Residents urge support for food-insecurity drive and businesses hit by bridge closure

Multiple residents used the council's public-comment period on Nov. 10 to press for community and municipal action on food insecurity and to ask for support for businesses affected by a temporary bridge closure.

Two residents, Lisonbee Simi and Elizabeth Wagner, described a local fundraising drive organized with Mercer Street Friends called Send Hunger Packing, aiming to raise $100 per student for roughly 400 students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in the West Windsor-Plainsboro district. Wagner said the group hopes to raise $40,000 to provide gift cards distributed through school-district partners and praised local fundraising and nonprofit coordination. The presenters asked the council to amplify the campaign through township channels and social media.

Small-business owners described steep short-term revenue declines after the township closed a corroded bridge for safety and placed detour signage that some drivers interpret as road closures. Ashut Kamal Dugar said his Clarksville Plaza business experienced a roughly 50% drop in customers during a recent week and asked for clearer signage and promotion to direct customers to open businesses. The mayor acknowledged the damage to the bridge structure, said county and state DOT engineers are studying two repair options, and committed to improved signage, message-board promotion and targeted outreach to affected businesses.

Other public commenters discussed development pressures (warehouses on Clarksville Road) and longer-term traffic planning. Council members and staff encouraged impacted businesses to share contact information with the administration for targeted messaging and said town web and social channels would be used to announce that businesses remain open during roadwork.