Volume LXX, Number 9 A Visit to Princeton’s Free Museum With a Free Spirit Named D.H. Lawrence. . . . . . . . . . 14
www.towntopics.com
Wage Theft Problem Persists in Princeton Despite 2014 Ordinance
Princeton Ballet School Director Mary Pat Robertson Retiring After 35 Years . . . . . . . . . . 17
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Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Bridge Closing, Solar Array Among Council Topics
The Stony Brook Bridge on Route 206 near Quaker Road, believed to be New Jersey’s oldest bridge, will likely remain closed through next week while damage to the historic span is assessed by the New Jersey Department of Transportation. The state of the bridge was among the issues brought up at a meeting of Princeton Council on Monday. Among the additional topics of discussion were a possible solar array plant atop the municipal garage, and the formation of a youth advisory committee to advise the governing body. Princeton’s engineer Bob Kiser reported to Council that the cracks in the Stony
Brook Bridge’s stone arches, found during an inspection, are worse than originally thought. Mr. Kiser and assistant engineer Deanna Stockton were to meet with the DOT on Tuesday to discuss making a temporary fix, and later a permanent repair, to the bridge. Built in 1792, the bridge is a National Historic Landmark. It is located within the Princeton Battlefield-Stony Brook Settlement Historic District and therefore subject to certain rules regarding preservation. “You obviously want to preserve both the historical integrity of it and the structural integrity of it,” said Mayor Liz Lempert at a pre-meeting press conference
earlier in the day. A diver sent down into the brook to inspect the damage discovered cracks in the foundation, and temporary dams were being installed to divert water so experts could get a better look at the damage, she added. The work has closed Route 206 between Hutchinson Drive and Lovers Lane, resulting in detours and slowed traffic. Motorists can check the DOT’s website, www.511nj.org for updates.
At Princeton Council’s January meeting devoted to setting goals for 2016, addressing the continuing problem of wage theft was voted a high priority. PU Women’s Hockey The governing body had adopted an Loses ECACH Series on ordinance in 2014 specifically geared to OT Goal . . . . . . . . . . 26 the issue in the landscaping industry, giving the town the ability to revoke a landPHS Boys’ Hoops Playing Solar Array scaper’s license if they violate state and Hard to the End . . . . . 31 federal wage laws. But the illegal practice Councilman Bernie Miller reported on of not paying workers for all of their work the possibility of placing a solar array on persists in other areas — most notably, the top deck of the town’s municipal gathe restaurant industry. rage, next to Princeton Public Library. If Continued on Page 13 A recent case involving Soonja’s restaurant on Alexander Street illustrates the situation. “It involved two workers who were owed money,” said Lou Kimmel, of the New Brunswick-based organization New Labor, which strives to improve working conditions for immigrants. “We tried to ML7, a real estate investment, develresolve it informally, but couldn’t. It was opment, management, and construction formally resolved with the state Departcompany headed by Jeffrey Siegel, has ment of Labor. The judge decided in favor purchased two adjacent properties on of the workers, so they got paid.” Witherspoon Street, one currently oc“She Is Teacher Prep”: In Princeton, where landscaping and cupied by Small World Coffee and the Princeton University’s restaurants are the biggest employers Jacqui Swain is the other formerly occupied by the Princeton of low wage workers, strengthening the Subject of This Week’s Army & Navy Store, according to Jessica ordinance would make sense, advocates Profile in Education . . . 7 Durrie, owner of Small World, and David say. “There are a lot of low wage workNewton, vice president of Palmer Square Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 ers in the restaurant industry. We have Management. seen a lot of wage theft in Princeton, even ML7, with offices in Princeton and New Books . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 though it’s a wealthy town,” said Craig York City, purchases and redevelops Garcia, of NJ Working Families Alliance. commercial real estate assets throughCalendar . . . . . . . . . . 24 “Cheeburger Cheeburger was one [that out the state and in the city. According to withheld wages] and there have been their website, ”We are an opportunistic Cinema . . . . . . . . . . . 20 many others over the years. It is unforbuyer, focusing on acquiring special situatunately widespread, and it’s against the tion properties or properties experiencing Classified Ads . . . . . . . 36 law. The reality is that enforcement at the some level of distress, whether in their state level is quite weak. On a local level, Clubs . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 existing capital structures, as a result of governments can say, ‘Listen, we’re not mismanagement or physical distress. going to renew licenses for people who Music/Theater . . . . . . 17 ML7’s expertise is in repositioning real are breaking the law.’” estate assets and unlocking value.” New Labor has been especially active Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Mr. Siegel was not available for comin the effort to fight wage theft in New ment on the purchase, his rationale for the Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 34 Jersey. Starting with New Brunswick, the purchase, or future plans for the two sites. organization has helped move anti-wageHe and ML7 also own the property across Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 theft ordinances in Princeton, Highland the street, acquired and renovated over Park, Newark,1and Jersey City.Page 1 CB NJ Princeton Town Topics-Shred HP 3.2.16_Layout 3/1/16 1:39 PM the past few years and currently occupied Real Estate . . . . . . . . 35 According to Council member Heather by Agricola Eatery. Howard, the governing body is exploring Established in 1993, with Mr. Siegel at Religion . . . . . . . . . . . 34 what they call “wage theft 2.0,”Local a potential Your Coldwell Banker Sales Associates the helm since 2006, ML7 seeks propordinance that would address the are prob-proud to participate in Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 erties in the $4 million to $100 million lem beyond the landscaping industry. Ms. range for “value-add commercial propHoward, who has been vocal about the IN A MELLOW TONE: On the second day of March th it seems reasonable to read erty acquisition, primarily in New Jersey Topics of the Town . . . . 5 RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE issue in Council meetings and in her work signs of spring in the mellow light falling on the Princeton University Chapel . and New York City, where we own many CARES FOUNDATION as police commissioner, hopes the issue Making a Difference Though in no Our one Communities! mentions it in this week’s Town Talk on favorite museums, our properties.” Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . . 6 can be moved forward thisContact year. your local local treasure, the information Princeton University Art Museum, open free of charge six office for more
Investment Company Purchases Two Properties On Witherspoon Street
CARES Days Continued on Page 10
April 14-16
days a week, is only a short walk away .
Coldwell Banker of Princeton Coldwell Banker of Princeton Sponsors Community Wide 3nd Annual Sponsors Community Wide 3rd Annual
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See page 42 for Date: Thursday, April 14, details 2016 Time: 10AM to 1PM ~ Rain or Shine
22nd Annual Albert Einstein Memorial Le
(Photo by Charles R. Plohn)
Continued on Page 10 Monday, March 14, 2016 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. • Free
22nd Annual Albert Einstein Memorial Lecture www.princetonchamger.org See page 24 for details
“Opening Doors Worldwi Through Medical Scienc