Fooling the public again?

Once again CDN-NDG (Union Montreal) Mayor Michael Applebaum tries to fool the public.The Borough had over $400,000 "set aside" for the library since before the Kensington closure ($200,000 for 2006 and $200,000 for 2007).

The Fraser-Hickson initially refused that money because it would not have been enough to sustain its operations on Kensington without eating into the endowment. The offer was deemed by many as a slap across the face when the annual operating costs were $700,000 at the time---pretty cheap when you consider that some municipal borough libraries with similar membership-to-book ratios were operating on over $1.5 million/year. In contrast, a meager $200,000/year FOR FIVE YEARS would have stopped the closure of FHL---since a more long-term commitment would have convinced private foundations to help more. Moreover, in June 2007, the City proposed to Applebaum that they would seek millions in provincial funding for FHL if Mr. Applebaum would have made FHL a priority project. But Mr. Applebaum did not do that. Even Mr. Applebaum's election-year library (a Benny Upgrade) will not be able fill the great void our seniors, students, and children suffer in NDG today. Now, after having forced the closure and drastic downsizing of the Fraser-Hickson Library---putting it out of reach for thousands of NDG residents, Mr. Applebaum is trying to pass himself off as a hero by offering a menial $45,000 per year to the Fraser-Hickson. Does Mr. Applebaum really believe NDG is so naive? We will remember!

Finally, during the November 26, "Meet the candidates" event, Liberal candidate Kathleen Weil conveniently announced hearing that the Fraser-Hickson and the Borough had come up with a "funding solution". If $45,000 per year is sufficient to help run a library for her, we should all be very worried. v Ramtuhol Somerled, NDG