Money for library better spent on our homes

The Island Now

After World War II, there wasn’t much in the way of children activities. Money was too scarce to be spent on any form of luxury, but there was always the town library to spent hours of reading, adventure and travels. Many times on a winter’s day, I would stop in on the way from school. School was a three-mile walk, each way (no buses). It was a chance to rest and warm up a while in the children’s section.

Wherever I have lived in America , there was always a library. Some big some small, but they served the same purpose, a place to read, relax and research information.

But some of us are not content, we are spending beyond our means to satisfy a few. How can we ever fix this mess, if we keep borrowing to spend what one doesn’t have? And that is what the library board, doesn’t seem to understand. Don’t get me wrong, every town should have an up to date, modern library, but Great Neck has four. I knew we were in trouble, when a trustee, likens the new library plan to be a “big cupcake, with cream on top”, and then to count on Park East, who had blank expressions on their faces, when confronted about wetland and windows that birds from Udall’s Pond, could crash into, makes one wonder.

Once, we had a big new library, within 30 years, it was run into the ground, because of lack of maintenance. Where did the repair fund, part of each year’s budget go? Who is to say the same won’t happen to a new building, and if the present building is falling down around our ears, as our director, Marino, keeps reminding us. How about the foundation it sits on? Has it been checked by Park East?

The new building will be accessible to patrons with disabilities. Have we had a library for 40 years inaccessible? Why is the board against Plan A?

If Jacob Javits Center can do a huge expansion and renovation, without shutting down, so can we. Yes, a few inconveniences, but it’s not like we have no where to go. Residents can still use the other three branches.

We have Baby Time, a librarian singing and shaking a rattle at new born to nine-month old baby. Toy Time for 10-month olds and Story Time. It seems more like a play group which could be held at a parents house/nursery school. We don’t have to build an 8,000-square-foot addition. They could open up the two existing rooms now, that they use now. They don’t have to clad the outside with copper, I’m sure the babies won’t know the difference.

In time like today we can’t indulge in frills, like heated floors and 1.3 million in new furniture, when residents are struggling to pay for heat this winter. There should be no additional tax burdens put upon homeowners.

Maybe there is a book in the library, that the board could read that’s titled, “How to Manage With What One Has”?

A message from Janet Esagoff, who can say proudly, that they have a well thought out, affordable plan and what an exciting time it is for us. It won’t be exciting if home owners can’t afford the ever rising school and library taxes.

Food on the table, medication and a roof over their heads is more important. Senator Martins is collecting food to replenish Long Island’s Food Banks. Maybe the board is unaware, that our local church has seen a 65 percent increase in Great Neck residents, seeking help from the food pantry they run.

I know a Great Neck resident, who need roof repairs, who can’t find extra money to fix windows or falling shingles, yet you ask them to pay for a copper clad exterior and why on earth, $120,000, for a heated floor, to warm infants behinds, when they can sit on Mommies lap or sit on child’s plastic chairs, that can be purchased for $5 each.

Steve Markowitz, quoted, “The library is a community place, for meetings, classes and for all kinds of activities that don’t exist anywhere else in Great Neck.” Steve, where have you been? We have a wonderful community center run by the Park District, movies, discussions, classes, bridge, chess, concerts and many children’s activities, it is called the Great Neck House. The committee for 21st Century Library, thinks expansion is so vital, that if we don’t vote yes…GN real estate goes down the drain. Vote Plan A and we get a modern, updated library. We save millions in not having to store books for two plus years, plus renting two empty stores, which would have to be renovated.

Any empty store in town, would only make a nice deal for some real estate company or landlord. $28.8 million, with interest for 20 years is more like 38 million, which comes back to the quote, “A cupcake, with mounds of cream on top!” I will be 92, before, I will have paid off a loan, that I don’t want. I resent being forced to pay for a copper-clad building and unnecessary new furniture. My money can be better spent maintaining my own house.

Jean Pierce

Great Neck

 

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