That's odd since the number of Princeton families eligible for the checks is supposed to be 869 as previously reported by Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal. Something is amiss.

No response from the VP of Princeton University Office of Finance and Treasury, the mayor of Princeton, the President of the Community Foundation of NJ (CFNJ, the organization directly responsible for the distribution of funds) or the editor and publisher of the Town Topics on this matter. CFNJ has denied my family the $2500 property tax subsidy that between 750 and 869 Princeton families are to have received as qualified by their receipt of the Homestead property tax subsidy. Very difficult to believe my family is the only family so denied. No explanation from CFNJ other than, "sorry, all funds have already been distributed." Just how large is the problem? Why will the same problem not exist again next year? Who is responsible for ensuring the Princeton University funds allocated are distributed to those who qualify for them? And posibly those who do not?

The mayor of Princeton as the chief elected officer has an absolute responsibility to research the matter and immediately respond to you. I would also contact each and every Princeton Council member about this matter. Don't expect a blessed thing from the local Princeton media about anything of real importance, especially if the matter is deemed to be "controversial" in any way whatsoever. I know this from 27 painful years of experience. Even if you are unqualified for the "gift" (?), you are certainly entitled to a response from your elected officials. The combination of three very heavily taxing jurisdictions (Princeton, Princeton Schools, and Mercer County) is crippling what very little remains of the middle class in this town, and we must demand that we not be ignored as in the past.

Thanks for the encouragement Frank. The fact that our family qualifies is not even in question. CFNJ acknowledges we do. They simply feel no obligation to look into the matter. Kind of the Chris Christie take on civil service.

closed years ago