Your Library Card is Running Out
Watch for library cuts across the city.
City hall wants the Public Library to trim close to $1.5 million from its budget.
Shorter hours, fewer staff, closing of some branches altogether.
Now, that $1.5 million is juts about the exact equal to what this gang of fools spent on the famous bike lane nonsense on Burrard Bridge.
As a friend said yesterday as we were crossing the bridge in the dark and the rain, "It was all symbolic."
I had just commented that the Bikes on Burrard issue was neither good nor bad. It was simply a waste of tax money.
The truth is that car traffic has been barely changed and that bike traffic has been barely changed.
So what was it all about?
Pretty Boy Floyd told his pedal constituency that he'd do this thing, so he did.
Whoop-atee-ay-oh.
Now, libraries - that's another matter completely.
To me, a public library system is one of the first signs of a civilized state.
The Toronto Public Library, main downtown branch, for example, is much loved by locals and deservedly so.
I seem to be one of the few people who really likes our main library downtown.
More importantly, I want to see all public libraries in all neighbourhoods open 7 days a week and for long hours.
I'm happy as a taxpayer to fund this commitment to lifelong learning.
City hall is, as usual, an ass.
4 comments:
David, of course city hall is an ass, because the politicians are all bottom feeders.
The real problem is that the faceless bureaucracy is running the show through their elected puppets.
Civic politicians are so busy trying to be 'a somebody' on all the various METRO and TransLink Boards, that they let the inmates "run the asylum".
True story - The 'Eye' wanted to correct an obvious serious safety problem in Delta, but the chief 'Engineer' who created the problem said no dice - "I DO NOT MAKE MISTAKES!"
The 'Eye' replied - "That it was now a political problem and I would try to find a remedy with mayor and council."
To which the evil Engineer sneered - "I AM MAYOR AND COUNCIL."
David, you probably notice that Olympic supporters tell us to be happy that legacy projects will remain to provide recreational facilities for all, even the poor taxpayers that cannot afford to buy 2010 Games tickets.
They say this as existing community assets are being closed or restricted for lack of operating funds. Where is the money going to come from to operate the legacy projects? Close an existing place to fund the new one?
What is worse is that public libraries are getting HIGHER USE during this recession.
People who have had their wages/hour cut at work (or who have lost their jobs altogether) have less money to spend.
They try to save a few $'s by frequenting the library to borrow books, dvds, and even video games.
They attend the "story times' for their children. They attend book readings and lectures.
Job seekers even utilize the resources at the library to help them in their career change or job search.
This is the time to INCREASE funding to the libraries, not decrease it.
BTW - David, you didn't mention it in this blog posting, but could you have a word about the Conservatory and the Stanley Park Petting Zoo.
I recently took my children to the Conservatory and, as usual, was happy to have an inexpensive, non-commercialized place to bring the kids on a cold day. The kids were pointing out birds, fish, plants and trees. After, as there was a break in the rain, we walked around the quarry gardens. It was a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours (and cost less than $10 for two adult admissions to the Conservatory itself). Not many places that we can go for an enjoyable outing for that kind of money.
Of course, because of the fiasco surrounding the Cambie Line, business dropped off for the Conservatory for a few years there. Now that the Cambie Line is complete, the Conservatory could be getting more people (individuals, families, school groups, seniors gorup and tourist groups) and more facility rentals, thus getting higher revenues.
As for the Petting Zoo, accessible transit has FINALLY been provided to Stanley Park (the #19 Stanley Park bus was not accessible until a couple of years ago). Families often had trouble getting here (if they didn't drive). Coupled with the Stanley Park Train, the Petting Zoo was another enjoyable outing for families.
I guess the needs of residents (especially families with young kids) just isn't on the radar of this city council
To voice protest, write the city at
mayorandcouncil@vancouver.ca
I have already written my letter.
People come from outside Vancouver to visit the Conservatory and Stanley Park.
The pay parking has deterred them from visiting again.
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