[Mpls] Buildings vs. resources

[Chris Johnson]

Mark Wilde wrote:

>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
>  
>

Why stop at just closing the Walker and the Northeast Library, and 
likewise some public schools?  Let's close all the branch libraries and 
invest all that money into making our new downtown library even better.  
Close all of the schools and create one large mega-school in one 
geographically central location -- maybe the Sears building.  Think of 
all the savings in heating, cooling, maintenance, etc.


Chris Johnson, Fulton