South Brunswick – Page 9

A doomed mall?

The list is getting too long to follow, the changes having made only moderate difference, leaving us with a still-failing shopping center.

The South Brunswick Mall is losing another anchor store — Bob’s, which had become a favorite of mine.

Consider the history of closings: Channel, Rickel, Jamesway, Grand Union, Rumbleseats, Ground Round, Bloomingdale Discount Furniture, Pizza Hut, Macy’s — and these are just the major players. We’ve also witnessed a long and unfortunate list of smaller stores bite the dust, including The Little Professor Book Store (where I had worked occasionally while in grad school and when I started out as a reporter).

The closings are a reminder that population growth does not, in and of itself, guarantee business. In this case, the mall has been weighed down by a poor design (it can’t be seen from the highway, for instance, and has a dopey traffic circulation plan) and failed mix of merchants. The hope when Bob’s and Home Depot opened was that they’d bring the shoppers in; the reality is that they have not been the kinds of draws needed.

South Brunswick Post, The Cranbury Press
The Blog of South Brunswick
The Cranbury Press Blog

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Six for three

Six candidates, three seats — with more possibly to come. Who says there is no interest in the school board?

It is early yet — and we still need to decide on whether to endorse for school board — but the crowded field is good for the township. The more voices the broader the debate — especially because of the inclusion of two Indian-Americans.

The deadline for filing is Feb. 26, so get your petitions in.

And let me know whether you think the Post should endorse. E-mail me here.

South Brunswick Post , The Cranbury Press
The Blog of South Brunswick

The Blog of South Brunswick

The Blog of South Brunswick, which we started a while back, has been languishing lately. In an effort to boost traffic, I’ve sent out a host of new invites and we’re seeing a sudden increase in posts.

So check it out here. E-mail me by clicking here if you want to participate.

South Brunswick Post , The Cranbury Press
The Blog of South Brunswick

9 cents?

Township Manager Matt Watkins presented a budget that includes a mind-boggling 15.8 percent tax hike.

The proposed $48.8 million spending plan, presented by Township Manager Matt Watkins, is $4.54 million larger — or 10.4 percent — than last year’s $43.8 million budget, outstripping the increase in revenue anticipated even with the rather drastic increase in the amount of surplus being included as revenue.

Much of the spending increase is take up by three areas — pensions (up $1.518 million), salaries (up $1.26 million) and the amount set aside to cover unpaid taxes ($1.21 million) — which might seem to let the township off the hook. After all, those increases are either prudent (the tax collection fund) or mandated by the state.

But it shouldn’t. The tax reform discussion swirling around the state is about moderating tax hikes and finding ways to control spending. The question the council needs to ask is what would be more offensive to South Brunswick residents — a reduction in some services or the $180 the tax hike will cost them (this doesn’t take into account any increase in school or county taxes).

My suggestion is that the council set a goal of cutting the proposed tax increase to 4 cents — which will require it to find about $1.4 million in cuts or new revenue. But it should do that without touching anymore of the surplus than has already been included.

It should then identify the cuts and hold a series of public forums explaining the proposals and their impacts on programs and tax bills and then put the question to residents — what would you do?

South Brunswick Post, The Cranbury Press
The Blog of South Brunswick