In the December/January issue of the Yellow Scene, my editorial on Superior's November rejection of a tax to fund library services has brought out some angry replies. Here's the link to the article; I'll add the comments that have been sent to the editor in the comments section to this post.
I'll acknowledge the point made by those Superior residents who never use the library that they certainly weren't going to tax themselves for something they wouldn't use. Self-interest is to be expected and isn't, on an individual level, always something to condemn. You do what you gotta do.
However, the Superior Board of Trustees - the leaders of the community - removed library funding from the 2007 town budget intentionally. Since a good portion of their town DOES use Louisville's library, this is the kind of self-interest mooching that does deserve condemnation.
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3 comments:
Dear Sir,
I am very disappointed and offended by the opinions
stated in The Yellow Scene article "The Borrowers".
The article was disturbing enough that I would
consider contacting your advertisers to protest.
The tone of the article makes Superior residents seem
cheap and portrays them as freeloaders. This would be
unwise considering the collective purchasing power of
your readership and their potential impact on the
businesses which are buying ad space.
While I agree steps need to be taken regarding library
services, the initiative placed before the Superior
voters was not well conceived or presented. Superior
residents to a household would be happy to cover the
cost of services used in a well thought out manner.
The measure before the voters was not the
comprehensive mechanism to do that.
That being said, Louisville and Broomfield don't
really need to be overly focused on Superior residents
getting a free ride. Given the revenue that Superior
residents generate for Louisville at Home Depot,
Lowes, eating establishments, Sam’s, Kohl’s, and
numerous small businesses, they should be happy that
Superior residents help fill their private and public
coffers.
Broomfield doesn't need to worry that "your libraries
are next". They need to worry that Superior residents
will skip going to nearby Flatirons Mall and stem the
flow of revenue streaming into that community away
from Superior. Perhaps its time for Superior
residents to check out that nice new mall in Boulder,
we certainly don't want to stress Broomfield’s
community services by using the road to Flatirons.
Louisville and Superior governments should simply
agree to exchange library services for free access to
the new open space Superior is pursuing. Yes, the
open space that Superior residents are funding with
help from our friends in Boulder. Free access to the
open space seems like a fair and equitable solution to
the library services issue. This has the added
benefit of finally being through the tedious bickering
about who is paying for what.
A free ride for Superior? Yes, if you really don't
think about it much.
Regards,
Chuck Cross
A Superior resident and regular patron of the many
fine establishments in Louisville and Broomfield.
I have to write a response to this article "The Borrowers. Superior residents are leaning on Louisville's library, but they don't want to help pay the bill." To the town of Louisville, Superior residents voting down a propoasal to tax ourselves for library services was not about us not wanting to compensate you for the use of your library or us not wanting our own. This was a statement to the board of trustees.
We have some great people on this board who truly listen to the residents here, and others not so much. And the residents of this town are starting to see it. There are those on that board working their own agenda and as residents we pay for that. All too often as residents we find ourselves being told one thing and seeing something different.
Great point right now is the synthetic field already in construction at Superior park. This field is a result of a survey and the board's decision. Surveys are only as good as the amount of people who actually answer them. And of course, the board's decision is the board's decision. But, I guess this field is a good idea. But here we go again. The ground is torn up and all of a sudden now it has to be enlarged. Larger than the original field because of game regulations. Why was that not disclosed prior to now? So that means now they will have to extend this field into naturally preserved land and walking paths. I would venture to guess the people who actually have houses adjacent to that property are not too excited about this latest development, not to mention the retaining wall and the lights that will obstruct their view of beautiful natural land and a park. This board made a decision and let the community know one thing, and now by surprise it is turning into something else, changing the land we thought was preserved. This is not a first when this board made a decision that will effect the land residents bought houses on without their consent. And who is actually going to use this field. I am sure the Mustang football team and those alike. Great. They deserve it. But would be also venture to guess the YMCA, who uses our fields and few resources we have, but charges us huge nonresidential rates to participate. A lot of us would rather use the Louisville Recreation Center for their programs. We will pay you nonresidential fees and are glad to do so. Do we think you should be compensated for the use of your library, of course we do.
I believe most residents here would love a library/community center of our own. Who would not want that for this community and our families. But to give this board a blank check under the guise of library services and facilites without specifics, not a chance. Just as you politely declined Superior's offer of $30,000 to compensate for library services, when given this vote without specifics, the residents of this town politely declined as well. Broomfield we are not headed your way. You do not need to worry, but maybe this board does.
Superior Resident
Very recently, Superior had two opportunities to support public libraries. They thumbed their noses at both, rejecting a tax to build their own library and yanking funding support earmarked for the nearby Louisville Public Library. Now they are upset because they look stingy. Oh well. They can resuscitate their reputation by a) restoring support for the Louisville Public Library in the short term and b) pulling together a plan for the creation of a Superior Public Library and supporting the measure at the ballot box in the next election. Or they can just continue to pout.
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