‘It is about the people’

Mayor Mark Freda was sworn into office, alongside newly-elected Princeton Councilmen Leighton Newlin and Brian McDonald, at the Princeton Council’s annual reorganization meeting Jan. 7.

Freda is beginning his second, four-year term as mayor.

Newlin is beginning his second term on the Princeton Council. McDonald is a newcomer, who replaces former Princeton Councilwoman Eve Niedergang. She did not run for re-election. The term is for three years.

All are Democrats.

Freda was sworn into office by Gov. Phil Murphy. Newlin was sworn into office by former Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer and McDonald was sworn into office by state Sen. Andrew Zwicker.

Once the full Princeton Council was seated, Councilwoman Mia Sacks was chosen to serve a second, one-year term as the Princeton Council president. She was sworn into office by Zwicker.

The Princeton Council moved quickly through 31 resolutions that ranged from appointing its professional staff to setting its 2025 meeting schedule.

In his remarks, Freda acknowledged that he loves doing the work that goes along with being the mayor. It is a privilege to serve the community.

An elected official should listen to constituents and welcome differing opinions, Freda said. The official also should be willing to change his or her mind, depending on updated information.

“An elected official should be open, be honest and be to the point,” he said. “It is about the people we serve. It is not about us. Never forget that.”

Freda pledged that residents would get his best effort, every day, and that he would work hard for everyone who lives and works in Princeton.

He said he would push the Princeton Council to do what he believes to be the right thing to do and to do it the right way. At the same time, he won’t take individual credit for the Princeton Council’s achievements because it is a team effort.

“One thing I have learned is that what you achieved yesterday is yesterday,” Freda said. “Today is a new day. We all need to ask, what can and what should we do better. Never stop thinking like that. Never rest on past achievements.”

Newlin, who grew up in Princeton, said it gives him a unique vantage point. He has walked the streets of Princeton all of his life, but the town is now at a crossroads.

The Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood, which was once a vibrant hub of Black businesses and families, is being transformed, Newlin said. Houses that sold for $150,000 are now pushing $750,000, which means longtime families are being pushed out of town.

“The word ‘gentrification’ gets thrown around, but this isn’t just about rising property values,” Newlin said. “It’s about displacement, culture and people losing their place in the story of Princeton.”

Gentrification results from zoning laws and land use policies that benefit some people at the expense of others, he said. Real equity means preserving the stories and ensuring that Princeton remains a place for everyone.

“It means asking hard questions,” Newlin said. “Can we integrate affordable housing into every part of town? Can zoning encourage not just economic diversity, but cultural and racial diversity as well.

“Are we creating a Princeton that welcomes everyone, or one that prices out working families, immigrants and people of color? Just because folks are not making noise does not mean they are not paying attention. Let me be clear – I am paying attention.”

Looking ahead, Newlin outlined a laundry list of priorities, such as working more closely with the Princeton Housing Authority to find ways to save money, and expanding mental health education and outreach to young people and senior citizens.

“I am ready to lead with even greater purpose, deeper resolve and sharper focus,” he said. The stakes are too high and the clock is ticking. Let’s get to work. The best version of Princeton is still ahead of us, and we will build it together.”

McDonald, who formerly served on the Princeton school board, agreed that the town is at a pivotal point. It is growing, but the growth must be smart, sustainable and respectful of the town’s unique character, he said.

“At a time when the average home costs more than $1 million, we need to find ways to make our town more affordable for individuals and families at all income levels so that our significant diversity may be sustained and expanded,” McDonald said.

There is also the need to maintain the vibrant Central Business District while also nurturing other areas of commercial activity, such as the Princeton Shopping Center and Route 206 at the north end of town near Montgomery Township, he said.

McDonald also encouraged creating partnerships with the town’s non-profit institutions – from the YMCA and YWCA to the Princeton Public Library, the Arts Council of Princeton, Princeton University, the Princeton Theological Seminary and the Princeton Public Schools.

Quoting U.S. Sen. Andy Kim, whom he met at a candidates panel during the summer, McDonald said that service isn’t just a job – it’s a way of life.

“I couldn’t agree more, and I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting to work,” McDonald said.

Sacks spoke to the values that bind residents as a community – inclusion, fairness and stewardship – in a message of hope, leadership and local action for a better future.

Sacks alluded to the potential changes in national policies as a result of the Nov. 5 general election. Progress does not depend on what happens in Washington, D.C., but on what the community chooses to do together, she said.

“Whether it is standing up for immigrants’ rights, expanding access to affordable housing or advancing sustainability, we have the power to lead and to inspire others to follow,” she said.

Federal policies will likely seek to marginalize or exclude certain populations, but officials are committed to making this community a place where everyone feels valued and welcomed, Sacks said.

“What gives me hope is the resilience and determination of this community,” Sacks said. “Time and again, we have proven that when we come together, we can overcome obstacles and build something better.

“The future we want – of inclusion, opportunity and (environmental) sustainability – isn’t just a fantasy. We are already building it right here with every policy we enact, every program we launch and every neighbor we support.”