Get To Know Princeton Council Candidate: Lisa Wu

PRINCETON, NJ — Lishian “Lisa” Wu is one of the three candidates running for election in the contested Princeton Council race being held on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

There are three candidates vying for two, three-year seats on the council with candidates including: Democrats Dwaine Williamson and Eve Niedergang and Republican Lishian “Lisa” Wu.

Lisa Wu

My name is Lisa Wu and I'm running for Princeton Council. I'm running because Princeton is facing a crisis which affects the very essence of Princeton as we know it. The principal culprit is our local government which seems incapable of addressing our continually rising property taxes beyond temporary fixes and dipping into reserves.

Long-time Princeton residents, both people of means and those with modest incomes or pensions, are leaving town because Princeton is pricing itself out of the market either because it is no longer affordable or is failing to provide sufficient added value for the cost involved. Our mayor and the Council she dominates stand by passively as the other Princeton taxing authorities, the public school system and the County, seem to live on another planet when it comes to taxation. Where are our elected officials in advocating on behalf of the beleaguered taxpayer? Missing in action! It's time to elect a constructive dissenting voice and taxpayer advocate to Council.

The three most serious issues in Princeton are number one property taxes, number two property taxes, and number three property taxes. What to do about them? Get back to basics by starting with a budget process that focuses on the essential services a municipality should provide:

1. Public safety and security,
2. A modern, well-functioning, cost-effective sewer and waste water system and
3. Well-managed traffic and pedestrian flow, good streets free of potholes, adequate parking and clean sidewalks.

Then prioritize and justify additional expenditures through the process of zero-based budgeting. I would further advocate freezing municipal employment levels and holding the line on personnel costs and benefits. Such focus would inevitably lower budget costs and taxes.

New Jersey already has the highest effective property tax rate in the United States. In Princeton, residents pay 2.3 percent annually of their homes' assessed value in property taxes. And assessed valuations keep rising. The average property tax in Princeton consumes one-sixth of the median income. The Town's suffocating ordinances and regulations increase the cost of housing, lessen affordability and discourage business development.

We must face the reality that Princeton is living beyond its means. The municipality can not be all things to all people. We should observe and learn from neighboring communities who do it just as well with less burden on the tax-payer.

One Republican on Town Council can make a huge difference. No more decision-making behind closed doors. Public airing of differing opinions. Guaranteed transparency and serious consideration of public input.

My Story:

I was born in Taiwan and came to the United States in 1974 to study at the University of California, Los Angeles. My professional background was in accounting. I raised three children as a single mother and one of my daughters graduated from Princeton University's Ph.D. program. I am a resident of Princeton affordable housing. Earlier this year, I was instrumental in persuading Princeton Council to reinstate "Nutritionally Balanced Free Meals" for senior citizens at the Princeton Senior Resource Center. I teach Chinese as a Second Language on a part-time, volunteer basis. I am committed to community involvement and ensuring that Princeton remains affordable for all our residents, especially seniors and retirees who need a helping hand.

— (If you are a candidate and would like to participate in the profile, please email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com)

(Image provided: Lisa Wu)

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