Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Monroe residents reject $12.9M plan to build library, town offices
Taxpayers yesterday shot down – by a nearly 4-1 ratio – a $12.9 million building project that would have housed a new library and government offices.
Village of Kiryas Joel residents voted 919-29 against the project. The rest of the town weighed in at 1,417 to 576 against it.
Marilyn McIntosh, director of the Monroe Free Library, was quick to blame the Hasidic community and the Monroe town supervisor, who opposed the project.
"Obviously, Kiryas Joel block-voted us … and the town supervisor (Sandy Leonard) coming out against it didn't help either," McIntosh said. "And we just didn't get out the yes votes."
The 40,000-square-foot, two-story building would have been built on town-owned property. An estimated two-thirds of the space would have been dedicated to the library, which is now cramped in 5,500 square feet. The remaining space would have housed Monroe town offices.
Two Monroe Town Board members helped plan the proposal and supported it. But others were dubious about the cost.
Leonard did not return calls for comment last night.
McIntosh vowed to try again.
"We'll go out again on our own, without the town," she said, minutes after hearing of the defeat. "As a separate project it's going to have a better chance. This town needs a library. That's the bottom line."
http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2005/06/22/libvote2.htm
Taxpayers yesterday shot down – by a nearly 4-1 ratio – a $12.9 million building project that would have housed a new library and government offices.
Village of Kiryas Joel residents voted 919-29 against the project. The rest of the town weighed in at 1,417 to 576 against it.
Marilyn McIntosh, director of the Monroe Free Library, was quick to blame the Hasidic community and the Monroe town supervisor, who opposed the project.
"Obviously, Kiryas Joel block-voted us … and the town supervisor (Sandy Leonard) coming out against it didn't help either," McIntosh said. "And we just didn't get out the yes votes."
The 40,000-square-foot, two-story building would have been built on town-owned property. An estimated two-thirds of the space would have been dedicated to the library, which is now cramped in 5,500 square feet. The remaining space would have housed Monroe town offices.
Two Monroe Town Board members helped plan the proposal and supported it. But others were dubious about the cost.
Leonard did not return calls for comment last night.
McIntosh vowed to try again.
"We'll go out again on our own, without the town," she said, minutes after hearing of the defeat. "As a separate project it's going to have a better chance. This town needs a library. That's the bottom line."
http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2005/06/22/libvote2.htm
Comments:
Typicial Orange county Jerks,
Even with out KJ this thing would have gone down and badly lost.
Libraian should know how to add numbers
Even with out KJ this thing would have gone down and badly lost.
Libraian should know how to add numbers
Comment Credit ---This article posted by 
: June 22, 2005 5:13 PM
: June 22, 2005 5:13 PM
If the Satmars have a library some of the third and fourth generation American satmars may learn how to speak english.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : June 22, 2005 10:19 PM
: June 22, 2005 10:19 PM
Cynic:
They get their news from the Chaptzem blog.
They get their news from the Chaptzem blog.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : June 23, 2005 9:40 AM
: June 23, 2005 9:40 AM
Why do they need to learn how to speak English?
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Comment Credit ---This article posted by : June 23, 2005 9:41 AM
: June 23, 2005 9:41 AM
