Traditions must begin somewhere, not all traditions are old. We are thankful that since March 2020, reading Princeton Perspectives has become a valued tradition for many to stay on top of important local news. With the War in Israel and Gaza and next year’s Presidential election topping most national headlines, we hardly hear mention of some of the big local stories that happened throughout 2023. We’ve covered a large variety of them for you and, as we take a look back, we will update you on how things have changed.
STATE OF THE ECONOMY
In the January issue, What’s it Like Here? – Local Updates on National News, we shared the latest about the rising inflation that was affecting everyone in the article How National Political Issues are Playing Out at the State and Local Levels. Prices across the U.S. had increased by 7.1% over 2022 and in the New Jersey area, were up 5.9%. Today, “Core” CPI inflation is up nearly 4% over the year for the Garden State. That number comes from the change in prices of goods and services, excluding those from volatile sectors like energy and food.
When it comes to food, prices had risen 8.6% in the region as the year began. Nearly a year later, the cost of a loaf of bread has risen another $0.15 or 8%. Though ground beef in the northeast region has gotten slightly cheaper, the cost of food overall has seen an increase. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows throughout the year, food prices in our area went up 3.5%. The increase is even higher if you like to dine out, up 5.7%.
Fueling up appears to be better on the wallet. Gas prices fell slightly at the start of 2023, to $3.35 per gallon. It was at that same price even a month ago, but today, it looks like the price average has dropped. According to the U.S. Joint Economics Committee, December 2023 gas prices average $3.24 per gallon (though that is still $0.02 higher than the national average).
As 2023 began, the housing market was also suffering from the lowest number of mortgage applications seen since 1996, said to be largely tied into the high mortgage rates. Our area was noted to be between 5.375% to 6.99% at the start of the year. Unfortunately, today, these rates have not improved. At their highest since 2000, someone in NJ can get a 7.42% interest rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage and 6.76% for a 15-year fixed mortgage.
AN AFFORDABLE HOME?
With mortgage rates so high, it’s been a difficult time for many to purchase a home. But Princeton is working on bridging that gap by offering even more housing opportunities for those on a limited budget. In March, in the issue Change Can Be Hard. How Do We Know If It’s The Right Choice?, we heard from two of Princeton’s elected officials in the article How Affordable Housing Gets Added into Town is a Complex Decision. There is a mandate to build affordable housing, and if you are unclear on why or how that works, I suggest you read our previous article. A total of 753 units are required by law to become available by 2025, but as Mayor Mark Freda and Councilwoman Michele Pirone Lambros each shared, there is a lot to consider about how to meet the requirements.
When the most recent affordable housing obligation was handed down, Princeton received credit for 244 previously constructed units (including sites like Merwick Stanworth and Avalon Bay on Witherspoon). Princeton has also taken the initiative to authorize construction of multi-unit apartment buildings to meet the remaining need. Building is underway on either side of Princeton Shopping Center, aiming to add a total of 69 affordable units to the mix of market-rate ones. Just down the street on Terhune Road is a new Avalon Bay property at the old Thanet site. It should add 15 affordable living spaces. In addition, a 100% affordable senior housing development is set to go up on that site as well, adding 80 units (and the rental applications for those have just become available!). Not too far away on Herrontown Road, former site of SAVE Animal Shelter, this municipally sponsored development is expected to create 64 affordable units. Twenty-five more apartments added to the already existing Princeton Community Village, another of the 100% affordable Housing sites in town, will improve the supply. And the Franklin Maple site, which will be municipally sponsored, adds 80 more affordable units and will also be site to some additional housing. Phew!
Zoning changes around town, such as affordable housing overlay zones, are additionally providing opportunities for multi-family homes with some affordable spaces for new residents. One example is on Terhune Road that will bring 6 affordable apartments for sale. With the bonus credit received for rental units, Princeton has now built or planned a total of 797 affordable living spaces – an excess of 44 over the current requirement that should offset whatever future mandates are set forth. Should the 238-unit proposal at the old Seminary site be approved, that could add affordable spaces to the mix as well. More to come!
UPHEAVAL AT PRINCETON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
With additional housing comes additional students, and Princeton is already struggling with overcrowding at all of its schools. The April issue of Princeton Perspectives shared many changes happening throughout the school system. In the issue A Caring Community Divided – What is Happening at Princeton’s Schools? we informed of community perspectives to deal with current and future elementary enrollment issues in the article Elementary Families Share Ideas as They Look Towards District Changes.
The district unveiled several options for construction/changes to the elementary and middle schools in October and the Princeton Public Schools Board of Education was set to vote on moving forward with a middle school expansion as well as expansion of Community Park (CP) School, to welcome 5 classes per grade. Concern from educators and the community prompted the Board to direct the architect to further explore the option of making CP a 4-class-per-grade school while doing the same to Littlebrook Elementary (LB). It was revealed this week, at their December 12th meeting, that with 1,100 new residential units planned across town and the already tight enrollment concerns, the recommendation now is the latter one – which ultimately will not only include CP and LB changes, but will add space at the middle school, with some minor work at the high school and demolition of the older section of the Valley Road administration building as well. Though the concepts are out, they are still defining and better refining the specifics. A planned community forum will be held on Saturday, January 6th, offering a chance for more feedback. If approved by the board, this will still require a referendum vote in November 2024, with the goal of having the new spaces ready for use in September 2027.
Meanwhile, the April issue also included the article The Community Wants to Know: A Conversation with Frank Chmiel, an interview with then Princeton High School (PHS) Principal Frank Chmiel after he was put on leave, later terminated. In August, Assistant Principal Cecilia Birge was promoted to fill his role as Principal at PHS. And in November, our Perspectives Revisited updated you on more senior staffing changes, with Superintendent Carol Kelley’s abrupt October resignation followed by mid-November’s board vote to instate Kathie Foster as Acting Superintendent through August 2024.
Board President Dafna Kendal tells Princeton Perspectives they have not yet discussed the search for a new superintendent. That is expected to take place in January, once the two newly elected board members join their ranks. They will also have to consider filling another vacant spot next year as Rebecca Gold, Princeton’s Assistant Superintendent for Human Relations, will be leaving after her contract ends in June. That search is expected to begin soon as well.
In other school news, the technology department has made public their quest to unionize as they reach out to the state for help, citing the district is not providing proper staffing and other needs to enable them to do their job sufficiently. Will this lead to changes? We will keep you posted.
CONSTRUCTION HERE AND EVERYWHERE!
If you’re driving to a school, or anywhere else in town, it is not unusual to see a construction area along nearly every route you take around Princeton. In the June issue, Trials and Tribulations Around Town: What’s the Best Way to Move Forward?, we detailed several of the projects and their impacts on the community in the article Construction and Traffic and Parking…Oh Boy! The Impacts are Being Felt Around Town. The good news is many of them have anticipated spring 2024 completion dates, so there is relief in sight.
Partial or full road closures have been frequent as the Graduate Hotel and the new Triumph Brewing Company buildings go up downtown. Triumph, however, is done with exterior work so it will cause no further construction closures on any street around Palmer Square. Though there remain a lot of variables, the design team is finishing up, and they are working on the furnishings with hopes of opening in early 2024. The Graduate, at the corner of Nassau and Chambers Streets, is proceeding on schedule, still on track for a spring 2024 opening.
The Witherspoon Street Improvements Project completed Phase I from Nassau to Green Streets in June. Phase II, from Green Street to Leigh Avenue is now underway. The major work is completed, but final paving, adding striping and markings on the pavement, installing raised sidewalks, landscaping, lighting and signage are still on the docket. Though this is not expected to be completed until May, Phase III will begin sometime between January and March. This will take the transformation all the way down to Valley Road.
As you’ve maneuvered around the streets, you’ve likely noticed parking downtown has taken a hit with all of these projects. It has additionally been complicated by contractors working in the Spring Street Garage. On Friday, that work will take a temporary halt through the holidays, with waterproofing coating and parking stall striping occurring in the spring.
As I described above, Princeton’s Council has been working with new developers to include affordable housing units in new building construction. The creation of each comes with other concerns as it relates to street closures, traffic changes and more. The area of Harrison and Terhune Streets can be affected with three complexes going up nearby. On Stockton Street (Route 206) buildings came down at the Princeton Seminary, and a final proposal has been made to add 238 units there. Will that add to the traffic back-ups already surrounding the area? Council members tell us it will not, but details are yet to come.
“A traffic study will be required when an application for site plan approval is submitted – the proposal is one step in the process of development of a redevelopment plan. That plan needs to be approved before site plan applications can be made,” explains Assistant Municipal Engineer Jim Purcell.
As PSE&G continues its Gas System Modernization Program, various roadways will be closed throughout the remainder of this year and through 2024. The natural gas main replacements are being done with an effort to minimize traffic disruption. For example, when it is time to begin work on state highways like Nassau or Stockton Streets, there will be efforts to complete them at night to allow for traffic flow throughout the day. Those locations are expected to start early next year.
How does one stay on top of all of this? Municipal Nixle alerts regarding road closures and emergencies have gotten more descriptive, an attempt to minimize the frustrations. If you haven’t already, you can sign up to receive these messages by texting your zip code to 888777. The Engineering website is also updated with the latest in happenings, so you can be prepared as you travel around.
THE WAR WAGES ON
In late November, there was an extended ceasefire between Israel and Gaza, as both sides laid down their arms, hostages were released by Hamas, and prisoners released by Israel. We wrote about the local impacts of this war in the November issue Understanding & Supporting Others During This Trying Time. In the article The Rise in Jew-Hatred is Felt Near and Far we explained at that time the number of reported antisemitic incidents across the US had increased 388% from the same time last year. Now, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) says that over the past two months it has recorded the most antisemitic incidents in a two-month period since they started tracking such instances in 1979 – 2,031 have been recorded across the country. Anti-Israel rallies with overt antisemitism have taken place in Princeton and New Brunswick, both also home to major universities. In fact, 73% of Jewish students across the country claim to have witnessed or been victim to an antisemitic attack on campus this school year. On Tuesday, Rutgers University (RU) was added to the list of schools that are being investigated by the federal government for violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which bans discrimination at institutions that receive federal funding. This, just a day after RU suspended Students for Justice in Palestine Organization, citing it posed a “substantial and immediate threat to the safety and well-being of others.” RU follows Columbia, Brandeis and George Washington Universities in doing the same.
As we conclude 2023 and look to 2024, we hope for some happier news. We will continue to provide any necessary updates to these big stories, and we also promise to continue to delve into the stories and issues impacting our community the most! We hope you will continue the tradition of reading Princeton Perspectives for the most in-depth information.
Lisa Jacknow spent years working in national and local news in and around New York City before moving to Princeton. Working as both a TV producer and news reporter, Lisa came to this area to focus on the local news of Mercer County at WZBN-TV. In recent years, she got immersed in the Princeton community by serving leadership roles at local schools in addition to volunteering for other local non-profits. In her free time, Lisa loves to spend time with her family, play tennis, sing and play the piano. A graduate of the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, Lisa was raised just north of Boston, Massachusetts but has lived in the tri-state area since college. She is excited to be Editor and head writer for Princeton Perspectives!
There is nothing more traditional than the food and drink one has at special occasions, places or certain times of year. Religiously, fish is synonymous with Fridays during Lent, matzoh is a staple of Passover and one can be seen eating dates nightly during Ramadan. Culturally, there is usually turkey at a Thanksgiving feast and regionally, you expect some good collard greens if you travel down south.
While the Princeton area is home to some amazing bakeries, 56% of our readers prefer to bake their own holiday treats. After all, there is something to be said for the aromas lingering from the oven, and the joy of knowing that your creation brings smiles to your loved ones.
“The owner, Karen, (of 
If your mouth isn’t watering yet, keep reading. We have given you a taste, but there are more details to share about what people enjoy. Turns out, Princeton Perspectives’ readers are split when it comes to what treats top the list this time of year – 38% go for fruitcake (traditional for Christmas) while another 38% prefer sufganyot (traditional for Chanukah). Pie, something enjoyed by all, is a favorite for another 21% and the remainder enjoy a variety of holiday cookies!
But where do they go for these warm drinks? Some prefer area locations of 
Since October 7th, things have been different. Though there is a war taking place in the Middle East, it is having a major impact on many right here in the greater Princeton area. Over the past month+, there have been local gatherings of grief and solidarity with Israel, Pro-Palestinian rallies, teach-ins, and vigils to bring home the hostages. Very little has been covered by our local media, so we felt compelled to do so.
The working definition of antisemitism from the 
Locally, there has been some escalation this past month, but it doesn’t appear to be as heightened as seen elsewhere. On Route 18, near the Rutgers campus, a mix of Nazi ideology and Israeli hatred was drawn on the ground – a Nazi flag with a swastika in the middle coupled with graffiti that said F&%* Israel and death to the IDF. A local synagogue in Monroe was spraypainted with antisemitic graffiti last week. Local high school students have also seen an uptick in hurtful and harmful comments and actions. One area student was repeatedly asked by another what their number was, while the student rolled up their sleeve and pointed to the forearm – a reference to the numbers branded into the arms of those at concentration camps during the Holocaust. Another local student has had “dog whistle” shouted repeatedly, a term that appears to mean nothing but in fact is a way to communicate a noxious view some recognize without outright saying it for all to hear.
On October 28th and November 4th, Pro-Palestinian rallies were held along areas of Nassau Street in Princeton. The rallies themselves were not considered antisemitic. However, when antisemitic terms or tropes were displayed on signs or shouted from the crowd, messages of Jew hatred were spread. AJC has recently explained “when protesters chant ‘From the River to the Sea,’ they are rejecting Israel’s right to exist, by indicating that the entire land of Israel should be freed from Jews.” The ADL also considers this chant to be antisemitic, stating on its website “it is fundamentally a call for a Palestinian state extending from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, territory that includes the State of Israel, which would mean the dismantling of the Jewish state. It is an antisemitic charge denying the Jewish right to self-determination, including through the removal of Jews from their ancestral homeland.” Additionally, signs supporting the Hamas attack and people screaming directly at locals that they have “blood on their hands” caused concern and fear to some witnessing the rally.
“The University takes antisemitism and other forms of bias seriously. As on many campuses, Princeton has seen a heightened number of concerning incidents, interpersonal conflicts, and demonstrations since October 7. The University is working to respond to these painful, problematic situations and support the wellbeing of the campus community while maintaining the right of individuals to engage in protected speech,” shares Michael Hotchkiss, Princeton University Assistant VP for Communications. He further spoke of the issue many are discussing, which is where the line is drawn between free speech and hate speech. A recent PU walkout organized by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), a group with chapters on over 200 campuses that has explicitly expressed support for Hamas or terrorism, included chants of “Long live the Intifada (a reference to the days of suicide bombers and mass shootings on the streets of Israel). “As President Eisgruber has written, ‘The freedom of speech allows not only for genteel conversation but also for harsh language, impassioned argument, and provocative rhetoric. Of course, it also permits all of us to criticize statements that we find offensive or irresponsible, even if that speech is fully protected from punishment or discipline.’”
There is also a sense of comfort and safety for other Jews in the community when people speak out against hate. In a statement at their October 23rd meeting, Princeton Council and Mayor made a statement about the Israel-Hamas war which included “we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to stand against antisemitism…” This statement was not made in a vacuum, according to Rabbi Merow, who says the mayor’s office, the Princeton Police department, local Presbyterian pastors and local Black ministers have reached out. Two other local ministers joined The Jewish Center congregation for services this past weekend.
What does NJ do to prepare today’s teens and young adults to engage in conversations about global situations? The 
In recent weeks, some teachers have chosen to speak in their classrooms about what is happening across the world (at varying degrees of success), while others have not. Some independent schools, like Princeton Day School, have taken the initiative to bring in an expert on the Middle East in an effort to respond to questions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. When it comes to Holocaust and genocide, though the requirement is fulfilled differently at each district and independent schools are not bound to such state requirements, the curriculums aim to help students learn about some of history’s mistakes. With the Israel-Hamas War leading some around the world to include mentions of genocide and reignite Nazi propaganda, that education can be relevant and important. In Princeton, this education had fallen out of the middle school curriculum for several years but is said to be back through 7th grade English and 8th grade Civics classes. In the high school, it mainly comes through the sophomore English course and is included in various U.S. and World History curriculums. There has been a year-long audit underway to determine what and how the information is being relayed.
Beyond the classrooms and campuses, teens and young adults today have at their fingertips access to information that feeds their minds and opinions. Depending who you follow on social media, what you read and watch on the internet, can have a large impact on the knowledge you hold and on how you engage on this issue. When it comes to using it as a tool for education, that is where some additional education might be needed.
Every October Princeton Perspectives puts out an issue all about the elections, to help every local voter be educated and informed. This month is no different, as we’ve gathered all the details on when and where to vote, how to vote, what’s being voted on and more. As we put the final touches on this issue, our hearts go out to the Israeli, American and other victims of Hamas’ terrorist acts. A war has been unleashed that will sadly lead to more injuries and deaths on both sides. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone in our community and abroad that are suffering.
“The County of Mercer saw it fit to reduce the amount of pre-printed ballots and transport of ballots to the polling locations. We also felt it would make voting easier for voters who made it clear they did not like using Sharpie markers to vote. They preferred pushing buttons to make their choices and we heard them,” Sollami-Covello explains.
Vote By Mail – If you prefer to vote in the privacy of your own home and then send your ballot back, that remains an option in New Jersey. If you have registered, your Vote By Mail ballot should have arrived by now. If you didn’t get one you can still apply to Vote By Mail if you fill out this 
Early voting sites are as follows:
Every candidate wants your vote. As of October first, that meant there were 260,002 available votes in Mercer County (based on the 
The only question on the ballot for Princeton voters this November is whether or not to fund a $13 million bond referendum for Princeton Public Schools (PPS). The “Yes or No” question asks voters to approve what could average out to a $104 annual tax increase (based on Princeton’s average-priced home assessed at nearly $850,000).
Simply put, the referendum aims to make security improvements, Wifi and other connectivity enhancements, HVAC upgrades and interior and exterior renovations and improvements at the schools. You can see the general financial breakdown of each as described in this graphic, taken from the referendum website, where amounts for 
Experience matters to improve our schools for kids and meet critical budget and space challenges. Since joining the board, I have spearheaded the board’s complex, long-term planning efforts. Together we have stabilized district finances and implemented two successful referendums that have brought our long-neglected facilities back into shape with new roofs, high-efficiency HVAC, and safety and security features. We’ve also built new classrooms and restrooms, and upgraded health and guidance suites. The board is now developing capacity solutions to address near-term enrollment growth, with no time to spare before at least 1100 units of planned housing are built. I’d like to see this work through and to ensure our excellent schools remain one of the crown jewels of this community. 
I am running to restore public trust in the Board. I was born and raised in Princeton and went through the then-called Princeton Regional Schools (PRS). I was raised by my mom, a teacher at PRS for 30-years and father, once President of the BOE. I am also a certified teacher myself, having taught social studies in American schools worldwide, working at a school for teen moms in Trenton, and I write or implement original programs like reading recovery. I know the importance of "keeping an eye on the cash register." In the past, the BOE has spent money frivolously on grandiose building plans and consultants. Somebody should be driving money back into the classroom. A different, independent voice is needed on the board. 
I stand out from the other candidates and current members of the BOE in two ways in particular. First, I have younger children, at Riverside and the middle school. With the elementary school planning underway, the district would be well served by a Board member who is tuned in to the needs and experiences of families with younger children. Second, my focus would be primarily on the quality of the education offered by the Princeton Public Schools, the single most important mission of the district. With my background in education, including a PhD and teaching experience in public school and at Princeton University, I am well positioned to offer meaningful oversight in this field. The district is aware of its academic problems, and has commissioned an outside review of its troubled math program following steeply declining scores and missed targets. Yet academic quality seems to have taken a backseat in recent years. 
PPS system has many good attributes, but there are areas for improvement. While the BoE does not run the schools, they do set policy & provide oversight. I think the BoE should be more data-led in its decision making & more transparent in its deliberation process. Stronger oversight of execution (ie. KPI/key performance indicator measurement & accountability by the Superintendent). All decisions need to have an owner who can be held accountable for the outcome (subject supervisors, principals, assistant superintendent & ultimately the Superintendent). I will advocate for more transparency in data & communication to the community. For example, in the upcoming referendum, it is important to have more detail on the field/track renovation (ie, there is a difference between being in year 5 or year 12 of a 10-year useful life) or the proposed PHS cafeteria renovation (ie. Are we expanding capacity 50% or 150%? Are we future-proofing for added enrollment for the new housing that is coming or is this a stop-gap measure? Are we replacing end of useful life kitchen appliances or are we replacing tables/chairs?) My current job is all about analyzing data and identifying what is relevant or not, and I believe I can bring a fresh perspective on priorities, how to action on said priorities and listening and communicating with the community. 
The Princeton Board of Education is regularly charged with making decisions in a wide variety of areas, including personnel, operations, facilities, policy making, education and many more. My background in local, state and federal government brings an unmatched record of experience in all those areas to the position. Princeton prides itself on its excellent schools and also its diversity. I am an advocate for excellence and equality and believe that the voters want a school system that offers a quality education to all students. Casting a ballot for me will ensure that those priorities will continue to stay front and center as we navigate a challenging environment.