Let me start out by saying that I think it's great that people are "organizing". That is what democracy is all about, and everyone.....and I mean EVERYONE has this right. The 1st Amendment of our glorious Constitution guarantees it. "....the right of the people peaceably to assemble...."
With that said, let me also say that I think it's great that a majority of people tell themselves that they think of Irondequoit as just Irondequoit, and not as a separate East Irondequoit or West Irondequoit.
Yes. I said "tell themselves". I told myself that too. I did it growing up, as a teenager, as a young adult....and to this day I say "Irondequoit" when people ask where I grew up. I don't specify East or West when talking about where I lived for my first 19 years of life.
I do, however, specify what high school I went to by saying East or West when relaying that information.
There's the problem right there. Irondequoit IS divided by East and West through the school districts. There's division. There's rivalry.....it was that way when I went to high school, and it's STILL that way today.
You're not going to get a "unified Irondequoit" until you unify the school districts into ONE school district.
You want to talk about waste of money by duplication of services? Good grief.
Until you work out that "division" - you aren't going to have the "unified Irondequoit" that we all hope for. Sorry. That's the sad reality of it. I'm not trying to be negative, mean or divisive....I'm just pointing to the most glaring "division" there is, and that this division necessitates consolidation to "unify" Irondequoit. Not to mention how it just might help out all taxpayers of Irondequoit if they were paying for ONE Superintendent and Administration, instead of two separate Superintendents and administrations.
Instead of being divided by some invisible NYS Department of Education line - people should be active in advocating for an Irondequoit Central School District - a unified school district - to get this ball rolling on the "One Irondequoit" unification idea.
Each district has a unique quality that won't be lost by consolidating the school districts. I believe that many people over the years have advocated for one district, but the NYSDOE has never seriously entertained the idea. I really don't know why.
Bluntly - I think it's so Stupid....Capital "S" Stupid.....to have two separate school districts with two separate Superintendents and Administrations in Irondequoit - then expect to "unify" the town with a new Library or CC. That one "quirk" of Irondequoit alone creates division, not unification. It's the "Town of Irondequoit"....yet there is an "EICSD" and a "WICSD". That never made sense to me.
Onto the letter.....
On Page 1:
"There are also over 40 private citizens who have already agreed to be part of this group to counter the negative and, worse than that, absolutely false information being presented as fact about an improved library and a centrally located multi generational, multifunctional community center."
I always read "the absolutely false information" line from a lot of people....but never see specifics. What "false information" is being presented as "fact"?
I have said that about "the opposition" too. That they have presented false information. But...I always back it up with quotes, e-mails, articles or FOI documents showing you what was "false".
For instance - MEH saying that the (CDBG) grant can't be used for Pinegrove, that the WISD owns the land around the building, that there are no plans to sell the Pinegrove building.....and more.....have all been proven to be....uh....not so true.
Aldersley at a board meeting, and others in e-mails, or letters to the I Post claiming that the Town only owns 5 ft. around the building, or it's landlocked, or the town only owns the building and not the parking lot etc, that King$ Pork is the best option right now.....
Mailers claiming that Pinegrove was unsafe, and that it is impossible to expand.
You may not want to "waste" tax money by fixing up Pinegrove......but right now I don't feel too comfortable committing to spending $40 million (up to possibly $100 million or more) on a consolidated library/community center so Irondequoit can "keep up with the joneses" and brag to other towns that "our library and community centers are newer and better than yours!"
Maybe if it was built in "stages", and when the economy looks better we could think about adding pools and theatres and all that other taxpayer funded stuff (federal grants or local taxes...doesn't matter....it's still taxpayer dollars....), and really......wasn't that "the plan" for King$ Pork? Putting the most "at risk" program there first (just the senior center) then making it a "Community Center"......tenants are/were leaving and freeing up more space to lease to consolidate the libraries.....maybe even getting a gym or theatre at KP? Baby steps. Stages....so it's not so overwhelming of a dollar figure each time.
Which......is a great idea! Leasing the space? Not so great. Even for a "temporary solution". We have buildings already.....deteriorating, "too small and poorly configured" buildings, but they're still buildings adequate for a temporary solution while other options are studied and DISCUSSED!!!!
DISCUSSED!!!! WITH EVERYONE!!!!! MAYBE YOU'LL EVEN ALLOW US TO VOTE ON IT THIS TIME INSTEAD OF "THE SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE" HAVING TO GO DOOR TO DOOR TO HAVE OTHER PEOPLE SIGN A PETITION TO FORCE A VOTE ON IT!!!
Oh my......pardon me while I clean up the blood from the vein that just burst on the side of my head......excuse me for a sec......
*Ahem*.....okay then.....
I honestly don't think "centralizing" the library is going to go over too well - again - and I'm talking about that "division".... E. Irondequoit residents will complain if it's located in W. Irondequoit......W. Irondequoit residents will complain if it's located in E. Irondequoit.
Remember how well the plan to close the Evans branch and "centralize" the library at the McGraw branch was embraced? Remember that?
MEH, when she first ran for Supervisor, was well aware of this delicate issue of library consolidation - and I quote: "I also feel that it is crucial for town government to listen to the voice of the residents, especially when it concerns the spending of taxpayer dollars. I truly believe your input is needed to encourage the development of our town, while maintaining a sound financial outlook. I know there are many issues which are extremely important to our residents - for example, the desire to keep two neighborhood libraries - and I want you to know that your voice will be heard."
She asked for your vote, with one promise being that she knew how important it was to keep two neighborhood libraries - and she wanted you to know that your voice would be heard.
Remember the "Images" survey results from two years ago? What did that show?
A resident went to the trouble of making an "Irondequoit Libraries Top Ten List" of reasons why the libraries should stay where they are.
Even 10 years ago, the "Black Survey" showed quite resoundingly that residents did not favor closing their neighborhood branches and "combining" the two into one centrally located library.
Yes, I know it was a survey from 10 years ago.....but a survey from 2 years ago showed basically the same things. They wanted "you" to keep and maintain/improve upon the branches. They even said in the survey that they would be willing to have an increase in taxes to support that.
Personally, I'm all for consolidation - at Town Hall Campus (and I'll tell you why in a minute). I'm definitely not in favor of leasing. Especially at King$ Pork.
I think the Library Board (with the exception of a few), and Terry Buford specifically, have done an incredible job of presenting their ideas, and their reasons for consolidation to the community. Mr. Buford is always available to answer any questions and inform residents of their ideas and recommendations, and to listen to residents and their concerns as well. The IPL site has a great page that links to all the studies and recommendations. You can view that here.
Again, I am for the consolidation of the libraries.....but I firmly believe that it has to be on "neutral" land if it's "gonna fly" with the residents.
Why do I favor a mixed-use (now where have I heard that before?) multi-use facility on Town Hall Campus?
Nobody from East or West Irondequoit can "complain" of where it's located if it's on Town Hall Campus. King$ Pork is less than a mile away from the Town Hall Campus (.80 miles to be exact)......so nobody can complain that it's "too out of the way" like they did about Pinegrove.
There will be some who really want the branches to stay where they are and be updated/renovated or whatever.....but I think it will be an easier "plan" to embrace if it's brought forth as a true "community" project at where the community gathers the most.
Town Hall Campus is beautiful. The Town Hall Building itself is majestic and houses the meetings our community takes part in. Families enjoy the quaint concerts at the gazebo. School children visit the Pioneer and Cobblestone houses to learn about our Town's history. Acres and acres of lush greenery as a backdrop to enjoy.
It's not "East Irondequoit Town Hall" or "West Irondequoit Town Hall". It's just Irondequoit Town Hall.
As for the rest of the "proposal", Mrs. Ganze says in her letter that "there are a few possibilities of where to locate" the consolidated libraries and "multifunctional" community center - but the "proposal" only lists one suggestion. Town Hall Campus. The "proposal" also states that they are not limiting it to a specific location - and other sites should be considered and compared - but doesn't manage to list any other sites.
There are no cost studies in this proposal.
It certainly is worth discussing, which should have been done an eon ago....... but remember how well a "small group of people forcing their ideas onto the rest of the Town" went over at the February Vote?
Does anyone really think that this "small group of people forcing their ideas onto the rest of the Town" is going to go over well with the rest of the residents?
I guess we shall see.
I can't wait to see specifics. You know, their estimates, and what grants they suggest applying for, or if they intend to survey residents to see if they'd be in favor of their "proposal" or not.
Hey...who knows....maybe there will be another special referendum in our future?
"Barnoniacs", be warned! The "Ganze Gang" is organizing! They have about the same number of people (40) that you had to petition.
Miriam Ganze said in her letter that:
"We will be working on communicating information about the project, networking with friends, op-eds, letters to the editor, website/email/other online resources, attending and/or speaking at town board meetings and eventually (before a referendum) add phone banks, postcards and other publicity."
Kinda like they did with the King$ Pork proposal. Is the IDC.....er.....I mean the "Seniors First Committee" paying for this too?
Well now....Baroniacs......the Ganze Gang will be having a little meeting the week of June 22nd.
If and when I find out the specific date and location......you can be sure I'll let y'all know so you can attend and be a part of this "community" proposal. We can't just let it be a small group of people with connections to phone banks and IDC.....er.....I mean "Seniors First Committees" to help pay for postcards etc. making all the decisions for all of us and spreading absolutely false, no...wait.....it was BLATANTLY false information.......can we?
As far as I've been told the past year........no, we can't.
I wonder if there will be any consistency in dealing with this "small group of people"......as the other "small group of people" and their ideas were treated?
Methinks not........
