The unconscious way SLC citizens keep the peace
After working for two years in Salt Lake City
following years of living in New York and Boston, I left Utah last month
for work back on the East Coast. A few months ago I wrote about my
transition from New York City to Salt Lake City in “Why in the world
would you move to SLC?” (Opinion, Feb. 12).
In that article I wrote about how my overall
experience in Salt Lake was positive, particularly with respect to the
friendliness of the people. Now that I have returned to familiar
territory, I am struck by the differences between geographic areas but
also the effect my time in Salt Lake has had on what I value in a city.
One unfortunate incident in my new city sent my
mind reeling back to my life in Salt Lake. Three days after moving to
New Haven, Conn., my wallet was stolen. After signing up for my library
card I accidentally left my wallet in plain site while browsing the
stacks.
While this error could have led to theft in
just about any community, a very disappointing difference played
prominently in this case.
According to the officer with whom I filed my
police report, a library patron reported seeing a wallet to the
circulation desk employees. To my surprise, they proceeded to do
nothing, and the wallet was subsequently stolen. While I do not hold
anyone responsible for my carelessness, I couldn’t help but think, “You
know, in Salt Lake, the librarian would have just picked it up and held
it behind the desk.”
Maybe I’m giving the citizenry of Salt Lake too much credit, but my gut says otherwise.
I use this example not to highlight urban crime
but rather to contrast the sense of community or lack thereof certain
cities evoke. While living in New York City I learned to love the
independent every-man-for-himself vibe. However, the communal feel of
Salt Lake charmed me and shifted my perspective on what I value in city
life.
In my theft case, certainly all of the
requisite municipal services were well-executed, including the swift
arrival and professionalism of the New Haven police, even considering
the relatively low-level nature of the crime. Despite the appropriate
police response, I will never forget how I felt as I left the library.
Once all the paperwork was done, I walked out
into the street with only my new library card and two books, past
hurried sidewalkers who avoided eye contact, didn’t smile or say hello.
At that moment, the financial loss and bureaucratic headache of
replacing my identification and credit cards felt immaterial. Instead, I
couldn’t shake the great city paradox of feeling completely alone in a
crowd.
When I think about my situation I recall the
writing of urban theorist Jane Jacobs: “The public peace — the sidewalk
and street peace — of cities is not kept primarily by the police,
necessary as the police are. It is kept primarily by an intricate,
almost unconscious, network of voluntary controls and standards among
the people themselves, and enforced by the people themselves.”
I believe Salt Lake is a city wherein such an
unconscious standard prevails. A police presence would not be the
impetus for a Salt Lake librarian to use common sense and pick up an
accidentally misplaced wallet. Rather, picking up a wallet is a choice
to preserve the public peace that does not require a sidearm, badge or
uniform.
For all the advantages and resources of my new
home, I will miss those simple acts of kindness that serve to bind the
Salt Lake community.
Arjune Rama completed his psychiatry internship at
University of Utah School of Medicine. He will continue his psychiatry
training at Yale in July.
© 2012 The Salt Lake Tribune
