Carol Becker obviously has every right to propose different spending for the city but I found her attack on my motives a bit odd.
If I was out to "kill the libraries slowly" I probably would not have spent an hour yesterday with a major funder trying to get money to finish the downtown library. Or working with that funder to consider programming to help close learning gaps at community libraires across the city. If I was out to "kill the libraires slowly" I would not have made another call on a major library funder last week, or had a number of other fundraising calls for the library in coming weeks. I would not have made the future of Franklin Library such a big part of my pitch to Faith in the City, which helped get Thivent's gift to keep that library open and hopefully will lead to more support there. I would not have been working with McKnight and Cargill on new visions for Sumner Olson, or co chaired the Library Implementation Committee. If I'm trying to "kill the libraires", I hope more "assasins" step forward. We need the help. Insted of questioning my motives we should be working together to try to find a way to make ends meet, because right now they don't. I am not alone in this. The Capital Long Range Improvement Committee(CLIC), a group of independent citizens from around the city, strongly opposed the libraires capital plan. I also, like many other people, believe there has not been enough focus on how to keep the existing libraries operating well. Shorter hours and cut programs hurt most in the neighborhoods where people have the least access and greatest needs. Until there is a better plan for integrating the libraires capital program with its operating budget we will have more cuts in the services that residents need. The good news from my perspective is that Director Hadley is moving in the right direction. I met with her last week to review capital plans, she made her case about the progress that is being made. I said I would remain open and would continue to work very hard to raise more money to help close the gaps. But the one thing I won't do is close my eyes and pretend we can do things the same old way. For those of us who love librairies, that means even shorter hours, even fewer programs and borrowing from our kids when they deserve better. R.T. Rybak East Harriet Over time, our libraries would be come ramshackle and obsolete REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
