It never ceases to amaze me how news events can be spun in the media. ##M:[more]##Case in point – this Friday’s articles in the Princeton Packet and WW & P News. The article titles:
Hillier’s Warning to W. Windsor: Politics May Scuttle Development [Princeton Packet]; WW Redevelopment in Jeopardy [WW-P News]
In both publications—and other news media outlets—it would be really nice to see other views as part of the main body of the paper, as opposed to only appearing as letters to the editor. And, don’t get me wrong—I’m thankful to both papers for printing my past letters to the editor articles on this developer-fueled monstrosity. I just think it is a sad statement for our people that only the developer’s views are presented in the main media body. Even our own township site and community meeting presentations are one-sided. The system is broken.
Let’s grab the two opening paragraphs from the newspaper articles:
Princeton Packet: “The Princeton Junction redevelopment project is in trouble, according to architect J. Robert Hillier, who suggested this week that his firm might resign from the planning process. Hillier warned township officials and the public that the political atmosphere in town was harming his firm’s ability to satisfy the town’s desires for the project.”
WW-P News: “West Windsor residents may have one more chance to save the redevelopment project.”
I grew up on a farm in Minnesota. Hogwash comes to mind when reading this stuff. Some might suggest the term for excrement from male cattle.
It is clear this is not “the town’s desires for the project”, nor do we have only “one more chance to save the redevelopment project”.
I went to my first meeting last Thursday of the Princeton Junction Neighborhood Coalition. I enjoyed it and felt the time invested was worthwhile. This meeting had a group of people that cared about our town. They didn’t have a developer-fueled profit agenda, they didn’t think that we should have to solve the transportation problems of our region, they didn’t think the taxpayers of our town had a bottomless bank account and would pay and pay and pay. The people there cared about our town, our citizens, our kids. I heard more of what I think is important to redevelopment and improvements in those two hours than anything I’ve read or heard this year.
How about we move forward on this project as follows:
Disengage immediately from the Hillier engagement. I think many of the things they have designed look interesting, but don’t match the needs, desires or checkbook for our town. Hand over all the background material, financials, designs, etc to the township and part ways on good terms.
Focus on a phase 1 redevelopment plan that all agree is needed: sidewalks on 571, bury the utility lines, town like street lights, change zoning to allow some restaurants on 571. The PJNC can drive the ideas. Some mockups, etc have been developed in the past – many times – resurrect and improve them.
Stop the discussion on 1,”000 high density units—or any additional units for that matter. These high density units are clearly a developer-fueled plan that adds big profits to their bank accounts, and big deficits to ours. I’ve got to stop myself from ranting more on this loser topic.
And, the mayor. He led us down this mess and is still its primary advocate. If he was the CEO of the West Windsor Township corporation, I think the Board of Directors would have him removed.
Mike Baxter
