[Mpls] Buildings vs. resources

[Mark Wilde]

"At this point, even though it may hurt to spend
$750,000 fixing up a less-than-perfect building, I'd
rather do that than get a half-sized library and no
net property-tax gain until at least 2020."

Here is a way you get to keep all the money and
improve library service. Close the Walker all
together, and sell the land to the highest bidder. The
public library system in Minneapolis already has a
glut of space. The Northeast Library is only open
alternating days with the new Bottineau because they
can't afford to staff them both.  Just close the
Northeast and keep the Bottineau open every day.

The same argument can be applied to the problems in
the Minneapolis public schools.  There is a glut of
buildings which need to be heated, cooled and
maintained.  Close the buildings and keep the real
resources, the teachers, in the community.

With the brand new downtown library well underway, why
not close the Walker and use the $750,000 and the net
property tax gain on the new building to, say, improve
Internet access in all the libraries.

Mark Wilde
Windom Park



		
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail - 50x more storage than other providers!
http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail