The blip on the election screen, Ralph Nader, conceded the Presidency in a basement in a Southeast Washington D.C. public library yelling “Stadiums instead of libraries!”…from the New York Times .
Here’s an explanation of Nader’s speech at the library in the Washington Post, condemning DC Mayor Anthony Williams for supporting a local measure to build a stadium for the soon-to-be named MLB team in our Nation’s Capital.
do you think he wanted a mention in LISNews too?
Sports palaces vs. libraries & schools
“Stadiums instead of libraries! Stadiums instead of school renovation!” Mr. Nader thundered.”
Columbus (Franklin County) had that option a few years back but the voters said no to the sports arena. Amidst all the moaning and groaning about lost tax revenue, the supporters got together private money and built the Nationwide Arena, our hockey palace. That’s where I heard George Bush and Arnold S (you spell it) last Friday night. The area around it (where the former peniteniary stood) has indeed flourished. But right now there is a strike, so the restaurants are suffering low turn out. That happens, but better to happen on the private dollar rather than on welfare dollars for rich sports fans.
Re:Sports palaces vs. libraries & schools
I’ve ranted about this here before, but I will again. The library where I work looked at building a branch several years ago. It’s unheard of for a town our size to not have at least one branch. We’re one of those old downtown libraries that has its hardcore users, but is just not convenient for a large number of eligible card holders. Focus groups and surveys indicated a need and desire for a branch. Selected parts of these studies were used to demonstrate the opposite. A few blowhards hijacked the process, spread the word that we wanted to ditch the downtown building, and accused us of wanting to abandon the poor folks and homeless, none of this being true. The project was dropped.
A couple years later, out comes a proposal for a downtown arena, because we all know how useful dome-shaped hockey and concert venues are to low-income and homeless people. The arena was pushed hard by a small group of vocal supporters. At first, it was promised that no public funds would be used. Then, er, well…um…it was decided that public funds or bonds would be necessary to build the arena. A referendum was put on the ballot with 60% of voters saying “no” to public funding. It was a non-binding referendum, so work has commenced, with public funds. Did I mention that the university in our community already has an arena, 3 miles down from the new one?
I didn’t vote for Ralph this time, but I sure feel his pain.
Re:Sports palaces vs. libraries & schools
Do they plan to knock down your library because it has such a great location? “No public funds” must be right up there with the greatest lines heard in a bar.