The annual town-gown meeting was held on Zoom due to continuing pandemic-related health guidelines, bringing together Eisgruber with Princeton Mayor Mark Freda and Princeton Council members, albeit virtually.

“I have felt throughout my time as president of the University that it has been very important to keep channels of communication open between the town and the University,” Eisgruber said in his opening remarks. “That’s true, in general. I think it has been more true than ever over the past year as we have dealt with a set of unprecedented crises that have tested both town and University, and, I think created challenging leadership decisions for all of us.”

“Even though it’s an overused phrase, ‘stronger together’ really describes how we have approached the pandemic,” said council member Mia Sacks. “It’s been an amazing partnership this past year, and it’s hard to imagine more extreme circumstances. The fact that we could partner so successfully under such difficult circumstances, I feel, bodes well for less challenging circumstances, and I feel that we’ll continue to build on all the channels of communication and cooperation that we have developed in the past year.”

In advance of the meeting, the University prepared a summary of various contributions to and partnerships with the town in 2020, including: the $4.03 million voluntary contribution to the municipality; $11.7 million in property and sewer taxes (making the University the largest property taxpayer in Princeton); $500,000 to establish the community’s Transportation Trust Fund; mutual aid and in-service training for Princeton police and fire personnel; and countless student volunteer initiatives within the community. Learn more.