To the Editor:

On March 14, the Princeton Community Democratic Organization (PCDO) met virtually to hear from local and state Democratic candidates. Although this year’s race for Princeton Council is not contested, PCDO allowed the candidates for Princeton Council (Leighton Newlin and me) to make statements before we were endorsed by acclamation. I thank PCDO members for their endorsement, and I want to share with the larger Princeton community key points from the statement I gave that evening:

“I ask tonight for your support for a second term on Princeton Council. In 2018, I pledged that I would work hard, always be available and open to community input, and always keep the best interests of Princeton front and center. I believe that I have lived up to those promises. As a progressive Democrat, I am committed to the values of inclusion, social and racial justice, climate sustainability and smart growth, and providing opportunities for our businesses and for all who live and work in our unique and diverse community.

2020 was a very tough year and we faced some existential challenges. I believe that we faced those challenges as a community should, united in helping our residents and our businesses weather this very difficult storm as best we could. I am proud, and I hope that you are as well, of the way Princeton’s elected officials rose to the challenges of COVID, working tirelessly and as a team to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. We also continued work on many goals that could not be set aside, such as our affordable housing settlement, which was passed last year. With vaccines now increasingly available, we are beginning to look beyond the pandemic. We hope this year to get back to some of the goals that we set aside in the spring of 2020.

This year, I’ve taken the lead on two key projects, the administrator search committee and the Cannabis Task Force. I’m also Council liaison to our Sustainable Landscaping initiative; in all of these efforts, inclusivity and attention to racial and social equity have played a role, as they should in all of the municipality’s endeavors.

I’m happy to talk to any resident about items on my personal or on Council’s agenda or any other concerns they might have; as I said in 2018, and repeat again tonight, my (metaphorical) door is always open. Although I recognize that this race for Council is not contested, the active support of my fellow Princetonians is very important to me. I hope that my words and actions as a member of council over the last two years have earned your support.”

Eve Niedergang
Forester Drive

The writer is a candidate for re-election to Princeton Council.