Unlimited number of taxis and minimum insurance, so this ordinance will do what?

And where will all these taxis park legally? Absolutely useless....

This ordinance does nothing. As usual.

1 square mile needs that many? I find it hard to believe.

It was nice the other day when I was driving to HHS past the apartments, and a tax kept pulling over, and back in the road, because she was unsure where to go. Had the nerve to shoot me a nasty face, because I was confused on what to do. Good stuff in town... I am compelled to lock my doors, and keep my windows up now driving through there. Between beatings, shootings, robberies, and dangerous cab drivers, I am on edge in that area. What a shame.

How about asking why the boro is so willing to allow unlimited taxis . Could it be the same reason we allow the illegals into our schools and the boro? Just asking.

Thank you to the detailed Patch reporting. Now I know who I will be voting out of office in the next round of elections -Lynne Woods, Selena Bibens and Larry Quattrone. We are already completely overrun by cabs in H-town and to vote to make the number unlimited is completely ridiculous. This vote DECREASES the quality of life for most Hightstown CITIZENS!!
How about focusing on things that might make our town better...pedestrian bridge, update to water tx plant, disposition of vacant town building etc?

This make no sense. Why did the council waste so much time on this only to give in to political pressure? As residents of hightstown who pay taxes we deserve honest an efficient government. Currently we do not have that. Hightstown is out of control.

I wasn't at this week's meeting, but at the one earlier in the year that patch refers to where "Members of Hightstown’ Hispanic community protested this ordinance saying 20 cabs was not enough " NOT ONE of the members of the "community" lived in Hightstown. NOT A SINGLE ONE.

The taxi cab companies? NOT ONE is located in Hightstown. NOT ONE pays any taxes in the Borough.

And Jorge Torres, director of Unidad Latina en Acción NJ? The only contact number for him on their Web site is in Connectict!

Why did Bibbens, Woods, Quattrone and Mayor Kirson give in to a group that didn't have a single member from Hightstown in attendance? I had high hopes for the new police director, but why did he meet with taxi company owners from OTHER TOWNS and not with the residents who pay his salary?

I intend to be at the August 6 meeting to demand answers and to remind Quattrone that he's up for election and none of the taxi supporters can vote in Hightstown. I hope other HIGHTSTOWN residents do the same.

Who are you listening to? You must know that the number of taxis in our (must you be reminded again) one square mile of "paradise" (whose paradise?) is absolutely staggering and ridiculous. Your tax paying public wants change, you know that. You appear bullied by the parading protestors, and listening to none of us. Think about what NYC would be like with this concentration of taxis. I love my small town, I live here because it is/was a small town, and I am horrified by what you are doing. This decision has solidified by next vote. Thanks for making your true intentions known.

When will anyone listen to the residents of Hightstown....?

Not one thing has been accomplished by this council - no rug mill, no minute maid, no borough hall, no taxi ordinance and others....why do they always side with everyone except the town people who lived here for years and made this town what it is....vote all the incumbents out....

I'll give council a pass on minute maid and the mill. The borough doesn't own them and theres not much they could do about it. This taxi thing is a different story. One commenter mentioned about the police director meeting with the taxi owners but not the residents who have put up with all the problems caused by the taxis for years. But neither did the mayor. I guess we don't count.

I just feel like crying. I love this borough. I grew up here. I feel like a stranger in this place now with no voice, no choice but to continue watching it go to absolute crap. What can we do to clean this mess up? It just gets worse and worse as our leaders keep burying their cowardly heads further and further into the sand. I am sick to my stomach seeing what this borough has become. Absolutely sick.

Agree and we are probably moving out of town....the council members have too much say and decisions shouldn't be left up to seven people....the residents should vote on everything going on in town....this is not the old Hightstown and unfortunately, I think that is gone now.

Where are the Voices of Hightstown? Can't they help with this?

God helps those who help themselves.

Tell everyone you know to go to the council meeting on August 6 to show the taxi owners and Jorge Torres that this is our community and doesn't belong to some activist from Connecticut or taxi owners from East Windsor and show Bibens, Woods, Quattrone and Kirson who they really work for. If the taxpaying residents of Hightstown don't make it known that they've had enough, we'll continue to be ignored.

I can't believe the council has done this. Who are they here to serve? More cabs means more traffic in a town with too much as it is. The drivers of these cabs are not the most skilled to put it lightly. I have seen them cutting people off, running red lights, and making turns from wrong lanes.

Why not limit the number of cabs? “If you want to eliminate the gypsy cabs, the unlawful cabs, there is only one way to do that and that’s to give them the option to come clean". The only way for them to come clean?!? So what you are saying is you accept they are not clean now? Limit the cabs and limit the traffic, the roads are too small. Even NYC limits cabs.

I & a friend took a cab on a New Years and "we" had to give her directions to where we lived. This was within the township. I'd love to know to know how they get a drivers license with all the goofs they make. and people are complaining about "too many liquor stores????

Has anyone on the council looked at the website of unidad latina en accion? Very strange we would listen to such a fringe group. They are based out of new haven but represent our town? I dont buy it. Who is really behind these people? http://ulanj.webs.com/

Well I hope this get RESIDENTS OF HIGHTSTOWN to get to meetings and speak up!! It shows that if you show up with enough people and complain loudly you will be heard. Hope it's standing room only at next meeting

Anyone who wants their voice to be heard has to show up to these meetings..look at how many hispanics showed up. Volume in numbers...also, not one of them reads these blogs..oddly enough, even if they gave a crap to read them..they couldn't because they are written in ENGLISH!...

Hightstown is a great town with a rich history. It has a rich Main Street life and lively lake culture. Triathlon, Peddie swim, Peddie school, the paddle boats, music in the air, all good stuff. I do not believe the prolific comments above represent the majority sentiment. I am glad that there are people in HIghtstown who care about the town and believe in unity and breaking down barriers between peoples and recognizing the values of each others cultures. I like to visit Hightstown and have many friends there - friends of many races, some with papers and some without. I am glad that the community was able to come to an amicable compromise on the issue and hope that it can continue to move forward and build strength, unity and a better community. Go Hightstown!

Dear friend of Hightstown. You dont even live here so what do you know? This decision is not final and hardly seems like an amicable compromise. What do taxis have to do with uniting races making social progress? Cant we just make logical choices that benefit tax paying families. Extreme amounts of taxis are annoying regardless of ethnic background. We need control.

And since "Friend" likes singing Kumbaya so loudly, why doesn't he buy a house here and pay taxes and watch the town fall apart around him on a daily basis and then we'll see the tune change. There are plenty of houses available! Take your pick!

Hey guys, I have an idea , let's refer to our rich history, circa 1970 when we so proudly burned crosses following the announcement that our first African American police officer was hired. And hey fter that we can limit pizza delivery guys, and then school buses and maybe even out of towners, yeah that's it We'll show em!!!!

The third Saturday of the month, Rob Thibault and Susan Bluth have public meetings at the Hightstown Library starting from 10:00 A.M. - suggest we go and talk to them as maybe they can help?

Do you have any sort of "mission statement" or goal that you are working to achieve? Because if there isn't one, perhaps a clear public objective would help the rest of us understand just what is going on here. We pay our rising taxes, we follow the law, we volunteer to help, we try our best to be good neighbors. And in return? Well, that speaks for itself. So just to help us all with longterm life planning, be proud of what you're trying to achieve, state your goals, and let the rest of us decide what to do next. Let us respect you for your honesty, and if we don't like it, we'll move on, and those who want to live "this way" can take our places. Be brave enough to stand up for what you believe and the changes you continue to make for Hightstown.....or admit that this town is spiraling out of control, and you're trying everything you can think of to scratch your way out. Be real, be honest, tell us please.

Because, as you might remember, you knocked on our doors, we let you in, you listened, we listened, we talked, you told us you feel the same way, we voted you in, and then......................you slammed the door and stole the key. Ouch, way to lose face.

Resolution 2005-06

I am a taxi owner from east windsor and west windsor that has been licensed in these towns for 18 years. I was at a few meetings in hightstown about 6 years ago when I requested that Hightstown insurance requirements for taxis be raised. The lies about the inability of hightstown to raise the requirements are false. West Winsdor requires their taxis to have 100,000/300,000 coverage. This is to protect the residents of the town and visitors to the town. If you got into an accident in a hightstown or east windsor taxi, you would be barely covered for injuries. The companies involved have very little assets to go after, so you would basically be not covered. But they only charge $4 for a local taxi fare, so that makes it ok.
My company has full coverage on its taxis, and my fares give reasonable compensation to my drivers. These taxis pay there drivers $3-5 and hour forcing them to work 100 hrs a week, and to live in these towns either 10-15 in a 1 bedroom apartment by the high school, or to rent space in town houses in twin rivers 15-20 in a house. Most of the drivers have falsified documentation, allowing them have social security numbers and fake drivers licenses. But dont worry as long as the rest of us save money and exploit these people by paying $4 to go from Twin rivers to Princeton arms which is a price charged in the area in the 1960's when gas was 50 cents a gallon and cars were $2000 each, Let the exploitation continue.

Just to let the hightstown public know I pick-up in hightstown and so does every LEGALLY licensed taxi from other towns. My drivers have been fingerprinted, had criminal checks done yearly, and have no criminal records. My cars are inspected by the MVC and the West Windsor Police. We also have $300,000 insurance on our cars, not $15,000,30,000,5000 like your town taxis. Some people like the $4 taxis, and others rather have dependable, fully insured cars and drivers. It is your choice.

Working together we will create a better community.