In a significant victory for grassroots activism, voters in Gloucester Township have overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to sell the township’s sewer collection system to New Jersey American Water, the state arm of the nation’s largest investor-owned water corporation.
Preliminary results from the Nov. 5 election show the referendum failed by a decisive margin of about 79% for and 21% against. The contentious deal was initially approved by township council in July, when officials approved the water company’s bid of $143 million for the system.
The deal sparked immediate opposition from a coalition of residents, labor unions, and community groups who argued that the sale would negatively impact local control over public utilities and lead to higher water rates for residents.
Leading up to the vote, the for-profit American Water launched a million-dollar campaign to convince residents to approve the sale. As of Oct. 23, the company had spent more than $1 million on advertising, direct mail and other efforts to sway public opinion, including glossy promotional materials and promises of improved service.
But the corporate push was met with a robust counter-campaign led by a coalition that even included the Girl Scouts. The grassroots opposition – united under the banner of protecting public resources – argued that the sale was an unnecessary move that would benefit corporate interests at the expense of local residents.
Kate Delany, South Jersey organizer for NJ Food and Water Watch, expressed gratitude for the support of voters.
“Residents saw this deal for what it was, a billion-dollar corporation and machine politicians trying to enrich themselves on the public’s dime,” she argued. “The engineering reports make plain that there’s nothing wrong with the Gloucester Township sewer system. (The) mayor and council were trying to break something that wasn’t broken just so they could sell it off. Grassroots leaders came together from across the political spectrum to work together to save the public utility and to ensure that the people get the final say in what happens in their community.
“We may be one of the few groups in the entire country,” Delany added, “where Democrats, Republicans, Independents and third-party members were all celebrating together. We were celebrating the truth of that favorite rally chant: the people united will never be defeated.”
While township officials argued that the sale would bring in much-needed funds for the municipality, opponents contended that the long-term consequences of privatization – including potential rate hikes and the loss of local control – would outweigh any immediate financial gain.
The defeat of the privatization proposal is being hailed as a victory not just for the township, but for public utilities across the state. Advocates believe it could set a precedent for other communities considering similar privatization deals.
“Tonight, the people of Gloucester Township have shown that they will not stand by while their public resources are sold off to the highest bidder,” Delany said on Nov. 5. “This victory is proof that when we come together and stand up for what is right, we can defeat corporate interests and protect what belongs to the community.”
