Rodney King, the victim of police brutality in Los Angeles back in 1991, has just had a book published.
During an interview, one station broadcast a video clip of his now famous remark made after the acquittal of the officers who were filmed beating him led to riots.
”Can’t we get along?”
The situation in the Princetons today, is not what it was back then, but the rhetoric that is being used by elected officials in the borough and township is troubling, especially since the two municipalities are supposed to be working together to form one Princeton.
It started when borough Councilman Roger Martindell and two other members of the council introduced an ordinance for a new right of way from the Dinky station to Nassau Street.
They did so even though there already is a right of way in the Memorandum of Understanding between the borough, township and Princeton University. And they did so without consulting or involving the university or the township.
Needless to say, the latter two parties felt slighted and, perhaps, insulted.
Critical words followed.
The latest salvo involves a draft memo to the Transition Task Force Public Safety Committee.
It addressed a concern that, given the current staffing levels, the top positions in the consolidated police department might be weighted toward members of the current borough department.
It was looking for guidance by the transition committee. And it raised the possibility of making the top officer in the township acting chief since the former chief recently left the department with a pay and retirement agreement some people didn’t like, including evidently Mr. Martindell.
In any case, borough Mayor Yina Moore found that “any attempts to arbitrarily elevate or promote staff … would be a subversion of the process, indefensible in court and a disservice to our citizens.”
Mr. Martindell’s reaction was stronger.
During a Borough Council meeting, he called the suggestion cronyism and corruption.
He said the “proposal by Township Committee … is another unfortunate step in what appears to be the township’s increasingly strident effort to attempt to influence the choice of employees for the new Princeton based not on merit but on parochial concerns.”
In reality, it’s kind of hard not to have parochial concerns. And that’s where the Transition Task Force comes in.
The concern was supposed to be sent to the task force for a recommendation, but Mayor Moore and Mr. Martindell kind of jumped the gun in their criticism.
Township Mayor Chad Goerner’s response has not helped. He called Mr. Martindell’s comments nonsense and blather.
He accused him of grandstanding for political reasons, suggesting this might be Mr. Martindell’s last term in office.
Of course, he can say what he wants because this definitely will be Mayor Goerner’s last term as he chose not to seek reelection
We hope that all parties tone down the rhetoric and get back to the important task that voters have chosen for them: consolidation.
