West Windsor NJ
10-29-2025 8:14pm

Letter to the Editor - Say NO to Marathe and his slate! by Veronica Mehno

Flood Prone Route 1 Mayor Marathe Calls Lawrence Township's Problem

Hemant Marathe, in his 8 years as West Windsor's mayor, is known for prioritizing trucking and industrial warehouse complexes. Marathe has changed zoning laws in order to approve warehouse after warehouse. He claims these industrial developments "save" the town from affordable housing obligations, but the truth is Marathe is in the warehouse business and is connected with associates who have profited tremendously from these developments. At what cost? 

Is self interest at play? You judge for yourself.

Only if you love warehouses would you agree to bring the largest trucking and warehouse project in New Jersey to West Windsor (Bridge Point 8). Marathe is currently allowing the developer to get away with using 25 year old flood maps, even though the courts are currently giving us the opportunity to renegotiate the BP8 project with newer flood maps.

Marathe is in the “wholesale distribution” business. His office is located in a trucking depot. His business - VDYAS - requires refrigerated warehouses and trucks. He sees warehouses and thinks freakin’ awesome - this is my life! ...but we don't want it to be ours.

Bad Faith Investment

The Bridge Point 8 Project is a terrible investment for the next generation of West Windsor residents.

Marathe claims otherwise, and says it will net us a fortune.

If you have been reading his campaign material, one flyer reads that warehouses will bring $15MM in ratables, while in another flyer it says it will be $14MM. What happened to that $1MM?

I decided to OPRA this information and to my surprise there are no numbers to back up Marathe’s claim of the $14M, or perhaps $15MM, in ratables. I also spoke with the township attorney, and he told me that those numbers “do not exist.” You heard me - those numbers DO. NOT. EXIST.

He made up the benefit!

Bad Faith Accounting

The township administration should have engaged in financial studies to ensure the projected numbers were accurate. Instead, Geevers and others just rolled over and provided no check on power.

Now we have Joe Charles, a CPA, running for council alongside him. He has not answered one single question of how the number(s) was/were calculated. Joe, isn’t that exactly what a CPA is supposed to do?

In addition, 4 years ago, another CPA that opposed warehouses, projected the ratables to be in the low $5MM. This CPA did show his math and how the number(s) was/were calculated. Marathe and his slate do not like to be questioned, hence, every single time I ask them to document their calculations, they ignore the question.

Wake up West Windsor, hold this administration accountable and make them show you the numbers!

Once those “big, beautiful warehouses” are built, we’ll combat significant, dangerous truck traffic in front of schools. How could he go from BOE President to such callous disregard for our children’s safety?

West Windsor deserves better! Eight years is enough!

West Windsor can do better than enormous warehouses on empty, flood prone, farmland with invaluable wetlands. Can’t we negotiate strategically to build a walkable neighborhood, or a sports facility, or open space, or, or, or… or ANY of the 40 permissible uses there were BEFORE Marathe changed the zoning laws to accommodate his big developer friends. West Windsor will suffer continued gross overdevelopment if Marathe has his way!

On November 4th vote for Singh, Tomar and Winters! Save West Windsor! Make your vote count!

2 10
I'm interested
I disagree with this
This is unverified
Spam
Offensive

Replies

10-30-2025 8:00am

Hi Veronica, I was the CPA who disputed the Mayor's extemely fabricated estimate of property taxes from warehouses. It was a lot of work to calculate what local jurisdictions (South Brunswick, Cranbury, and Robbinsville) collect in taxes from their warehouse developments. That was 4-5 years ago, and I stand by my assessment that West Windsor would be lucky to achieve even one third of the Mayor's back of the envelope guess. There is a glut in the market of warehouse space that is likely to get much worse. Additionally, the location in West Windsor is not conducive to warehouse operations due to the distance from major transport networks. In all likelihood, these warehouses would be vacant and a magnet for illicit activities. 

I do not fault Joe Charles for avoiding a response. As a Partner at KPMG, you can't just say what you want on matters that could reflect back on KPMG as a whole. Having worked in Big 4, you almost need a quality review before you can tell someone what day it is. I exaggerate of course but he can't give what could be considered an opinion unless the opinion is backed up by evidence and has had an appropriate level of review. 

Frankly, I have much more concern about the Mayor's character and his unflinching support of the current President. They are two peas in a pod.

1
I disagree with this
This is unverified
Spam
Offensive
10-31-2025 1:17am

Vernonia filed 56 OPRAs in a 3 year period.  That is normal right? She is pictured at a Trump Fundraiser then turns on him and everything is MAGA this MAGA that! Strange.
 

1
I disagree with this
This is unverified
Spam
Offensive
11-02-2025 12:51pm

I was going to fact check each lie 1 by 1 but then realized there aren't any true statements in this rant. Rant is being polite as this certainly is not news, op-ed, etc. Just the inner monologue of someone who needs help.  Have you actually spoken to Veronica? You  can't take her seriously. One minute she loves Trump the next minute she hates him and everything is MAGA this and MAGA that. She was at a local Trump Event. Can pictures be posted here to back up this claim?

I disagree with this
This is unverified
Spam
Offensive
11-06-2025 12:57pm

Stacy, you have my full support. Although I cannot verify all the facts you make clear in your post, I cannot lay aside a strong belief that the Mayor is an exceedingly harmful addition to our community. The entire story rings to me as a most egregious exploitation of political power. I'm distraught to learn just ten minutes ago that he won the election. I have no idea what's in the minds of WW voters. Very sad. Very sad. My only hope now is that truth and justice can prevail, although it's only very slightly maintained. 

I disagree with this
This is unverified
Spam
Offensive