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A Local Look at Resolutions to Inspire Your New Year

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“This year, I resolve to…” New Year’s Resolutions for some are a means to help people fill out their lives in positive ways. For others, resolutions can be like a weight on your shoulders. A reminder of what you didn’t follow through with or still need to achieve.

Depending on how you frame your resolution and set up your goals can have a major impact on how you respond to them. Princeton Perspectives sought to find out what kinds of things locals are resolving to do in the New Year, speaking with people at Princeton Shopping Center, Marketfair Mall and downtown Princeton. Some, like Lucy Chase Tattoli of Plainsboro, are looking out for others.

“My resolution is for everyone to be kinder to each other,” she shared.

Nuyen Lee Foon of Trenton is also looking beyond himself. He makes annual resolutions but says he’s really making them for his wife and to teach his children about having goals.

“I always try to do something different in the new year, but it doesn’t happen right away,” Foon explains. “Something like cleaning out the garage. It’s just not a priority, so I end up putting it off.”

For most, however, the resolutions people make are personal goals. Nathan Quinn of West Windsor says, “My resolution is for this year to be a better me” and William M. Pierson of Trenton admits, “I’m 51 and I still have a problem with my temper. I need to better control it.”

Tania Lambrozo, the Arthur W. Marks ’19 Professor of Psychology at Princeton University, has written a lot about resolutions – how to make them and how to keep them. For resolutions regarding self-improvement, she explains in the blog 13.7 that focusing only on what you can change about yourself is not always the right perspective to promote follow-through.

“One of the most effective ways to change behavior is to focus, instead, on how you can change your social and physical environment to help bring about the change you want to see in yourself. The ultimate goal is still about you and your behavior, but the target of immediate intervention becomes your environment instead.”

That is good advice for Plainsboro resident Sue Tattoli who said, “Every year I try to be healthier, to get more exercise in.” It’s suggested that if Sue commutes to work, perhaps she can find a gym that is on her route home instead of past her house, as she is more likely to exercise if she makes it convenient to do so.

And here are some other tips. The American Psychological Association, in Making your New Year’s Resolution stick, has suggested there are 5 things to consider:

  • Start Small – don’t try to jump all in at once. Taking bite-sized steps to reach a goal makes it more likely you’ll get there
  • Change one behavior at a time – You may have more than one resolution in mind but focus on one at a time. Trying to tackle too much at once can be overwhelming.
  • Talk about it – if you share your efforts with others, such as teaming up or going through the steps together, there’s a greater chance of success.
  • Don’t beat yourself up – you may have a misstep along the way, but you don’t have to scratch your goal because of it. Just get back on course and keep moving forward.
  • Ask for support – if it all starts to feel like too much, you can always seek professional help to get you through and find attainable ways to reach your resolution.

The goals people set are sometimes short term, like that of Omar Gibbs who lives in Lawrenceville. “My resolution is to do better in life,” he stated. “Hopefully I graduate this year from my university and I can find a job in my field, accounting.”

A suggestion by Professor Lambrozo in a 2017 MPR News article still holds true today, that while goals to be accomplished in the coming year can be great, perhaps there are grander things to consider as well.

“New Year’s resolutions are often focused on the self — with dieting and exercise topping many people’s lists. But looking a century into the future can change that focus from the self to future generations. For me, that highlights climate change and inequality as deadly problems of today, and science and education as crucial long-term investments.”

Recently, East Windsor resident Ron Frank walked by a piece of artwork he made that’s sitting in the window at Whole World Arts. He pointed at Molly, the robot-looking piece he made out of spare electrical and plumbing parts. “It makes people smile,” Frank said. But when it comes to resolutions, this artwork is only the beginning of a long-term goal he has.

“I’d like to make people more aware of art.”

And so, his piece in the window of the store at Marketfair is helping to achieve that goal. Perhaps, Jessica Cavanaugh of Hamilton will help him reach it, too. She recently started a portrait business and is hoping to turn it into a full-time career. In addition, she resolves to “be more involved in the arts community here.”

If art isn’t your thing, perhaps there are other ways the Princeton-area can help you start the new year right. “I just found my new favorite space, Tipple & Rose,” recalls Sue Tattoli. “I walked in needing self-care and now I plan to go whenever I need a little.”

Others we spoke to are also hoping to take better advantage of what Princeton offers. Getting downtown more to eat out, volunteering more by helping with community clean-ups and getting a well-paying job in town were a few localized resolutions people shared. Princeton resident Roma Johnson wants to hear more of the local music scene.

“I love the music in Princeton! The Christmas concerts are fabulous, whether at All Saints’ Church, Small World Coffee, Princeton University. Anywhere,” she exclaimed.

For Scott Pearce, who is from the west coast but has lived here temporarily, the new year isn’t giving him more time to experience Princeton, but maybe the future will.

“I’ve been at the Institute for Advanced Studies for a few months. I’m headed up to New York now, but I’d love to come back!” he notes.

As we approach the final weeks until the ball drops for 2022, which resolutions have had the most meaning and impact on you? Email us your Princeton-related resolutions and we’ll include them in Perspectives Revisited next month. Hopefully seeing them published will give you greater momentum to follow through!

As the Year Winds Down, Activities are Abound in Princeton and Beyond

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The colder temperatures are upon us, which means you can begin your hibernation at home, or you can get excited for the coming new year while taking part in fun activities. Princeton is a town with so many great things to do in winter, and if it isn’t happening here, it’s happening somewhere nearby.

HISTORY BUFFS, GET READY

Over the course of the next month, the greater-Princeton area is the best place to be if you have an interest in history. It was at this time of year that Washington and his troops passed through during the Revolutionary War, a momentous time that is reenacted year after year for all to see.

The 69th Annual Christmas Day Crossing Reenactment starts things off at Washington Crossing Historic Park (at the intersection of Routes 532 & 32 River Road) in Washington Crossing, PA. Join others along the banks of the Delaware River as a General Washington reenactor inspires hundreds of others dressed in military garb to cross the river, like was accomplished on Christmas night in 1776.

If the river conditions aren’t safe, the replica Durham boats will not go into the water, but the ceremonial and commemorative events will still take place. The event is on December 25th from noon-3pm.

Throughout the following week, from December 26th-31st, Patriots Week will be celebrated in Trenton. Concerns over the current state of COVID will halt the Battle of Trenton reenactment for this year, but the city will still be home to many events and activities that celebrate its role in American history. The Old Barracks Museum will host tours and there will be musket demos, a puppet show, pub crawl, walking tours and more!

As the revolutionaries traveled from Trenton onto Princeton, so do the historic activities! On January 2nd, the Battle of Princeton will be reenacted. Head over to experience its 245th anniversary on Princeton Battlefield off Mercer Street. At 8:30am, historian Larry Kidder will describe the 10 Crucial Days that led up to this battle. He’ll then narrate the reenactment between the British and American troops as that takes place on the field at 10am, followed by a wreath laying ceremony at 11:30am at the Colonnade & Gravesite. Tours of the Thomas Clarke House will begin at 12:30pm, and the reenactors will be around to talk with visitors and share stories of the battle, while you stay warm with coffee and hot chocolate.

Beyond the Revolutionary War, Princeton is home to other great moments and places of historical significance, and you can learn more about them through tours.

For a small fee, you can sign up to join Historical Society of Princeton on a Princeton History Walking Tour several Sundays (the next one is December 19th) to learn about sites including Bainbridge House, Nassau Hall, the University Chapel and Palmer Square. The 90-minute tour begins at 2pm.

Additionally, Princeton Tour Company offers a Self-Guided Einstein Walk with a map of 12 local stops to teach you all about Albert Einstein. For $3.14 (because Einstein was born on March 14th and, um, Pi!) you can get a map and check out the Einstein monument, his homes and even some of his favorite hangouts.

HEAD OUTDOORS WHERE THE EXCITEMENT WILL KEEP YOU WARM

There are also a variety of other excursions offered by Princeton Tour Company, including its annual Princeton Holiday Trolley Tours, running until December 26th. You’ll actually travel inside a heated trolley to get into the holiday spirit as you ride through neighborhoods and past Palmer Square’s decorated Christmas tree, while learning about Princetonians who have made an important mark on this town and country.

Photo Credit – Lakota Wolf Preserve

If you prefer heading out into the wild, you can see animals in nature up close at the Lakota Wolf Preserve, open year-round. You must book a reservation in advance online, then drive to near the Delaware River in northern NJ for the opportunity to observe four different packs of wolves. Two tours per day are offered by the owners of the preserve, and you may also see the foxes, bobcat and lynx that live there.

If you head due east from the preserve, you can enjoy a unique evening at the Bergen County Zoo in Paramus. Let it Glow, a Holiday Lantern Spectacular takes you into the zoo to see animals of a different kind. More than 30 scenes with larger-than-life animal lanterns are lit up for a show that takes place throughout. You can even ride the train, lighted by lanterns. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Eventbrite, and visits are offered every Thursday-Sunday from 4pm-9pm until January 30th.

Photo Credit – Grounds for Sculpture

Closer to home, Grounds for Sculpture is lighting things up with a new way to experience its sculpture park as part of Night Forms: dreamloop by Klip Collective. Enter between 5pm-9:30pm any Thursday through Sunday until February 27th to see and hear this multi-sensory blend of video production, light and sound creating an immersive event throughout the grounds.

FUN IN THE SNOW

If outdoor fun for you means something a little more athletic, you can travel just an hour or two for some winter sports.

Two hours north takes you to one of the highest points in New Jersey and to the aptly named High Point Cross Country Ski Center. There you can rent cross country skis or snowshoes to enjoy on your own or in group or private lessons. They also have a monthly youth program called Youth Ski League, aimed at introducing cross country skiing through games, activities and outdoor adventures to those in 1st-8th grades.

If downhill skiing is more your speed, Campgaw Mountain or Mountain Creek Ski Resort offer opportunities on the slopes in-state. You can also head west to the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania for skiing at Camelback, Blue or Shawnee Mountains. And skiing isn’t the only fun, these mountains are also home to snow tubing courses you can enjoy day and night. Here are the details so you can decide which best meet your needs:

Campgaw Mountain Tubing  is just 1.5 hours away and offers runs with a variety of levels of rollers and pitch. 6 days before you want to ride, reserve a spot online and then dress for some outdoor fun! Two-hour tubing sessions are available at night, with hours varying throughout the week and holidays.

Just 15 minutes further is Mountain Creek with a snow tubing park covering more than five acres. You can buy tickets online to race your friends during daytime hours weekdays or until close on holiday weeks and weekends.

Galactic Snow Tubing at Camelback, less than two hours from Princeton, has 40 lanes (lit up at night) to tube down and a magic carpet to bring you back up. Two-hour sessions are available from 9am until 10pm!

Blue Mountain Snow Tubing Park you can get to in under two hours, where you can have fun for even longer. They have 46 lanes measuring over 1,000 feet long, and each session there is good for three hours! Thursdays from 5pm-9pm and Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays the course is open from 9am-9pm.

Shawnee Mountain snow tubing offers an hour and a half of fun, in adult and child tandem tubes, just one hour and 45 minutes away. Two surface lifts bring you to the top for your next run. Hours vary by the day but start as early as 9:30am and can run as late as 5:30pm.

TAKING THE ACTION INDOORS

Since 2019, NJ has offered a way for you to enjoy winter skiing, indoors! Though the experience is currently closed due to fire damage sustained in September, there is hope Big SNOW will reopen at American Dream in 2022. There you can purchase tickets online and show up fully suited to ski or if it’s your first time, you can rent everything from outerwear to boots, skis and more. If you have a younger child that has the skills and equipment, kids 6 and under ski free with an adult (their rental options are best for kids over 7).

Off the slopes, you can also spend your days at The Rink, Nickelodeon Universe, Dreamworks Waterpark or playing mini golf at American Dream.

You can get more indoor action without any of the chill at Jumpin’ Gellyball, an indoor arena at the Oxford Valley Mall across the river in Pennsylvania. Anyone ages 5 and up can take part in this low impact fun. Gellyball Blasters use a soft gel ball which is painless when struck, as they bounce right off. And the blasters can shoot off 750 shots without reloading. Private and non-private play is available Thursdays – Sundays.

TRY A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING, ALL AT ONCE

Photo Credit – Polar Bear Plunge at Wildwood

If you want to do something historic and think warm thoughts while engaging in a cold-weather outdoor activity, take part in the 2022 Polar Bear Plunge! At beaches along the Jersey Shore brave jumpers will dive into the freezing cold Atlantic Ocean. It’s not all crazy, though, as every jumper is raising money for a good cause. Atlantic City Polar Bear Plungers will be diving in on New Year’s Day for the 30th year to benefit Cancer Support Community New Jersey at Gilda’s Club. That same day Brigantine’s 20th annual plunge will take place, benefitting Fisher House, which helps wounded veterans and their families with housing and transportation. You can choose to bare the cold or plunge virtually from home as part of Wildwood (January 15th) and Seaside Heights (February 26th) Polar Bear Plunges, both of which benefit Special Olympic athletes through programming and events. All of the above ocean experiences are open to the public. Though plungers of all ages are welcome, anyone under 18 requires parental consent.

Whether or not you choose to take part in all of the fun activities happening this winter or you prefer to stand back and watch the experiences of others, there’s definitely plenty to keep you busy as you finish up 2021 and enter into the new year. We hope it’s a great one!

Editors Note

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It’s sometimes easy, especially during pandemic times, to live in a bubble – unaware of what is truly going on right around you. And while it’s easy to turn on the news and get an overall understanding of things, it’s sometimes harder to know what they are really like in your neck of the woods. That’s the purpose of Princeton Perspectives, to localize stories and share information that matters to you.

So, it’s only fitting that our November issue focuses on just that. In Where Does Princeton Stand? A Local Perspective on National Issues, we take a local look at some of the major stories covering the headlines and provide a deeper look at what they’re like in and around Princeton.

For starters, community events are starting to pick up everywhere. Sick of cancellations and with evidence that outdoor events are safe, major running events are on thing making a big comeback. Though there were some COVID-safety changes, the Boston Marathon ran in October and the New York marathon ran earlier this month. Both built up great excitement for the HiTops Princeton Half Marathon that ran on Sunday. Princeton Perspectives was there to meet the community and cheer on the runners, so we’re dedicating this month’s Pulse of Princeton to those excited to experience a great community event! Check out the compilation of photos in our video below.

Another big event that brought people out of their bubbles was the general elections earlier this month, the results of which led to major headlines about Democrats vs. Republicans and the ideologies of voters. Do Princeton Locals Lean Liberal or Conservative? It’s Not So Cut and Dry takes a closer look at Princeton-area voters and what they feel about some of the hot button issues facing our nation today. You may be a bit surprised what we found.

The delta variant threw our country for a loop in late summer and early fall, but are things getting better locally? Princeton Health Officer: The Current State of COVID Here provides the latest information on what our schools and community are facing. As 5 to 11-year olds began getting vaccinated last week, this information could see changes in the coming weeks.

This time of year is also when many businesses gear up for the holidays. National stories talk about labor shortages and supply delays, but what is it like in this area? In The Perfect Storm of Problems Creates Hurdles for Local Businesses and Consumers you’ll hear personal accounts from local business owners and workers, shedding light on what your friends and neighbors are experiencing.

I spoke earlier about the increased desire to have community events. Well, that interest is certainly apparent as it pertains to the arts. Princeton’s Appetite for Visual and Performing Arts is Strong explains the transformation area artists have gone through since the start of the pandemic, and what art enthusiasts want now. There certainly is a lot of art to be seen and heard!

And don’t forget to scroll down and check out this month’s Perspectives Revisited! Our story updates are timely and enlightening.

It was fun to be a part of the HiTops Princeton Half Marathon and introduce our magazine to many new readers. Honest, investigative and focused coverage of what matters to Princeton is what we post on Princeton Perspectives, and we hope you’ll help us spread word to the community as well. Anyone that doesn’t currently receive Princeton Perspectives in your inbox can click here to join our mailing list!

And stay tuned…next month we’re going to share stories that will help you have a meaningful countdown to the new year. Another year is almost gone, but it’s not over yet! Look forward to sharing with you on December 15th!

Pulse of Princeton: Did you come out to visit us at the HiTops Princeton Half Marathon? We had fun with the runners and spectators!

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Do Princeton Locals Lean Liberal or Conservative? It’s Not So Cut and Dry

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On Friday, Jack Ciattarelli conceded in a very close race, and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy eked out an official win over the Republican candidate. Similarly, the morning after election day, the Republicans in Princeton’s District 16 Senator and Assembly races had the lead, yet in the end, the winners were all Democrats. Though only 20% of Princeton’s registered voters went to the polls (plus 3,605 mail-ins), in all of these races Princeton overwhelmingly voted Democratic, helping Murphy, Zwicker, Frieman and Jaffer take office.

Most Princeton Districts, like 9 (in the former borough between 206 and Witherspoon) and 13 (in the Littlebrook neighborhood behind and next to the shopping center), voted strongly for Murphy, yet in Districts 1 (on the western side, off of the Great Road) and 4 (off Mercer Street and around the Institute area), Ciattarelli received 40- 50% of the votes. If you look at the voting statistics, 27% of Princeton votes went to Ciattarelli compared to the 18% of Princetonians that voted Republican Kim Guadagno for Governor in 2017. And that increase is from a Princeton voting base for this general election where only 9.5% of voters were registered Republicans. Does that mean a growing contingent of residents are now challenging the Democratic ideals?

Let’s break it down even further to better understand how party affiliation aligns with political ideologies in Princeton. The famous college town has a reputation as being liberal, but Princeton Perspectives recently surveyed a diverse group of local residents about today’s hot button issues, and the results from more than 100 respondents show the locals don’t always lean left. In fact, sometimes they lean more to the right.

LOCAL POLITICS

Starting with local politics, there has not been a Republican on the municipal ballot in the last two general elections. Yet when people were asked how they feel about Princeton’s Mayor and Council (all of whom are Democrats), the response was far from supportive. 33% of respondents claim the municipal representatives need Republicans amongst their ranks, so they can see things from multiple vantage points and 25% note the leaders pretend to listen to the community but end up doing what they want. Only 13% feel the local officials really listen to the community and utilize the feedback to affect their decisions. And a mere 5% think they are doing great.

When it comes to the local educational district, the feelings are a bit more mixed. 29% of those surveyed feel that Princeton Public School’s Board of Education (PPS BOE)/Superintendent should reassess their focus, that they are not meeting their family’s needs.

One stated, “the BOE and school administrations don’t reflect the student demographics at all” while another noted “there is so little viewpoint diversity now–everyone has to be a liberal of some stripe or you are a bigot.” There is also concern “the amount expended is outrageous and neighboring districts are rated just as highly without the high expenses per pupil.”

25% of respondents do support the issues PPS BOE and Superintendent are focused on but feel they should be prioritized differently.

“They are doing some things right, some things badly,” noted one.

Meanwhile, 23% that feel the priorities are right in line with their family’s needs.

COVID PROTOCOLS

When it comes to our schools, 43% of those surveyed favor school mask mandates as well as mandates in some other indoor areas, which tends to be a more liberal-leaning perspective. While 25% share that masks should be worn but never mandated.

“Mask-wearing should depend on the circumstances. In some circumstances it would be foolish to not wear a mask. In others it would be foolish to wear a mask. Educate people and let them decide,” one respondent anonymously states.

In a related issue, nearly half of those surveyed support vaccine mandates – a more democratic ideal – with 25% citing it should be up to the individual.

“I am pro vaccine, and whether they should be mandated depends upon the situation. I do not care to shame people who refuse to get vaccinated,” Kurt Tazelaar shared in his survey.

RACE AND SOCIOECONOMICS

Vaccinations aside, healthcare disparities became apparent when the pandemic struck. It was particularly noted that Black Americans were hit hard. Some feel strongly that is tied back to systemic racism while others feel there are other factors at play. And how does this translate beyond healthcare and with regards to other aspects of race in our society?

32% of those we surveyed feel racism is still systemic in the US and needs to be addressed and 23% feel racism has been improving over time but is still a major concern. Meanwhile, a comparable 28% feel racism has been exacerbated due to the current anti-racism agendas.

“All three: still systemic and needs to be addressed, but it has been improving over time, although it is exacerbated due to the current anti-racism agendas,” noted one person.

When it comes to deciding how to address racism towards Black and Brown communities more than one-quarter of those surveyed believe schools should teach empathy/upstanding but not focus on just race while 13% think the classes should focus on racial literacy. To affect those beyond high school, approximately 15% want diversity training in the workplace and to continue affirmative action – while a close 11% think affirmative action should stop, with a stronger focus on merit.

It appears only 5% of those surveyed feel that to address racism, our country needs to make reparations to Black descendants of slaves and a similar 5% want to eliminate all attributions to figures that owned slaves or were involved in Confederate causes.

The past year and a half of the pandemic has also highlighted that there are strong socioeconomic differences across America. When asked how to address the gap in this country, there were a variety of thoughts. More than 40% believe the gap can shrink if the US better monitors public/social services to help direct change and ensure they’re not abused, provide better job training for those on public support and increase the minimum wage. About one-quarter feel offering Medicare health coverage to all that want it and providing free college tuition/loan reimbursement will help those with tight or low incomes.

While some blame the top earners and think the US needs to “close the loopholes used by the top wealthiest” others think it also comes from those getting aid, stating “we need to make sure people stop abusing the system.” So, how does that happen?

“Universal healthcare, universal childcare and some combination of higher taxes on the wealthy to be dedicated to education and job training along with an increase in the minimum wage,” shares one anonymous respondent. Another notes we need to “improve education from Kindergarten on up for everyone. Charter schools can help. Improve family structure. Talk realistically and honestly about the gap. Live within our means, including Federal, state and local governments.”

And one survey respondent believes there will always be an economic divide.

“Realize that the freest, most prosperous societies always have gaps.”

As long as gaps remain, 56% of those we surveyed feel people with higher incomes should be taxed at a higher rate, which is a more liberal school of thought. 29%, though, feel they should be taxed at the same rate as others. Many offer that it’s not so much a change in tax rate, but the US needs a better way to get people to actually pay and contribute more stateside.

“I don’t believe we should disincentivize people from making more money. Since the middle-ages, governments have wrestled with how to get people to pay their taxes while people try to avoid paying them. We should have incentives to keep the money in the US economy and keep contributing to charity, etc,” someone shared anonymously.

IMMIGRATION

What about using American tax money to support those who enter the country without legal documentation? Do they deserve to stay here?  The local residents we surveyed are more conservative when it comes to immigration. Only 2% feel everyone who comes to the US border should be let in and allowed to stay, regardless of legal status. 45% believe we can’t just let everyone in but do need a system that allows some that cross over illegally to stay, while a close 40% state they are firm about tightening the borders and no one should be let in unless they come in through legal means.

So how should we handle immigration? There are some who think it goes beyond immigration policy, as one anonymous respondent explains.

“We need better foreign policy to stabilize the world and help those fleeing violence, starvation, poverty and threat of death to remain in their countries safely.”

If an adult or child without legal papers has crossed the border and is living in the US about 1/3 third of people want the US to support them and offer a pathway to citizenship. Additionally, for children, 36% say that they should be allowed to stay in the US if they have a US relative or sponsor to support them. However, 28% feel adults should immediately be sent back at their own or their government’s expense and 18% feel that children found here without legal status should also be sent back.

“The children are a hard one. We can’t just send them across the border with no one to accept them on the other side. But they still need to be sent back,” someone shared in our survey. Another added, children should be “returned to their home country after their safety is ensured.”

For adults, however, many stated there should also be some provisions. For example, one anonymous respondent added adults should “be thoroughly vetted by the government, assisted on a short time limited basis” while another share they should “be detained until their noncriminal status is confirmed (ignoring that entering illegally is criminal) and there is a compelling reason to allow them to stay, e.g., targeted persecution, not simply, ‘I don’t feel safe’.”

CLIMATE CHANGE

Another national issue that many feel strongly about is climate change. While President Biden was recently meeting with world leaders to discuss the government’s role, the majority of those surveyed here in Princeton told Princeton Perspectives they believe climate change is destroying our world and needs to be addressed immediately. Developing more alternative sources of energy, gradually cutting back on our reliance on fossil fuels to become more reliant on other means of power and offering tax credits to those that cut their carbon footprint were the predominant ways people think things can improve.

“Government should become more involved in incentives to move from fossil fuels to renewable energy. There is no one solution, and we will need fossil fuels for the foreseeable future,” explains Dennis Scheil, who answered the survey. “But we need to set aggressive targets and do what we can to meet them. This is a global issue requiring global commitments. We know there will be other nations that ignore the climate issue, and we should use whatever means necessary to sanction these nations.”

China and India were mentioned in several responses as countries that need to be part of the global solution to affect change, yet even with their cooperation, a handful of respondents don’t believe the solutions on the table are very constructive.

MIDDLE EASTERN POLITICS

Speaking of countries in the eastern hemisphere, Israel is one that is largely supported by those we surveyed. Since the recent conflict between Israel and the Palestinians this past May, the region has received renewed attention. Yet, when asked how they feel with regards to Israel, an overwhelming majority of people still feel the country is an ally that should have our support. 41% stand by Israel but have concern about the government and how it treats Palestinians while 36% stand by Israel always.

“It is our only Democratic ally in the region and should be treated like all of our Democratic allies in other regions, i.e., express our concerns, if any, and allow Israel to determine its policies,” an anonymous respondent expresses. “I believe that this question itself exposes the antisemitic underlying attitude in this, and other “liberal” towns. Will I be asked about France and their treatment of Moslems, Australia and the treatment of aborigines, need I go on?”

Only 5% of respondents have a more progressive viewpoint, feeling Israel is mistreating Palestinians and must be stopped at all costs. That coincides with 6% who support BDS (Boycott, Divest, Sanction) to pressure Israel to compromise and resolve things with the Palestinians and 8% who want the US to stop funding Israel’s defense/military systems. In the end, 41% feel the US needs to continue supporting Israel while pushing for a two-state solution.

While far-left liberals in Congress have pushed to pull support from Israel, it is clear from our results that the representative voices in our survey don’t agree. The responses to some of the hot button issues we asked about share more liberal perspectives, yet there are a lot of moderate and even conservative-leaning viewpoints as well.

As an ivy-league town, many Americans may consider Princeton liberal. And though the voters tend to lean heavily Democrat (58% of current voters are registered Democrats), we now know there is a lot of individuality here when it comes to ideology and the issues.

The Perfect Storm of Problems Creates Hurdles for Local Businesses and Consumers

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It’s no secret, businesses of all kinds are struggling with new realities. Office workers have gotten comfortable at home and don’t want to resume a commute back to the workplace. Small businesses can’t afford to pay hourly staff the rates they demand. Retailers are not only having troubling finding and keeping staff but are also encountering hurdles to get the inventory they need and want to sell. And restaurants are raising prices to cover the cost increases they incur purchasing food. Price increases, according to the US Department of Labor, are up 6.2% from one year ago.

Some of these problems existed before the pandemic, but most have been created by or exacerbated from it. These are issues you see all over the news as affecting businesses nationwide, and Princeton is not immune. Your local friends and neighbors are working to survive the current times.

LABOR SHORTAGES

When it comes to staffing, there seems to be a combination of fewer people applying, those applying not having the right qualifications for the job and a demand for higher pay.

You may recall Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), established in March 2020 to provide those on unemployment with an additional weekly stipend. Its goal was to help people recover more of their lost wages. Those boosts, which paid entry-level workers what amounted to $20-$25 per hour, has become a complication for hiring managers today. Though the boost ended in September, the lifestyle changes and desire to earn more didn’t end with it. Now, local businesses are finding it very difficult to attract talent and compensate them at a rate they are willing to accept.

“These are the people that were getting paid $15, 16, 18/hr. Maybe as a society we’d been taking them for granted, but it was so fundamental for our economy and in sustaining our ability to operate,” explains Esther Tanez, President and Owner of E.S.T.I.R. Inc insurance agency.

When you add in benefits such as insurance, unemployment and days off, Tanez told Princeton Perspectives it is really hard to increase the hourly rate for entry-level employees and still make a profit. Also, many of those that are applying for the jobs are coming in with little-to-no experience while asking for more money.

“I think the workers are going to end up getting paid closer to $20, because eventually if they don’t budge, I’m going to have to figure it out,” Tanez acknowledges. “I’ll have less of a profit margin, which means that I, as a business owner, will not be buying, remodeling, etc. as much…it’s going to be a new norm.”

Another new norm is, without the workers, businesses are forced to adjust to operating with a slimmer staff.

“We’re down about 20% in staff,” shares McCaffrey’s Food Markets Store Manager Anthony Sanfilippo. “We went periods of weeks without even seeing applications. Then you get some applications, but they can’t fulfill what you need.”

McCaffrey’s has managed to get by thanks to their heavier reliance on fulltime employees. Most of their competitors lean more on hourly associates, and therefore the lack of people seeking out those roles is causing many to struggle.

“The largest percentage of the workforce are Baby Boomers (58-63). The way the stock market went up and with the virus, they’re likely stopping,” adds Sanfilippo. “I think you add everything together, people are looking for better work life balance and you have the perfect storm.”

SUPPLY VS. DEMAND

McCaffery’s is also experiencing difficulties stocking everyone’s favorite groceries. As a smaller supermarket group, they have been able to reach out to a variety of suppliers to try and stock the shelves, but there are still several products that aren’t available at all. That hasn’t stopped customers from wanting them. And supply vs. demand is causing prices to go up, especially with commodity-based products.

“The stuff you can get is expensive,” explains Sanfilippo. “Meat is going through the roof. And we aren’t raising our retails as much as our costs are going up, you just can’t.”

So, again, the profit margin gets tighter, and the business adjusts to a new norm.

Delay and delivery issues are also haunting many retail stores, most commonly when the products come from overseas. US-made products are proving to have fewer to no issues.

Photo Courtesy Statements Boutique

“For the most part, everything I ordered for my new store is US-based, so I haven’t had any delays,” shares Brooke Ciali, who recently opened Statements Boutique on Nassau Street. Many of her products come from South Carolina, New Jersey, Texas, and California. “If something is coming from China, it’s not shipping from there. The fashion houses are shipping from CA or NY, even if it’s made in China.”

Local shops who are part of larger chains are also faring better, because their parent offices order larger quantities, farther in advance and products are often stored for them in warehouses. On the other hand, manufacturers in countries like Vietnam and Indonesia experienced considerable factory shutdowns due to the delta variant. Their output got pushed behind, then things were further complicated by shipping delays, and some goods simply aren’t arriving.

“Anything coming through import – any kind of fur, certain types of exotic leathers – there’s such shortages for them to be shipping out, so they’re sitting there,” notes Lisa Brock, owner of Palmer Square’s ZOË. “I had a Golden Goose box sitting there for 2 months. A Nanushka box is now sitting there for a month, and it’s paid for. The cashflow is being disrupted and it’s now a shorter selling period for us. This perfect storm of everything that keeps evolving.”

Photo Courtesy ZOË

When Brock noticed some of the issues brewing last winter/spring, she tried something new (and risky) and bought more than usual for her fall inventory – much more than she normally would. To her surprise and delight, the demand is there. Though the things she is able to stock are literally selling off the shelves.

“We used to be able to reorder things and companies had ATS (available-to-sell). They don’t have that anymore. In turn, that has helped my business because consumers are aware of it,” Brock explains. “A guy bought a Chloe bag for his wife recently but was contemplating the purchase. I said, you can wait, it could be here, but it could not, and I can’t get anymore. I think that’s why people have been more instinctive and jumping on them.”

For winter, Brock also ordered ahead, though there are still styles and items she won’t have because production was cut back at many places. It’s the shortages, in addition to delivery and production delays, that may affect a lot of seasonal holiday business.

One retailer, who asked not to be named, shared that all of her seasonal merchandise is lacking in quantities. For example, she normally purchases one item that arrives in lots of 500, yet when it arrived there was a package of 20, 10 of another and one had only 5. If you’re interested in purchasing holiday items, retailers say go get them now. One was told in October that her next shipment of Christmas/winter stuff won’t be arriving until February. To counter this, many stores are ordering non-seasonal things such as organic scarves, purses and jewelry – items that are more timeless.

Cars also have a timeless appeal, but it’s been hard to get your hands on one lately. Several people have shared they are on a waitlist for at least 6-10 weeks for a new car to arrive. This is happening with economy car companies on up to luxury vehicles.

Photo Courtesy Mercedes-Benz of Princeton

“Like most global automobile manufacturers, Mercedes-Benz USA is experiencing challenges with the availability of semiconductor components due to the worldwide shortage. This circumstance has temporarily decreased the supply of all new vehicle brands in inventory for immediate delivery,” shares Robert Greces, owner of Mercedes-Benz of Princeton. But it appears things are starting to improve. “Our Dealership will deliver almost twice the number of new Mercedes-Benz this month as in September. We believe Mercedes-Benz is taking effective measures to normalize availability in the coming months.”

LAYERS OF ISSUES

In businesses like home improvement, all of the above issues are at play as one layers onto another and so on, creating a multitude of problems. Labor shortages, supply delays, computer chip availability and more all come together in this industry.

In the early days of the pandemic, people were spending more time in their homes than ever before. “Pop-up” home offices had to emerge and spaces like kitchens and bathrooms were increasingly used. Enlightened to the flaws and improvements needed, homeowners started to have visions of change. But most people lived with those thoughts for several months, until they felt safe bringing designers, contractors and other home improvement professionals into their homes.

“It created this pent-up demand for all things related to home improvement. When we started to climb out of this, there was an unbelievable backlog of interest in kitchens, bathrooms, home offices, etc.” notes Lisa Tobias owner of Tobias Design.

Photo Courtesy Tobias Design, Photo Credit Tom Grimes

Unless you were first on the list, your project quickly came to cost 25% more and take twice as long. If you were able to hire a designer and a contractor, businesses which have been stretched thin and are often also struggling with the labor shortages, you were one of the lucky ones. Then comes ordering your supplies. Cabinet makers, for example, have encountered multiple hurdles.

“The lumber industry just wasn’t producing. They weren’t cutting at the rate they used to. It started to create lumber supply issues. The market reacted and lumber went up 400% at one point,” details Tobias. “Then there were labor shortages on even transporting what lumber there was from the west coast to the rest of the country. So, there’s transport issues, there’s basic supply issues because you didn’t have people in the field cutting, you didn’t have people in the factories producing, and that’s just as it relates to lumber.”

Steel production had halted, appliances currently are taking 6-12 months to arrive, and the cost to ship containers has quadrupled. Then you hope there are enough people at the port to unload and process the containers, another shortage adding to the delays.

As a design company that works with a project from start to end, Tobias Design is finding the delays and shortages are really impeding project management and expectations. Once again, profit margins shrink because a design firm or contractor has agreed to a client’s timeline and price at the start of a project, and in the midst of the process, costs change. That again is something the businesses have to absorb.

HOW TO HELP BUSINESSES GET THROUGH

It can be incredibly frustrating as a consumer to not find what you need on the market shelf or to put another 10,000 miles on your old car because you can’t get your hands on a new one. Business owners want you to know, they feel your pain. They feel it in their pocketbooks as well as in the wrath from customers.

While most clients are trying to be understanding, some want what they want when they want it. And others still have their limits. To the best of their abilities, businesses are trying to have staff available to help you when needed and are thinking outside of the box to have products available to sell.

Interestingly, with a desire to sell whatever products they do have to offer, many Princeton stores have reported that they aren’t getting the same number of shoppers they used to. To that end, property owners and community leaders have tried to help.

“Through almost two years of compromised social interaction, EDENS leveraged the municipality’s long-standing and deep connection with Princeton Shopping Center through a steady cadence of on-site events and experiences to keep this location active and help drive foot traffic to our retail partners,” explains a spokesperson for EDENS, which owns and operates Princeton Shopping Center. “We partner with embedded organizations like Arts Council of Princeton, McCarter Theatre Center and Princeton Public Library to bring meaningful art, music and cultural programming to the Center’s courtyard—free and accessible—for the community to enjoy.”

The Princeton Merchants Association (PMA) is also gearing up for the 2021 Princeton Holiday Market Days, which aim to entice shoppers into local businesses for the chance to win great prizes. From Wednesday December 1st through Sunday December 5th shoppers can get their passport cards stamped at participating retailers while shopping amongst the winter chalet shops and town-wide storefronts. Completed passports are entered into a lottery to win baskets of prizes made up of local goods (which last year valued up to $750).

“Princeton has become a destination to walk around and eat, not walk around, shop and eat,” notes Tanez, who in addition to running her business is on the Board of PMA and organizes this seasonal event. “The retail stores really are at the mercy that hopefully someone will come in and shop. The goal for this event is to get people to walk into the stores and see the merchandise.”

Hopefully, when you do walk in, you will find what you’re looking for and it is not still in a container on a cargo ship out at sea. If that is the case, or if the store you enter has limited staff, requiring you to wait a bit longer for assistance, try to find patience. And when paying, if you find the prices at your favorite shops and restaurants are higher than you’d expected, make a mental note that the owner likely paid a premium for those goods and may hardly be making a profit at all. In the end, remember the pandemic we’ve been enduring and the efforts everyone is making to get through.

Editor’s Note

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It’s that time of year, you start seeing lawn signs pop-up all-over town, highlighting a candidate for office. As you drive by, you wonder who that person is, or what that role even does. Then you think, when do I vote and how will I decide who to vote for?

It’s important to understand the nuances of the 2021 voting procedures, as there are some differences this year in New Jersey. And it’s equally important to know your options for each elected position. So, this month, Princeton Perspectives has put together everything you need to know to vote informed with our issue Voting 2021 – A Comprehensive Local Guide.

What do people around town think about the upcoming elections? We once again bring you the Pulse of Princeton, a compilation of video comments from locals. We asked them what campaign issue is most important as we head into this year’s general election.

Last year, the November election took place primarily via mail-in ballots. This year, that is not the case. Most voters will go to the polls, but where and when should you vote? Mercer County Voting Details 2021: What You Need to Know shares all of the latest voting rules and details this year’s ballot questions, so you are well prepared.

So, you show up to the polls on the right day and time, but have you decided who to vote for? Who’s Running? Get to Know Your General Election Candidates explains what official positions will be on this year’s ballot and shares information from each candidate to help you better understand who they are and why they are running. This should help inform your vote.

Though there are increasingly more parties entering into major office races, such as the Libertarian, Socialist Workers and Green parties, the Democrats and Republicans historically are the largest vote-getters. What are the biggest differences between those major party candidates running for governor and legislature? It depends who you ask. In It’s Time for Practical Leadership in the Statehouse – a Local Republican’s Perspective and What’s at Stake in the Statehouse – a Local Democrat’s Perspective we bring to you two contrasting views. Read them both and see where you align.

There are many matters that hang in the balance, depending on who is voted into office. And those are important to you. So, where is Princeton at…on COVID, inclusivity, politics and more. We’ll get into those details in our November issue.

We hope Voting 2021 – A Comprehensive Local Guide explains everything you need to know, and you are able to make a confident decision at the polls.

Pulse of Princeton: What campaign issue is most important to you as we head into this year’s general election?

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Mercer County Voting Details 2021: What You Need to Know

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If you thought that voting in the 2021 elections would be just like it had been in the years before COVID, think again. There are some major differences that you need to be aware of as you plan to vote in this year’s general election.

VOTING RULES FOR 2021

The biggest change for the 2021 General Election is that all New Jersey voters will have the option to vote early. For nine days at the end of October, you can vote your local ballot at any of eight county voting locations.

“Both the Governor and Legislature felt the implementation of early voting in New Jersey needed to begin because of the convenience factor it presents our voters with, coupled with the fact that it will allow all of the eligible voters in Mercer County to plan ahead and choose an option that is easiest and most convenient,” explains Paula Sollami Covello, Mercer County Clerk.

Early voting will be held Saturday, October 23 – Saturday, October 30th between 10am-8pm and Sunday, October 31st, between 10a-6pm. It does not matter where in the county you are registered, you can show up at any of the sites during the open voting times and cast your official vote.

The early polling locations are:
PRINCETON: Princeton Shopping Center, 301 N. Harrison Street
TRENTON: Cure Arena – Gate C, 81 Hamilton Avenue
HAMILTON: Courtyard Marriott, 530 Route 130
EAST WINDSOR: Mercer County Library, 138 Hickory Corner Road
EWING: Element Hotel, 1000 Sam Weinroth Road East
LAWRENCE: Mercer County Library, 2751 Brunswick Pike @ Darrah Lane
WEST WINDSOR: Mercer County Community College – Conference Center, 1200 Old Trenton Road
PENNINGTON: Pennington Fire Department, 120 Broemel Place

When you enter a polling location for early voting, you’ll find new electronic polling books to keep track of voters. They hope to help eliminate fraud by confirming whether you have already received a mail-in ballot or have tried to vote at another location. As you head towards the booths, you’ll notice something else new – the voting machines. To ensure a verifiable paper trail, Mercer County has purchased new machines that have optical scanning. To record your vote, you will first cast it on a paper ballot then have it scanned it into the tabulator. There will then be both a computer and paper record, so your vote is backed up.

“The paper will then be dropped into a bin which can be accessed if there is a question about the outcome of the election,” details Sollami Covello. “You will not walk away with a paper receipt, but you can rest assured there is a back-up for your vote.”

If you prefer traditional voting, at the polls on election day, that is still an option. November 2nd will remain voting day and you can cast your vote from 6am until 8pm at your regular polling site on that day. You’ll find that location on the sample ballot you receive in the mail or by using the polling place search tool here.

Unlike last year, mail-in ballots are not automatically being sent to your home. You will only receive one if you are on the state’s permanent vote-by-mail list or have requested one by returning the application you received from the county or downloading one online here. This must be done by October 26th. You can also apply in person for a vote-by-mail ballot as late as 3pm on November 1st. You can deliver it to the Board of Elections office, mail your ballot back (postmarked by 8pm on Nov. 2nd) or utilize one of 20 dropboxes around the county to securely place it, including two in Princeton at the Municipal Building and by the Dinky Station/Wawa at Princeton University. You cannot bring your mail-in ballot to a polling location. Once it leaves your hands, you can track that it was received using this link. It is important to note, if you are on the permanent vote-by-mail list, you are ineligible to vote on a machine at a voting location. If you missed the deadline to opt-out and want to vote in person, your only option will be to fill out a provisional ballot at a polling site.

BALLOT QUESTIONS

On your ballot, in addition to voting for elected officials, you will find two public questions this year.

Are you a fan of sports betting? Would you like to expand what college sports you can bet on? Right now in New Jersey you are not allowed to place a bet on a college athletic event taking place in the state or on an event that a New Jersey college team is participating in. Ballot Question #1 will ask voters if you want to create a constitutional amendment permitting the state legislature to pass laws that will allow wagering on all college sports and athletic events, even if they take place in NJ or a NJ team is taking part. The wagering will only be allowed at a casino or horse racetrack.

If you vote yes, you support laws to allow wagering on all college sport or athletic events.

If you vote no, you want to continue to prohibit sports betting on college competitions held in NJ or competitions that involve a NJ-based college team.

Currently, only 17 states allow betting on in-state college sports.

Ballot question #2 also relates to gambling, but this one refers to bingo and raffle proceeds. As it currently stands, there are many groups in New Jersey that are allowed to conduct games like bingo and raffles, but the proceeds are only allowed to go towards specific uses such as those that are educational, charitable, patriotic, religious or public-spirited. Today, only veterans and senior citizen groups can put the proceeds of those games back into supporting their group. The ballot question will create a constitutional amendment allowing approved organizations including veterans, charitable, educational, religious, fraternal, civic and senior citizen groups, volunteer fire companies and first-aid or rescue squads to also use the proceeds from games like bingo or raffles to support their groups.

If you vote yes, you will allow the organizations permitted to hold raffles and bingo games to keep and use their net proceeds.

If you vote no, you will continue to prohibit all groups, except senior citizen and veterans’ groups, from using the bingo and raffle net proceeds for themselves.

In Mercer County, there is an additional voter referendum on the ballot to determine how funds raised for the County Open Space, Recreation, Farmland and Historic Trust Fund should be allocated. Of the monies raised by the existing levy, the question suggests at least 50% should go towards preservation of parks, farmland and other open space, up to 30% towards recreational development and/or historic preservation and up to 20% for stewardship of the land. Currently, up to 20% of the funds are allocated towards recreational development and/or historic and only up to 10% can go towards stewardship of the land. There is no tax increase being proposed, merely a reallocation of the funds.

If you vote yes, you approve increasing the allocations for recreational development and/or historic and stewardship of the land.

If you vote no, you vote to keep the allocations as they are.

The Mercer County Planning Department and Park Commission requested the allocation increases, and the Board of Commissioners approved the ballot referendum to expand recreational offerings and allow for more acquisition, stewardship and preservation.

VOTING RESULTS

Though you can vote early, you can’t vote late. All votes must be cast by the official voting deadline of November 2nd, and most often, unofficial results are provided that night. But mail-in ballots have until November 8th to be received and the County Clerk actually has until November 15th to provide official election results to the Secretary of State. The Board of State Canvassers will then certify the general election results by December 2nd.

To ensure that you vote informed, make sure you also check out Who’s Running? Get to Know Your General Election Candidates which provides you with insight into each elected role on this year’s ballot and the major party candidates that are running. It may not be a year for national offices, but many important seats in state and local government are up for grabs. Those officials often make decisions that have the most impact on your day-to-day lives.

Who’s Running? Get to Know Your General Election Candidates

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State Candidates
County Candidates
Municipal Candidates
Board of Education Candidates

We’ve all seen the COVID pandemic highlight how much control governors have over the state. And it’s essential to understand that a lot of the changes made at the state level are pushed through by the legislature, the State Senators and Assembly people. Though New Jersey will not be voting on any national offices this November, knowing the importance and power of the state’s top roles should be enough to get you to the polls.

Additionally, there are key roles in county government, local seats and those on Princeton’s Board of Education that are up for grabs. Each of these positions impact your taxes and play a role in many decisions that affect your day-to-day life.

Princeton Perspectives wants to help inform you by detailing what each role does. We also aim to introduce you to the major party candidates vying for each seat. To do this, we asked the candidates to share their perspectives on the office they are pursing and why they are the best candidate for the job. We hope this helps you understand your options. The candidates are listed in the order they appear on the ballot.

STATE CANDIDATES

New Jersey is one of only six states in the country where the Governor is the only state-wide elected official. Once elected, the governor is responsible for appointing all cabinet-level positions (with Senate approval). This position has a two-term limit, so one could choose to re-elect Phil Murphy to serve his second term or to bring in Jack Ciattarelli for a first term.

New Jersey Governor Candidates: Jack Ciattarelli (R) and Phil Murphy (D)

Jack Ciattarelli, who is running with Diane Allen as Lieutenant Governor, says his parents’ work ethic and integrity is what made him who he is today. The grandson of immigrants, Ciattarelli went to college, got his masters and is a successful businessman. He previously served Princeton for eight years as Assemblyman for the 16th District then lost his bid against Kim Guadagno to be the Republican candidate for Governor against Murphy in the last gubernatorial election.

If elected, Ciattarelli hopes to lower property taxes, upgrade infrastructure, make healthcare more affordable and support law enforcement. He intends to create parent councils to work with school boards and a new cabinet-level position to help improve New Jersey’s urban areas.

Phil Murphy, who is running with Sheila Oliver as Lieutenant Governor, says his policy decisions are shaped by his upbringing, coming from a family that lived paycheck to paycheck and where he put himself through college with loans and part-time jobs. He went on to become a successful businessman and served as Ambassador to Germany under President Obama before being elected to his first term as Governor of New Jersey.

Murphy is proud to have raised the minimum wage, expanded family leave and invested in innovation during his current term. He is also confident that his commitment during the COVID pandemic to bring in PPE and testing equipment, provide relief to businesses and set up vaccination sites played a major role in keeping New Jerseyans safe.

Every four years, all 40 State Senate seats are up for election. This year, in addition to choosing a governor you will have the opportunity to vote for the one State Senator for the 16th Legislative District, of which Princeton is a part. Kip Bateman is retiring as the State Senator, leaving no incumbent in the race. The senate works alongside the General Assembly as the legislative branch of NJ government, passing bills on policy, spending and taxes.

New Jersey State Senate Candidates (District 16): Michael Pappas (R) and Andrew Zwicker (D)

Michael Pappas spent years in local government, on Franklin Township Council, as it’s Mayor and on the Somerset County Board of Freeholders before serving a term as U.S. Congressman for New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District. In the U.S. House of Representatives, he was Assistant Majority Whip and a member of the Small Business, National Security and Government Reform committees. Today, as he works as the Township Administrator for Bridgewater, NJ, he wants to represent NJ once again, this time in the State Senate.

“The people of New Jersey have been struggling for a number of years, and those struggles worsened this past year with the onslaught of the pandemic,” Pappas explains. “Seeing the untold devastation for families who have lost loved ones and individuals whose businesses have been decimated, I had to roll up my sleeves and try to help.”

Since his time in Congress, Pappas worked to help New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands as the U.S. Small Business Administration Regional Administrator, where his experience delivering financial assistance, business and minority enterprise development and management counseling taught him skills he plans to use in the Senate.

“I hope to continue the strong leadership Legislative District 16 has had in the State Senate with Senator Kip Bateman, and I will work hard to get New Jersey back on the right track,” adds Pappas.

Andrew Zwicker is a physicist and science educator, running to become State Senator after serving in the Assembly for the 16th Legislative District for the past four years.

“The chance to move to the Senate will provide me with an even greater opportunity to advocate for the people of the 16th as we come out of an unprecedented health and economic crisis and to put forth public policies that will help ensure that NJ is an even better place to work, play, and raise a family than ever before,” states Zwicker.

To continue Senator Bateman’s efforts in environmentalism, Zwicker believes his scientific background gives him a unique perspective. He also intends to continue pushing for increased voting rights, as he has since his first bill as an Assemblyman. If elected to the Senate, Zwicker also wants to continue his work supporting small businesses and the innovation economy. He feels he is the best candidate to do so.

“There are significant differences between myself and my opponent when it comes to women’s healthcare, gun violence prevention, climate change, and more,” Zwicker notes.

All 80 seats in the General Assembly of New Jersey are filled for two-year terms every two years, in odd-numbered years. Together with the Senate, they make up the legislative body of New Jersey state government. Voting as part of the 16th Legislative District, those in Princeton will choose two people to fill the two open Assembly seats.

New Jersey General Assembly Candidates (District 16): Joseph Lukac (R), Vincent Panico (R), Roy Freiman (D) and Sadaf Jaffer (D)

Joseph Lukac has been a part of the Manville, NJ community since birth. An Electrical/Instrumental Supervisor for IBEW Local #102, he served in the US Army as a Combat Engineer for over 10 years, and now serves his town as part of Manville Borough Council. In addition to being a member of several local organizations, Lukac has also served on the Manville School Board, and is currently Chairman of the Manville Republican Municipal Committee, all roles which he says have educated him on community needs and prepared him to become an Assemblyman.

“I have been a problem-solver all my life. As an elected official in Manville, I found millions of dollars in grants, eliminated $10,000,000 in debt, balanced the budget, and prioritized preserving our environment with our Sustainable Manville and Green Teams, “Lukac details. “I will bring my problem-solving skills to Trenton and deliver results for Central Jersey.”

Lukac intends to focus on improved funding for schools that he claims will soon be overcrowded due to mandated high-density housing. He also attributes the housing to some of the severe flooding that Manville and other local communities recently faced. Lukac says state legislators need to better look out for the communities they serve.

“Our middle class, small businesses, union workers, and main streets are what make New Jersey great – but Trenton has all but forgotten about us,” claims Lukac. “Instead of improving the business climate, our current Legislators have increased our borrowing and given us less and less in return – even failing to ensure our unemployment safety net works for those who need it the most.”

Vincent Panico hopes to follow in the path of Senator Kip Bateman and turn this seat Republican. An experienced businessman, Panico works in IT and is currently working towards his MBA. Prior to that, he spent his college years working at Hunterdon Central and Purnell School.

“As I worked in schools, I developed a passion for education reform and wanted to transform today’s classroom into a better environment for our students,” Panico shares.

He was first elected to the Readington Township Board of Education in 2012, after which he joined the Board at Hunterdon Central, where he believes he has been a proven advocate and demonstrated fiscal responsibility.

“My first four years on the Hunterdon Central Board were spent fighting for a better environment for our students and educators at the High School. After being a vocal advocate and helping to hire a Superintendent, I was elected to President of the Board of Education.”

Roy Freiman is running for his third term in the Assembly for the 16th Legislative District. He says his business experience at Prudential Financial, working in data analytics and strategic planning, taught him skills he utilizes to collaborate in the Assembly.

“My single greatest accomplishment since being in the Legislature has been getting my bill, the Secure Choice Savings Program Act into law,” Freiman shares. “This legislation set up a system for residents to access retirement plans being that many jobs don’t offer one. Since its enactment, this program has been able to help 1.7 million more New Jersey residents help save for retirement and their future.”

Freiman has also spent his time in the legislature fighting for women’s reproductive rights, the environment and small businesses – a top priority should he get re-elected.

“One of my main priorities will be helping our small businesses, the backbone of our economy, to not only fully recover from the COVID-19 pandemic but to come back better than before,” adds Freiman. “As a legislator, I take very seriously the role of advocating for issues big and small together.”

Sadaf Jaffer just completed two terms as mayor of Montgomery Township, NJ where she became the first South Asian female mayor in New Jersey and the first female Muslim mayor in the United States. A postdoctoral research associate at Princeton University, Jaffer hopes to bring a fresh perspective to the Assembly by continuing to build trust and engage communities, as she did in Montgomery.

“This approach was central to my signature initiatives including Montgomery’s crisis communications plan which I spearheaded, and which helped us maintain some of the lowest COVID-19 infection and fatality rates in the state; the workshop meetings I organized for Black community members and youth activists with our police leadership to prioritize racial justice; and the Youth Leadership Council I established to elevate the voices of young people who are energized to lead,” Jaffer shares.

She wants to prioritize equitable access to healthcare at the state level and feels her experience leading during a crisis is what this role needs.

“As a member of the Assembly, I will work with my colleagues to pursue an economic recovery that creates green jobs and protects our environment, promotes civil and human rights, and empowers an inclusive public health approach, particularly to women’s and maternal healthcare,” Jaffer adds.

COUNTY CANDIDATES

In addition to the state roles, Mercer County voters are voting on two county races this November, Surrogate and County Commissioner.

County Surrogate is the elected Judge of the Surrogate Court and serves many roles over Probate Court and as Deputy Clerk of the New Jersey Superior Court Chancery Division Probate Part and Family Part. When someone passes away, the Surrogate determines the passing of assets to heirs. Surrogate roles also include being the custodian of funds awarded to minors, handling probate, reviewing and certifying adoptions and appointing guardians for persons that are incapacitated.

County Surrogate Candidates: Doug Miles (R) and Diane Gerofsky (D)

Doug Miles is running for County Surrogate in an effort to end the one-party rule of County government, which he feels is costing taxpayers.

“There are no checks and balances on uninterrupted Democrat Party power and manipulation of County expenditures or legislative and policy initiatives for more than 20 years,” Miles shares. “I am concerned that the County Surrogate office and associated Surrogate Court functions may be overstaffed and under-automated via absence of modern applied technology and use of best practices such that we are wasting taxpayer dollars by as much as 20 to 30 % of a multi-million-dollar department budget that cannot be accurately counted by any inquiring taxpayer.”

Miles feels his professional experience can help him reduce the costs of County Surrogate operations and help transform them technologically.

“I have 20 years of experience in wholesale banking and investment which support a key component of wealth creation, preservation and transfer,” explains Miles. “My years as a fintech software entrepreneur are also highly relevant to applying data science and workflow automation in judicial as well as financial operating settings.”

Diane Gerofsky has served Mercer County as the County Surrogate for 25 years and is running for her sixth term. During her tenure, Gerofsky has opened satellite offices around the county in Princeton, Lawrenceville, Hopewell, Ewing, East Windsor, Robbinsville, Hamilton and Pennington. To better explain office procedures, she has written newsletters and an FAQ booklet in addition to authoring the Surrogate Bench Book, a teaching manual for other Surrogates. Colleagues have recognized Gerofsky’s strong ethics by awarding her leadership roles in numerous professional organizations.

“Under my leadership, the Surrogate’s office has gained the distinction of being a top-notch government office serving with the compassion and efficiency that our constituents expect and receive,” Gerofsky explains.

Throughout the pandemic, while the courts and Court House remained closed, Gerofsky moved the office into her home to continue to be able to serve constituents that need to verify original Wills and death certificates. If re-elected, she has plans to continue scanning historic paper files and expanding opportunities for people to utilize the Surrogate services.

“I am looking for future expansion in a new location to further enhance the staff, allow for a search room for the public, a conference room to meet families in private and a records storage area to bring all files back from outside storage,” she shares.

The other County Role on the ballot this fall is that of County Commissioner. The county level of government is run by the Mercer County Executive, working alongside the legislative body known as the Board of County Commissioners. Made up of seven members, the part-time legislators are elected for three-year terms, and this year there are three open seats.

Board of County Commissioner Candidates: Richard Balgowan (R), Michael Chianese (R), Andrew Kotula (R), Samuel Frisby (D), Kristin McLaughlin (D) and Terrance Stokes (D)

Richard Balgowan is a civil engineer and has been a Hamilton Township resident for over 50 years. Currently President and Founder of RM Balgowan Forensic & Engineering Services, Balgowan has worked as a civil engineer for the New Jersey Department of Transportation, as Hamilton’s Director of Public Works, as a bridge and highway construction manager and as a highway and municipal engineering expert. In his roles, particularly with NJDOT and Hamilton Township, he has steered many environmental practices.

“I wrote Hamilton Township’s Climate Action Plan, Green Fleet Policy and drafted a Green Building Ordinance that required commercial and municipal building construction to meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards,” explains Balgowan. “I believe there is much we can do to improve our environment such as increased recycling, reduced landfilling and capturing/using methane from our landfills and wastewater treatment plants as an energy source.”

A top priority, if elected, is to better educate residents about the county recycling program so it can work more efficiently and send less to landfills. Balgowan would also like to change the Commissioners’ meeting schedule so that meetings are held throughout the county, not just in Trenton, and at a time more residents can attend. He things this will help promote transparency in county government.

“There is currently no transparency. Things that the public should be aware of are swept under the rug and kept hidden,” claims Balgowan.

Michael Chianese retired in January after 25 years in State Government. An electrical engineering by training, Chianese has held higher management positions that had him oversee computer infrastructure and manage major projects. Locally, he has handled budgets while serving on the Board of Commissioners for Mercerville Firehouse and as past GOP municipal chair of Hamilton Township.

“I managed many multi-million-dollar projects. I could give you example after example of the very big work we did. I’m an honest taxpaying person that wants to restore credibility to the county government,” shares Chianese. “I’m anxious to get in there with a fine-toothed comb and look at it to make sure they’re doing the right things.”

Chianese wants to join the Board of County Commissioners to offer better oversight because he says the current Democratic leaders have been brushing incidents, such as car issues with Brian Hughes and missing funds, under the rug.

“We all pay a lot of taxes in the county and we deserve a whole bunch better than to be lied to. And we never got to the bottom to learn what corrective actions they took,” Chianese notes. “We need a balance. We need some Republicans on there and some Democrats, that’d be a perfect formula. But it can’t be a one-party rule anymore. They can’t be trusted.”

Andrew Kotula is a lifelong New Jersey resident, who moved from East Windsor to Hamilton after seeing his taxes increase 70% over 16 years.

“With our recent move to Hamilton, four years ago, we have already experienced a property tax increase of over 25%,” shares Kotula. “When we consider that our current Governor has said publicly, ‘If you’re a one-issue voter and tax rate is your issue, we are probably not your state. Not my State? I have been living in this state my entire life and I found this to be troubling. We have a great state, and it should not be a state for only those that can afford to pay the fee to stay.”

Kotula says it’s the Governor’s statement that pushed him to run for County Commissioner, where he is eager to add a different perspective to the currently all-Democratic board.

“It is time to we had a Commission that fairly represents our entire county, and I would like to become a Conservative voice to our county and provide a conservative approach to the issues that affect everyone in our county.”

If elected, Kotula, who creates training schedules and sets and works within a budget as a Technical Instructor for Xerox, would like to see county government be more accessible. He suggests a 14-day notice on major budget votes and also recommends open meeting times shift to locations around the county and start an hour later to better welcome interested, constituents who work.

Samuel Frisby is currently serving as Chairman of the Mercer County Commissioners and is seeking re-election.

“My brand of leadership is thoughtful, dynamic, innovative, action oriented and done with integrity,” offers Frisby. “I have had the fortune of working as a leader in the private sector, Higher Education, Municipal Government as a Cabinet Member, and currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the County’s oldest direct services non-profit, the Capital Area YMCA, which serves Ewing, Lawrence and Trenton.”

Frisby believes we need to continue dealing with the impacts of COVID-19, supporting residents, local governments and businesses in the recovery process. If re-elected, he also wants to continue working to improve county infrastructure.

“Our County Jail is one of the oldest in the State and sits in a community without water service. Our County Airport is inadequate for any type of practical use for the volume it produces and its high occupancy rates. We have been slowly taking care of our bridge infrastructure over the past few years, but we still have so many bridges to rebuild; including the Lincoln Avenue Bridge, which will be the most expensive bridge in our County’s history,” he adds.

Kristin McLaughlin has served as an elected member of the Hopewell Township Committee since 2016, where she served as Mayor in 2019 and 2020.

“When one is elected, one shoulders the questions, hopes, and needs of every member of a community. That is a responsibility that I do not take lightly,” explains McLaughlin. “In Hopewell Township, I have focused on finding ways to do more with less. Producing a responsible, forward thinking budget has always been a priority.”

McLaughlin wants to take her experiences building community in Hopewell and use them to build better opportunities in the county, ensuring mental health and addiction programs best serve those in need, reassessing county infrastructure and transportation needs and ensuring use of county school offerings.

“It is a win-win for the County to have an educated, innovative population which can attract existing businesses and build new ones from the ground up,” McLaughlin offers. “I would like to see us invest in new bike and walking trails which link our communities together and provide ways for people to get to work that do not rely on cars. The role of government is to build and strengthen existing assets, and to create pathways to opportunity where they are needed.”

Terrance Stokes is seeking his first term as an elected official. A Trenton Central High School and University of Pennsylvania graduate, Stokes spent years working in investment banking before returning to his high school alma matter as a history teacher, academic advisor and outreach specialist. He may be new to public office but says his experience has laid a strong groundwork for this role.

“In my current capacity, I assist students, families, and schools with finding solutions to obstacles hindering them from experiencing success academically and socially. We work together to come up with outcomes that are mutually agreed upon by all parties,” shares Stokes.

As Founder and President of the Trenton Youth Development Initiative, which aims to develop and empower young children and their families, Stokes has been a leader in his community. If elected as County Commissioner, he plans expand on those experiences in office.

“My focus would be on ensuring that resources are available for families and young people in need.  Additionally, I will focus on creating environments for sustainable economic growth and development as well as the efficient coordination of County services and resources.”

MUNICIPAL CANDIDATES

Princeton currently has two seats up for grabs on Council, each for a three-year term. Two Democrats are running unopposed, as no Republicans or other party candidates entered into the primary for either of the seats. Your vote demonstrates support, but there is no minimum vote required for them to win.

Princeton Council Candidates: Eve Neidergang (D) and Leighton Newlin (D)  

Eve Neidergang is running for her second term on Princeton Council. Living in Princeton since 1985, Neidergang has worked for ETS and held multiple volunteer roles, including PTO President at Riverside, Friends of Princeton Public Library and with the Princeton Community Democratic Organization. Today, she works as the Watershed Institute’s Volunteer Coordinator while serving Princeton on Council.

“I’m proud of what Council has accomplished during the last two plus years, especially most recently in the face of the challenges of COVID. We responded quickly and efficiently to allow our businesses to stay open, assisted residents in need, boosted the capacity of our health department and kept taxes flat in 2020,” Neidergang shares.

She hopes to continue helping with pandemic recovery and to put a focus on environmental issues such as reconceptualizing the waste stream, adopting sustainable landscaping practices, installing electric vehicle charging stations and more.

“As a progressive Democrat, I am committed to the broad values of inclusion and social justice, climate sustainability and smart growth, and providing opportunities for our businesses and for all who work in our unique and diverse community,” offers Neidergang.

Leighton Newlin is running to take over the seat being vacated by Dwaine Williamson, who is not seeking re-election. Newlin feels his professional experience coupled with his years of volunteering in the community make him the right candidate for the role.

“As a first-time council person, and longtime resident, I am able to identify the issues, however I do not have all the answers to solve Princeton’s problems,” shares Newlin. “I do however trust myself to view and examine the processes, programming, policies, and procedures; asking the right questions and looking at all situations through a wide-angle lens, with a narrow focus on diversity, inclusivity, equity, and social justice.”

Last year Newlin retired after 30 years as the Director of Special Services at a Residential Community Release Program in Newark. Prior to that he worked in retail, first opening and owning his own shops in Boston, MA and then around the country with Reebok. But it’s his work in and around the Princeton community, as chair of the Princeton Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, co-chair of the Witherspoon Jackson Neighborhood Association and on the Princeton Democratic Municipal Committee that he feels have educated him about Princeton – where he notes the high cost of living needs to be addressed.

“It is important to me that Princeton remains a town where all families can establish and put down roots.  Princeton has historically been a community for all people and my platform is Smart Growth…Wise Choices because I want to make sure that Princeton remains a town where all can put down roots and call Princeton home,” Newlin states.

BOARD OF EDUCATION CANDIDATES

Ten elected candidates sit on the Princeton Board of Education, nine from Princeton and one from Cranbury. Three of those seats are opening in 2022 for a three-year term, and there are four candidates campaigning for your vote.

Princeton Board of Education Candidates: Mara Franceschi, Jeffrey Liao, Brian McDonald and Betsy Baglio

Mara Franceschi has lived in Princeton for 11 years, during which she has dedicated many years as a volunteer in the schools on the PTO Council as well as on the Johnson Park PTO, as Treasurer and then President. With an MBA from Columbia University and as a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), she has served on Princeton’s Citizens Finance Advisory Committee and as Assistant Treasurer for Friends of the Library.

“I am an extremely proud product of a public school education, both primary and secondary school and college, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,” Franceschi shares. “I also have over a decade’s work experience in the financial services and asset management industries, working for firms such as GE Capital and Bank of America. I believe the combination of my extensive experience volunteering in the schools and my background in finance will benefit the Board in its decision making/planning.”

Franceschi is excited for the opportunity to work with the new superintendent, but also feels there remain challenges ahead due to the district’s aging facilities and its increasing student enrollment.

“Maintaining our facilities is both an investment in valuable hard assets and the minimum required to provide a clean and healthy learning environment for our children. Successfully balancing critical, necessary investments in our schools, while keeping tax increases to a minimum, is essential,” she offers.

Jeffrey Liao believes that the legal, fair and rational decision-making skills he has obtained as an Intellectual Property Attorney will provide a great advantage to the Board. He is relatively new to Princeton but is very open to listening to the community and student needs and feels his fresh perspective will benefit the important decisions that need to be made.

“In addition, by adding a representative to the Board who is an Asian American, I will be able to help the Board better take into account the perspectives of the substantial Asian American community in our schools and town and improve communication between the Board and the community it serves (in both directions),” Liao explains.

If elected to the Board, Liao intends to do what is necessary to keep schools open for in-person learning by minimizing the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks in the schools using the latest science-based precautions.

“Only by continuing such precautions as long as is necessary can we ensure that traditional, in-person learning can continue with minimal future disruptions to our children’s educational, social, and mental health needs, as well as the childcare needs of working parents, without endangering the health of our students and district staff,” Liao adds.

Brian McDonald is running for re-election to the Princeton Public Schools Board of Education after serving his first term, where he says he has put his background in finance, facilities and planning to use as chair of the Board’s Finance Committee and co-chair of its Operations committee.

“The District has dramatically improved its financial position and is one of sixteen public school districts in New Jersey with a “Triple-A” rating,” states McDonald. “Administration and Board efforts have increased financial transparency and moved us from a budget deficit to a surplus. Significantly, we have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenses, and we have had declining tax increases over the past two years, with a current budget that includes a 0.56% increase in school taxes – the lowest in many years.”

As a current Board member, McDonald played a role in the hiring of new Superintendent Dr. Carol Kelley, which he says was a critical step forward for the district.

“Equity remains the Board’s top priority, as well as my own, and I will work hard to support our new Superintendent, Dr. Carol Kelley, as she seeks to build on what is great about our schools while addressing our shortcomings to ensure that every child receives an excellent education and is given the opportunity to fulfill their potential,” McDonald notes.

Betsy Baglio is running for re-election, having served as a member of the Board since 2016.

“I am running for a third term as a member of the Board of Education because I want to ensure that our students are academically, socially and emotionally supported as they return to full-day, in-person school. I also believe that the pandemic has shed light on many ways we can improve our schools, and, as an educator, I am enthusiastic about continuing to engage in the work of the Board of Education for the benefit of all students in our schools. 

Baglio says she is currently the only educator on the Board and feels her unique perspective have been a great benefit to the wide-ranging committees she’s served on including Finance, Negotiations, Policy, Student Achievement, Equity and Personnel committees. One of her major tasks was finding Princeton Public School new leaders.

“During 2020 and 2021, I led the Board of Education’s interim superintendent search, the search for a superintendent search firm, and the permanent superintendent search that culminated in February of 2021 with the unanimous hiring of Dr. Carol Kelley,” Baglio explains. “The Board of Education’s permanent superintendent search process was long and arduous on Zoom, but was also collaborative, engaging and ultimately successful because of the perspective and commitment that each Board of Education member brought to this work.”

To utilize the knowledge you now have about the candidates running for office, it’s important to know how and where to cast your ballot. Click the link to read our other article, Mercer County Voting Details 2021: What You Need to Know, to learn everything you need to know about this year’s new voting rules, ballot questions and more.