Dear Mayor, dear Councilmembers of Princeton:

We, the undersigned residents of the municipality of Princeton, write to express appreciation for the measures already taken by your government. We applaud your efforts to communicate and act. Municipalities have faced constraints set by conditions set by national and state powers. However, municipal governments like ours can do more to protect working families and the most vulnerable and to keep residents fully informed.

Current state and federal benefits, even emergency ones, are not enough to ensure the wellbeing of all under pandemic conditions. Hourly, immigrant, uninsured workers and those whose medical benefits are contingent on worked hours are especially exposed. We call on you to immediately implement the following in your jurisdiction:

1. Suspend all in-person classes at private schools and colleges, as well as pre-schools, in the same manner as has been done by PPS. (Update: this has been accomplished)

2. In response to Governor Phil Murphy's order to close all restaurants, bars and other businesses and organizations that agglomerate people (other than essential services, food stores and pharmacies), demand that large businesses (those with more than two venues) comply without cuts in pay, with full medical benefits for the staff affected by these measures, be they hourly or salaried, and with guaranteed sick leave pay. Princeton's government must demand all other similar businesses and that institutions that have sent their workers home to guarantee pay, medical benefits, and sick leave commensurate to Covid-19 morbidity. (Update: this has been only partially accomplished. Public outcry and policy leadership modeled in other countries have pushed the State of NJ to mandate closures on all casinos, racetracks, gyms, movie theaters, and performing arts centers and to impose limitations on restaurants to take-out and delivery service only. What is still missing is bold action to ensure the income, medical coverage, and guaranteed paid sick leave of ALL workers and the unemployed. The House, the Senate, and the White House have produced Covid-19 social welfare, medical coverage, and paid leave measures that exclude millions of workers. The most vulnerable, including the undocumented, remain the least protected. Municipal governments can and must fight for comprehensive guaranteed income, full medical coverage, and paid sick leave for the duration of the pandemic from the State and the Federal governments, as well as for State and the Federal support for small businesses affected by shutdowns.)

3. Require all that remain open to provide prophylactic equipment to staff and appropriately train them in its use. (Update: We are told that supplies of this equipment are in short supply. If this is the case, then non-essential businesses should close, with large companies, colleges, and organizations providing all the benefits in point 2.)

4. Inform the public fully, in detail, and daily about all local governmental measures and data regarding Covid-19 cases, testing capability, and services through the municipal portal. Open municipal council meetings virtually for public intervention and publish minutes of these meetings.

5. Stop evictions and water shutoffs, initiating actions to stop translocal utility companies from shutting off services for non-payment. (Update: public pressure and international models have pushed NJ State courts to suspend evictions for unpaid rent and foreclosures. Likewise, water and utility shutoffs have been suspended as well.)