I have been ruminating over RT and Sara's recent arguments regarding the
library referendum. I too believe it is necessary for a new library. I
knew it over 10 years ago and persuaded my design team to include it in a 4
block development project that used TIF for the library and some other
public space. However, I believe the City of Minneapolis did not understand
the complete benefits and impact of that design and chose to act foolishly
in handling it. Ultimately the tenants lost faith in the developer because
of the cities actions. Since then we have used our future taxes to fund
wealthy corporations private projects when they should have been helping us
support great civic projects. In this great time of wealth accumulation,
there should be numerous companies on board to give generously or raise
needed money for the library. I think this is the first step in creating a
great civic project. Inspiring the citizenry, especially those with
significant means.
At the same time, I believe the library and the current administration have
been remiss in making their case. There is little visibility in trying
raise public awareness and no visibility in any efforts to find alternative
means of funding. This makes me nervous in the way the library would be
operated or used. Seems to me there is a real lack of vision about a truly
integrated library.
With that said, no it isn't fair to penalize the library for the city's
foolish spending policies. But when it is coupled with a lack of vision
about how funding will happen and any real community inspired movement, I
just don't see it happening in the way it should.
As for the comment about those who are most vocal against could buy books at
Borders, you may be right. However, just because I may have the means to
spend money on a book at Borders doesn't mean I should spend the money of
other people who are just starting to get ahead. I see new neighbors on my
block who moved into a house for the first time. They are just getting by
and then whammo they get hit with the sidewalk tax. Zam, they get hit with
increasing property tax valuation. Boom, then they get hit with the library
tax, and what's next. The best way for our housing stock to improve is for
those people to use their own money to fix up their houses. If we keep
dipping into their pot of money, the housing stock will continue to
deteriorate and we'll be in an even bigger mess. There is a bigger picture
here.
This is hard. I'd like to support a new library, but because of a lack of
library vision, foolish spending habits on the part of our administration,
and a desire to not increase taxes I still must vote no.
Russell W. Peterson
Ward 9
Standish
R U S S E L L P E T E R S O N D E S I G N
"You can only fly if you stretch your wings."
3857 23rd Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55407
612-724-2331
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Russell W. Peterson, RA, CID
Founder
