By Billy G. Woody Santa Monica
At a cost of $74 million, and with a population of about 85,000 as of the last census, that amounts to about $870 per person. Why not, instead of spending this money on this building, staff and upkeep, buy everyone who cannot afford it, a lap-top computer and Internet access and then sell the land to somebody and reap the benefits of a bloated land market? The city can also provide wireless networking for the city and still save a ton of money.
This is yet another example of the short sightedness of the people who run not only this city but many others across this state. The library will just become yet another sleeping spot for the countless homeless and illegals Santa Monica seems to embrace and will be an eventual outdated (if it isn’t already) money pit for the city.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 26, 2006. Read the original PDF.