It was indeed a busy day yesterday.  I did manage to squeeze in legitimate work before dashing off to the People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos Board meeting.  Everyone on the Board is very excited about the $300,000 NEH grant to bring the program to at-risk youth through local libraries.  This feels like a very important moment for the organization, and I am looking forward to being part of the growth.

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.