the right of the University to withdraw their PILOT. It is a voluntary payment.

So here we sit simultaneously considering our budget and considering a zoning change that many people in our community feel very strongly about, and we do so with the sword of Damocles over our heads.

On the Council we have stated strongly our preference for a budget that will not increase taxes. (Jenny [Crumiller] and I founded CFAT in an effort to support a zero-increase budget.) But we have to accept the reality that there is a very real chance that the University will withdraw their $ 1 million, and when we started our budget discussion a couple of weeks ago, it became crystal clear just how damaging that would be to the financial health of the Borough. The other reality is that we have a 2% cap on property tax increases. If the University withdraws their PILOT, Bob Bruschi pointed out that it wouldn’t take long for our finances to be seriously compromised.

Those who support the Arts and Transit vision say, “So what? Give them what they want and everything will be fine.” Fine for them, perhaps for now. My informal poll indicates those people are usually not regular Dinky users, or walkers, and often have some tie to the University. But I would hope that those people would understand that while it may not be their ox being gored this time, it is only a matter of time until it is. How are we to make any decision that might remotely impact the University in a way that displeases them when they can simply threaten to withhold their voluntary contribution? I certainly wouldn’t stay in a marriage where every time my husband and I had a disagreement, my husband threatened a divorce. That isn’t a good partnership. We need a relationship where we can count on the University whether they are getting what they want when they want. As taxpayers, we certainly don’t agree with every decision the governing body makes, but we are still obligated as citizens to pay our taxes.

This is a particularly painful decision because if I had to guess, those most hurt by moving the Dinky, will also be those most hurt by the loss of the $1 million PILOT, because, sooner or later, that $1million will have to be made up in taxes, and we are all well aware of the shift in the tax burden that resulted from the revaluation. I find it curious that the University doesn’t care, but I don’t see any evidence to the contrary. The message is, “Buck up. What is another 41 miles a year?”

The University plans to create additional housing at the Merwick site and even more housing on Lower Alexander. Soon, nearly all the residents will owe their soul to the company store in one way or another. It isn’t much of a stretch to imagine a time when residents with ties to the University will decide who will serve as an elected official in this town. I won my primary by a scant 25 votes – not so many votes.

Regardless of what we decide regarding the Arts and Transit, it now occurs to me that we need to free ourselves from this sword of Damocles. My recommendation is that we do the work necessary to get our zero-increase budget for this year, and then – as painful as this is for me to say – I think we need to consider a “University tax.” Not a tax on the University, of course, but some small increase to our taxpayers that we can start to put away as protection against the threat of the withdrawal of the PILOT so that we can make decisions that are in the best interest of the community – whether they are also in the interest of the University – without feeling like we are doing so because we are in a financial squeeze. This isn’t some far-off, remote possibility. The President’s words were chosen carefully. This is a real threat, and I think it would be financially imprudent not to plan for the worse-case scenario because I think it is more of a possibility than we are admitting here tonight.

One of voters’ main concerns is, of course, revaluation.  Not only are people concerned about their own property, but they also understand the impact that the revaluation will have on the socio-economic diversity in our town.  People understand the need to manage Boro finances carefully. Most folks have had to make adjustments to their personal finances over the past few years, so they welcome the same degree of diligence on the part of their elected officials.

meeting a voter on Spruce Street

I have also heard a great many complaints about the tenor of discourse at every level of municipal government—from the Council to the service providers in Borough Hall.

Samples include:

“Have you seen those people up there?  They act like buffoons.”  A resident weighing in on Boro Council.

“I think the Boro should be working WITH the neighbors to improve their properties, not putting up hurdles at every point.  I want things to be done right, but they don’t need to be so difficult.”  A resident weighing in on her neighbor’s trouble getting permits to improve her home.

“I am not interested in living in a community that won’t support the least of its citizens.” A resident concerned about the recent vote to fund Human Services.

“We need to set aside our differences and consolidate.” A resident concerned about taxes.

I intend to bring a collaborative approach to problem solving on the Council.  I am pleased by the support of Township Council members and believe that those relationships will be of vital importance in moving toward consolidation.  Anyone who witnessed the discord between Boro and Township Council members regarding funding for Human Services at the joint meeting last week would be right to be skeptical of the ability of these two groups to move forward – especially when it comes to shared services.  If you can’t agree on a one-person department, how can you agree on something as complicated as the police?

Hope to see as many of you as possible at the home of my friends Claire and David Jacobus on Sunday, May 16 at 4 pm in their garden at 37 Cleveland Lane.  The forecast looks great!

The meeting for the Rush Holt benefit was enlightening.  Given the tea-bag climate in the country, Rush is taking this election very seriously and his campaign staffers feel the need to raise a considerable  amount of money to run an effective campaign.  Waiting on word for a special guest for the May 23 Benefit.   Could be very exciting!!

Finally, the Borough Council meeting.  Kudos to the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund (LALDEF) for coming up with community ID cards.  While not government-issued IDs, they are endorsed by the Mercer County Sheriff and the Trenton Police Department.  Both the Township and Borough police departments are supportive of the idea.  What a far cry from what is going on in Arizona.  (Note to self:  strike Arizona from the “possible states in which to retire or vacation” list.)

I had the opportunity to thank the good folks at the Library (Tim Quinn, Catherine Harper and Clancy August) for their help in arranging the Revaluation Options programs to counsel local residents who needed guidance regarding the recent revaluation and deciding whether an appeal might be appropriate.  Also thanks to community volunteers Jon Crumiller, Virginia Kerr and Victoria Airgood.  I hope that the next time the community undergoes a revaluation that we are able to send along with the revaluation results specific information on the impact of the revaluation on the taxes for individual properties.  I thought the program we ran was helpful to a number of citizens who took advantage of it.  Maybe next time, it can be arranged simultaneously with the revaluation, so that it is up and running when taxpayers get their notices.  IF YOU DID NOT HAVE APPRAISAL SYSTEMS in your house, they estimated the value of your property at the highest possible value they could based on the information available.  Time is running out, but I think you might still get relief through the Neal Snyder, the Boro Tax Assessor, if you can arrange to have someone come through the house.

A discussion of the Harrison St. Park plantings took up the lion’s share of the meeting.  What a lucky park to have such a great group of dedicated volunteers to shepherd the refurbishing of the park that is taking place.  At issue last night was the spending on the final touch — the herbaceous plantings.  It is a significant amount of money, $30,000, which the Council eventually approved, at stake for the plants.  Ms. Trelstad, as liaison to the Public Works, stated clearly that the PW does not have the personnel to take responsibility for watering the new plantings. Mr. Martindell clearly described the degree of attention and hard work necessary to get water from the source to the plants.  Mr. Budzinski clearly vouched for the neighbors’ good intentions regarding the park and maintenance.  However, Mr. Bruschi struck to the core of the matter when he said that, ultimately, it is a Boro park and the responsibility of the Boro for the new plantings.  So, we are back to PW, who cannot take it on.  But it was approved because the neighbors made a good case for themselves.  But where is the accountability to the taxpayers?  You cannot leave the health of new plants up to Mother Nature (or any other higher power jovially referred to last evening).  New plants require a lot of water.  Even what seems like a good summer soaking often runs off, leaving the soil dry just one inch deep.  Soaking will require more than a bucketful.   Since the planning of the refurbishing began, there has been a sea change in the economy, both at the local and state level.  Even though this money was budgeted in the original plan, I heard whispers in the crowd that saving the money might be a good alternative.  In the end, I would have supported spending the money on the plants, but I would have insisted on clearer accountability.  I don’t think the neighbors are going to pay the taxpayers back if the plants don’t make it.  Maybe creating a not-for-profit Friends of Harrison Street Park would create a more formal public/private partnership that would protect taxpayers.  Just a thought.

Each year, Mercer County partners with the Commission on Abused, Neglected and Missing Children and Cherish the Children Foundation — which seek to improve the quality of life of children in Mercer County — to recognize local volunteers who have dedicated their efforts toward making a difference in the lives of children.  Tonight Minnie Craig of Corner House will be honored, among others.  Should be a wonderful evening for a worthy cause.

I have a lunchtime Board meeting for People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos.  As Benefit Chair, I will report on the great event we had on April 1 with Colm Toibin as our featured speaker.  He was wonderful.  Very charming.  Then again, an Irish author could read the phone book and make it magical.  The event was a financial success and, even better, we think that it built on our base of supporters.  Now we need to work to expand on that success.  Centurion Ministries had a very successful fundraiser, and we will look to their model to see whether it makes sense for our group.  Unlike Centurion Ministries, our participants are not a matter of public record.  We are reluctant to exploit the people who have participated in P&S/GyC, but perhaps there are ways to invite participation without exploitation.

Late afternoon meeting out at Terhune with Rush Holt’s campaign staff to discuss a large fundraiser for Rush before the primary.  I am going to push for an in-town location.

Ending the day at Borough Council.  If you want to join me, here’s the link to the agenda (pdf).   If not, watch it on TV!  Dancing with the Stars is so last night.

The Arts Council of Princeton held their benefit, Pinot to Picasso, on Friday night at the Technology Center on Carter Road.  A large and festive crowd turned out in support of the Arts Council and our local artists, many of whom had donated fabulous pieces for the Tombola.  Note to self:  Next year buy a ticket for the Tombola.  I was happy for the opportunity to have some good conversations with friends and neighbors about my campaign for Borough Council, but I really wish I had walked home with a piece of art.  Check out the Arts Council of Princeton — the last I checked, the donated art work was still available to see online.

Kendal Bushnell

I am sure that Jeff Nathanson, Executive Director of the Art Council, must have had a late evening on Friday, but he was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for the opening ceremony of Communiversity.  He must be living right because the weather was spectacular.  I can’t imagine a more perfect day.  It was good to have Rush Holt in town, opening the day, but also spending time talking to Princetonians.  I loved Chad’s remarks about the Community and University relationship.  I couldn’t agree more.  Princeton University brings a richness to our community that difficult to measure.  By the same token, our diverse, interesting and safe community is a wonderful place for a university.  I attended a graduate program at the University of Pennsylvania while we lived in Philadelphia in the late 1980’s and early 90’s.  The program, Organizational Dynamics, is a masters program designed for working professionals, with the classes meeting in the evening or on Saturday.  I have to say that it was sometimes a little dicey getting back to my car safely at the end of an evening class.  U Penn has spent a fortune investing in the neighborhood around the University and on Walnut Street in an effort to create a vibrant (read safe) commercial district, and I think it has finally taken hold.  Still, most parents with kids at Penn who I know worry for their child’s safety.  I don’t think parents dropping their child at Princeton University have that same concern.   We have a wonderful downtown, an economically and socially diverse group of residents, beautiful homes, a welcoming public library and a safe, well-protected community.  What more could you ask for?

But I digress. It was a great day to walk the town and mingle with residents and guests.  I have to give a shout out to my husband, who wore a sandwich board promoting my candidacy around town for over three hours.  Kudos to my campaign manager Evan Crumiller, also willing to wear a sandwich board and to Kendal Bushnell, who wins the ‘best looking person in a sandwich board at Communiversity” award.  I appreciate the dedication of my volunteers, including Fransje Keur, who lent her artistic eye to my handout.  You can check out her work at JFK Design & Co.

After Communiversity, I dashed up to NYC for an overnight with my daughter and our old Philadelphia neighbors.  Annie and I had a very wet run along the West Side Highway on Sunday morning.   I’ll take the scenic and easy-on-the-legs towpath any day, but it was fun for a change.  I made it back to Labyrinth by mid-afternoon for the book signing of Sarah Hirschman’s new book, “People and Stories/ Gente y Cuentos – Who owns Literature?  Communities find their Voice through Literature.”  Sarah is the founder of People and Stories/ Gente y Cuentos, a reading and discussion program available in English and Spanish that creates unique access to literature.   There was a full crowd to hear the always-remarkable Sarah.  When the conversation turned to the Crossing Borders component of P & S/ G y C, I was asked to comment on my experience at Bo Robinson Educational Training Center in Trenton.  It was unexpected, but I am still disappointed that I could not be more articulate about what a moving experience that was.  All I can really say is that it is clear to me that we all have more in common than we often recognize and that the decline in the quality of public education can be seen clearly in the differences in contributions of the older inmates (my age!) and the younger inmates in the discussion of the short stories.  People & Stories/ Gente y Cuentos is always looking for volunteers, so if you have some time and love to read, check out People & Stories, Gente y Cuentos

Back to work on a rainy Monday, but I noticed buds on my peonies.  Maybe after this storm we will have a stretch of nice weather before the next storm knocks the petals from my favorite harbinger of summer.