By Jill Renton Santa Monica Wake up, City Council Editor:
It was depressing to read that the newly re-opened Montana Branch Library (SMDP, 12/21) has raised over $l00,000 from the sale of engraved pavers in order to buy furnishings, books and other materials. That the city would go cap in hand to individuals, begging for money, when they are simultaneously squandering $50 million on the destruction and replacement of our Main Library on 6th Street is absolutely shameful. There is nothing wrong with the Main Library; all that is needed is extra space. They could have built an extension, as they did on Montana, but I guess this solution was not grandiose enough or expensive enough to appeal to the spendthrifts at City Hall.
It’s sad to know that so many people (most of them taxpayers, I would guess) have been duped into buying pavers. Clearly, our library system is not short of cash, and I would urge anyone contemplating the purchase of a paver to think again. There are plenty of worthwhile causes where money is really needed, but this isn’t one of them.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 3, 2003. Read the original PDF.