Princeton Borough Mayoral Candidate Profile: Yina Moore

With local elections approaching, to help provide readers with a better understanding of why each is running. The questions were:

• Why are you running for Borough mayor?
• What are the three issues most important to you and why?
• Why should residents vote for you?
• Do you support consolidation with Princeton Township? Why or . why not?

Moore has submitted her answers and included a note to indicate that her responses were past our deadline due to an email forwarding oversight. 

Here are her responses:

Why are you running for Borough Mayor?

I am a proud graduate of PHS and of Princeton University ('79), My family has deep roots in this community, and we have a long tradition of community service. After years of work elsewhere as an architect and planning professional, I moved back to Princeton in the mid-1990's so my daughter could have the advantage of an education in our public schools. My community service includes eleven years as a member of the Princeton Regional Planning Board and involvement in many initiatives for Princeton, including the downtown development and its centerpiece, Hinds Plaza.

I am running for Borough Mayor because I am concerned about the threats to our community’s sustainability as an environmentally sensitive, economically viable and socially inclusive community.  The threats to our community's sustainability involve issues of property taxes, land uses, infrastructure, and revenues.  I will work at the local, county, state and national levels to seek creative solutions to these issues.   

What are three issues most important to you and why?

The property tax issue has many dimensions and will continue to be a major issue for our community.

A second pressing issue is the challenge posed by development pressure. We need to foster sustainable land use practices that consider the social and economic, as well as the environmental impacts of proposed development. Principles of sustainable design should be followed for all capital projects.

The economic stability and livability of our community is dependent on convenient access to jobs and transportation. Transportation policies that encourage alternative modes to the automobile, including mass transit, walking, and biking, are critical to our daily air quality. I am interested in preserving our mass transit line, “the Dinky”, our direct link to regional and national rail service, planning for an extended local service, and promoting the extension of the FreeB. I continue to believe the University will reconsider and rework its plans to preserve the Dinky in its current location.

Another significant issue is our relationship with our tax-exempt institutions, in particular with the University. We will not always agree, and when we disagree, it is important for the Borough to have leaders who can be forceful advocates for the public interest. Our ability to sustain a vibrant and diverse community is inextricably tied to our non-profit corporate citizens paying their fair share.

Why should residents vote for you?

Residents should vote for me because I am the candidate who is best prepared for the job. I have the educational credentials and professional experience that are immediately relevant to the issues that will face the next Borough Mayor.

In addition, I have almost two decades of experience in local government affairs, including eleven years of experience on the Regional Planning Board and experience on many other Boards and commissions that grapple with issues that affect our daily lives as Princeton residents.  Apart from this, I have longstanding ties to the community. I am a fourth generation resident who comes from a family with a long tradition of community service. I love the Borough, I love Princeton, I want to maintain it as a walkable, sustainable, and inclusive community. Residents should vote for me because I am the candidate who is best prepared for the job.  

Do you support consolidation with Princeton Township? Why or why not?

Consolidation is a critical issue for Borough voters to decide on November 8. However, after November 8, the issue will have been decided. The job of Borough Mayor, whether for one year or four, will be to be a strong advocate for Borough interests. My experience on municipal and civic boards and my thorough knowledge of our community have prepared me well for that role.

If consolidation passes, I will make it a priority to ensure that the transition is smooth and that Borough interests are met in order for us to be in the best position to realize the anticipated savings. However, that does not mean that everything will come to a halt in the transition year. 

On consolidation itself, there are strongly held views on both sides. The decision about a change in our municipal boundaries is complicated. I regret that, for some, the issue has become divisive. It touches upon voting power, upon longstanding institutional arrangements and civic identity, and upon views about how to deliver governmental services most efficiently. I have consistently said that voters need to inform themselves and make up their own minds based on how they weigh the competing factors at stake.