It is easier, at this time of year, to think of and do for others. Up to 35% of annual donations are said to be made in December. Yet, even now, and especially throughout the rest of the year, we can get caught up in our own lives. Not necessarily thinking about what others are experiencing, or the ways in which our choices can impact them.

In the December issue of Princeton Perspectives, Keeping the Community in Mind, we highlight some things that are happening around us that we can weigh in on, support or work against.

What is something you do that keeps the community in mind? That is what we posed to locals in this month’s Pulse of Princeton. It can be rewarding and inspirational to learn of other’s contributions, so watch the video now.

Speaking of contributions, Princeton homeowners paid 47% of their property tax bills towards Princeton Public Schools this year. Yet, that may not provide enough funding for some of the district’s needs. The article Princeton Public Schools’ January Referendum and its Impacts on Our Communities breaks down the details of the January 2025 referendum. It takes a look at what the stated needs are, the costs and informs what some are considering as they look towards voting in January.

Though Princeton Environmental Commission and organizations like Sustainable Princeton have aimed to make sustainable and climate needs public knowledge, there is always more to learn. The article How One Person’s Actions (or Inactions) Can Affect Others shares a few of the ways that climate change is showing it is here, and what you may be able to do on your own or as a group to turn the tides.

To make change, one first needs to know that it is needed. One goal of Princeton Perspectives has always been to delve deeper into what’s happening in our community. The article Choose to Spread Feelings of Joy, Not Hate aims to open people’s eyes about what others are experiencing. Things one may not know about, or recognize to be threatening or hateful.

There are also others in our community that need assistance. The article Supporting Our Latino Neighbors and Their Path to American Citizenship and Assimilation shares the experiences of many in the area that are working hard to have a better and more productive life here.

To make things better, we sometimes have to reach out. This month’s Perspectives Revisited shows how locals are doing just that, not just in our local area, but as far away as North Carolina, too.

As we all keep the community in mind, we wish those who celebrate a Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah and Happy Kwanzaa. Since our next issue will not be out before the new year, we wish you all a safe and Happy New Year as well! We thank you for another year of reading Princeton Perspectives, and sharing it with family, friends and neighbors. If there is something we’re not covering that you’d like to see in 2025, please reach out here and let us know!

On January 28, 2025, Princeton voters will be invited to the polls (or can have the opportunity to return Mail-in ballots) to cast their vote for the latest Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Facilities Bond Referendum. This direct vote by the electorate could authorize the district to raise up to $89.1M for expansions and renovations at PPS facilities. The vote could have a major impact on both Princeton Public Schools and the greater community. What are the impacts? We’ll break it all down for you here.

WHAT DOES EACH QUESTION OFFER?

The full $89.1M is a large sum, and PPS knows that. So, it has broken its desired goals down into three questions, giving voters a greater role in deciding in how much and which projects the district will pursue.

To understand the impact of the referendum approvals on the district, it is important to gain insight as to what each question will provide for.

It is essential to understand that Question 2 can only pass if Question 1 passes, and Question 3 can only pass if voters approve Questions 1 & 2.

Question 1 ($37.9M) will allow for expansion at Community Park Elementary School with creation of additional classrooms, a multipurpose room and enhancements to the cafeteria, library and music room. It would also replace and rehab Princeton High School HVAC systems.

Question 2 ($38.3M) provides for expansion of the vocal music and bands rooms at Princeton Middle School (PMS) as well as the addition of a multipurpose room and new science classrooms. The PMS cafeteria would also be renovated and expanded, and district technology offices would relocate to that school. At Princeton High School, the Numina Art Gallery would be updated as well.

Questions 3 ($12.9M) would cover costs for Littlebrook Elementary School expansion to include new classrooms and a vocal music room, as well as renovations to the student support services and small-group instruction areas.

(for the full scope, details are on the PPS Referendum website.)

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND IMPACTS

If the full referendum request is approved by voters, approximately $19.9M will be covered by the state of NJ in Debt Service Aid. That leaves $69.2M to be purchased by the district as bonds, ultimately paid off over time through municipal taxing (projects in Question 1 will be funded over 25 years, while those in Questions 2 & 3 will be funded over 27 years). The tax impact, based on the average Princeton assessed home value of $853,136, would be an additional $532/year if all three questions pass. It would be $447/year if just Questions 1 & 2 pass, and $222/year if just Question 1 is approved.

Princeton Public Schools, like all schools in NJ, can only fund infrastructure projects through referendum or via money allocated to Capital Reserves. Most recently, Princeton voters have approved PPS referendums in 2023 ($13M), 2022 ($17.5M) and 2018 ($26.9M). The averaged assessed homeowner today is currently paying $375/year towards debt service from previous referendums.

In a few larger school districts around New Jersey, such as West Windsor-Plainsboro, they have been able to put aside money in Capital Reserves to accumulate larger sums (the district had in excess of $20M last year, and as much as $28M in recent years). Such large fund balances can be used to cover the costs for major projects, without the need for a public bond referendum. This would mean money not spent from the operating budget gets moved into and builds through the years in Capital Reserves, which some suggest is rarely feasible. Others wonder why PPS doesn’t try harder to do this.

“With the huge amount of money we send to the schools via our taxes, why pass yet another referendum?” local Warren Land questions. “And this one will increase my taxes another $600 or $700 dollars a year!”

“I would like the board and superintendent to set out how they have tried to control costs to reduce the impact of the property tax increase based on issuing new bonds. How have they addressed health insurance costs? How have they addressed the number of administrators?” another resident, William Hare suggests, “While asking for a tax increase on the one hand to pay for capital improvements, it would be helpful to see that they have tried to reduce the annual tax increase by creative thinking to reduce or at least control other costs.”

PPS says most of its budget goes towards teachers and support staff. Funding decisions can also have limited flexibility due to inflation, requiring the need for buffer monies. Operating budgets also need enough funding to cover mandates, such as through agreements it makes with the unions when it comes to health insurance and other needs. While the reality is that non-general operating expenses are not required to be funded through referendum – there are other reasons why it is sometimes more feasible or sensible for a district to do so. When it comes to school district budgeting in smaller districts like Princeton, cutting other spending and accumulating in Capital Reserves for future projects is further limited due to the state’s 2% tax cap increase. PPS tells Princeton Perspectives it often uses Capital Reserve savings for HVAC projects and other needs, likely not exceeding $1-2M in costs. Allocating money into Capital Reserves can be complicated and some argue that structure would lead to overtaxing for a period of time; but it can sometimes be done through prudent fiscal management.

“The failure in leadership of the Board to have selected an appropriate superintendent and the firing of the high school principal makes me hesitate to vote for this large expansion,” a Princeton taxpayer shared anonymously, as she ponders the decision. “I have been a long supporter of the Princeton Public Schools, but the lack of good decision making on the part of the school and Planning Board makes me lack confidence in their ability to manage such a large project. However, the students will pay the price.”

Another financial concern that has been raised by members of the community is why the referendum vote is taking place as a special election, at additional cost to the district, rather than paired with the General Election held back in November. Turnout is also a concern. The 2024 General election had votes cast by 55.6% of registered voters compared to recent special referendum elections such as in 2018 (18.67% turnout) and 2022 (17.66% turnout). As we shared in the Perspectives Revisited section in September, PPS BOE President Dafna Kendal said there was no intentional delay, but once submissions were made to the state and responded to, turnaround time was not sufficient for a November vote. Despite the skepticism, there are those in the community not bothered by the timing and feel the referendum is a prudent way to benefit PPS, where the state kicks in aid to reduce the overall impact of the cost.

“I’ve been following the referendum planning pretty closely, and I’ve been really impressed by how carefully the district has planned this referendum to provide essential additional space in a way that maximizes state aid,” says Princeton resident Jane Manners. “I’ve got three kids, one in Littlebrook, one at Princeton Middle School, and one at Princeton High School, and I can tell you the schools are already bursting at the seams— and we’re expecting big enrollment increases in the years ahead. This referendum is an extremely well-planned solution to the challenges posed by our town’s growing population, and it will preserve both our schools’ excellent quality and high home values for all Princeton homeowners.”

Tara Oakman also has children in Princeton Public Schools. She adds, “In Princeton, we pride ourselves on our public schools and the quality of education they provide.  But excellence requires sustained investment. I am highly supportive of this bond referendum because it provides some of the critical and baseline support that our school facilities need to keep up with modern educational standards and population growth in town. But even setting aside those changes, these investments are overdue — they were necessary years ago and are absolutely critical now.”

OTHER IMPACTS AND LOGISTICAL CONSIDERATIONS

PPS says there will be substantial redistricting and increases to class sizes if the referendums do not pass. It says one reason the referendum is needed is due to 1,000 additional units of housing garnered through the multi-unit developments recently built, such as at Avalon Princeton Circle, The Alice Princeton and Avalon Princeton on Harrison.

“The town should pay for some of this as they created the issue with so many apartments coming online with no money going to the schools,” a frustrated Princeton homeowner shared with Princeton Perspectives. “It would be great if we could vote on individual items and priority. Also, on a spending limit. So, we would need to know how much each aspect of this plan is expected to cost and we could hold people accountable.”

Some cite that several of the referendum items have been on the docket in different ways for years, before those apartment complexes were a reality. Others questions how the slow turnover in Princeton’s housing market might be countering the narrative of the new student impact. Former BOE member Daniel Dart does not believe the PPS population will feel the brunt that’s being feared.

“Princeton Public Schools is shrinking due to aging populations and declining birthrates. PPS reported that a recent peak in enrollment occurred in 2019 with 3,855 students and has shrunk to 3,669 students, a net reduction of 186 students,” Dart states.

Should there still be needs for expansion, others feel the funding should come by way of the PILOT agreements (payment in lieu of taxes) made between the municipal government and those large development contractors.

Why aren’t monies from the PILOTs immediately offsetting the increased enrollment and limiting the need for referendum? Of the three major developments recently built, much of the money from the PILOT agreements has been redirected, as part of the agreement to build. For example, at Avalon Princeton Circle, PILOT monies funded Thanet Development – Princeton Senior Living affordable senior housing. At The Alice, remediation, sustainability elements and the addition of public pedestrian/bike paths are some uses of those funds.

Where a valuable amount of money may become available is from the PILOT made with Avalon Princeton on Harrison, but that would not be available until the units are filled (likely bringing in up to $1M in 2026). Once that money starts coming in, the municipality will have leverage to decide how to use those funds. Some possibilities include adding it to the general tax base to bring everyone’s taxes down or it could be given directly to the schools for facilities expenditures as done in other NJ districts. Should the municipality soon become owners of the Westminster property, and the school district decide it wants to use part of it for expanded school structures, perhaps PILOT funds could be used to defray those costs.

“As an empty nester I think nothing should be done until we know what the future holds for the Westminster college property. If the municipality is contemplating this purchase, the entire district-wide plans need to consider what this offers in facilities,” says longtime taxpayer, Ken Verbeyst.

While home values in Princeton remain higher than some neighboring communities, in part, because of its strong schools, other longtime members of the community suggest the impact of another referendum that creates a deeper tax burden is making their homes unaffordable.

“While it is understandable that facilities, classrooms, etc. need maintenance and expansion, the current system of raising taxes to pay for what is needed is unsustainable for longtime residents. Increasing real estate taxes every year or so is easily absorbed by persons in the work force with increasing income, but many residents are absorbing the real estate tax increases by cutting back in other expenses, sacrificing their standard of living,” another Princeton resident anonymously explains. “There is so much emphasis on affordable housing by the socially conscious town council, but very little consideration for the affordability of staying in Princeton as a long-time homeowner.”

THE NEED FOR CHANGE AT PPS

Though many are feeling the pressure of additional taxation, PPS says some changes are needed. The additions of students from the current apartment units and those expected to be built in the near future are expected to be added primarily in the Community Park area as well as in Littlebrook. That is why additions are specifically recommended at those schools, as well as at Princeton Middle School and Princeton High School. The construction timeline for the referendum items would likely run into 2028, when an expected fuller impact of additional students will be here.

“We are really excited about the referendum. We believe that it is a very cost-effective way to add classroom spaces to our buildings to ensure that we are able continue the high level of teaching and learning that is the hallmark of the Princeton Public Schools,” notes Princeton BOE President Kendal. “If all 3 questions are approved, we will receive more than $19 million in state aid. However, we also understand that the tax impact of all three questions might be too big a lift for the community, so we’ve prioritized the questions in order of our most critical needs. We will have many opportunities for engagement over the next two months and we’re excited to share our plans to address student enrollment growth in our schools with the community.”

If you have further questions you want answered, or simply want to learn more about the schools and student-body impacts, there will be a Public Community forum Saturday, January 11^th, 9-11am at Princeton Middle School. You can also signup here to tour the school buildings that would be most impacted by the referendum.

HOW CAN YOU VOTE?

Whatever your view of the referendum questions, you should be prepared to weigh in at the polls.

To vote on the referendum, you must be a registered Princeton voter by January 7^th.

If you have previously registered to vote by mail for the general election, the vote by mail ballot will be automatically sent to you. If you have not, and prefer or need to vote by mail, you can access an application here.

Mail-in ballots can be returned a few ways:

• if mailing it in, it needs to be postmarked by the 28^th; or
• it needs to be deposited in a drop box by 8 pm on the 28^th; or
• hand delivered to the county clerk’s office by 8 pm on the 28^th

Should you choose in-person voting, there will be four locations to vote at on January 28^th (locations soon to be announced), and residents can cast their votes at any of the locations, regardless of your voting district.

As the end of the year approaches, we are surrounded by positive vibes. First of Thanksgiving and then the winter holidays. We tend to be inundated with music, lights and uplifting spirits of the season. The idea is to spread joy and to ensure that those around you, despite what they’re going through, are also feeling that joy. Many assume all others are feeling joyous, too.

In Princeton, where there should be joy, some in our community have been feeling threats and hate instead. Have you seen the messages? Have you heard about them? To further spread joy, one must first be informed of the troubling realities that some in our community have encountered and are facing, for being who they are.

POLITICAL PAIN

Back in early November, as the General Election was approaching, people wanted their candidates to win. Some went to all ends to make that happen. But, at what costs?

When a candidate throws their hat into the ring, they know that will mean unearthing of anything and everything they may have said or done. Though sometimes difficult, they open themselves up to that scrutiny. What is harder to swallow is when the accusations are not election-focused, or appear targeted and hate filled. Were you aware this happened in Princeton?

“I have never felt discriminated against since arriving here in 2000, so those attacks really did not bother me,” shares 2024 Princeton Public Schools Board of Education (BOE) candidate, Shenwei Zhao. “However, my experience during this Board of Education election in Princeton felt more like an ideological attack. Unfortunately, it seems that some people believe labeling others as racists simply for holding different opinions is an effective way to silence opposition and win the debate.”

Zhao is referring to a comment he made public, allegedly made from one Princeton resident to another via text about him and another BOE candidate, Z. Lisa Potter, that urged a need to prevent the two candidates from joining the BOE due to a “history of racist provocations.”  Zhao publicly questioned what they had done that could be deemed racist.

For weeks, Zhao’s question was a launching pad for members of Princeton High School and Princeton Public School Facebook groups, speakers at Board of Education meetings and others to go on a public rampage, where instead of getting answers, both Zhao and Potter felt bullied and attacked. They felt a barrage of often twisted truths, made to seem relevant, or situations misinterpreted to send a political message. Often lacking a desire to understand the candidates and what they may have actually said or done, the attacks felt hate-filled against the only two Asian candidates.

“I haven’t experienced this level of discrimination since I first moved to the U.S. in the mid-1980s. During my time in West Windsor, I didn’t encounter anything like this, so facing such hostility here in Princeton was shocking. However, I don’t believe that this reflects the views of the majority of residents,” former BOE candidate Z. Lisa Potter explains. “Some groups resort to targeting others and framing them as ‘the enemy.’ Identity politics becomes the easiest, albeit lazy, way to do this—especially when there are no concrete facts or behaviors to substantiate their positions. This approach undermines genuine progress and fosters division, which is the opposite of what our community should stand for.”

The judgements often used stereotypes to cast a negative light. Zhao was, on several occasions, misidentified for other Asian men in Princeton and attacked for comments or actions they had made. He also had rumors spread about his response to questions, framing him negatively as an extreme Conservative. Potter was wrongly accused of aligning with others in the Asian community on things some had issue with. She was also called out as being unfit for the BOE role after her campaign lawn signs were found on properties that also hosted signs for Republican political candidates.

In an email to prospective voters during the campaign, Potter responded to the attacks.

“Moreover, the false narrative that Shenwei Zhao and I—the two minority candidates, both Asian—are ‘anti-DEI’ not only perpetuates harmful stereotypes, but also undermines the important conversations we need to have about inclusion and equity. If these remarks were made by Princeton Public Schools students about their peers, they undoubtedly would violate the district’s Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) policy. As adults, we have a responsibility to model respectful and inclusive behavior, especially for the younger generation watching us.”

Asians make up more than a quarter of the Princeton population but have not won an election here. Many are here as first-generation Americans, where they desire a more open debate on ideas. Since Princeton Perspectives began covering elections in 2020, we have seen Lisa Wu and Jeffrey Laio also run unsuccessfully.

“Neighboring towns (West Windsor, Montgomery, Bridgewater, to name just a few), all have already elected Asians, including first-generation immigrants, to their governing bodies. Yet Princeton seems to struggle with accepting that people from different backgrounds might not align with its so-called ‘progressive’ ideals,” Zhao says.

In America, voters get to decide what candidates they want to put into office (Potter lost by 277 votes, Zhao by 1,627). It has left some pondering the costs.

FROM POLITICS TO RELIGIOUS HATE

Just one week after the election, others became the target of local hate. Though Donald Trump lost in Princeton 5:1, he won the national election to become the next President of the United States. Some locals took that reality so hard they found a population to blame: the Jews.

While going for his morning run on November 12^th, Princeton resident Oleg Bleyman came upon a sticker attached to a light pole on Harrison Street. The sticker contained an image of Donald Trump, wearing a top hat with a Jewish star on it and the words “I want YOU to die for Israel” followed by “because I’m owned by Jews.” A small sign, it was a subtle way to spread not just a political attack, but Jew-hatred.

“I grew up in a country where antisemitism was part of life,” explains Bleyman, who was raised and lived his early adult life in Russia. “I can’t say I saw this coming, but I saw antisemitism growing with what’s been going in the cultural world. I’ve seen antisemitism shifting from right wing to left wing. I’m not surprised to see it in Princeton.”

Bleyman went on to explain that he left Russia because he thought America was great and would give him a chance (and he still does). He doesn’t fear yet that it is reaching the levels of antisemitism seen in Europe in the 1930s but does see antisemitism becoming part of a dangerous pervasive ideology.

OTHER CONCERNS OF HATE

Donald Trump’s election as President also immediately led to another group of people feeling threatened. Fear and anxiety began to spread amongst the Queer community almost overnight, including right here in Princeton.

“What we’ve noticed most is an overwhelming feeling of despair, a lack of hope, and a true fear for physical and emotional safety, the ability for people to continue existing as they are, being respected for who they are, being able to love who they want,” notes Dr. Sara Wasserman, Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice (BRCSJ) Queer Educator & Local Community Organizer.

Concerns of access to gender affirming healthcare, marriage equality and community support have become overwhelming for many. The day after the election, an influx of people went to BRCSJ, seeking a safe place to feel their fears, make sense of what happened and feel support in a safe community. One young man arrived that day feeling desperate.

“He spent the day with our Safe-Space Hosts where he found a queer mentor of sorts with whom he continues to draw strength from and be in contact with to this day. Having a Safe-Space to not only talk with others but truly be heard, was in fact lifesaving for him and so many other folks. We have all now truly become essential workers, and here at BRCSJ Headquarters, we hold our service across the spectrum that much more sacrosanct. Now more than ever, we need to gather together in community, camaraderie, and co-conspiracy,” BRCSJ shared with Princeton Perspectives.  

To be there for any member of the community, BRCSJ now has its LGBTQIA+ Safe-Space open seven days a week. It will also remain open on Christmas Day from 11am-3pm for those who need or want to celebrate.

PEOPLE ARE FINDING HATE IN OUR TOWN

Throughout the year, there has been many-a-discussion about ‘Free Speech” and when that speech can cross the line to be antisemitic. Is it actionable? Is it posing imminent harm? Does it damage property? Such was the case in recent weeks along the sidewalks of the Ettl Farm neighborhood in Princeton, where the expressions started to feel too close to home.

The concrete was left wet overnight as crews poured new sidewalks at the entrance to the neighborhood. On the morning of November 16^th, local residents woke up to find “Death 2 Zionists” had been etched into it. Jewish parents shared numerous concerns that such words go beyond evoking concern for Palestinians, with death threats to those that believe in the right to the Jewish historic homeland.

“We have been barraged with antisemitism since the October 7^th attack on Israel. It is everywhere, we can’t ignore it. When I saw this in my own neighborhood, I realized that this is as close to home as it has been. It is frankly scary to think that my neighbors are calling for the death of my family and numerous other families in Ettl Farm,” shares Julie Ramirez, 21-year Ettl Farm resident.

That sidewalk was promptly removed, and clean concrete poured to cover up the message, only for more to come. On November 26^th, newly poured sidewalks in Ettl Farm had new graffiti, this time with the words “Free Palestine” and “Gaza Rise.” The culprit added to the words an image of an upside-down triangle, defined by American Jewish Committee as a symbol meant “to identify, harass, and target Israelis and Jews.”

The next day, on November 27^th, “Free Palestine” was carved in large letters across four sections of newly poured sidewalk, also at Ettl Farm. Princeton Police Detective Bureau has been working with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s office to actively pursue all leads and investigate these acts of criminal mischief.

“These incidents made me wonder why there is so much tolerance for this hate in our town, country and around the world.  So much silence. It also made me fearful. What if the hate comes even closer to my house?” worried Ramirez. “I can’t rationalize the hatred on the streets of New York City where I grew up, the Princeton campus where my sons went to school and now on the sidewalks of my own neighborhood. It is clearly not about Israel and Gaza anymore.”

PRINCETON LOVES

If you leave Ettl Farm, and travel across Princeton, you will see signs like “Hate has no home here” and “No hate in the Garden State.” But, in situations like those mentioned above, some feel that hate has been welcomed.

As the music and lights of the holiday season spark a spirit of joy for you, remember that not everyone is feeling it. This is the time of year that you may feel encouraged to make an extra effort to ensure your neighbors know hate has no place near your home, too.