Downtown Forward
Thursday, July 11, saw the formal launch of a new group to sell a library in a parking garage to Santa Cruz residents. A flyer billed the event as a Press Conference & Launch.
Almost 60 individuals were on hand at Abbott Square's Secret Garden area, including a dozen of us, who support an upgraded, reconfigured, revitalized, "green" library branch right where it's 44,000 sf of usable space currently sits.
Attending were Cynthia Mathews, Robert Singleton, Vivian Rogers of the FSCPL, Library Director Susan Nemitz, at least four former DLAC members, two of whom spoke at the event, lots of business folks, including many young employees or student interns.
Attending were Cynthia Mathews, Robert Singleton, Vivian Rogers of the FSCPL, Library Director Susan Nemitz, at least four former DLAC members, two of whom spoke at the event, lots of business folks, including many young employees or student interns.
Also attending but careful to say they were not advocating, only there to learn, were former County Supervisor (and former chief-of-staff to Sam Farr) Fred Keeley (who now lectures at San Jose State University, among other activities) and Jimmy Panetta's Congressional Aid Emmanuel Garcia.
Most Important Take Away of the Event
The Downtown Forward message delivered by all speakers was this: The current library is a shabby mess, unsafe for children to use, riddled with asbestos, containing antiquated ... well, everything. According to DLAC member Martin Gomez (now the FSCPL new president!) the only way to have a "first class" library is to build an "architecturally stunning" new library in the proposed 5 - 6 story Mixed Use Project that will miraculously also provide parking, affordable housing, street level business opportunities and a permanent downtown home for the Farmers' Market.
There you have it. Two Choices -- either live with the shabby, miserable library ... or build a new one in a multi-story mixed use behemoth. No mention whatsoever of a restoration option. In one fell swoop they tossed that idea into the trash bin, made it disappear altogether and cut to the chase. Add to that the FSCPL flyer that the blatantly bends the truth by stating: Measure S pays for the construction of 10 buildings. How many of those almost 60 attending even noticed that revisionist history?
The Downtown Forward message delivered by all speakers was this: The current library is a shabby mess, unsafe for children to use, riddled with asbestos, containing antiquated ... well, everything. According to DLAC member Martin Gomez (now the FSCPL new president!) the only way to have a "first class" library is to build an "architecturally stunning" new library in the proposed 5 - 6 story Mixed Use Project that will miraculously also provide parking, affordable housing, street level business opportunities and a permanent downtown home for the Farmers' Market.
There you have it. Two Choices -- either live with the shabby, miserable library ... or build a new one in a multi-story mixed use behemoth. No mention whatsoever of a restoration option. In one fell swoop they tossed that idea into the trash bin, made it disappear altogether and cut to the chase. Add to that the FSCPL flyer that the blatantly bends the truth by stating: Measure S pays for the construction of 10 buildings. How many of those almost 60 attending even noticed that revisionist history?
Photos Copyright DBTL 2019