Much has been said and written in the last two weeks about West Windsor Mayor Hsueh’s proposed ethnic-themed park in Princeton Junction. Let me set the record straight. I believe that public parks — on public land — should not be “themed” toward any particular ethnicity. It is simply bad public policy, in my view, and there are reasons why it is not widely done. People of all races in the U.S. should peacefully coexist and not feel as though any other ethnicity is getting some special treatment.
Mayor Hsueh has said repeatedly that this park will be funded with private donations. If he truly thought this park was good public policy, why would he feel the need to go that route? Also, his repeated statements about not using taxpayer money to build/maintain this Asian-themed park do not sync with his recent 2013 Capital Budget submission to Town Council that clearly shows a $300,000 capital budget expense for this park. He says one thing and does something else.
In short, I fully support a “pocket park” at this location. However, I believe that if it is going to be “themed,” it should be for our military veterans who have fought — and died — for our country in Afghanistan and Iraq since 9/11 and for whom we owe our collective American freedoms, including our freedom of speech.
Bryan Maher
West Windsor Town Council
