To the Editor:
Mayor’s Conditions
For Transit Planning
Over the past year, Township Council has been looking at redevelopment and working with my administration to move the planning process forward. The five principles I defined in November of 2006 to guide this process are as important now as they were then.##M:[more]##
They are: 1). Transparency (an open and inclusive decision-making process); 2). Equity (all residents will benefit financially and socially from redevelopment): 3). Sustainability; 4). Capacity-based planning (redevelopment must fit the scale that the infrastructure including schools and traffic capacity can accommodate); and 5). Constitutional obligation (compliance with affordable housing requirements).
Based on these principles, the following conditions must be met for redevelopment to move forward:
1. All residents in West Windsor must benefit from this project. It must be tax positive with no financial burden to taxpayers. 2. All neighborhoods near the redevelopment area must be preserved given their individual characteristics. 3. State and County agencies must support this plan before its execution. 4. The project must be phased to mitigate impact to the community. 5. Traffic circulation, resident parking, and a main street must be the top priorities.
I look forward to discussing these principles as we move forward and welcome comments and suggestions from our community.
Shing-Fu Hsueh
Mayor West Windsor Township
Calling All Voters For Referendum
Remember this story from the WW-P News, July 25: “West Windsor Transit Village Redevelopment Referendum— According to Council member Will Anklowitz, the Transit Village is “probably the biggest project in West Windsor’s history.”
Quote: “I think our voters are really capable of handling a question like that,” he says of a referendum on redevelopment. He acknowledges there will be some people who will fight against having a referendum, but he says it is more “democratic” to have one. “This is probably the biggest project in West Windsor’s history, and it seems only fair to me that West Windsor voters get to weigh in on the most important aspects of it.”
To that end, a referendum on the further progress of this project is of the utmost importance to all residents of West Windsor.
You may be “for” or “against” the project. You may support one, two, or all of the components.
A referendum on Tuesday, November 4, will ensure that YOUR voice is heard where it matters the most: the voting booth.
In this matter, however, time is of the essence,
A year and a half ago, we were informed that the time for a referendum on the issue had passed and that the voters had lost their chance to bring this issue to the ballot. It appears that Township Attorney Michael Herbert, Council members, and West Windsor Township staff were incorrect in their advice to the residents on this issue.
Now there is limited time to bring this issue to the ballot and let the “silent majority” of the registered voters in West Windsor have their say in the matter.
Registered voters of West Windsor have until Friday, August 22, to mobilize and gather the 1,”200 signatures needed in order to place the question on the ballot in the November general election.
To facilitate that end, a petition is attached in .pdf format at the following link.
https://home.comcast.net/~michaeljohnr/ww_referendum.htm
Please download a copy, print it out, copy it and distribute this to any West Windsor registered voter who would be willing to sign or collect signatures. Thank you!
Pete Weale
bricksco@aol.com
Cell phone: 609-213-5852
Michael Ranallo
michaeljohnr@comcast.net
Cell phone: 609-802-4857
Editor’s note: Weale is a West Windsor resident. Ranallo owns property in West Windsor.
Transit Myth 2:
TIF = No New Taxes
TIF — Tax Increment Financing. A lot has been said about it as a way to finance improvements at no cost to West Windsor tax payers. Let’s look closer at TIF risks.
A TIF bond is one that is paid by incremental tax revenues associated with a development. The bond holders have no recourse to the taxpayers if there are any payment problems. Sounds good so far. What is the problem?
How about these:
If the TIF isn’t sized big enough, there is still additional tax liability to the residents to pay for anything not covered in the TIF funds. You make the call if you think everything — including any project over budget amounts — will be included in the TIF. The redevelopment sewer and roadway costs a million over budget. Oops. Taxpayers pay.
It will be 30 plus years before the township sees additional tax revenue from the redevelopment because this money is going to the TIF bond holders. Hmmm. Over the next 30 years will all associated costs be covered in the TIF, thousands of school kids at $12,”000 per year each, repairs, services? Who is going to buy the TIF paper under current market conditions unless it is extremely well priced and very low risk?
California leads the nation in TIF financing. In 2004 it issued $15 billion in general bonds because state tax revenues didn’t meet outflow. They are $11.5 billion short for this year. Ask yourself how much TIF may have contributed to the budget shortfall as tax revenues pay TIF bond holders.
Some say that by having an experienced TIF bond issuer that we will have low risk of things not being included in the TIF. We’ve got a lot of Wall Street types in town. What is a bond issuer looking for? A risk profile that will allow them to sell the bonds and make a profit — that’s all. It is not in their best interest to add risk to the bond by increasing it in size. Sure, they may make more money at a higher bond value, but they also need to sell it.
Hillier projected that the developers will make $37 million in profit on the redevelopment at a 1,”000 condo scale. If Steve Goldin wants to pitch TIF as guaranteed not to cost the taxpayers anything, how about placing $30 million in escrow for 10 years. If it turns out he’s right, he gets his $30 million from escrow. If not, we keep funds necessary to insure the redevelopment costs West Windsor taxpayers zero. That would be putting your money where your mouth is.
Mike Baxter
6 Landing Lane, Princeton Jct
Morgan’s M.O.
Charles Morgan’s comments regarding the closing of the Alexander Road bridge are laughable and typical. Is there ever an issue confronting our community that Mr. Morgan will not undermine for his own political gain?
Having served on council with Mr. Morgan for four years, I have to wonder if Mr. Morgan will ever get the concept of working together with his colleagues in good spirit, as opposed to continually creating an environment that fosters negativity, suspicion, and poor teamwork.
This has been Mr. Morgan’s M.O. for the last nine years. West Windsor residents need to be wary of his track record. He’ll be knocking on your doors again next spring, asking for your votes. His destructive nature is not what our community needs.
Franc Gambatese
Lanark Drive, West Windsor
Support the Walk
On Saturday, September 13, from 7 a.m. until noon, there is a multi-family garage sale being held at 4 Oakwood Way in West Windsor. All proceeds from the sale go to The Breast Cancer 3-Day.
The Philadelphia Breast Cancer 3-Day is taking place October 17-19. Check out www.the3day.org for more information. People from all over the country sign up to walk 60 miles over the course of these three days. We walk rain or shine, sleep in tents in Fairmont Park, shower in tractor trailers, get cheered on, and we laugh and shed a few tears along the way. Last year our team, Sandee’s Walkers, raised over $50,”000 for Susan G. Komen and the National Philanthropic Trust.
Support a great cause by getting some great deals! We have furniture, household items, train tables, toys, bikes, and more. We want it all to go to new homes, so come make an offer. If you would like to donate please make a check out to the Breast Cancer 3-Day and send it to Joan Fennell at 4 Oakwood Way, West Windsor 08550. Thanks so much for your support.
Joan Fennell
4 Oakwood Way, West Windsor
