Whereas, if Princeton University paid property taxes as do other taxpayers, property taxes would be reduced by 24% to Borough taxpayers and by 15% to Township taxpayers; and
Whereas, Princeton University, with an endowment of over $15 billion, owns over 40% of the value of the real property in Princeton Borough and 14% of the value of real property in Princeton Township, and
Whereas, universities were originally exempt from taxes to lower the cost of higher education; and
Whereas, this exemption from property taxes is unfair in the case of wealthy private universities located in communities where high property taxes threaten fiscal and social well-being; and
Whereas, in 2006, if Princeton University were not tax exempt, it would have paid more than $35,000,000 in real property taxes, almost $28,000,000 more than it actually paid in 2006, and
Whereas, such payments from Princeton University to the Princeton community would reduce high property taxes; and
Whereas, Princeton University is constructing new buildings, acquiring property outside its central campus and preparing for the largest expansion in its history; and
Whereas, Princeton University’s expansion diminishes its host municipalities’ ability to depend upon guaranteed tax-paying real property; and
Whereas, other universities have undertaken extensive programs to ensure their host municipalities’ prosperity, thus acknowledging the interdependence of universities and their host municipalities; and
Whereas, Princeton University acknowledges that it, too, has a responsibility to its host municipalities by paying taxes on some of its residential property, and by making an annual payment in lieu of taxes (“PILOT”) to Princeton Borough and Township; and
Whereas, in 2006, the total that Princeton University paid for the municipal share of its property taxes and PILOTs was only $1,816,000 to Princeton Borough and $904,000 to Princeton Township; and
Whereas, in view of Princeton University’s growing endowment, increasing assets, rising income, and expanding physical plant, the University should contribute fairly to Princeton Borough’s and Princeton Township’s annual operating budgets;
Whereas, the Executive Committee of the Princeton Community Democratic Organization passed this resolution on the 1st of March, 2008;
Now, therefore, be it resolved, on this 22nd day of June, that the general membership of the Princeton Community Democratic Organization hereby encourages the Princeton community to:
Promoting Higher Ethical Standards in Politics and Clean Government Reforms
Important “Clean Government” issues currently being debated at the federal, state, county, and local level that Democrats should support include:
Banning Pay-To-Play
-- limitations on awarding public contracts to political campaign contributors or requiring contractors to make contributions in order to become eligible for public contracts.
Campaign Finance Reform
-- Public financing of campaigns.
-- Limitations on size and sources of candidate contributions.
-- Limitations on “wheeling,” the covert moving of political contributions by one “power broker” to another candidate or issue campaign in order to evade campaign finance limitations.
-- Limitations on “bundling,” the collection by lobbyists for special interests to assemble a number of substantial contributions from individuals in order to influence a candidate.
-- Limitations on how close to an election advocacy groups (e.g., “527” groups) can spend money on advertising or other means in and attempt to affect the outcome of the election.
Election Integrity Reform
-- Accurate, tamper-proof machine balloting and tallying, including paper trail verification.
-- Required deployment of sufficient voting stations to ensure that voters in all election districts have an opportunity to vote without burdensome delays.
-- Improved voter registration and voter identification that does not impose discriminatory or burdensome requirements on citizens.
-- Statewide voter registration records (as required by new federal law).
Banning Conflicts of Interest
-- by office holders, staffs, and appointees.
Limiting Nepotism
-- appointment of spouses and other relatives to staffs and other positions. Exceptions should only be acceptable if relative is extraordinarily well qualified.
Banning Dual Office-Holding -- simultaneous election to more than one office at different levels of government, including the collection of multiple salaries and pensions.
Lobbyist Reform
-- registration and activity/finance reporting by government lobbyists.
-- required time gap between office holding or key staff positions and registration as lobbyist.
-- limitations on gifts and travel expense payments to officeholders, members of their staffs or government regulatory officials.
As revised, October 17, 2006
We need all people to be healthy and educated, and to lead productive lives,
and all children and elders to be cared for.
We need a free press, our votes and voices to be heard,
and honest and knowledgeable officials.
We need to work with others in the world,
to have a healthy economy,
to take care of our planet's environment,
and to reduce the widespread violence.
The Democratic Party is the party that cares about people.
People are our greatest resource.
We draw people together to solve the urgent problems
of our communities, our country, and the world.
Will we as citizens step up and take on the challenge?
On the Iraq war
The withdrawal of our troops will enable the Iraqis to take responsibility for their own country's future. The presence of foreign troops only exacerbates the country's internal conflicts. American and other lives are too precious to be wasted in a war without end. We must have a clear exit strategy, independent of any undefined and unattainable `victory'. We also ask for strict oversight of American funds appropriated for use in Iraq and elsewhere by private companies.
On National Security
We take great pride in our military defense force. We must not allow its strength to be eroded. War must remain the last weapon when our security is gravely threatened after all other measures have failed.
We need also to strengthen our police systems, and to establish a national plan for action by first responders and police in national emergencies.
Whether or not this is our aim, we have allowed the perception to grow that we are waging a war on Islam, and this has led to an unfortunate decrease in our security. It is imperative that we reverse this trend.
The greatest weapons that we have are our principles and our integrity. We can only lead by being the best that we can be.
On International Relations
Our military strength is a fundamental protection for our country. Its might has caused us to rely on it strongly, but we must not neglect the power of negotiation. We cannot be the police for the whole world, but our strength gives us the opportunity to be `honest brokers'.
On Health Care
The U.S. Health Care System is in crisis. One in six Americans has no medical insurance. Many citizens must choose between paying for medical care and basic necessities. Average spending for health care per person in the U.S. tops that of other developed countries, yet indices of public health in this country, such as life expectancy and infant mortality lag inexcusably. The fraction of resources spent on administration is much smaller for Medicare than in private insurance. We advocate the creation of a system of Medicare for all, financed by a trust fund like that for Social Security.
On the Economy
The U.S. economy has displayed a remarkable increase in worker productivity within the last decade, yet wages of workers and middle class incomes have remained stagnant or declined. The tax laws, as well as other practices, have allowed the rich to become richer, have left a greater fraction of the population to struggle just to stay at the same economic level, and made it more difficult for families with low resources to raise their standard of living. We support laws and regulations that reverse this trend and that protect workers as well as investors.
On Education
In the past the U. S. was a leader in science education, but it has now fallen far behind. The achievements of our students in quantitative and general literacy are inadequate. They must be raised if we are to regain our leadership in innovation and technology. We must attract more of our best students to the teaching profession, and invest more in our educational system. Student loans at low interest should be provided directly by the government.
On Energy and the Environment
Conservation of our energy resources is the simplest and cheapest way to decrease our reliance on imported oil and other fuels. In addition we must invest more in the development of renewable energy sources. We now know that global warming is a major threat to our civilization. We support measures to reverse the increase in carbon dioxide and other emissions that give rise to this effect. We must also conserve our other natural resources, including clean air and water, and protect the land that we hold in common for the good of future generations.
On Social Security
We oppose the privatization of the Social Security system, and the use of the Social Security Trust Fund to finance the national deficit. We favor the abolition of the cap on earnings subject to social security deduction, which unfairly exempts high income earners from our common social obligations.
On Immigration
Raising the minimum wage will encourage American citizens to take on jobs now performed by illegal immigrants. At the same time we can put pressure on governments and companies abroad to improve working conditions and to raise the standards of workers in their countries.
On Open and Ethical Government
A Democratic administration will minimize the use of secrecy in its relation with the general public. It will pay constant attention to the protection of our civil liberties and vigorously enforce the civil rights laws. We believe in a free and open press, and will see to it that the Internet remains equally accessible to all. We support the Geneva Convention which stipulates the rights of war prisoners, and oppose the use of torture or inhuman treatment to anyone in U.S. custody.
A fundamental tenet of our democracy is our right to vote and to have that vote counted. Our voting system must include verification, accountability and accuracy. Democrats will demand and supervise equitable access to polls. We will resist all attempts to legislate voting requirements which under the pretense of avoiding fraud create obstacles to access to the polls. We will demand legislation which modernizes election equipment and guarantees impartiality, legality and honesty in registering and counting every vote cast.
Submitted by Judy Leopold, Beth Healey, Jim Healey and Jenny Crumiller
The slow reaction of the international community to the savage fighting in the Darfur region of Sudan, especially the brutal campaign against Darfur's tribal people by the janjaweed militias backing the Sudanese government, has been appalling. Sixteen months have gone by since a United Nations commission of inquiry documented the atrocities being perpetrated in Darfur, yet governments continue to calculate the most expedient political alliances and advantages.
Still, citizen pressure is making a difference. International efforts to halt the killings and mass expulsions in Darfur have made some headway, and intense pressures have pushed the Sudanese government and the largest of three rebel militias to accept a shaky peace agreement -- for which credit needs to be given to the Bush administration (especially Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick), the United Nations, and the African Union, all of whom have worked to put together a peace deal that would stop the terrible killing of the Darfurian people.
With the peace agreement signed, the following actions should be implemented:
We call upon the Congress and the President to move swiftly on the items that are within their jurisdiction to decide, and to join other countries in pressing for the items that require international action through the United Nations.
The Princeton Community Democratic Organization commends the efforts of the New Jersey Legislature and the Governor to reduce corruption in our government by creating a pilot project for public financing of elections. For too long the image of New Jersey has been tarnished by the corrosive effect of special interest money seeking influence on government decisions. Public campaign financing is the single most direct and effective way to deal with this problem. Therefore, it is the view of the PCDO that the New Jersey Citizens' Clean Elections Commission's Final Report of May 8, 2006 should be given priority attention by the state legislature and the Governor. The PCDO supports the expansion of the project as an important milestone on the road to clean elections and clean government in New Jersey.
Additionally, the PCDO urges the governing bodies of Princeton Borough and Princeton Township ban “pay-to-play” campaign contributions at the local level.
Submitted by Toby Israel, Nancy Hall, Toshi Abe and Lawrence Kane
A Resolution of the Princeton Community Democratic Organization Relating to Health Insurance Reform in the United States.
WHEREAS, The PCDO believes that the current system of tying health insurance to employment is unsustainable; and
WHEREAS, Serious changes need to be made to address the rising costs of medical care and health insurance; and
WHEREAS, It is also unacceptable that, in the richest country in the world, 46 million of its population are uninsured; and
WHEREAS, Health care is an internationally recognized human right, not a privilege
RESOLVED by the Princeton Community Democratic Organization that we support the creation of a universal health insurance program.
Submitted by Linda Gochfeld and Mary Ellen Marino Co-chairs, Impeachment Task Force
WHEREAS, George Bush and Dick Cheney, as President and Vice President, have sworn to protect the Constitution of the United States, but instead have acted so as to undermine the Constitution, meeting the definition of “high crimes and misdemeanors” which Constitutionally justifies impeachment;
WHEREAS, among their offenses are the following:
1. Making false statements to Congress and the American people in order to justify the Iraq War;
2. Invading a country which was not a threat to the U.S., incurring great and ongoing destruction of life, the loss of international support, and increased threat to our security;
3. Violating the Constitution and international law by imprisoning people arbitrarily and secretly without trial, and subjecting these prisoners to abuse and torture;
4. Subverting the Constitution and abusing Presidential authority by asserting a “Unitary Executive” principle of unlimited presidential powers, using “signing statements” to disobey hundreds of laws passed by Congress, and promulgating “counter-terrorist” laws which violate civil liberties;
5. Performing electronic surveillance of US citizens without court approval, violating the law;
6. Involvement directly or indirectly in widespread election irregularities, raising serious questions about the validity of their election and reelection;
7. Failing to enforce laws of fiduciary responsibility; allowing major corruption in military contracting, (e.g. no-bid contracts with Halliburton, Cheney's previous employer); failing to enforce laws protecting the environment, workers and consumers; and regularly appointing officials who are unqualified, either by virtue of experience or conflict of interest, thereby risking public safety and welfare as in Hurricane Katrina.
WHEREAS, the Democratic Party is the only organized opposition party in the United States, and thus has a special obligation to take a strong position in the face of these clearly recognized abuses by the Republican Administration;
WHEREAS, Democratic Parties in thirteen (13) states and numerous localities have now passed resolutions to support the impeachment of Bush and Cheney for these offenses;
WHEREAS, since these actions pose an imminent threat to our Constitutional rights, democracy and the rule of law, they must be addressed immediately by the strongest possible means, i.e. impeachment proceedings. If these crimes are allowed to continue unchecked, the future of democracy in America will be seriously damaged;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Princeton Community Democratic Organization supports Congressional action that will lead to the impeachment of George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney for their offenses against the US Constitution and the American people.
Submitted by Anne Reeves, Beth Healey, Chad Goerner, Wendy
Benchley, Dan Preston; Grace Sinden, Jenny Crumiller, Mark Freda, Peter
Lindenfeld, Robert Turoff, Russ Weiss, Tony Cline, Andrew Koontz and Barbara
Trelstad.
WHEREAS, Competitive elections are essential for a healthy,
representative democracy; and
WHEREAS, Non-Competitive elections increase voter apathy,
reduce accountability and cause disillusionment with the Democratic Party; and
WHEREAS, Competitive elections increase voter participation,
increase accountability and lend vitality to the Democratic Party; and
WHEREAS, Competition tends to raise the caliber of the
winning candidates; a benefit to the Democratic Party and to the community; and
WHEREAS, Social dynamics among incumbents, party leaders and
PCDO members can be a powerful force against challenges to the status quo, and
WHEREAS, Voter demographics* virtually assure the election
of Democrats at the local level, and gerrymandering has reduced competitiveness
at the state legislative and congressional level;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the PCDO that we actively
promote competitive primaries within the Democratic Party and within our organization,
facilitating competition with concrete actions and by creating a social climate
where Democratic challengers at all levels are welcomed and encouraged.
* According to June 2007 voter registration records, 74% of
partisan voters in Princeton are Democrats and 26% are Republican