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Vol. LXII, No. 32
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Wednesday, August 6, 2008
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Vol. LXII, No. 32
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Wednesday, August 6, 2008
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JOHN J. TURI
Westcott Road
PAM WAKEFIELD
President
Friends of the Princeton Public Library
To the Editor:
The financial disaster facing Borough residents is directly attributable to our entrenched one-party government. Mayor Mildred Trotman has been on the scene for more than 20 years and the result is a tax rate approaching confiscatory proportions, leaving struggling residents little margin for subsistence.
The latest plundering of the municipal treasury saw Mayor Trotman and Council dole out pension by proxy to attorney Edward J. Bergman who is paid over $50,000 annually. In addition, the Mayor and Council threw in a personal lifetime endowment of pensions and benefits for Bergman’s no-show job in which he admittedly sends a surrogate to do the work. How many others like Bergman are the beneficiaries of the Mayor and Council’s lack of business acumen and common sense?
Borough residents had the opportunity to elect a successful businesswoman at the last election but chose to put party politics over the welfare of the community and re-elected Trotman into her third decade of financial mismanagement. Borough residents are now reaping the reward for that folly.
There were 17,000 New Jerseyans who lost their homes in the past year. Tens of thousands more lost their jobs, yet increases in salaries, pensions, and benefits ramble on for municipal, county, and state employees. With so many people losing their homes and jobs, it is an outrage to additionally burden them with increased perks for privileged government employees. Where is it written that bureaucrats are guaranteed increases every year while those who must foot the bill are scrambling to feed their families and maintain a roof over their heads?
The Borough is a multi-million dollar business and requires financial experts to run it, not career politicians who consider the municipal treasury as their personal pork barrel to reward their political friends. By the way, how much is it going to cost residents to finance the Mayor and Council’s retirement?
JOHN J. TURI
Westcott Road
To the Editor:
The Friends Council of the Princeton Public Library works long and hard to raise money for the Princeton Public Library. Our wonderful Library Store is just one of the ways we try to raise that money. Friends Council members and dedicated, trained volunteers from the community help keep the store running smoothly under the direction of our talented store manager.
With parking problems and retail woes the store has been struggling to make a profit for the Library. We are realistic about the need to keep the store profitable and are considering options on just how to do that. We are looking at the results of a recent survey filled out by customers and library users and we are getting creative ideas of what to stock now and for the holidays, what hours work best, and a general wish list from our customers.
Of course the best way to keep the store profitable would be to have the entire community shop there for treasures and gifts. We have a wonderful selection for everyone in the family. Library Friends get a discount.
We currently have some terrific summer bargains. Library users now have more free parking time, so we urge people to come on in and shop for unusual treats, save on our bargains, and help the Library. We look forward to seeing you there.
PAM WAKEFIELD
President
Friends of the Princeton Public Library