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Local Merchants Need Support of Community Now More Than Ever

To the Editor:

As the holidays approach we wanted to say thank you to our customers, fellow merchants, delivery drivers, and municipal workers who have reached out, checked-in, and lent a helping hand through the COVID crisis. There have been many challenges since we have been in business, but this one takes the cake. If not for the kindness of others we would not have been able to make it this far, either financially or spiritually. But, we are not out of the woods yet!

For the last decade jaZams and nearly all other merchants in town have been struggling. Faced with the pressures of the false economy of online retail, we have been working harder and longer for less and less. Always optimistic, we press on because we love what we do and are committed to the community we serve. As we are sure you have noticed, many of us have not survived. Most recently, the pandemic has sealed the fate of many of our retail family. For those retailers the cause of death will read “COVID-19” but the underlying condition will be online retail.

What every member of our community needs to understand is that every time the “Buy” button is pushed for a big online retailer our local economy — and the community it enlivens — becomes less viable. We understand why shopping online is attractive, but because of the staggering imbalance of capital local merchants will never be able to adequately respond to the Amazons of this world. No, we cannot stock every item you want. We cannot give you prices pennies above wholesale. We cannot shuttle items to your doorsteps via voice activated commands. It’s just not in the cards.

But what local merchants can do is something far more valuable. We can show you how something works, figure out what you are looking for with the smallest bit of information, or find the perfect something for a most particular someone. We can donate to the civic organizations, churches, and schools that serve our kids and the most vulnerable among us. We can show up for a child’s performance or adult’s debut poetry reading that was mentioned in our shops. We can offer a hug at the funeral of a loved one. We can take time to not only be a shopkeep, but a friend, a confidant, an active member of the Princeton community. We are here through the triumphs and the tragedies not just to make a living, but to make Princeton a great place to live. jaZams has been part of this community for a quarter century. For some reading this letter, we have sold you toys and books for your children, later hired those kids as teenagers, and are now selling toys and books to their children — your grandchildren! Our commitment to quality and value continues and will as long as our community supports us. We are here for you. So are all of your local merchants. Please be here for us. We need your support now more than ever. JOANNE FARRUGIA AND DEAN SMITH Co-Owners, jaZams Palmer Square East

Merchants Support a Two-Way Witherspoon Street Design That Works for All Visitors

To the Editor:

We write as Princeton business owners and residents, concerned for the future of our fellow merchants and our town. As town Council is currently undertaking efforts to redesign Witherspoon Street at a time that will make or break many of our beloved Princeton businesses, we feel it is important to express our views regarding these redesign efforts.

We all agree: Witherspoon Street needs beautification and improvement. At the same time, we cannot lose sight of the fact that Witherspoon Street is central to fostering a successful business district. As individuals who have operated stores and restaurants in Princeton for years and experience the realities of the current one-way setup daily, we understand that it is critically important to incorporate the following factors into any redesign of Witherspoon Street:

Avoid decreasing the number of parking spaces. Princeton has a “parking problem,” perceived and real. We can’t afford to exacerbate this issue. We serve clientele who live walkingdistance to our shops and many more who don’t, both from Princeton proper and well beyond. Convenient parking is critical to keep customers visiting Princeton’s downtown.

Improve the street’s challenging ingress and egress. Witherspoon Street serves all types of visitors: walkers, drivers, bicyclists, people looking for a quick stop, people looking for a longer stay, and people looking to pass through. We must provide convenience for all visitors, not only those privileged enough to use Witherspoon solely as a pedestrian walkway. Witherspoon is one of three main north/

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south arteries downtown. Decreasing traffic flow there will congest traffic unpredictably, making an already difficultto-navigate town more so.

Allow for wide traffic lanes. Deliveries occur all day on Witherspoon. Loading zones are required for businesses to accept deliveries and prepare their own outgoing deliveries. Vehicles performing deliveries, grease trap cleaning, and garbage pickup need space to avoid blocking other cars and pedestrian sightlines.

We object to any plan that cannot accommodate these needs, including any plan to close or limit access to Witherspoon Street. As merchants, we strongly support an option that beautifies the street, provides public art space, allows for greater pedestrian safety at designated crossing areas, maintains parking availability, and utilizes two-way vehicular lanes to keep traffic moving and retain the space necessary for commerce to happen.

We dedicate our lives to serving the Princeton community and wouldn’t be where we are without adapting to everyone’s needs. Please hear us when we say that a limited-access Witherspoon Street will drive away businesses like ours and jeopardize the future of the town; our local businesses rely on customers who visit from Princeton and beyond and we need a well-conceived plan that accommodates those customers and fosters a robust business community.

Agricola, Hamilton Jewelers, J. McLaughlin, Jules Thin Crust, Labyrinth Books, Mamoun’s Falafel, Olives, Public Wine Beer and Spirits, Small World Coffee, and Witherspoon Grill/Kristine’s support this letter as merchants, residents, taxpayers, and dreamers who believe in Princeton’s infinite potential, and we hope you hear us so that we may continue to serve Princeton. Please tell town Council that Witherspoon Street must continue to remain open to all. ANDREW SIEGEL Fourth-Generation Owner, Hamilton Jewelers Writing on behalf of merchants listed above.

Durbin Thanks Supporters, Looks Forward to Working as Part of Team

To the Editor,

In 2020, in the face of our substantial societal challenges, I found the website gratitude.org. It is run by a nonprofit, A Network for Grateful Living, which has roots in faith and philosophy and shared human experiences that transcend religion, gender, race, or ethnicity. One of my favorite things about the site is its continual prompt to ask, “To whom and for what am I grateful?” And there is always someone or something.

At this moment, I’d like to express my gratitude for being elected to a seat on the Board of Education for Princeton Public Schools. I am especially grateful for those who encouraged me to run and for the support of my campaign team, Walter Bliss, Fern Spruill, Nick Di Domizio, Kathy Taylor, and my husband Jon, as well as for those who paused for a moment to write a letter of support or share a testimonial or host a gathering. I am also thankful for everyone who took time to speak with me about our schools and the issues we face as a community, for the other candidates, and for everyone who voted during 2020 to ensure democracy thrived.

I look forward to working as part of a team to make our excellent schools even better and to garner community support for strong public schools because of the promise they hold for our children’s future. JEAN Y. DURBIN Mount Lucas Road

Noting Benefits of Pedestrianizing A Portion of Witherspoon Street

To the Editor:

I am a graduate student at Princeton University writing in favor of pedestrianizing Witherspoon Street between Nassau and Spring streets.

During the pandemic, my friends and I have been frequent visitors to the new and inviting Witherspoon StrEATery. It is not surprising that we visit the restaurants and shops on Witherspoon more. Other area businesses benefit as well. Previously, we would take our lunch back to campus to eat. Now, with on-street seating, we are more likely to walk over to the Princeton Running Company to check out the new shoes, browse the books at Labyrinth, treat ourselves to bubble tea at Kung Fu Tea or ice cream at Palmer Square after lunch. Given how much business owners stand to benefit from increased pedestrian traffic and expanded outdoor dining, I hope they will champion our shared cause.

Our shared public space is extremely valuable as it is the place where we build community; designating it for parking is not the best land use. It takes up an immense amount of space. Drivers circle the block looking for on-street parking, driven by the “random reward” of the occasional spot opening up, adding to congestion and pollution. Cars on the street discourage socializing: they are noisy, making it hard to have a conversation. It would be much better if those who wanted parking went straight to the garage and walked to their destination. On the way, they might discover businesses they did not know about and run into friends.

Princeton is not a strip mall, and should not aspire to become one. New Jersey has no shortage of strip malls — lonely places with lots of vacancies and fierce amazon.com competition. Let’s be different. Let’s be a place where we can all thrive. Let’s be the place we want to be. Let’s be a fun, people-friendly, and equitable Princeton!

I hope you will weigh in at the Council meetings, where Witherspoon Street will be discussed, on December 7 and 21. JESSICA WILSON Hibben Magie Road