LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, July 22
By:
New library must have better access
To the editor:
The community movement to keep a library at the Princeton Shopping Center results from the chance we have had over the past year and a half to experience a library that is convenient to all, and where parking and access are not major impediments. We support the current efforts to maintain a branch library in the shopping center, and urge township and library officials to show some responsiveness and flexibility. Bert Wohl, using the model of the Pennington Library, has proposed creative ways of keeping a library at the shopping center (The Packet, July 18). This includes a budget of $500,000, taken from the current $2 million that township residents annually contribute to the costs of operating the current library.
Regardless of the fate of the proposed shopping center branch, the new library in the borough will be a reality in the near future, with or without the 500-car parking garage completed or even built, depending on lawsuits, acts of God and other unknowns. Can we look forward to the same old access problems that were acute and annoying before the library moved to the shopping center? Or should we anticipate newer and even more irksome ones? Is anyone thinking about users who must drive or bike to get to the library? What about the driver who wants to park momentarily to pick up a book? Where will he park? The former conditions for those users were laughably inconvenient. What about the person who needs to spend a few hours in the public library researching a topic? How much will she have to pay in parking fees? What about school kids who need to do work at the library? Will their bike rides through traffic congested downtown Princeton be any less dangerous?
One gesture of accommodation, when the new lot is completed, would be free parking at all times that the library is open for all Princeton residents who hold library cards (holders could put stickers on their windshields.) The borough gave a huge tax break to Nassau HKT, the developer of the downtown complex. Why shouldn’t the taxpayers of Princeton, who fund both the operation of the library and the downtown development through a bond issue, get a break as well? This seems like fair play, unless the master plan for the downtown library with its 500-car garage is to ensure a flow of borough revenue through a de facto parking tax on those without easy walking access to their library.
A second gesture would be to design traffic flow to accommodate, not deter, library users as they enter and exit the facility. Since we are already fighting traffic congestion just to get to downtown, at least users should be able to drive in and out without getting snarled up by "no left turn" signs and one-way streets that seem designed to bedevil us. Designated bike paths that parents would feel safe having their children use should also be provided, as there are currently no alternative approaches to the very dangerous Wiggins/Witherspoon intersection.
Abram Gabriel
Janet Heroux
Terhune Road
Princeton
Commission weighs in on bypass alternatives
To the editor:
Following is a summary of comments from the Princeton Environmental Commission at the Penns Neck Area Environmental Impact Statement public hearing:
The Princeton Environmental Commission supports the D.2 alternative, which combines Route One "In-A-Cut" with other environmentally preferred features including frontage roads along Route 1, the Vaughn Drive Connector, to alleviate Washington Road traffic, and a short connector road that will take traffic out of the riparian area along the Millstone River on the west side of Route 1 to the Harrison Street Bridge. D.2 is an appropriate choice that will allow the free flow of traffic on Route 1 and lessen air pollution from vehicles that will no longer wait at traffic lights with idling engines.
The commission is concerned about the significant environmental impacts from the construction of an east side connector road. All ESC proposed alignments cross Little Bear Brook and run along the Millstone River, impacting the remarkable riparian areas associated with these water bodies. An ESC road would create larger amounts of impervious surfaces in these riparian areas that include water, wetlands and associated transition areas, flood hazard areas, sensitive soils and wildlife corridors for aquatic dependent species. Any incursion into a riparian area will compromise its hydrological function.
If an ESC is built, it will create the following problems:
Increase the level of pollutants in the Millstone River, a primary drinking water supply, from vehicle exhaust and runoff from the ESC.
Destroy wetlands that filter pollutants and attenuate flooding.
Reduce groundwater recharge, thereby reducing base flow in the Millstone River, especially during drought, and increase flooding, erosion and sedimentation, particularly during heavy rainfall.
Impair habitat for fish, birds and other wildlife.
Destroy the peaceful atmosphere of the Millstone River and Little Bear Brook with noise, air pollution and the visual impact from vehicular traffic. Creation of new roadways usually does not mitigate congestion on other roadways, but rather attracts additional traffic to move through the area.
The commission is also concerned that certain relevant issues have been overlooked. A wildlife survey has not been undertaken. Data gathered by a wildlife survey has not been undertaken. Data gathered by a wildlife survey would seem to be an essential component of an Environmental Impact Statement that provides important information on threatened and endangered species protected by the Federal Endangered Species Act and New Jersey state wildlife regulation. A survey must be done so that the public fully understands the extent of damage that would be caused by building an ESC.
Another issue of concern is the documented contamination plume directly underneath the Sarnoff Corp. laboratories. If built, an ESC road and proposed large-scale development of the property would make efforts at mitigation very difficult. A study is needed to determine a mitigation strategy and whether, how and when the contamination will affect the Millstone River.
Protection of important natural, scenic and recreational resources can be met while still providing very effective transportation improvements by selection of the D.2 alternative. The Princeton Environmental Commission will enthusiastically support this choice.
Douglas M. Schleifer
Princeton Environmental Commission
Chestnut Street
Princeton
Criticism of program is not political
To the editor:
As a resident of West Windsor and a member of the Township Council, I was dismayed to see that the "Safe Corridors" program does not include a significant section of Route 1 in West Windsor (The Packet, July 18).
The "Safe Corridors" program will improve traffic signals, signs and markings on our state’s most dangerous highways. Under the "Safe Corridors" program, the first 10 miles of Route 1 north of Trenton are protected, from the Trenton bridge to Carnegie Center Boulevard here in West Windsor. Then, however, the "Safe Corridors" designation is lifted for the next 10 miles of Route 1, cutting out the rest of West Windsor, all of Plainsboro and almost all of South Brunswick. The safety program then picks back up again near the North Brunswick border.
Inexplicably, West Windsor’s Penns Neck and Harrison Street intersections were not included in the "Safe Corridors" program. Anyone who drives Route 1 knows these intersections are a danger that not only causes traffic and frustration, but also tragic loss of life.
The sponsor of this program is our very own state assemblyman, Gary Guear. Rather than agreeing with our suggestion that this omission should be fixed, Assemblyman Guear’s reaction was to accuse us of "trying to score political points."
With all due respect to Assemblyman Guear, this is not a "political" issue. Rather, this is a safety issue of paramount interest to the people of West Windsor. As one of our two representatives in the state Assembly, Mr. Guear should worry more about representing West Windsor’s best interests and worry less about who is scoring political points.
Charles Morgan
Birchwood Court
West Windsor
Soccer association thanks Sarnoff
To the editor:
On behalf of the West Windsor Plainsboro Soccer Association and the more than 2,000 youth soccer players who play soccer with the association each year, I would like to publicly thank Sarnoff Corp. for its continued generous support. Sarnoff has once again this year, and for over a decade and a half, allowed us to use its grounds at no cost to host our annual Sunburst Tournament and the majority of our games and practices.
Without Sarnoff’s support, the association would have great difficulty in sustaining its highly successful and popular recreational and travel soccer programs. We are grateful that Sarnoff is such a loyal and supportive partner and neighbor.
David Westbrook
President
West Windsor Plainsboro Soccer Association
Washington Road
West Windsor
Cooperation, support led to event’s success
To the editor:
To everyone who made West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South’s Post Prom a success, we would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation. We thank the parents and community for making the class of 2003’s special night so memorable. An event of this magnitude can only be possible with every person’s cooperation and support.
Over 200 professionals, businesses and organizations donated generously money, food and/or prizes to support this unforgettable evening. Also, over 100 families contributed to support this event. Because of these generous donations, our children were treated to an evening of games, activities, music and prizes, all in a magical setting.
Due to the number of contributors, it would be impossible to list each one separately. At graduation, each senior family received a comprehensive journal that recognized each donor. If anyone wishes to receive a copy of this journal, please contact High School South’s main office at (609) 716-5050 and we will see that you receive one.
We thank the special group of creative and talented parents who chaired the various committees. Each committee was supported with an energetic team of parent volunteers. Special thanks to our committee chairs: Betsey Butler, Anna Looney, Robin Fyffe, Karen Epstein, Kathy Schmidt, Deborah Galen, Alice Blum, Joanne Gjenvick, Kathy Yarrington, Ranjana Madhusudhan, Phyllis Herbert, Debbie Dar, Judy Nigh, Sue Welsh, Rosanne Whitby, Cindy Levine and Ruth Vellensky.
Of course, we would be remiss if we did not thank Mr. Rudnick and his staff for their assistance.
Sue Hagen
Valerie Kamin
Ruth Novak
Ann Trevorrow
Steering Committee
West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South Post Prom 2003
College thanks exhibit volunteers
To the editor:
I would like to thank the many volunteers who made it possible for Mercer County Community College to host the moving exhibit, "Hidden Children, The Youngest Survivors of the Holocaust" in June.
This exhibit was a testimony to the selfless heroes who risked their lives to save Jewish children during the war. The stories of 17 such children were told through photos, narrative histories and the knowledge input of our docent volunteers. Two of those docents, Ilse Loeb and Dr. Charles Rojer, were themselves children during the Holocaust years in Europe who survived and thrived. The many schoolchildren and adults who heard their presentations were truly privileged.
Meeting this group of people, who are so committed to educating the next generation and so generous in sharing their personal stories, was inspiring to everyone at Mercer.
William Baroni
President
Mercer County Community College Board of Trustees
Old Trenton Road
West Windsor
In democracy, blame must be shared
To the editor:
With the media, Congress and many concerned citizens now swarming, President Bush and his advisers are trying to swat, squash and deflect accusations that the president lied about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The president has passed the blame to the CIA. The president refuses to do some soul-searching and admit that he might be in some part to blame. As James Carroll wrote in the Boston Globe on Tuesday, the CIA often finds itself gathering intelligence that suits the wishes of its superiors.
Those swarming around the president today also have to do some soul-searching. Did the media get caught up in the drumbeat to war and fail to confront the president on his reasons for starting this war? Did Congress cower when issued the challenge by millions around the world to stand up to the president on issues we are now debating today? Did many citizens remain silent in the face of popular opinion even though their consciences said otherwise?
What is going on here is not just the fault of the president or one agency. The system failed. Democracy failed. Proper debate prior to war did not take place. Every person involved must take part in accepting blame. Only when this happens and individuals take responsibility for their own role will democracy live up to its name.
Dennis A. Price
Coppervail Court
Montgomery
Taxpayer handouts should be voluntary
To the editor:
How nice that the director and president of the Historical Society of Princeton appreciate the state government for the restoration of the majority of funding for history and the arts (The Packet, July 15). How nice that they enlighten many readers to the extent to which state appropriations have supported their staffing and education programs. How nice for them that local and state government is so "responsive" to the "public groundswell of support."
But how shameful that these groups should be grabbing up money confiscated by the state from the taxpayers of New Jersey. How shameful that government bureaucrats should be so generous with other people’s money.
Gail F. Stern and Dee Patberg say they believe "institutions like the Historical Society of Princeton enrich the lives of residents of our state." Yet they admit that without the money confiscated from the taxpayers, they would be unable to operate their library; mount exhibitions; offer lectures, film programs, walking tours and bus tours; educate school groups; and keep [their] museum shop open.
Libertarians want to know why, if these programs are so enriching, the people they enrich don’t voluntarily support them adequately. If the people who use their library, view their exhibitions, listen to their lectures, participate in their film programs and tours won’t cover those costs, why should the taxpayers?
I’m a great supporter of the Hillsborough Outdoor Sports Center; the Princeton University football, basketball, and softball programs; and the Libertarian Party of New Jersey. All of these enrich lots of lives. But none of them go running to the state to cover their costs. If we devotees don’t cover their costs, they disappear.
Why should the HSP and similar outfits be any different? At most, the only money they should be getting via government is voluntary donations New Jerseyans check off on their state income tax forms.
Terry Wintroub
Trafalgar Court
Lawrenceville