To the Editor:

In a recent letter to Town Topics [“Endorsing Two Candidates for Council Who Will Deliver ”Message of Resistance,” Mailbox, Sept. 12], the chair of the Princeton Democratic Municipal Committee exhorted voters to vote the “entire Democratic ticket from bottom to top” as a “message of resistance.” Voters should consider exactly what they are being asked to resist.

For the first time in a decade, the United States is ranked No. 1 in the world in economic competitiveness. Consumer confidence is at an 18-year high. Family incomes are at the highest level in 50 years. Unemployment is at a record low, particularly among African Americans, Hispanics, and women. Inflation is low. In short, we are in the midst of an economic boom that most knowledgeable observers thought impossible. Our military is being rebuilt and the USA has stiffened its backbone internationally.

Democrats are asking the voters to resist this American success story. Why? To put it bluntly, American failure would be a source of partisan political gratification.

Democratic campaign literature reaching Princeton households calls for persistence as well as resistance. According to Town Topics reporting and supportive letters to the editor, the Democratic Council candidates persist in trotting out the same happy slogans that Princeton Democrats have used for 15 years, but have failed to deliver on.  Namely, property taxes will be “held down,” the budget process will be transparent, public input will be welcome in decision-making, the community will be made compassionate, diverse and sustainable, policies will be business friendly. As in the past, no specifics are provided as to how these admirable goals will be achieved.

The sorry truth is that when governance is consolidated in one party, there is no public accountability. A Republican on Council would bring an end to back-room decision-making, cronyism and total control by a self-perpetuating political elite.

Lisa Wu, the Republican candidate for Council, will insist on trimming municipal personnel, benefits, and pension costs, along with debt service which are the principal drivers of property taxes. She wants to implement zero-based budgeting which will require starting budgets from scratch, rather than just adding on to the previous year’s.

It’s time for a change to business as usual in Princeton.  A vote for Lisa Wu is a vote for meaningful diversity, for putting the taxpayer first, and maintaining a home in Princeton sustainable for all our residents.

Dudley Sipprelle
Chairman, Princeton Republican Committee
Victoria Mews