February starts early at Al's Corner ! To kick off the month, here are some ground rules: at Al's Corner, you are welcome to make (judged by some others to be) glib comments that you think are humorous in regard to articles pertaining to tragic situations ! See below:
Davisite 
Comments
112 responses to “Welcome to Al’s Corner – “Pouring Gasoline on the Dumpster Fire of Davis Politics” – February 2023”
“Probably coming your way soon, a vote on a new tax for the “free” library that South Davis is getting — a tax because there is no money to operate the thing.”
With the Internet do people actually use libraries that much anymore?
I realize this is an “unpopular” thing to say, but the more Affordable housing that Davis pursues (and families which occupy it), the more it will cost the city (in terms of libraries, funding for the oversized school district, dedicated bicycle infrastructure that otherwise wouldn’t be pursued, etc.).
Davis would be better-off (financially) if it encouraged wealthier people to move in (rather than poor people), as apparently occurred with The Cannery. Bonus points if they don’t have kids.
This comment is not intended as a “judgement” regarding anything other than the impact on city finances.
In terms of net impact, wealthier people bring money into a community, while poor people extract money/resources.
I’d rather live in a community where everyone is wealthier than I am, vs. the opposite. I strive to be Jed Clampett – but without the oil money.
For most people with resources (e.g., Internet access at home), libraries are about as useful as the Dewey-Decimal system.
The quote below might sum it up pretty well:
“Chris: What’s a library, dad?
Peter: Oh, it’s just a place where homeless people come to shave and go BM.”
https://www.tvfanatic.com/quotes/whats-a-library-dad-oh-its-just-a-place-where-homeless-pe/
KO: With the Internet do people actually use libraries that much anymore?
I was thinking the same thing when I was at the Council Meeting, but for once I didn’t say anything, since I don’t use the library or go there. (I’m quite illiterate)
My recollection is that it was needed because of something to do with kids, and that a community gathering spot was needed in South Davis (because when they had a community meeting, it was in a fire station). I don’t see the need, personally.
My impression was the real reason was we got some free money, we need to spend it. But as we all know, free is never free.
AM: Interesting. And yet, when a free library was promised during DISC, many of us pointed out that there was no money for operations and that it would hurt the Stephens branch. So it should not have been a surprise to anyone.
“So it should not have been a surprise to anyone.”
Those to whom it was a surprise: Those of us who weren’t paying attention or weren’t there.
From the Enterprise:
“Additionally, the Davis City Council earlier this month pledged up to $1.5 million for the project, with those funds possibly coming from the city’s own ARP funds that were set aside for climate resilience (a new library could also serve as a climate resilience hub)”
“Climate resilience hub”, It’s amazing how money can be so easily shifted. A building could be called a hub for just about anything you want to call it.
Since the advent of the Internet I would think libraries are going the way of the encyclopedia, now a dinosaur. When’s the last time you saw a door-to-door encyclopedia salesperson?
A climate resilience hub? It could also be used a brothel.
As I said, I believe they want it for a community meeting space, so that, for $1.5 million in fed money, once or twice a year the citizens of South Davis can meet in a comfy meeting room, instead of folding chairs in the fire station.
Wise spending indeed.
Seems to me local government will pay ANYTHING to receive grant money, no matter what it is for, and justify that.
To be clear, I am all in favor of libraries. I think they encourage literacy, teach research skills, put on learning-related events, provide places for people to gather, and more. Did you know you can check out e-books from the library, for free? Very cool.
Anyway, so my objection isn’t to the library. My objection is to trumpeting a “free” library while burying the fact that it will likely hurt our existing library and/or require citizens to pay more for their “free” library.
And the Council knew damn well they didn’t have the money for operations, but then you don’t get the splashy headlines if you insist on having a, you know, funded library.
RM, I think Davis should have a library.
A library. It’s not that big a town, and we do have the internet.
If they are at capacity for so-called homeless having a place to charge their phones and towel-wash, they can use the grant to add a wing of showers and charging stations. And the people of South Davis can bicycle the extra 2-3 miles to meet about the Mace Mess. If it’s raining Unitrans or Yolobus can provide a shuttle to pick everyone up at their doors.
Family Guy: “There’s a dead homeless guy blocking the card catalog”
https://www.getyarn.io/yarn-clip/44bdc0f2-6f04-4b29-ae76-43efa8484119
Yeah, I am not sure we need two either. I was mainly responding to Keith, defending libraries in general. It’s not a bad thing to have two per se, but funds are limited and I think there are other priorities.
There is a serious disconnect between sources of funds (and oversight thereof), vs. use of funds.
Not just limited to libraries – but any number of state/federal funds used “locally”. Unfortunately, this is the way it’s been for a long, long time.
There is no local political “upside” to decline the use of funds from the state/federal government. Even if it’s the “right thing to do”.
This is also the reason that you can’t depend upon local input to determine which military bases, prisons or schools should be shut down. (Actually, are those latter two entities the same thing? I’ve always heard that there’s a “school-to-prison” pipeline, and the facilities themselves often appear to be similar.)
Perhaps it’s not “outsiders” that justify fences around schools. Maybe it’s to keep the inmates inside? (Channeling a comment I recall from several years ago, regarding the senior mobile home park on Pole Line.) My idea of humor, I guess.
If Davis had to pay for its own additional library, there is no way it would be built. As it should be.
SUBJECT: “All Commercial University Commons Project Represents Massive Fail of Local Leadership” (Mavis Splanguard, current)
DG: “This failure represents a perfect example of the perfect being the enemy of the group . . . ”
Not a good example, because no one has ever said that. Not the saying LO-f*cking-L, but nice . . . try-ish