Town Gown Collaborative

Steering Committee sat at tables forming a U

The University Town of Amherst Collaborative (UTAC) met for the first time today in the Amherst Room on the 10th floor of the tax-exempt Campus Center.

But the one hour meeting had a distinct air of deja vu as the committee co-chairs are once again Associate Vice Chancellor for University Relations Nancy Buffone  and interim Town Manager Dave Ziomek.

Amherst Select Board Chair Alisa Brewer and UMass Chancellor Subbaswamy also sat at the head table although the Chancellor is not listed as a member of the Steering Committee.

The idea for UTAC came out of the successful Town/Gown Steering Committee which met for just over a year with the stated goal to increase cooperation and collaboration between the town and UMass, our number one employer.

In addition to the UTAC Steering Committee, which will also have an undergrad and grad student by next semester, there are three independent subcommittees focusing on economic development, housing, and cultural arts/entertainment.

Chancellor Subbaswamy, who would like to see Amherst become "Cambridge West" (without the traffic and tall buildings) acknowledged he would be hiring a couple hundred more employees down the road.

He would also like to think those new employees could afford to live and recreate in Amherst, not that he has anything against nearby towns.

Interim Town Manager Dave Ziomek said it's not just about increasing the vibrancy of our downtown but also the Village Centers and he pointed out how North Amherst is growing with the recent opening of the Mill District.

Mr. Ziomek stated the town is still in the search phase for an Economic Development Director -- a top recommendation of the Town Gown Steering Committee -- and he would keep everyone informed through November and December.

But, he was optimistic they would find "the right person for Amherst.'

Nancy Buffone concluded the meeting on an upbeat note:  "It's going to be a lot of fun."

UTAC subcommittee members

Student Town Advisory Board

Amherst Select Board voted Alisa Brewer new Chair, Doug Slaughter missed 1st meeting due to illness

Town Manager John Musante told the Amherst Select Board last night that he was bringing together student government appointees from all three institutes of higher education to meet with key town departments -- Police, Fire, Board of Health, Chamber of Commerce, etc -- to talk about issues impacting students, our #1 demographic.

Mr. Musante said he hoped the committee charge would be completed soon and the first meeting held before graduation day.  The group would meet "a couple times per semester."

The collaborative idea was not an offshoot of the $160,000 Davis Report on how to avoid another Blarney Blowout and not to be confused with University Town of Amherst Collaborative (UTAC) dreamed up by the $60,000 town/gown consultant as an offshoot of the Town Gown Steering Committee.

The Town Manger said it was the brainchild of the outgoing UMass Student Government Association President Vinayak Rao, who has been proactive with improving relations between the town and UMass students over the course of his one-year reign. 

 Vinayak Rao (rt) Amilcar Shabazz (ctr) Jacob Schissel (left)

Amherst Town Gown: Moving Forward

Town Gown Steering Committee co-Chairs Nancy Buffone, David Ziomek

In its final public meeting 13 months after formation the Town Gown Steering Committee discussed and then voted unanimously to support the final letter of conveyance drafted by member Stephanie O'Keeffe that will accompany the $60,000 U3 Advisers final report -- both narrative and Powerpoint overheads. 

   Amherst Town Gown Letter

The entire package will be sent to UMass Chancellor Subbaswamy and Amherst Town Manager John Musante, and committee co-chairs David Ziomek and Nancy Buffone will also meet with them in person to go over "next steps."

One additional amendment was added by member Ken Rosenthal to the bullet point about creating an "Economic Development Director".  Forming a new committee charged with economic development to work hand-in-hand with the town hired Director and potential developers.

Even though the town already has an Amherst Redevelopment Authority, Town Commercial Relations Committee, Chamber of Commerce and Business Improvement District.

  Roughly half the Town Gown Steering Committee

Not a single member out of the 18 who showed up for this final meeting spoke against the formation of University Town of Amherst Collaborative (UTAC) an outgrowth of -- but downsized from --  the Town Gown Steering Committee.

 Or the recommendation the town (unfortunately not half subsidized by the University) should hire a "Economic Development Director."

 Other half of the Town Gown Steering Committee

The meeting as usual, was not completely free of dissent:  Rolf Karlstrom reiterated he would be issuing a "minority report" outlining key points of disagreement or "lost opportunities" with the U3 final report.  So far two other members have signed on.  Co-chair David Ziomek agreed to include it in the final package.

Now the key question is will the committee report became a vital road map to the future for two super powers, or just another dead end waste of time, money, paper and bandwidth?

Economic Czar Required?

Amherst property tax base is only 10% commercial, 90% housing

With the recent unanimous endorsement for Amherst to hire an "Economic Development Director" coming out of the year long Town Gown Steering Committee project, combined with the Town Manager's strong endorsement in his Letter of Transmittal to the Select Board for the FY15 budget year (which starts 7/1/15), safe bet the position will make it into the town budget in the next year or two.

Of course with the NIMBYs specifically targeting development, the position will be a hard sell at the annual Town Meeting.

While members do not have line-item veto the usual scheme is to move to reduce the budget by the exact amount of the targeted item and then in your speech say specifically what position it is you want cut if Town Meeting approves the $77,100 reduction in the Operation Budget.

Something like that requires a majority vote to pass, rather than the much higher hurdle of a zoning article, which requires the super-majority of a two-thirds vote.  

After the 11/5 Town Meeting, where more than a majority of members voted for a hastily crafted,  ill conceived zoning article to saddle developers with a deal killer "affordable housing" requirement, I'm not so sure anything associated with "development" can safely pass Town Meeting with a majority vote.

Members are also going to say the position is unnecessary because Amherst already has both a  Chamber of Commerce and a Business Improvement District.

And everyone knows, "Too many cooks spoil the broth."

#####

How they voted:  

1st Tally Vote was to refer the affordable housing article back to the Planning Board (A polite way of killing it).  That failed 83 "Yes" to 107 "No".   Thus the 2nd vote was an up or down vote on the article as presented.  That failed to achieve the necessary two-thirds vote, BUT did garner a majority vote 110 "Yes" to 79 "No". 

And yes, Town Manager John Musante (unlike previous town managers) did vote.  The right way even.

Steering The Right Course

UMass/Amherst:  A city within a town

The Town Gown Steering Committee held their first public (working) meeting since hearing the final report from their $60,000 consultants, U3 Advisers.

Co-Chair of the 23-member committee, Dave Ziomek, who is also the Assistant Town Manager, set the stage with three simple questions:  "What did you like; what didn't you like; and where do we go from here?"

It didn't take long for black sheep member Rolf Karlstrom to jump in with what he didn't like, proclaiming he was "extremely dissappointed" in the final report.

The neighborhood activist said the report did not follow up on the U3 Advisers preliminary report which seemed to indicate some concern with the impact of developments on peripheral neighborhoods such as Fearing Street, where he lives.

He told his fellow committee members that it is legally possible to define "student rental" without violating Massachusetts strict fair housing laws.  Once so defined zoning ordaninaces could be enacted that would require setback distances from owner occupied, family-oriented housing, thus keeping neighborhoods from being absorbed into a Borg collective of student slums, like Phillips Street for instance.

Others described the document as "visionary" adding they didn't like "dense documents" with too much verbiage.  The idea of a University Town of Amherst Collaborative (UTAC) a downsized offshoot of the 23-member Steering Committee seemed to garner universal support.

Although there was a brief firefight when town Finance Director Sandy Pooler said UTAC should avoid taking on "affordable housing" as a mission since other committees are working on that.

Late arriving member Amilcar Shabazz pointed out that's exactly what UTAC should be discussing -- the plight of the have nots -- rather than just trying to stimulate business development to make the rich, even richer.

Former Select Board Chair Stephanie O'Keeffe cited the camaraderie of  town and University officials coming together at a (large) table to discuss their future as, alone, being worth $60,000.  Kind of like the economic urban myth that it's worthwhile for government to hire employees to dig a ditch while another group fills it back in.

Using Public Private Partnerships (the 3 Ps) whereby private developers would site projects on land owned by the University, thus generating tax revenues to the town also received overwhelming support although some expressed concern that U3 did not better explain how to make it happen.

John Kennedy, Vice Chancellor for Community Relations,  did reassure the group, "The University is actively investigating Public Private Partnerships ... we're hard at work on that."

The U3 recommendation that the town hire an "economic development director" also received strong endorsement (an idea already popular with Town Manager Musante) from the Steering Committee as did the idea of having a broader overall target for where development occurs.  In other words, none of the 5 areas cited U3 should be ruled out (even though they seemed to really favor only two).

The full Steering Committee will meet one last time in the coming weeks to flesh out their final letter of transfer with recommendations to Town Manager John Musante and UMass Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy.

Sincerest Form Of Flattery

8/10/2013 Torch Run for Special Olympics

The downside of publishing 10,000 photographs over the past 7.5 years is it's sometimes hard to recognize when someone borrows one without permission, a clear violation of copyright law.

I'm not surprised when the understaffed mainstream media does it with breaking news (although they are getting better about asking for permission) but I was a little surprised the town and UMass would do it.

Well I guess technically it was U3 Advisers, the $60,000 consultant hired to map out a strategy for future growth of housing and economic development between the town and our #1 employer UMass/Amherst, the flagship of higher education in an education oriented state.

But the town published the "Final Report" on the town website, as did the Town Gown Steering Committee on their state website.

I actually did notice the photo when it was first used at the preliminary presentation back in early August since I  have enjoyed covering the jointly produced by APD/UMPD "Torch Run" to benefit Special Olympics.

This past year I notice my friends in the mainstream media didn't cover the annual event, but since they did the year before I just assumed the photo was one of theirs and used with permission.

Or taken by any number of folks who work for the University in "community relations".  Rumor has it they even hired a few students to do social media to counteract my pain-in-the-ass blog.

A Town Meeting member recently posted to the privately owned Amherst Town Meeting listserve Blarney Blowout thumbnails via Google images (which is not a copyright violation) in response to another Town Meeting member asking about the Torch Run photo (where was it taken and what was the event) used in the U3 Advisers final report. 

 Fearing Street 2:10 pm (UMPD video screen grab)

Yes, the Blarney Blowout will be l-o-n-g remembered -- as well it should.  In fact, I'm working on a story for Monday that uses previously unpublished video of the sad day taken by a not overly happy UMass police officer.

So get ready for the UMass PR machine to counter with high resolution photos of kitties and unicorns.  At least I will not have to worry about them stealing those from me (not my kind of photo shoots).

 APD Chief Livingstone (center) without riot gear, North Pleasant/Fearing Street 2:10 pm 

screen grab from UMPD video shot that day

The Best Laid Plans ...

 Town Gown Steering Committee:  high ranking UMass & town officials, and other stakeholders (although Chancellor Subbaswamy was MIA)

After almost exactly one year from their inaugural meeting (10/30/13) the sprawling 24 member Town Gown Steering Committee tonight heard the "final presentation" from U3 Advisors, their $60,000 consultant charged with honing a vision for joint development of the economic and housing kind.

 Standing room only crowd for the presentation

Essentially what we got was a repackaging of the ill fated Gateway Project, another one-year endeavor that used a $30,000 consultant to put forth a vision of a grand mixed use development with student housing along the North Pleasant Street corridor, using the University's two acre parcel, the former Frat Row.  A project resulting from a public/private partnership that would house students, provided commercial amenities, and pay property taxes.

 

Former Frat Row North Pleasant Street at the "gateway" to UMass

Now called by U3 the "North Pleasant Corridor"

Mass Ave plan uses UMass parking lots and Phillips Street, the slummiest street in Amherst,  for a mixed use development

 

Current map of the North Pleasant Corridor/Gateway area

Study after study and now again this final report have concluded that Amherst does not have enough housing, driving up prices and driving out low and middle income workers. And our demographic is obviously studentcentric, reflected by the fact that Amherst has the lowest median age in the state.

You simply cannot talk about housing without including students, but when you do that -- because of the rancid reputation fostered by an irresponsible few -- neighbors bristle.

That bristle helped to kill the Gateway Project, The Retreat student housing project in North Amherst and they seem overly determined to kill the 1 East Pleasant Street project in the downtown because it dares to embrace student renters.

Simply put the town and University need to come up with a public/private partnership that can build a development to house STUDENTS without being torpedoed by the Pachecho Rule.

Amherst resident Stan Rosenberg, a proud UMass graduate and l-o-n-g-t-i-m-e unabashed cheerleader for our flaghip University, is about to become President of the Mass Senate.

Surely he can steer a bill through the legislature to get not only approval for a public/private partnership, but an equally important component to any deal:  financing. 

No more studies, no more talk.  Just do it.

If You Build It

Town of Amherst, born 1759.  UMass/Amherst born 1863

This afternoon's meeting of the Town Gown Steering Committee, the first after a preliminary presentation earlier this month from their $60,000 consultant, was by far the best attended meeting since the super-committee was formed almost one year ago, with the audience numbering around 50.

Besides the usual crowd of neighbors living near the University, housing developers, business folks and elected town officials this meeting, for the first time, also attracted many students, most of them fraternity members.

Considering "college aged youth" make up the majority demographic in town it was nice to see that ratio nearly matched at this meeting which greatly concerns the future of the town and our flagship institute of higher education.

 Town Gown Steering Committee

The critical component upon which much hope rests is the Public Private Partnership model.  A private company develops a mixed use (housing and commercial) "student village" that increases housing supply for students (our #1 demographic) and commercial space for goods and services to sell them.

But the key requirement as far as the town is concerned is that the project be on the tax rolls.  UMass is the #2 landowner in town, behind #1 Amherst College.  As a tax exempt educational institution UMass pays no direct property taxes to the town, which has the highest property tax in the area, mostly shouldered by homeowners.

Good crowd on hand, including students

When an audience member asked why businesses seem to do well in Hadley compared to Amherst Committee member David Webber, also Chair of the Planning Board, pointed out Amherst Town Meeting prioritizes open space over development, trying to maintain that small town feel.

And any pro development zoning change requires a two-thirds vote of that legislative body.  So until more progressive members are elected in larger numbers, economic development will continue to be an unrealized dream.

A couple of audience members suggested the University buy the run down tenements on Phillips Street and build a housing project for staff, faculty and grad students.

Back in 2006 UMass purchased 5 fraternity/sorority houses adjacent to Phillips Street, a slum area known as "Frat Row", and demolished them.  The property now sits as open space.

Rolf Karlstrom

Downtown businessman Nick Seamon, owner of the Black Sheep Deli, voiced concern over the idea of commercial projects being built on state property competing with the downtown and pointed out UMass food services is already "swallowing up" downtown food establishments.  He suggested the Town could help downtown business by building a "real garage."

Most of the students who spoke to the committee identified themselves as fraternity members and extolled the benefits of Greek life, pointing out they have more oversight than students who rent single family homes.

Maurianne Adams, a 40 year resident and long time neighborhood activist, told the Steering Committee this year long process was the first time she had witnessed the University and town really coming together to work for their own common good.  She closed enthusiastically:  "This has been a real morale boost for those of us who have lived here for many years."

Of course the elephant in the room was the March 8 Blarney Blowout incident, made even more palpable with the impending release of the  $160,000 Davis Report.

Recent editorials in our two local papers lament the lateness of the report, saying it should have been released before the students' return. 

Uncontrolled students -- as small a percentage as that may be -- feeds the ubiquitous  anti-development behavior of Amherst Town Meeting, and the Blarney Blowout was the ultimate day of debauchery.

The Town Gown Steering Committee should orchestrate a pubic meeting just like today's to discuss the Davis Report with all the stakeholders -- especially students.

Because until we solve the problem of rowdy student behavior, all of these development projects are but a pipe dream.

 Blarney Blowout busts

Tell Me What I Don't Know

 Left 3: Consultants for Town Gown Steering Committee ($60,000 worth)

Consultants hired by the Town Gown Steering Committee made their second public presentation this evening to a less than packed audience.  In fact only a couple dozen concerned citizens showed up, barely outnumbering the 18 committee members and 3 consultants sitting in front of the Town Room.

 Town Gown Committee (right table)

The presentation was pretty much a detail oriented rehash of what we already know:  UMass Amherst is the economic driving force in town, with half our population consisting of students, faculty, and staff.

But housing has not kept pace with demand fueled by our #1 employer, causing high prices ($1078 median rent vs $872 in nearby communities) and an exodus (34% decrease) of post college worker bees aged 25-44.

The flip side to that equation is the problem:  The 22% increase in "college aged" youth swarming the town since 2000.  And in our antiquated system of government where NIMBYs rule, large scale housing projects have little to no chance of ever breaking ground.

 Amherst housing units have grown only 3% over 14 years

Some recent positive news, however

Much of Amherst is built out, leaving little land left for commercial and residential development.  But UMass is also the #2 landowner in town, and the consultants did identify tracts of their land suitable for mixed use development (student housing and retail).

Parking lots off Mass Ave

The undeveloped but "shovel ready" former Frat Row, once proposed as the Gateway Corridor project:

The parking lots off University Drive adjacent to Southwest Towers could also be developed.

Ideally any of these projects would be the result of a public/private partnership whereby the development would be taxable.  A sound visionary project, approved by the Chancellor, would stand a good chance of getting the necessary legislative approval. 

The consultants also pointed out the importance of cooperation between the two superpowers and a need for continuous oversight.

They suggested the Town Gown Steering Committee become a permanent entity and -- calling it "extremely important" -- advocated the town hire an "Economic Development Director," a pet project of Town Manager Musante for the past few years.

The consultants will submit their final report later in the Fall.

 

 Co-Chairs Dave Ziomek and Nancy Buffone (right)

Mid Course Presentation

 George Smith (U3), Nancy Buffone and David Ziomek Co-Chairs Steering Committee

The Town Gown Steering Committee heard a brief presentation from their $60,000 consultants this afternoon, appropriately enough at the UMass police station, and  heard an earful about student housing and student behavior, which have brought this college town to a tipping point.

Lead consultant George Smith of U3 Advisers said they are still in the "due diligence and research phase" meeting with all the stakeholders from the Chancellor on down, and he is targeting August for  release of preliminary findings.

But Ken Rosenthal, the first member of the Steering Committee to speak after the presentation chastised the consultants for not meeting with neighbors living in the battle zones. 

UMPD Chief John Horvath, Ken Rosenthal, Tony Maroulis

Amherst Planning Director Jonathan Tucker defended his department saying they are not pursuing any one particular housing plan, but a range of options -- inclusionary zoning, greater density expansion at already existing apartment complexes, student housing (in the right place) -- and that when it comes to housing, the solution is simple: the town just needs MORE.

Of course out of the two dozen or so members of the general public who attended the presentation a good number were activists neighbors who react to students the way vampires react to daylight.

Nancy Buffone did say UMass, which currently houses 62% of its students, is looking at public private partnerships to build taxable student housing on school property but it's "very complex" with a wide variety of political, legal, and financial implications.

Local developers Dave Williams and Kyle Wilson, who are currently constructing Olympia Place, a complex near UMass housing 236 students and Kendrick Place at the edge of town center which will house 102 tenants, were in attendance.   They probably would not welcome the competition of a huge new student housing development on or off campus (unless of course they were the chosen developer).

As they say on Facebook under relationships, "It's complicated."

Targeting Blarney Blowout 2014

Hide the women and children on Saturday, March 8

Last year UMass made a monumental error not being proactive about the childish Blarney Blowout.  They failed to send out stern warnings to students and parents because they were afraid it would only add to the allure of the Blarney Blowout while providing it tons of free publicity.

Obviously the small minority of college aged youth who were going to engage in rowdy behavior that day were already well aware of the event, and perhaps took the absence of official notice from UMass as being a sign the University didn't really care.

Amherst town officials were infuriated, leading to some of the more terse exchanges in recent history.  But everybody put aside their differences, and Amherst and UMass are now working closely together via the Town Gown Steering Committee to help navigate a calmer course for the two superpowers over the next few decades.

UMass also learned from last year's mistake.  Enku Galaye sent out the following email to staff, students and parents.  The UMass employee who just forwarded it to me said he "can't recall ever getting a letter like this before."

Speaking of childish:  With defenders like this ...

Blarney Blowout Letter by larry_kelley_1

Maybe we can get UNH to issue a warning to their students! 

Favorite this if you're going to Blarney Blowout at #zoomass this weekend. We all need to meet and represent!  #WildcatNation
— UNH_Confessions (@UNH_Confessions) March 5, 2014

BS Blarney Blowout

A logo for trouble in the making

While Ancient Order of Hibernians, the largest fraternal order of Irish in America, calls for a boycott of retail giant Spenser Gifts over insensitive stereotypical merchandise the local Party Boys have come up with a t-shirt to immortalize the ignoble all-day debauchery known as "The Blarney Blowout 2014".  

The drinking marathon commences apparently at whatever time college age youth roll out of bed these days, and traditionally falls (if you can call four years a "tradition") on the Saturday before St. Patrick's Day, this year March 8.  

Because St. Patrick's Day always falls during Spring Break why waste an excuse to get drunk, rowdy and obnoxious in Amherst, your adopted hometown of four years (or five or six)?

Last year the "official" event in town center went well enough, only to successfully lull town officials and local media into a false sense of security.

Daily Hampshire Gazette Break Page 3/11/13

It was then the north end of town exploded in violence. Thousands of students, fueled by alcohol, took to the quad area around Townhouse Apartments, set fires, threw bottles and vandalized property.

State Police, APD and UMPD had to break out the riot gear to disperse the unruly crowd.

Amherst officials were unhappy to say the least (more like "pissed off") with UMass officials for not putting out advance communications with students and parents about maintaining decorum.  UMass officials responded they didn't want to give the "event" any advance free PR with the email blast notifications.

The fiasco and resulting friction between the two superpowers did directly lead to formation of the Town Gown Steering Committee, "to jointly develop a plan to address shared areas of interest including housing and economic development issues." 

It took years for authorities to retire the "Hobart Hoedown."  Now it's time once-and-for-all to shut off "The Blarney Blowout."

Call in the Marines!

Gazette eventually figured it out:   front page (above the fold) 3/12/13

"Umass Amherst black out or transfer " #SMACK
— Smack College (@SMACKCOLLEGE) February 23, 2014

Calling All Consultants!

$60,000 town/gown consultant contract up for grabs

Hear ye, hear ye:  The joint UMass town of Amherst Request For Proposals, a consultant contract worth $60,000, has just hit the Internet.  

The large Town Gown Steering (super) Committee -- made up of heavy hitters from both UMass and the town, hashed out the legal contract over four meetings. 

The cost of the consultant is also shared 50/50 by the two superpowers, although the University handled all the final edits and legal issues that go along with issuing a 15 page public document.

The main focus for the consultant will be double edged problems, probably endemic to "college towns":  housing and economic development.

Two recent town sponsored housing studies have concluded the lack of student housing drives up prices making it difficult for middle income families -- and impossible for low income families -- to find shelter.  

Plus Amherst  has an overwhelmingly skewed tax base, as the housing market represents 90% of the total tax base and the commercial sector a pitiful 10%.  

With the recent loss of 204 affordable units at Rolling Green Apartment complex the town has now fallen below the magic 10% threshold for Subsidized Housing Inventory and could be (within the next year) subject to a Chapter 40B mega development.

Story of the Year 2013

 APD, State PD and UMPD gather at west entrance to Townhouse Apartments

The war on off campus student rowdyism took a serious turn during 2013 and that turning point was the Blarney Blowout, Amherst's version of the Mardi Gras or Florida's Spring Break -- only seasoned with a tad more violence.

As usual good weather was a contributing factor but by far, marketing was the #1 reason for the out-of-control debauchery.

Downtown bars -- most notably McMurphy's and Stackers -- used social media to hype the "Blarney Blowout" promotion, a bait and switch name change from "Kegs & Eggs" which had drawn sharp criticism over the previous ten years for promoting bad behavior i.e. drinking in the morning.

In 2012 the Blarney Blowout had contributed to awful visuals in the downtown and an unusual strain on public safety, including an incident where a drunken college aged male hit on an 11-year-old girl.  The Select Board used their bully pulpit to chastise the pernicious promotion, but as the town's Liquor Commissioners did nothing to penalize the offenders.

So it should not have been too hard to figure out , even if you don't have sitemeters, that the Blarney Blowout, March 9, 2013 was going to be bad day for civility.  Really bad.

The promotion started at 11:00 AM (my first published report was 11:07 AM) and all eyes were focused on the downtown.  Meanwhile crowds, mostly dressed in green,  were gathering at Townhouse Apartments in North Amherst where violence had erupted the year before.

 Entire quad taken up by revelers

The crowd grew to over 2,000 taking up the entire quad and beer cans (some of them full) and snowballs started to fly.  A young woman in the center of the mob passes out from too much alcohol (ETOH) and AFD is called.

 Note UFO

When police and EMTs try to get to the young lady lost in the crowd the mob became uncooperative.  Objects now started flying in their direction. Public Safety personnel retreated after pulling the young woman from the crowd.

ETOH female (age 17) loaded into the ambulance under police escort

Over the next few hours, under the influence of a lot more beer, the crowd would only get surlier.  Vandalism starts to take place.  APD had put out an SOS after the incident with the ETOH female, with many State Police and UMPD officers responding to the call -- all of them dressed in riot gear.

A little after 5:00 PM they uniformly moved in, quickly dispersing the huge crowd while making six arrests.

Moments after police dispersed the unruly crowd

At the following Select Board meeting irate members -- particularly Chair Stephanie O'Keeffe -- blamed UMass for not putting out sternly worded emails to students and parents before the weekend.  UMass -- via a Letter to the Editor from PR guru John Kennedy -- blamed the town for allowing the promotion.

Of course the Select Board, unlike previous years, had not given the bars permission to open early that day and since advertising via social media is protected by the First Amendment there is little they could have done prevent the promotion.

But the acrimony led to UMass announcing it would donate $40,000 per semester so AFD could run two extra ambulances on weekends; and more importantly, the disturbing incident convinced the two major powers that something structural needed to be done.

 Chancellor Subbaswamy addresses Amherst Town Meeting 5/15/13

For the first time in history a UMass Chancellor came to spring Town Meeting to champion town/gown relations.  The $30,000 warrant article (matched by $30,000 from UMass)  to hire a consultant passed, leading to the formation of the Town Gown Steering Committee, a heavy hitter group of top UMass and Town officials that mirrored the ultra successful Safe & Healthy Neighborhoods Working Group.

The SHNWG formulated a Rental Registration and Permit Bylaw, the most important legislation passed by Town Meeting in a generation, and a direct outgrowth of last year's "Story of the Year".  

The Town Gown Steering Committee finished up a Request For Proposals a few weeks ago and will continue to meet after the consultant issues a report.

After all, implementation is the key.