Election Profile: Eve Niedergang For Princeton Council

PRINCETON, NJ — In Princeton, two Council seats are up for grabs in the upcoming elections, and two Democrats have filed their nominations. This is an uncontested primary.

No Republican has filed to run for the Republican party nomination for the June 8 primary.

Councilwoman Eve Niedergang is running for reelection. She was elected to Princeton Council in 2018. A Volunteer Coordinator at The Watershed Institute, Pennington, Niedergang has been a resident of Princeton for over 30 years.

As a councilwoman Niedergang has focused on infrastructure and sustainable landscaping initiatives, and chairs the cannabis task force.

Niedergang has a BA from Cornell University and an MA from Princeton University (History). She's been married to Andy Weiss for 33 years and has two children — Miriam, 28, and Sam, 25, both of whom attended Riverside Elementary, Princeton Unified Middle School, and Princeton High School.

Why are you seeking elective office?

I see it as an opportunity to continue giving back to a community which I love and in which I’ve lived for over 30 years. I’ve learned a lot during my first 2 ½ years on Council and I feel that I can be a more effective advocate now for the town and its residents.

The single most pressing issue facing Princeton is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

I can’t pick just one thing – how about three?

The challenges of climate change; Solutions: preserve open space to reduce flooding, continue carbon sequestration, and encourage biodiversity; continue the push to make municipal buildings, new development, and residences more energy efficient; and move towards electric vehicles and ensure electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Rising property taxes and the “missing middle.” Solutions: accessory dwelling unit ordinance (already passed) and other innovative planning and zoning to encourage density rather than sprawl; efficient stewardship of Princeton’s tax dollars and encouragement of other ratables such as the new hotel and increased commercial development to share the tax burden.

Recovery from the pandemic, and especially addressing the social and racial disparities the pandemic laid bare. Solutions: Use Princeton’s racial equity tool kit and elevate social and racial equity when discussing and determining policies and ensure that adequate care and attention is paid to those among us who are most vulnerable.

What’s your take on redevelopment in Princeton ?

The redevelopment process gives the municipality and the town a lot more tools to ensure that new developments meet the needs of both the developer and the community. This process strengthens the town’s position (and its ability to advocate for benefits for the residents), brings developers to the negotiating table, and brings financial benefits to this community. I’m strongly in favor of the redevelopment project at the Princeton Shopping Center and adjacent lots as well as the Thanet project.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

The issues that I’m currently focused on include a sustainable landscaping initiative, chairing the cannabis task force to ensure that Princeton makes thoughtful and fact-based decisions in light of legalization, reconceptualizing our waste stream, and making sure that our infrastructure (roads, sewers, etc) gets the attention that it needs.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

That I’ve done the job for 2 ½ years and, I believe, gotten better at it since I started.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Nothing replaces going to see something for yourself. A recent example of that for me was visiting Hilltop Park and realizing that the artificial turf field would essentially take up the entire available recreation area (except for the playground and skatepark) and would eliminate or severely curtail the opportunity for casual recreation and enjoyment of the park for people living in the neighborhood. That visit really cemented my opinion that this was not the right place to put in a turf field.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Bring your concerns to me and to other members of the Council! I know that I speak for my colleagues as well as myself when I say that all of us on Council want what is best for this community, so please don’t hesitate to reach out. I will always listen with an open mind and with respect.