To Mayor Liz Lempert and Princeton Council:

Princeton is a great place to live in and it attracts new people. Growth is not a problem to fight, but a wonderful opportunity. As Princeton residents we feel lucky to be here, and would like to share our wealth with others and live in a welcoming and inclusive community, rather than erect invisible walls around our town. We hope that in making decisions in 2017 and beyond, our elected officials shape municipal laws welcoming smart growth that is well planned, fiscally thought-through, and beneficial to all residents: old-time, recent, and future. Here is a list of goals we would like to have our government work on in 2017:

• Maintain Princeton’s status of sanctuary city for the benefit and safety of our community members, no matter where they came from;

• Welcome refugee families: we can make a world of difference for families who have lost everything they had, and we know if we were in their place we would only hope that someone would do this for us;

• Encourage development of mixed income rental housing in town — allow a diverse population to move to and stay in Princeton;

• Encourage development of new starter and medium-priced duplexes/condos/houses to allow a diverse population to have an opportunity to own a home in town;

• Create an entrepreneur-friendly environment that will allow a diverse range of businesses to flourish: new co-working spaces, start-ups, shops, restaurants, art studios, urban farms, etc. Working and living in the same place brings people together, encourages involvement in the local community and reduces traffic;

• Encourage creation of affordable and high quality early childcare in town (for example, the excellent Lakeview and Harmony Schools, which are unfortunately not accessible without a car);

• Encourage environmentally friendly initiatives: provide incentives/bonuses for environmentally-friendly development, green businesses, creative and alternative ideas in energy conservation and generation, alternative transportation strategies, etc;

• Engage in a conversation with the University through which common goals can be established and the town and university can partner to achieve these goals;

Given the direction the new administration in Washington is taking, we feel it is very important to work locally to maintain our values of inclusivity, respect for one another and our environment. As our elected officials, we hope you can lead the way. Our own goal for 2017 is to be more involved and to help where possible. We are busy professionals and parents, but we have a lot of expertise and we care a great deal. Don’t hesitate to ask for our assistance and opinions.

“This 2017 Wish List has already been signed by 35 community members; to add your name, go to tinyurl.com/Princeton2017WishList

Marina Rubina 

Quarry Street 

Yael Niv 

Franklin Avenue