"This is the most irresponsible funding I have seen -- committing the City to building a library" even though there is $32.5 million left to be raised from private sources. That's the assessment of former City Attorney Mike Aguirre, who argued futilely at today's council meeting against the City going ahead with the downtown library. But the council voted 6 to 2 to go ahead with the projection on the assumption that the funding will come forward. The City explained that it will build a shell that will remain if the money can't be raised, says Aguirre. Councilmembers Carl DeMaio and Sherri Lightner voted against the project, agreeing with Aguirre's argument that it is irresponsible to start a project that is nowhere near fully funded when libraries throughout the City have had to cut back on their hours because of the City's budget crisis.
"This is the most irresponsible funding I have seen -- committing the City to building a library" even though there is $32.5 million left to be raised from private sources. That's the assessment of former City Attorney Mike Aguirre, who argued futilely at today's council meeting against the City going ahead with the downtown library. But the council voted 6 to 2 to go ahead with the projection on the assumption that the funding will come forward. The City explained that it will build a shell that will remain if the money can't be raised, says Aguirre. Councilmembers Carl DeMaio and Sherri Lightner voted against the project, agreeing with Aguirre's argument that it is irresponsible to start a project that is nowhere near fully funded when libraries throughout the City have had to cut back on their hours because of the City's budget crisis.