Those who predicted doom and gloom two years ago were wrong
By Pam Hersh
Jan. 1, 2015 marked a big anniversary of the apocalypse — not.
It was the 15th anniversary of Y2K, the predicted computer-generated end of the world that never happened. At the stroke of midnight on Jan. 1, 2000, analysts speculated that entire computer networks would crash, causing widespread dysfunction in a world that was dependent on computers for its existence.
It was also the second anniversary of Princeton’s only-in-Princeton apocalypse — not. Consolidation of Princeton Borough and Princeton Township began on Jan. 1, 2013 and, according to some, it was supposed to have brought about disastrous lifestyle ramifications for the community.
Fifteen years ago, my awareness of the impending doom was heightened by the fact a colleague of mine (who could have been the inspiration for the characters on “The Big Bang Theory”) was a computer survivalist. He invited me to bring my family to his Y2K survival bunker — a facility that probably served him well during Superstorm Sandy. I remember standing on the front lawn of Princeton University’s Nassau Hall at midnight waiting for the apocalypse. As one of the organizers of Princeton’s former “First Night/Curtain Calls” celebration, I had a lingering anxiety that I was like Emperor Nero, partying with fireworks and other entertainment, as the world was coming to an end.
We dodged the bullet on Jan. 1, 2000; as we did on Saturday, May 21, 2011 when evangelist Harold Camping predicted the world would cease to exist; as we did on Dec. 21, 2012, when the ancient Mayans predicted the end. So I approached the Princeton consolidation disaster predictions for Jan. 1, 2013, with appropriate skepticism.
Princeton’s consolidation apocalypse not only has failed to materialize, but also may have created a better community. The naysayers were predicting a variety of disasters, nothing as dramatic as comets plunging from the heavens and crashing into the beloved Wawa, but more evolving catastrophes including:
• The downtown retail community would collapse and acquire the faceless demeanor of (heaven forbid) Princeton Junction.
• Residents would lose access to elected officials, and democracy would falter.
• Crime would escalate.
• The streets would be strewn with garbage.
• None of the predictions of fiscal savings and increased efficiency in government would occur.
And then there were the consolidation Doomsdayers Lite, those who said that even if none of the bad stuff occurred, nothing would change. So why on earth (or why in town) did the Princeton residents have to be subjected to an expensive and time-consuming marriage ceremony? But those who have been on consolidation disaster watch have been sorely disappointed for the following reasons:
• The Central Business District of Princeton seems to be getting a lot of attention from government officials. Public works crews increased trash pickup to twice a week. Recycling has been implemented. Crosswalks are being improved. Transit access is a priority. The identity of the urban center has not been swallowed up by the bland suburban, deer-dominated environment. The officials even have managed to keep the deer out of Small World, but on the menu of Agricola.
• Garbage collection is working better than ever, and streets throughout the community are clean. Gone are the days when residents of the township subversively dumped their bags of garbage onto borough streets because the borough had municipal pickup unlike the township’s private pickup service.
• The Princeton Police Department is more efficiently and equally effectively serving the residents. Fewer law enforcement personnel are doing a great job protecting the community and being more visible in the community by attending neighborhood meetings and even bringing coffee to protesters (next time, Chief Sutter, I want a latte, please).
The town also for the first time has a formal operations protocol with the Princeton University Public Safety department that allows for more efficient responses to emergencies on campus and greater collaboration during public emergency situations. The Princeton Police also now is utilizing Nixle Community Information Service — a new high-tech communications service that allows the police to communicate important information directly to residents.
• Democracy is thriving. Access to public officials has been a clear priority for the elected officials, a quality that has a downside in the form of long public meetings. (I occasionally would welcome a benevolent dictator for some decisions.) Citizens are given ample opportunity to voice their opinions to elected officials at official government meetings and unofficial neighborhood gatherings that are organized by the neighborhoods or by the town when it knows a project will impact a particular neighborhood.
The biggest accomplishment in the accessibility arena is that the town created a new department — Access Princeton, whose mission is to provide efficient non-emergency customer service (including notary public services) to its residents with one phone call or visit (One Monument Drive, 609-924-4141). But residents should be forewarned, this is not a Dear Abby service. Residents are expected to solve all neighborhood relationship issues on their own.
• And yes, there has been improvement in government efficiency. Probably the most hotly debated aspect of consolidation was the one that I refused to debate — fiscal savings. I know that it is easy to manipulate statistics to support whatever point you are trying to make. And there are so many other factors impacting municipal budgets — from labor negotiations to emergency appropriations and infrastructure expenses — that I was reluctant to believe in a significantly lower tax burden because of consolidation.
Princeton was able to cut its municipal tax rate in 2013 for the first time in many decades. Was that due to consolidation? I do not know. I do know however, that the consolidation of Princeton Borough and Princeton Township reduced the size of the combined municipal governments from 235 employees in 2011 to 208 employees in 2014.
Reflecting the sentiment of former Administrator Bob Bruschi, the only thing a comet coming from the heavens should annihilate is the borough/township, we/they attitude of distrust. We need to honor our past, but work as one on our future. And leave Doomsday to the DC Comics.