PACKET EDITORIAL, March 2
When applied to such fundamental tools of American democracy as voting or petitioning the government, activism and apathy can generally be relied upon to deliver very different results. We’re reminded of that as we review the recent course of some contentious issues in three different communities over the past few weeks.
The failure of Princeton Borough and Princeton Township to maintain an agreement that had provided two free hours of parking for library patrons prompted several letters to The Packet which are published on this page today and an effort by at least one township resident to launch a petition drive.
These modest signs of civic activism did not impress one reader who phoned us to discuss the situation. Like some of the letter-writers, she expressed disapproval at the refusal of Princeton Borough Mayor Mildred Trotman and Princeton Township Mayor Phyllis Marchand to explain how and why the parking agreement had been abandoned. But she also blamed Princeton residents for being too "apathetic" to call their two mayors to account.
Considering the contrast with the impact of recent citizen action in Montgomery and West Windsor townships, our Princeton caller may have a point. Maybe it is all about the difference between talking the talk and walking the walk.
Hundreds of Montgomery residents repeatedly showed up for meetings of the Township Committee and school board to register their concern over plans for the environmental cleanup at the former North Princeton Developmental Center. Their activism influenced a decision by township officials to confine the demolition and asbestos cleanup to periods when the Village Elementary School, located on the site, is not in session.
In West Windsor, the opportunity to offer township officials their views on a proposed "transit village" surrounding the Princeton Junction train station brought out hundreds of residents, some with children and boxed dinners in tow. Most stayed for three hours, actively participating in discussions in more than 30 small groups, clearly impressing the project’s architect, Robert Hillier and township Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh.
Mr. Hillier invited interested residents to stop by his office to stay in touch with the project.
Mayor Hsueh also urged them to stay involved, and said:
"I want people to know that they need to keep coming back and make sure their ideas are all included, and if they’re not included, they’ve got to get good explanations from the experts."
A mayor thinks that citizens are entitled to good explanations of governmental plans and actions? Imagine that.
Better yet, imagine it in Princeton.

