Volume LXXI, Number 7
Summer Camp Section Pages 23-32 Local Residents Join Efforts to Change Fire and Building Codes . . . 7 Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Performs at University Chapel. . 18 Fearless Sundance Series Rectify Delivers the Truth at a Time When It’s Desperately Needed. . 22 PU Men’s Hoops Sweeps Cornell and Columbia, Now 8-0 in Ivy Play . . 34 Princeton Women’s Lacrosse Primed for Big Spring. . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Tyler Coffey Helps PDS Boys’ Hockey Win Prep Title . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Cinema . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Classified Ads. . . . . . . . 45 Clubs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Mailbox. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Music/Theater . . . . . . . 18 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . 43 New To Us . . . . . . . . . . 33 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . 45 Religion. . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Topics of the Town . . . . . 5 Town Talk. . . . . . . . . . . . 6
www.towntopics.com
An overflow crowd attending a gubernatorial candidate forum at the Suzanne Patterson Center, held by the Princeton Community Democratic Organization (PCDO) Sunday evening, February 12, officially endorsed Assemblyman John Wisniewski for New Jersey governor in the next election. After a first round of voting by PCDO members, Mr. Wisniewski and fellow candidate Phil Murphy, a financier and former U.S. ambassador, competed in a run-off. Mr. Wisniewski won with just over 60 percent of the vote, which is the amount required for the PCDO’s endorsement. Also appearing at the forum were State Senator Raymond Lesniak and former Treasury official and federal prosecutor Jim Johnson. Each candidate presented a brief opening statement after which moderator Dwaine Williamson asked them questions supplied by the crowd. The event was posted live on Facebook, which is how dozens of people who couldn’t get in were able to participate. While no official count was taken, all 350 chairs were taken and there were at least 100 more people standing. “The fire marshal says standing room only is 500. We were trying to ‘guestimate’” said Paul Gilmore, a member of the PCDO executive board, on Monday. “It was huge. We got to the point where it became clear that it was a potential safety issue. We did turn people away, and some of them got their ballots and waited outside. It was certainly beyond our expectations.” Every meeting the PCDO has held since the November presidential election has been close to overflowing, Mr. Gilmore said. “People are looking for ways to get involved and put some energy behind their concerns and actually do stuff,” he said. “I think maybe it was Phil Murphy who said last night that following the election, a lot of people not happy with the outcome were really energized and ready to do whatever they could to fight back against what they fear the new administration represents. And since only two states are having elections this year [New Jersey and Virginia], New Jersey is really important.” Questions at the forum included such topics as immigration, the Affordable
TRUE COMMUNITY.
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
University Joins Court Battle Against Immigration Order
PCDO Endorses John Wisniewski For Governor
Continued on Page 10
75¢ at newsstands
Princeton and 16 other universities filed an amicus curiae brief on Monday in a civil action which the attorney general of New York and others are pursuing in federal district court in New York City. The brief follows up on a February 2 letter to President Trump signed by Princeton University President Christopher L. Eisgruber and 47 other college and university presidents urging Mr. Trump “to rectify or rescind the recent executive order” on immigration. President Trump’s January 27 executive order banned entrance to the U.S. for citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries for 90 days, all refugees for 120 days, and Syrian refugees indefinitely. That order remains suspended at this point after a February 3 temporary restraining order by the Federal District Court in Seattle, and last week’s vote by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, against reinstating the order. In challenging Mr. Trump’s executive order, the brief cites the universities’ global mission and points out that “each derives immeasurable benefit from the contributions of diverse students, faculty, and scholars from around the world.” The amicus filing goes on to state that the executive order threatens the universi-
ties’ ability to welcome international students, faculty, and scholars and “creates significant hardship” for them. The “damaging effects” of the executive order “are significant and directly affect the amici’s ability to pursue their missions,” the brief continues, “and they are being experienced absent any evidence that amici’s lawfully-present students, faculty and scholars — all of whom have already undergone significant vetting by
the government — pose any threat to the safety or security of the United States or amici’s campuses.” Seeking a permanent injunction against enforcement of the executive order, the brief continues, “the contributions of these individuals redound to the benefit not only of the other members of amici’s campus communities, but also to the United States, and the world, more generally.” Continued on Page 8
As Dialogue Between PPS and PCS Dwindles, Final Decision May Be Left to State and Courts As Princeton Charter School (PCS) awaits a decision from the State on its application to expand, both PCS and the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) face law suits in the state courts over violations of the open public meeting act (OPMA, the sunshine law). The Charter School applied to the State Department of Education on December 1, 2016, requesting to add 76 students and to institute a weighted lottery to increase enrollment of economically disadvantaged students. The proposal set off immediate resistance from the PPS, which warned of severe financial consequences for the District. Controversy between the schools and within the community continues to seethe. PPS has filed a lengthy formal objec-
tion to PCS expansion, and PCS has filed a rebuttal to that objection. The Princeton School Board has sued the Charter School Board for violation of the sunshine law when it took action to file its application for expansion. The Charter School Board has counter-sued, claiming that the PPS Board violated OPMA by holding an ”unlawful” closed session in December to plan opposition to the Charter School expansion. Charter School Board Chair Paul Josephson has claimed that the PPS suit was filed only to delay the New Jersey Education Commissioner’s decision on expansion of the Charter School and that the suit should be withdrawn. Continued on Page 8
RUNNING FOR LOVE: All ages are off and running in Saturday’s Cupid’s Chase 5K Run in support of people with disabilities. Based at the Princeton Shopping Center, the event was sponsored by Community Options.
EARN MORE! 14-MONTH CD
E CHECKING
1.25% 0.80% APY *
APY†
877.821.BANK
firstbanknj.com
*The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) of 1.00% available only on new 14-month certificates of deposit. The APY is accurate as of the date of publication and is subject to change without notice. Minimum deposit and balance of $500 required to obtain current APY. Withdrawal of interest may reduce APY. Early withdrawal penalty may be imposed. At maturity, the CD will automatically renew to the same term and the current rate in effect at that time. Fees may reduce earnings. FDIC insured. † $500 daily minimum balance to open and to earn .80% APY; $15 per month if balance falls below $500. No Activity fees. Interest bearing. Unlimited check writing. No minimum usage levels, must sign up to receive e-statements, download mobile app and register for online banking. The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) .80% is accurate as of the date of this publication and is subject to change without notice, after the account is opened. FDIC insured up to applicable amounts.