‘If you see something, say something!” The hallmarks of a responsible parent are, ostensibly, to do what is right, not what is politically expedient. If so, why do our political titans pander to special interests at the expense of engaging its residents for solutions? Our local politicos got us into this mess and I fear we are poised for a financial spanking.
For almost 20 years, I have “seen something . . . and I have been saying something.” How does one sound the alarm of concern and simultaneously create a sense of urgency? Our municipal and school governments are inextricably entwined — and not mutually exclusive. The actions of one body affect the other with taxpayers picking up the tab. Decisions by our representatives are basically made in secret despite the window dressing of public comment. Decisions are “announced.”
My high school math teacher, Miss Anderson, would never grant credit for any answer submitted without showing one’s work. Yet, our local institutions regularly serve up political pabulum without the details. “Truth? You cannot handle the truth!”
A friend recently asked why more members of the public did not step forward to register their input (pro/con) for the 800-unit Goldin Pond Village. Wasn’t it a mere three or four years ago the mayor and council invited the community to be part of the charrette process soliciting comments for West Windsor’s Paris & Venice composite? Instead, the processes seemed both hijacked and railroaded from the get-go. The public recognized its role as pawns.
West Windsor Council, under threat by our litigious resident developer, has found adding 800 dwelling units a prudent decision. To defend the township against this transit village (without the commercial office space component), the mayor and Council, at additional expense, hired its own pro-transit village lawyer to defend the Township. What did West Windsor taxpayers spend in (no-bid professional contracts) pursuit of the mayor’s dream? And what did it spend to defend an idea denied a non-binding public referendum?
Will Goldin Acres simply be another Princeton University housing complex? Will droves of residents flee Village Grande and other seniors sell their homes to rush for a front row seat along an ice cream promenade?
With national housing prices down 1.5 percent in the third quarter, (second quarter prices fell 2 percent) and a foreclosed property inventory of 5 million properties, why would West Windsor want to add to the universe of housing? Even our beloved Toll Brothers’ (Princeton Junction Estates litigant) is showing financial losses.
“State budgets are growing again after two years of cuts, thanks to higher taxes and a slowly improving economy,” reads the Wall Street Journal headline. So why are we not reducing our spending and paying down our debt . . . to get our financial house in order? If we give you more money, you will just spend it foolishly.
The conventional yardsticks for measuring fiscal responsibility are contained budgets — most private individuals could always do more if they had more money or resources. We measure the experience quotient with those who do more with less. When will that expertise kick in? Pete Weale
Fisher Place
