[Summit] sophistry

Thu Mar 29 14:25:10 UTC 2007

I think before we all start rending our garments over SNA's destruction of PPL, check out the OpEd in yesterday's ProJo cited by Duane Clinker.  I've attached a link, in case anyone's interested:

http://www.projo.com/opinion/contributors/content/CT_kushner28_03-28-07_Q94VFQI.1e84bff.html

It's authored by Linda Kushner and Patricia Raub.  Ms. Kushner is a former Rhode Island state legislator, past president of the Friends of Rochambeau, and a founding member of the Library Reform Group.  Ms. Raub is a professor of English at PC and the chairwoman of the Library Reform Group.

While Maurice Methot (the author of the Letter to the Editor in April's East Side Monthly) is doubtless a valuable member of the community, his pretense that he is somehow more concerned about the fate of PPL than SNA is profoundly insulting.  Nowhere in yesterday's OpEd is any mention of the recent conflict over the zoning variance and signage at Rochambeau, because it's ultimately negligable when compared with PPL's $14 million dollar restricted endowment and investments worth $35 million.

Here's another link to a letter sent to the Rhode Island Policy Reporter by Ellen Schwartz, a CPA who lives in Washington Park and investigated the library's finances last year:

http://whatcheer.net/index.cgi/y6/my/library-ellen.html?seemore=y

She makes that point that, as of 2006, the library was sitting on $20 M of savings, hardly an indicator of fiscal crisis.  Moreover, she reveals that PPL has set up the Providence Public Library Foundation, a separate nonprofit not required to comply with open meeting laws.

All annual campaign donations now get funneled through this foundation and its own board of directors, which is separate from PPL's board.  This shadow foundation seems to exist purely to hide millions of dollars of annual donations from public scrutiny.    

While I've thrown myself off SNA's editorial board, I'd be happy to get back on for this issue alone.  I believe it's critical that SNA respond to Mr. Methot's letter in the May East Side Monthly with facts, and not hysteria.  Is that in the cards?

Carol C.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jennifer Luxmoore 
  To: Greg Gerritt 
  Cc: Summit Neighborhood 
  Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2007 8:51 AM
  Subject: Re: [Summit] FW: save the library

  I won't pretend to be up on the whole situation, but I just read the East Side Monthly letter to the editor... it seems that because people were upset about a sign, that the library had to let go of a sizable donation. (Again not that everybody was open about the amount of donation or picture of the sign, but...) It looks like you may have to choose your battles... save the libraries or deal with a sign.... 

  Jennifer Luxmoore
  jennifer at luxmoore.com

  On Mar 28, 2007, at 7:35 PM, Greg Gerritt wrote:

    ------ Forwarded Message
    From: <curtinclinker at cox.net>
    Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:30:26 -0400
    To: 
    Subject: save the library

    FRIENDS: 

    We in our churches and communities need to act to insure present and future
    generations in the city have access to high quality, truly public libraries.

    The Washington Park Branch of the Providence Public Library (PPL) (a private
    non-profit), has been closed to the community for over two years now.  (With
    over 34 million at its disposal, the PPL apparently balked at repair of a
    leaking roof for $100,000 or less.  It is clear now that many other inner
    city branches are threatened with reorganization and closure.

    For years now, various community organizations like the Library Reform Group
    (www.libraryreformgroup.org), Library AdvocatesCoalition, Not About the
    Buildings, Save Our Branches, and others, have been doing the hard work of
    research, education, and advocacy on this issue with both the City and the
    Providence Public Library.  They have kept this issue alive and brought it
    repeatedly to public attention.  However,  we still have no resolution to
    this problem by the City and Library.

    It is time to draw the line.  We must make sure that some positive change
    happens, before a decent public library system becomes just a memory in the
    city.  

    Three churches, The Open Table of Christ, UMC, St. Michael’s Catholic
    Parish, and The Cathedral of Life are joining forces with others in the
    community in an effort to bring the City and the Library together to
    encourage a resolution which the community has been demanding for so long.

    Our kids can’t wait.

    The churches have requested separate public meetings with both the Mayor of
    Providence and Dale Thompson, the Director of the Library.

    In the first of these two meetings, the Mayor has agreed to meet with the
    churches and the public, this coming Monday, April 2, at 5 pm at the Open
    Table of Christ at 1520 Broad St. at the Providence/Cranston line.  The
    churches are inviting the public.

    It is a difficult time (at 5 pm), but it is such an important cause.  With
    your help we can move this issue and make something happen.

    Please attend.  We need everyone's help.  Spread the word, and find other
    ways to support if possible, as we prayerfully, but firmly, approach this
    issue.

    Duane Clinker for
    the Open Table of Christ

    PS.  Check out www.libraryreformgroup.org and the great op-ed in the ProJo
    of March 28 for more background on the issue generally.

    ------ End of Forwarded Message

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