Mayor's Update - October 16, 2020

[fyi]

Mayor's Update - October 16, 2020

Greetings Cranbury,

I hope that you've had a couple good weeks.

I want to make sure you are all aware of our town's plans for Halloween.

Cranbury Fire Department, Cranbury First Aid Squad and Cranbury Police Department will partake in a joint operation to ensure Halloween day and evening festivities are safe and enjoyable for our community, with a focus on ensuring public health.

We will be creating a safe zone on Main Street by shutting down a portion, from Station Road to Westminster Place, starting at 2:00 p.m. and ending at 8:00 p.m. on October 31st. Many residents requested this as Halloween approached last year, and with advance planning from the township in partnership with the Police, Fire, and EMS Departments, I'm happy we are able to get it in place this year. This safety zone will provide increased space for social distancing and include several sanitizing stations manned by our members of the Cranbury Fire Company and First Aid Squad. Cranbury Fire Department will be active with crews assisting with creating the safety zone on Main Street. We will encourage mask wearing even outdoors.

As mentioned already, the Main Street shutdown will begin at 2:00 p.m. This is to encourage some of the younger trick or treaters to get out a bit sooner to keep the crowds down in the Main Street area.

Early message boards will be in place a week prior to Halloween to notify the motoring public of the upcoming street closure. “No Parking” signs will be in place a few days prior for the residents on Main Street.

Of course, you do not have to partake in any activities during Halloween. If you do partake with passing out candy, please do so with mindful intent about public health. If you choose not to take part, feel free to turn off your lights, and we ask that pedestrians respect that and do not ring that bell or knock on that door.

Next Saturday, October 24th, our new Chief of Police Mike Owens will join me from 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. at Teddy's to meet with any residents who would like to stop by. Bring your mask and your questions.

Good luck with the return to hybrid school next week for those of you with kids at Cranbury School or Princeton High School!

Have a great week and stay safe.

Mayor Matt Scott

https://www.cranburytownship.org/home/news/mayors-update-october-16-2020

[Too long-79q2]

I thing many residents along Main St. aren't happy about the 2:00 start time. No one wants to sit at home and hand out candy for 6 hours. Also what is that going to do to the downtown businesses while Main St. is shut down to traffic for 6 hours? Was this discussed at a Committee meeting?

[anon-5372]

The 2pm start time is smart. Halloween is on a Saturday which means crowds will start early and continue until late. The only way to social distance as well as keep pedestrians safe is closing the street. If you don’t want to hand out treats put a sign out. As far as “businesses” I am sure Teddy’s will thrive.

[anon-404q]

The 2pm start time is going to encourage higher crowds. Maybe they will social distance, but doubtful as kids still go in groups. But that is why you shut the road down. The start time just encourages more people.

Hightstown and others around us have shut down their normal activities not increased them. This means that we’ll have a greater influx of people into Cranbury. With many seniors on Main Street and people not knowing during daylight hours that these individuals are not handing out candy you have increased the risk from COvId to our at risk residents.

The town without the opportunity for public input and transparency has now obligated people to be confined to home handing out candy for 6 hours. Trick or treating usually starts around 4:30/5. Shutting the road down and restricting hours means less crowds because people have less time.

This is a poorly conceived idea that burdens one set of residents and businesses. As the road is shut residents can’t do normal Saturday activities like grocery shopping, run to Home Depot, etc...

It should have been the usual time. Fine Shut Main Street down to encourage social distancing, but not for 6 hours.

[anon;oqs12-0076]

This is just one more ill conceived blunder done without public input. This "Leadership" by the folks in charge, both elected and an employee are ruining this town. It is So Sad to see us with such self serving. misguided, leadership. Next year we will be stuck with another bumbling idiot, one of the musical chair Mayors who will stick us with a Library we don't want and don't have any say about.
Fasten your seat belts and hold on to your wallets as it is going to be a very bumpy ride.

[anon-404q]

The Mayor and Deputy Mayor ran and for years complained there was no transparency. Now that they are in charge there is even less transparency. The public is totally excluded. The OEM is never discussed publicly, Halloween isn’t discussed, there are no updates on the lake, they try to kick the fire company out of the fire house, etc... Yes we get an email, but that is telling us what was done. There is no opportunity for input.

[anon-1ror]

Why is Main Street closed from Station Rd to Westminster Place? Why not make it Plainsboro Rd? Oh wait you do you not want to be inconvenienced like everyone else?

[anon-572n]

Trying to drum up outrage over closing main street on Halloween? That's a bit of a stretch. If I recall correctly there was a lot of support for the idea the last few years, especially after the hit and run but it was always brushed off as not possible.

The road will be closed for approximately the same amount of time and the same location as it is closed every single year for Cranbury Day, which did not happen this year, so to frame this as some huge inconvenience for residents is a bit silly.

Sounds like certain people are just upset because Matt got something done that was brushed off in the past.

[anon-037r]

you don't see this as having potential as a super spreader event? Do you live in the area of main street being closed down? How would you feel if the same area was shut down for a Trump rally?

[anon-4156]

Cranbury Day does not shut down Main Street from Station Rd to Westminster. Cranbury Day also did not happen due to Covid for fear of crowds. Nor does Cranbury Day have people visiting each home and incurring amp expense. Now you have a long stretch of road, surrounding towns curtailing events and are encouraging people to come in.

If you’re talking of a pat on the back. Check out today’s Cranbury Press with the lake dredging not happening. There is no thought when making decisions.

[anon-572n]

[anon-572n]

[anon-037r]

do you live within the area being closed down? Cranbury day was shut cancelled because of covid 19 ; but Halloween is ok?

[anon-388r]

Surprising that no one here has blamed Trump for this.

[anon-r302]

[anon-8r43]