Instead of addressing the subject I broached yesterday about hiring high school students to work in libraries to save money, Ms. Wittstock decided to turn the issue around to whether or not we ought to protect unions. Look, this has nothing to do with unions, madam. This has to do with the fact that kids need libraries to stay out of trouble in the summer, and do their homework in the fall winter and spring. Period. You cats on the library board chose to drastically cut hours instead of cutting staff expense in the way I described.
Personally, I believe that unions are OK in the private sector, but BAD in the public sector, because they will force people to pay taxes to shell out salaries to public "servants" that are greater than their own salaries. That being said, I feel somewhat sorry for the people who are laid off from the library, but I feel sorrier for the kids who aren't learning anything. The library staff are more or less skilled workers and will probably land on their feet. Bottom line, Ms. Wittstock appears to be living in a fantasy land, where Tim Pawlenty will suddenly abandon his no-tax pledge and raise taxes so the library board can get more LGA. Sorry to burst your bubble, Ms. Wittstock, but that's not happening. Until 2007, Pawlenty will be the governor, and you'll have to make do, and you may want to think about that for a while. (Although I bet you are already trying to find an opponent for Mr. Pawlenty. A little tip: make him/her more engaging than Roger Moe.) Oh, and another thing. My post yesterday sparked a few off list responses, one of which mentioned the Webber Park library. The sender said that the Webber Park branch is a great asset, but the Library Board keeps trying to close it, and doesn't seem to want to follow through on plans to renovate it (it is only 23 years old, though, I don't think repairs are needed yet...). You know, according to the Library Book, http://mplwebcat.mpls.lib.mn.us/search/tthe+library+book/tlibrary+book/1,10,11,B/frameset&FF=tlibrary+book+centennial+history+of+the+minneapolis+public+library&1,1, the Webber branch is one of the oldest locations in town, and has served the area for about a century. ...and the bigwigs want to shutter it. GREAT! Chris David Columbia Park http://www.southhighsucks.com/ 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
