Finally – finally – someone in local government is showing some actual leadership on an issue that has much of the community up in arms. So here’s a big Thank You to Mayor Foxx for his staunch support of the library system in the face of dull, uninspired councilmembers’ opposition. Foxx told the Observer that he would veto a city budget if it doesn’t include money to help the county keep libraries open. Foxx, a Democrat, is supported on Council by Republican councilman Ed Peacock and four other members who want to set $2 million aside for the libraries, which, technically, are a county responsibility.
Foxx and Peacock at least realize that their jobs include having an overall vision of what’s good for the community, rather than getting bogged down in political turf wars and covering one’s own butt. I’m talking specifically about two council veterans: Democratic Mayor Pro Tem Susan Burgess, who is firm in her opposition to the city helping out the libraries, and Democratic Councilwoman Patsy Kinsey, who says she can’t “in good conscience” give to the libraries and not Parks & Rec (who aren’t asking for help, but that’s apparently neither here nor there for Kinsey).
Leadership on the library situation has been particularly lacking from the county commission itself. Dearest Commissioners, please realize that schools and libraries – which, not to be overly dramatic, but this is true – are foundations of a civilized society; that may be just a wee bit more important than worrying about city/county territorial issues. Of course, thinking about civilization and egghead stuff like that isn’t popular in today’s Tea Party-inspired atmosphere, so if the “foundations of civilized society” aren’t important to you, consider how hard it’s going to be – here come Charlotte’s magic words – to attract new businesses to the area after you’ve shredded public schools and have allowed one of the best library systems in the U.S. to go to hell.
Chair Jennifer Roberts has worked behind the scenes to urge more money from Charlotte and surrounding communities, which is something, at least. Other than that, however, I’m trying to think of anything else resembling leadership on this critical issue from the commission, but I can’t. Commissioners, here’s one thing to think about: If you go ahead and make the kinds of cuts suggested by County Manager Harry “Why do I still have a job?” Jones, expect to run into a buzzsaw. If you think the anti-taxers are in your face, just wait till schools and library supporters get moving.
Tonight’s county commission meeting, during which public comment on budget cuts will be presented, will probably produce the one government meeting of the year that could actually be fun to watch. It starts at 6, and could very well go past midnight. See you there.
This article appears in May 25-31, 2010.
It’s pretty pathetic that you try so hard to be contrary to this guy in every article he writes.
Thank you John Grooms, and thank you Foxx and Peacock, for seeing the big picture, and for knowing what the long term devastating impacts will be if we allow our libraries to close.
It happened once before. In 1939, during the Depression, no less. And it happened because folks didn’t take a stand when the decisions were being made. You can read about it in the Observer.(http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/03/23/1331280/rereading-a-page-from-earlier.html)
Do we really want to go down in Charlotte history and make headlines across the country as the people who let their elected officials shut down the libraries because they evidently didn’t care enough to speak up and say “No!” How can we do this to our children and grandchildren?
Speak up! Write letters. Make phone calls. Send emails. Do what you can. After June 15, it will be over folks. Libraries will close, and we will be known as the city that balanced its budget by cutting off its head.
Quick note, when you want to make a noun that ends in an ‘s’ a possessive you just add the apostrophe at the end, you don’t need another ‘s’.
Perhaps if you went to a library you would know this.
How do the libraries get so much support? On the list of critical services for the community, they rank low. How about feeding our aging adults? Where’s the public outcry for the in-home aid cut? The libraries are a weak wedge, a populist issue easily grasped. The politicians realize it, so they address it. The old media realizes, so they address it. http://minifail.com
Librarian, let’s take the high road on this. Frank is entitled to his opinion, even if it doesn’t agree with ours. (Remember, you’re representing a lot of us when you use the title “Librarian.”)
Actually, Grooms has written about this issue before and he is in favor of raising property taxes to pay for cms and libraries. So the “shell game” criticism is false. Also, I can’t believe anyone would think libraries rank low in critical services. I wonder if that person has been to a library lately and noticed how filled it was with people using computers, doing needed research, etc. The libraries are filled to bursting most days, so that automatically makes them a critical community resource. I hope enough people put pressure on the county commission to save them.
Singular possessive
The possessive form of a singular noun is an apostrophe followed by the letter “s.”
Kramer’s hair
Daphne’s patience
the car’s engine
Words ending with s, z or x generally omit the “s.”
Dr. Seuss’ sense of humor
—
Yawn.
“If you had gone to school maybe you would have known this librarian?”
Now to continue our lesson.
“If you had gone to school maybe you would have known this librarian?”
If I wanted to use a question mark my sentence would look something like this:
“Do you try to make yourself look stupid or does it just come naturally?”
You can dust up on your clauses and punctuation at your local library.
I find it hilariously ironic the little guy that can’t get out a single coherent thought starts throwing around the word fool.
“showning”
Someone get this hack some crayons to play with so he stops annoying the grown-ups.
“Anyways I sent you a link showning that my method is acceptable.”
No, you linked to a blog post that insists poor writing techniques are valid. The only thing you’ve demonstrated – beyond functional illiteracy, of course – is that you aren’t very good with a search engine.
“If CMS said they would slash most of it’s paper pushers to fund the libraries then that would be cool.”
That would be, “its paper pushers,” Francis. You only use an apostrophe for the contraction, never the possessive pronoun.
Back to the third grade with you, sir.
‘CC’ is only ‘Frank Griffin’ posting under another name. It’s the only way he can try and back up his tragic and sick views.
God bless Mayor Foxx for everything he is doing for Charlotte. Pat McCrary, Frank Griffin, and the rest of the teabag devils can burn for all we care.
Focusing on it now? I’m pretty sure that’s all I’ve focused on.
Your failure to grasp even the simplest rules of our language demonstrates the need for public libraries and the absolute idiocy of those who would see them closed down.
I’m not surprised I had to spell this out for you.
You and your kind might be content to go through life stupid. However, for the rest of us, ignorance is not bliss.
More racism flowing from Frank Griffin, as usual. So I’m on welfare because I may not be the same color as you, or a woman? You should be ashamed of yourself, but I know that is impossible. Your mental instability, racism, and hatred will catch up with you soon enough.
There were no attempts at humor here, Francis. If anything, I pity you, living in that twisted fantasy world of yours. It seems like a frightening place.
“I’m not surprised I had to spell this out for you.”
I’m surprised you didn’t have to SOUND it out for him.
And Rosa, I’m afraid you really should consider enrolling in some classes at CPCC, if only to address your glaring problems with fundamental reading comprehension. If you can find any instance of me, “backing up,” any of Francis’ views, I’ll pay your rent for July.
Thanks for posting this. I wish I could express myself like that.