Local community activists (I’m referring to real ones, not the campaign donors Councilwoman Marti Emerald gets her ‘independent’ insights from) might want to take note of tomorrow’s city council docket. Our Councilwoman will have the opportunity to either vote for a $500,000 ‘study’ for a downtown library, or to come to the conclusion that this type of wasteful spending is exactly why the city is deep in the hole and vote against it.
Ask yourself: how many potholes could $500,000 fix? How many feet of rusty water pipes could be repaired? How many new cops could be hired? From what I can see Emerald does have priorities at City Hall, the problem being the crumbling infrastructure of District 7 comes after ego projects like the downtown library and new city hall.
Comments 4
Mr. Murphy, this is an irresponsible and reckless post and you know it.
Since all of the funds being designated toward the new main library are restricted funds ($20 million state library grant, $80 million in downtown redevelopment funds, private donations, etc), none of the funds for the main library could be used to fill potholes. Not even downtown.
At least Emerald is supporting a future for San Diego – something you don’t see too often with politicians today. It’s time to stop this kind of bickering and get back to taking care of San Diego – and investing in its future – just like our forefathers did for us.
Oh yeah she’ll be all over the downtown library no doubt. Reformer my ass.
By the way, anyone see that parrot she puts on her shoulder and lets drop down her mumu in the back. Charming.
Mr. Skeptical – are you actually trying to argue that a physical library downtown is ‘the future’?
Have you ever been in the library now downtown. I have… about three dozen times. Guess what I’ve found: it’s almost empty. Worse, half of it smells like urine, and that’s the good half.
I realize the city leaders think this is a peachy idea, spending my money. Truth is though, if you are thinking about the future, building a giant building to a dead product is hardly the way to go.
You make a great point though: $100 million for this rubbish. Can’t spend it on anything else, right? Great. Wonder why San Diego and the State of California are on the verge of bankruptcy.
So the BEST use of $80 million in downtown redevelopment funds is… a 19th century idea like a library.
Hey Malin — ever hear of a new invention called the worldwide internet?