A little something for the musicians?

By: centraljersey.com
Today is Oct. 8, 2010, two days before the 100th birthday celebration of the Princeton Public Library, serendipitously scheduled for 10/10/10 in Hinds Plaza. I’m sitting in the plaza now, one of those picture-perfect fall days, warm, sunny, crisp-bright light. I’m watching the Adam’s Party Rental crew set up the tents in the plaza as people enjoy their lunch and children clutch their parent’s hand with joyous smiles.
As a Princeton native artist, musician and painter, I’m honored to be asked to perform for the party and can only hope the weather will be as stellar come Sunday afternoon. Yet something is nagging me.
Above my head is a a sign hanging from the library advertising Sunday’s celebration. At the bottom of the giant poster I notice no less then 19 corporate sponsors: Church & Dwight, Glenmede Investment and Wealth, Howe Insurance Group, Firmenich, Johnson & Johnson, Princeton University, to name a few. I’m reminded of when my band performed at this year’s Communiversity on Nassau Street, a giant backdrop on the stage with SQUIBB in giant letters behind us. The poster for Communiversity listed some dozen or so corporate sponsors.
Things sure have changed since I was a kid booking bands for Summer Stage. My sister was one of the first to book bands when the shows were held at Poe Field on the campus, an indelible memory of watching Ray Brower smash his SG guitar wearing an American Flag in the early ’70s. Corporations wanted to stay as far away from that as possible.
Also this past year I was asked by the Princeton Arts Council to donate a painting for its annual fundraiser which benefits visiting artists and pays for their stay in town. I was reluctant to donate this year. The Arts Council had never shown my work or asked me to perform in its new space or invited me to give a workshop. I had fond memories of my high school band playing in the old building, so in the end I donated. "It’s such good publicity," they would later declare.
My band will be paid nothing to perform at Sunday’s birthday celebration just as we were paid nothing for Communiversity nor did I receive so much as a tax deduction for the two paintings benefiting the Art’s Council’s "Pinot to Picasso" fundraiser.
To my musicians who are coming up from DC and/ or down from Brooklyn I can offer them nothing for their travel expenses, let alone their time. They come to play for the love of making music.
Why can’t the people who organize these events create a small budget within these corporate donations to give the musicians a little bit for their time and energy? I’m not asking for us to be paid what we might be worth, simply perhaps $20 each so we can get some cash for strings and perhaps a bite to eat after the set. Chris Harford Princeton
Show unification in America’s religions
To the editor:
I attended the discussion, relating to the mosque near Ground Zero, at McCosh on Sept. 27. The panel included Provost Eisgruber, Professor Mark Cohen and Professor Amaney Jamal.
The discussion brought out that the proposed mosque could foster religious tolerance and bridge the divide between Muslims and non-Muslims. However, I have a suggestion that could quell the inflammatory nature of building a mosque near Ground Zero and still fulfill the need to have such an expression in the area.
At the base of the new towers that are to be designed and built at Ground Zero, five temples of worship should be designed. They should be all interconnected similar to the logo for the Olympics. One temple for Christians, one for Jews, one for Muslims, one for Hindus, and one for those who do not believe in organized religion, but want to come to pray to a higher power. These five temples should encircle the base, or foundation of the towers, at street level.
This will demonstrate how America is interconnected and unified in our religions. All the temples should be fully functioning with clergy and congregants. The mosque would be included and be of equal dimension to all the others. In this manner, all the religions of America would interact in equality and unity and support and friendship.
I am sure this idea can be expanded and fine-tuned, but it is a start to solving a very inflammatory issue. Howard W. Silbersher Princeton
Holt in lockstep with Dems’ leadership
To the editor:
Many letters have made the case to re-elect Rush Holt to Congress, including one recent piece that suggests him as "… a perfect fit as congressman." To make an informed decision on Election Day you may wish to consider some additional information.
Congressman Holt’s voting record, a fact, is nearly in lock step with the Democratic Party leadership – current Speaker Pelosi, et al. Is this the mark of independence and analytical proficiency?
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (aka Stimulus): Authorized spending of $800-plus billion, claiming the creation of significant jobs and economic activity. Unemployment is still very high at 9.6 percent and economic growth remains tepid, at best. Where’s the ROI?
Healthcare reform: Did he or anyone who voted yes understand the scope of its content and consequences? Speaker Pelosi advised "we have to pass the bill to learn what’s in it." We now learn every day some new dimension of this legislation that increases costs, lowers access to care and reduces choice. How many more costly and regulatory consequences are yet to be disclosed?
Financial reform: Fails to address the significant role in the financial crisis played by the Fed, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and their Congressional Democrat allies who fueled it. FinReg creates a new Financial Consumer Protection Agency, not accountable to Congress for oversight or funding, and whose leadership has circumvented constitutionally required Senate advice and consent. Protecting "favored agencies" and unchecked government power is not the reform we need.
Taxing overseas American corporate profits immediately vs. when repatriated to keep American jobs in the USA belies economic reasoning. Capital finds investment environments where it can generate the best after-tax return. This action will drive more U.S. jobs, businesses and capital overseas.
Small business: The businesses incentives – short term tax relief – for hiring unemployed workers and a new small business banking bill to stimulate banks to lend to companies are misguided. It is demand that drives business hiring and the need for capital, not one-off tax relief or government forced credit availability.
Supporting and selling this clearly ineffective agenda as solutions to the very difficult problems the nation faces without disclosing the total consequences is not the "perfect fit" congressional representation for me.
I prefer someone who does not desire to be a career politician, but seeks to implement solutions – i.e., who understands what it takes to create economic incentives to grow the economy and create jobs, who supports fiscal responsibility, who desires healthcare reform that enhances affordability, access and choice, who advocates real reform of the Beltway bureaucracy, who is honest and transparent about what new legislation does for citizens, the pluses and the minuses, who supports effective not populist or ideologue regulation of the private sector, someone who believes in the American ethic of working hard and reaping the rewards from that effort and who respects and supports our Constitution.
Scott Sipprelle is that candidate and he will receive my vote on Nov. 2.
Michael Sheehan Princeton
State needs new plan for its infrastructure
To the editor:
I recently read the editorial "America’s economic ‘backbone’ is crumbling," posted Oct. 6. As the chair of the 2007 New Jersey Infrastructure Report Card Committee, I want to thank you for raising awareness to imminent crisis of infrastructure decay.
Recent news events tell the story. Modern ships cannot enter NY/NJ ports because the Bayonne Bridge is too low to allow ships to cross safely. Crowded NJ Transit trains struggle to keep up with demand. Traffic jams on highways and interstates are increasing. Posted bridges force truckers to detour their routes through local roads. Posted bridges can also affect school bus and emergency vehicle routes. The list goes on and on.
New Jersey is in a precarious position, with many of the funding sources simply drying up. The Transportation Trust Fund is broke, the Environmental Infrastructure Trust Fund lacks the staffing and funds to secure financing for all eligible water/sewer projects, and the AmericanRecovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) has been sufficient to fund only a small fraction of theoverall infrastructure need.
New Jersey needs a new plan.
Andres M. Roda, P.E. Director, NJ Section American Society of Civil Engineers
Angry that democracy is up for sale
To the editor:
Like many in America, I am angry! I am mad: that our democracy is for sale to thehighest bidder; that the corporate elite thrive while mainstream America suffers; that theunyielding opposition of the nihilistic Republicans has prevented Congress from actingmore boldly to address the several crises we face. Should I join the Tea Party and voteagainst all incumbents? Or should I throw up my hands in disgust and sit out thiselection? No! I am voting for Rush Holt!
Mr. Holt is an outstanding congressman and diligently serves his constituents. Heis a man of integrity, intelligence, and compassion. Being the only physicist in Congress,his colleagues look to him with great respect for his critical thinking, particularly onscientific matters. He is one of the few to earn a lifetime 100 percent score from the Leaguefor Conservation Voters for his work protecting the environment and conserving openspace. Mr. Holt votes his conscience, and when the evidence was lacking inour rush to war in Iraq, he stood firmly opposed to this misadventure, even though itwas unpopular at the time.
Why would I turn out of office such a fine congressman in favor of an opponent whostands with a party which brought us to the brink of disaster? I agree with Mr. Holt thatthe American Dream is for all citizens, and not just for the elite. Please join me inenergetically supporting Rush Holt for Congress.
Stephanie Harris Hopewell