Who Wants Hospital?##M:[more]##
The hospital decision gets easier. Speculation about the location of Princeton HealthCare System’s new campus is beginning to make more sense. If the wants/needs of the communities, and the financial well-being of the municipalities, are considered, the choice between the two prime locations — College Road and Canal Pointe Boulevard — seems simple.
The College Road community would welcome PHCS as a neighbor. Forrestal Village needs the financial boost that the hospital would provide by filling the many empty offices that are tax ratables. The location seems to be in the heart of the patient market, especially since Capitol Health System has announced its intention to build a competing facility in Lawrenceville. It is accessible from any direction including the Princetons, Monroe, South Brunswick, East Windsor, West Windsor, and, of course, Plainsboro. It seems to have the proper zoning. There are many other reasons, but I will spare you.
The Canal Pointe Boulevard community does not want PHCS as a neighbor. Many residents along Canal Pointe Boulevard have expressed their opinion on a 550-signature petition against the rezoning of Carnegie West for hospital use. Why would anybody want to risk inflaming the homeowners, causing long delays through threatened litigation, or possibly devaluing an estimated $300-$350 million of a residential tax base, in exchange for the non-ratable entity, the PHCS hospital campus?
Ted Strempack
Kensington Court, West Windsor
Political Foliage
Fall is the time of year when Mother Nature impresses us with an array of colors that remind us what beautiful art objects trees can be. It is also the time of year when politicians’ colorful campaign signs assault our senses.
The signs are usually placed in the most inconvenient public locations, making the ride to and from work even more difficult because they hinder our vision. I have seen as many as six signs for the same candidate placed no more than a foot apart from each other.
Even more offensive, following the election, the signs will often be left in place waiting for Mother Nature to remove them.
Isn’t there a law that requires campaign litter to be removed soon after an election? Let’s start a new tradition by which candidates for public office need to place a proclamation in all local newspapers promising to have election matter removed within 24 hours after an election.
As for any candidate who does not want to make this commitment, well at least we’ll know whom not to vote for. Dennis McGeady
Plainsboro
Editor’s note: McGeady is a former member of the Plainsboro Planning Board.
Plainsboro’s Still On Good Course
Plainsboro voters are understandably distressed about recent real estate tax increases. What may not be understood is that our municipal officials have little influence over the total tax bill. The township is responsible for only 10.5 percent of the tax burden, and has the lowest municipal tax rate in Middlesex County. That’s been true for years.
The bulk of real estate tax collections go to our schools. New Jersey’s overwhelming reliance on property taxes to fund education creates hardships for residents on fixed incomes. Plainsboro was required to reassess properties last year, and to nobody’s surprise values went up. Unfortunately, residential values went up faster than commercial ratables. We all like to see rising property values; we just don’t like it when our tax bills go up as a result.
It’s wrong to blame Mayor Cantu and our township committee for inequities in the state school finance system. Plainsboro is fortunate to have efficiently-run public services and an experienced mayor and township committee who know how to run a taut ship. Re-electing Peter Cantu will continue to move us in the right direction, while we wait for the state to change the system.
Deborah Brett
7 Sherman Court, Plainsboro
‘Go Figure’ Open Space Numbers
For more than 25 years I have been active in efforts to preserve Plainsboro’s open space, at times as a member of the environmental committee, the planning board, or the township committee; but foremost as a resident. So it was with interest that I read the News article (October 21) covering the Township Committee race in Plainsboro.
In the article candidate William Zeltman misrepresents both the amount and the character of Plainsboro’s open space. He states, “when the township talks about open space, they try to tell you that 40 or 45 percent of the community has been preserved. In reality, a lot of that is drainage basins, and medians in the road.”
The truth is that more than 50 percent of Plainsboro is now set aside as permanent open space, meaningful open space, not medians in the road. The Plainsboro Preserve is a good example of what has been accomplished and it’s no median in the road. A lot of dedicated citizens have worked long and hard toward this achievement. Mr. Zeltman can not misrepresent their effort in his political bid and remain unchallenged. What he says is not true.
Additionally, the people of Plainsboro need to understand Peter Cantu’s role in preserving our open space. Simply put, without Peter’s leadership we would not be where we are today. I know, I was at the table.
William Zeltman also tells us that his concern about the tax burden on Plainsboro residents was one of the reasons he decided to seek office. After last year’s property revaluation more of the tax burden shifted to residents from businesses. This is because residential property values dramatically increased while commercial property values remained somewhat flat.
In other words a fair chunk of everyone’s 2005 tax increase is paying for a tax break for commercial property. Against this background Mr. Zeltman, assuming he takes office in 2006, proposes to “do things like lowering business taxes.” His concern for the residential taxpayer was certainly short lived. I’m not kidding; he wants to further reduce the tax burden on commercial property.
Go figure. Better yet, go vote!
Henry Schaefer
609 Plainsboro Road
Vote for Cantu
Quality of life issues in Plainsboro have been and continue to be impacted by careful and effective township management. I am committed to working for change that will reduce the tax burden and provide real property tax relief, and I am committed to continuing with Plainsboro’s record 11th consecutive year of the lowest municipal tax rate and highest bond rating in Middlesex County.
My goal is to extend our partnerships at the County, State and Federal levels, and to expand our successful farmland/open space program, where well over 50 percent of our total land is permanently preserved. I look to build on this record with millions of additional dollars, already being negotiated from outside sources, to add permantly preserved land for our long term enjoyment.
Strong support from our Middlesex County Freeholders, and assistance from Congressman Rush Holt have helped produce the Plainsboro Preserve — with the region’s first environmental education center. Its operation by the New Jersey Audubon Society exemplifies Plainsboro’s successful partnerships.
As we develop the lively Plainsboro Village Center, at Schalks Crossing and Scudders Mill roads, we continue to explore alternative support for what we hope will be the finest library in the region — planned as a key component of the center. Fundraising within the private sector is being pursued to minimize impacts of modernizing our library to meet current and future needs.
Plainsboro continues its central role in regional purchasing arrangements, lowering costs for everything from office supplies and insurance, to fuel, telecommunication services, and sand for winter highway safety. We have tightened our belts to minimize costs for municipal operations.
My continuing commitment to the residents of Plainsboro is to work vigorously with the township committee to effectively manage financial resources, to fight for change in an unfair system of taxation, and to continue efficient delivery of services at the lowest cost. I ask for your support, and for the privilege of keeping Plainsboro a community we can all be proud to call home. Peter A. Cantu
Mayor, Plainsboro Township,
11 Beechtree Lane
Vote For Zeltman
It is not unusual at this time of year to see political signs urging one to vote for a candidate for a particular office. I am particularly interested in the blue and white signs in Plainsboro that announce “Cantu for Plainsboro.” The fact that there is no political office noted seems to be a bit presumptuous, but then I thought maybe he had been an elected official for so long he needed no introduction.
Then interestingly enough I received a letter regarding the new tax bills, which reflected stiff increases. The letter explains that Cantu and the township committee have supported fundamental changes at the state level to address the issue of property tax reform. I figured this was a campaign piece, but imagine my surprise when I looked at the bottom of the letter and found the township address information. Cantu and the township committee who support lowering taxes have spent tax money to let us know this — right before the election — mentioning the name of the candidate — at taxpayers expense.
Excuse me if I am incredulous!! A long term elected official who uses taxpayer money to put out a political statement just before an election is not FOR PLAINSBORO. Taxpayers of Plainsboro, I would suggest that you join me in voting for Bill Zeltman for Plainsboro Township Committee. Zeltman’s election would add a single voice to the currently single party township committee, but surely a necessary voice!!
Johnny L. Abernathy
1917 Aspen Drive
Time for a Change In Plainsboro
Mayor Peter Cantu of Plainsboro Township wants change: Change to the tax codes that Trenton writes for its residents and the way property taxes are spent in schools. Cantu recently testified to the New Jersey State Senate on tax relief and tax law changes. A very admirable showing since he is admonishing his own political party. That’s a change. It would be more admirable if this was not an election year and it would seem these, “changes” have come a little late.
While rising real estate taxes were inevitable, foresight was the key when it came to revaluation and tax increases. This is especially true in the case of Plainsboro and West Windsor, where two townships share school districts and school budgets. According to Plainsboro Township Tax Assessor Jean Jacobsohn, when the State of New Jersey along with Middlesex County ordered the revaluation of homes in Plainsboro, Plainsboro was assessed at 98 percent of fair market value. West Windsor’s are at 50 percent before revaluation (West Windsor’s revaluation has been already completed). Mr. Cantu has had to know for years that West Windsor’s property was highly undervalued and only now is something being done about it. It’s funny how it happens now in an election year, and it’s funny what other “changes” are happening in Plainsboro.
Concerned parents who live near the dangerous intersection of Plainsboro Road and Edgemere Avenue adjacent to Wickoff Elementary School are finally getting “relief” from the congested and dangerous area by changing the traffic patterns in the form of a $600,”000 traffic signal! Wouldn’t it make sense to install a Four Way Stop Sign System instead? It would seem that this solution is traffic flow friendly, cost efficient, and it could be installed quickly rather than months of construction thereby further endangering our children.
There’s an old saying that goes, “Change is more manageable when you see it coming.” Maybe for Plainsboro residents, it’s time for a change. Walter Wright
20 George Davison Road,
Plainsboro
Farmers’ Market: Showcase for WW
I would like to offer a public thank you to the wonderful people who founded and run the West Windsor Community Farmers’ Market. This was another season well done!
The Farmers’ Market is a true gem for the West Windsor community. Though I moved to West Windsor late in the market season a little more than a year ago, I discovered the market shortly after I arrived here and I must confess that the Farmers’ Market is one of my favorite things in the entire area.
While there are plenty of grocery stores and other places to buy the goods and services also available at the Farmers’ Market, none of them offer the consistently fun and educational shopping experience, not to mention the freshness, of buying directly from the growers and producers.
What I think the Farmers’ Market does best, though, is showcase the great sense of community that can be had in West Windsor. It brings together the highly diverse population here and lets us all interact and get to know people we might otherwise never meet.
I have cherished the hours I have spent on Saturday mornings throughout the summer and fall with the great people I have gotten to know at the Farmers’ Market and now consider my friends. It really is THE place to be and I am sadly wondering how I will fill the void as the Farmers’ Market closes for the winter. Hats off to all of you who have made the West Windsor Community Farmers’ Market such a delight! See you in the spring!
Debbi Cohen
Princeton Greens, West Windsor
Village School Talent Show Raises $7,”500 for Katrina
A simple idea of playing a musical instrument to raise funds to support the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Relief efforts was born in the mind of a 12 year old West Windsor resident. With the help of several people, this idea grew into a talent show that was held on Saturday, October 29, at Village School auditorium in West Windsor. A total of 78 kids participated in this program — kids of all ages, from Kindergarten to High School participated in this fund raiser.
The event was attended by over 350 people and the donations reached an astonishing $7,”211 on the day of the event with more donations still coming in. This program was conducted by the children from emcees to the talent segments — entertaining the audience with their wonderful acts, dances, juggling, music, martial arts, and poetry.
People attended the program enjoyed the variety of refreshments provided through the sponsors including Palace of Asia, Bear Creek Assisted Living Community, Eagle Bakery, McCaffrey’s, ShopRite, and Wegmans.
Thanks to all performers, sponsors, donors, teachers, instructors, and the many parent volunteers for their time and support. Special thanks to Triangle Copy Center, Creative Photography, Princeton Area Junior Woman’s Club, Brian Stevens from Village School, Suresh Jilla, Amurthur Family, Kathy Lane, Paige Lanzetta, Mardana Naidu, Ashima Saksena, Cindy Schoenauer, Sheetal Vaidya, Ganga Mukkavalli, Ross Axiotis, Jean Vertefeuille, and George Hall.
An unexpected surprise was that more donation checks continued to come in after the event as well, increasing the grand total to $7,”581. The outpouring of support from everyone for the Kids for Katrina Victims talent show has served as a helpful reminder to all of us that the best response to tragedy is compassion and action. The success of this program has made all of us feel that we are not helpless — where we have the will to act, we have the ability to make a difference. One hundred percent of the donations collected were forwarded to the American Red Cross.
Anu Sajja
Coordinator, Kids for Katrina
Talent Show
