| NEWS |
  
|
| FEATURES |
| ENTERTAINMENT |
  
|
| COLUMNS |
     |
| CONTACT US |
|
| HOW TO SUBMIT |
|
|
| BACK ISSUES |
|
|
Princeton
Youth Achievers Reassures Its Supporters Following Staff Arrests
JEAN
BALDWIN GROSSMAN
President of the Board
Princeton Young
Achievers
Correspondence on Immigration Case Raises a Question: Who Is Intolerant?
TOM
ROONEY
Jefferson Road
Petitioner for Snowden Lane Sidewalk Urges Township to Heed Its Advisors.
LINDA
SCHWIMMER
Leabrook Lane
Princeton Youth Achievers Reassures Its Supporters Following Staff Arrests
To the Editor:
As reported recently, two former Princeton Youth Achievers (PYA) staff members have been arrested and charged with unauthorized purchases of computer equipment and office supplies. We want to reassure our friends and supporters that we were able to quickly identify and deal with this issue as a result of both our internal financial control system and the strong community support PYA enjoys. In the meantime, equipment and supplies have been returned to PYA. Needless to say, we are cooperating fully with the authorities as they process the charges.
Princeton Youth Achievers continues to serve approximately 140 students from low and moderate income families who look to PYA's programs for educational support. Our two interim Executive Directors, Larry Fieber (National Distinguished Principal of the Year who recently retired from Ewing's Parkside Elementary School) and Warren Schuster (principal of Ewing's Middle School for 20 years) have infused the program with their strong educational leadership. The quality and enthusiasm of the teaching staff and volunteers has never been better; and the program's educational activities are not only continuing but improving.
We thank our many supporters in the public at large for your continuing support.
JEAN
BALDWIN GROSSMAN
President of the Board
Princeton Young
Achievers
Correspondence on Immigration Case Raises a Question: Who Is Intolerant?
To the Editor:
Trust a bunch of lawyers to twist an honest hard-working American's words to suit their own narrow agenda.
Corrington Hwong (Town Topics Mailbox, November 17) may not have full knowledge of the intricacies of the law, but the thought she expressed was that of the majority of Americans. Only a bunch of lawyers could turn an innocent comment from a concerned citizen into an accusation of intolerance. It makes one wonder who the intolerant people really are. Perhaps these same lawyers could publish a list of other behaviors that are illegal but "not criminal" so that all residents can take advantage of this apparent loophole in the American justice system. Perhaps these same lawyers should lay off the Feds and local police for simply doing their job, and investigate the employers of illegals who pay less than minimum wage, no overtime, and no health coverage, to benefit people who could not be bothered to rake their own leaves. Perhaps these same lawyers could also publish a list of all the hardworking, family-oriented individuals whom they claim fill our jails.
As a legal immigrant I find it intolerable that everyone who wants to come to this great country should not have to go through the same grueling process that I went through. Corrington Hwong made an innocent, honest statement that was cruelly twisted by the group of people who have the most to gain by encouraging millions of scared illegals to continue to break the law and stay in this country – immigration lawyers.
TOM
ROONEY
Jefferson Road
Petitioner for Snowden Lane Sidewalk Urges Township to Heed Its Advisors
To the Editor:
Contrary to some recent reports in the local press, public opinion on whether sidewalks should be installed on Snowden Lane between Franklin and Rollingmead is not evenly divided. Rather, the surrounding community overwhelmingly supports the sidewalk proposal. In truth, the only solid opposition to the sidewalks is from the 12 or so families on each side of the block in question. Their main argument against sidewalks, and the one that two Council members cited in voting against the sidewalk proposal, was that it would irreparably destroy the historic, rural character of their neighborhood. Their other arguments included these: they don't like change, they don't want to have to shovel the sidewalks, and their block of Snowden is already safe for pedestrians.
In contrast, in about two weeks time, with no real organized effort, I was able to gather 94 signatures from people throughout Princeton who support the installation of the sidewalk on Snowden. This petition is only a hint at the support for sidewalks in Princeton. As the experts explained at the November 30 hearing, and as our experience tells us, sidewalks are the only sure-fire way to separate pedestrians from traffic. Installing sidewalks encourages people to walk and decreases vehicle traffic, congested roads, pollution, and obesity.
In voting against the sidewalk proposal, two Council members allowed the narrow concerns of a few vocal residents to trump the obvious safety benefits that would inure to the greater Princeton community. In doing so, they bought into the claim that this portion of Snowden is a "rural island" unto itself. In fact, the blocks below, above, to the left, and to the right of the block in question all have sidewalks. This is truly the missing link block and, thereby discourages people from walking in the surrounding neighborhood. Moreover, it is unfathomable how the residents of one block, surrounded by other blocks with sidewalks and less than 100 yards from Nassau Street, could assert that their one block is a "rural neighborhood." Good neighborhoods are places where people care about each other and want safe, healthy environments for themselves and children beyond their immediate block.
Unfortunately, the November 30 Township vote ended in a two-two tie with one member absent. I urge all those who support the installation of sidewalks on Snowden to let the Township know their view and I urge the Township to reconsider the issue and to vote based on the logical presentations of the Township Engineer, Arborist, and Traffic Safety Expert, who collectively presented a solid basis for the sidewalk and an attractive plan for its installation.
LINDA
SCHWIMMER
Leabrook Lane
