SaveKeysBooks

Have the "Concerned Citizens" Won?

2008-07-01T09:10:00.000-07:00

Does the Mayor's message, below, mean that the "Concerned Citizens" (that means you!) have won? Well maybe.. kinda..

You don't get somethin for nuthin. It seems likely to the student of politics that we'll suffer a death from a thousand cuts rather than a beheading. So, expect to see less staff and less service.

The time to be really vigilant is when the tax revenues come back. Will the local services return, or will the increases go to fill chairs in Key West? Politicians bet that citizens have short memory and quickly grow complacent. Usually, they win the bet.

A Notice from the Monroe County Mayor

2008-07-01T09:09:00.000-07:00

Dear Concerned Citizens,

To address your concerns, I wanted to let you know the County Administrator has informed me today that the libraries will remain open to serve local communities. Disregard recent news articles, and please do not panic over rumors of closure.

Sincerely,

Mario Di Gennaro
Mario Di Gennaro
Mayor - Monroe County BOCC
9400 Overseas Highway, Ste. 210
Marathon, FL 33050
Ph: 305 289-6000
Fx: 305 289-6306

Is It Worth Paying More Taxes ?

2008-06-25T11:32:00.000-07:00

Should we ... would we pay more in taxes to keep the local libraries open? I suppose we would if we could trust the politicians to keep the priorities straight, but aye, there's the rub. What if we get behind a millage rate increase and then see the money go to pay higher salaries for Key West Bureaucrats? Trust politicians? Oh my.

The Free Press Article -- FYI

2008-06-25T09:06:00.000-07:00

At THIS LINK you'll see the story from the Free Press.

It says in part... "Monroe County Community Services, which oversees funding of social services programs, libraries and animal control, said the county could save $990,000 annually by eliminating the shuttle bus, $779,317 by closing the Marathon, Islamorada and Big Pine Key libraries and $329,000 by closing the 16-bed Bayshore Manor assisted-living facility on Stock Island. "

But note that since this article was published the focus has SHIFTED to the Islamorada Library.

In large part this is a scare tactic. The budget cutters will threaten everyone's favorite activity and then listen to who objects the most.

Need You To Attend A Special Budget Meeting!

2008-06-25T08:52:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday July 2 in the Marathon Government Center the County is holding a special budget meeting. THIS MEETING could recommend CLOSING our Islamorada Library. We need people to go to the Emergency Operations Center (Bayside) at mm 50 to express your support for the Islamorada Library.

You should understand that the issue might be stated as "do you want a library or do you want a fire truck?" That's a false dichotomy. Your taxes won't go DOWN if they close the library. There are other ways to save. And, there are other ways to create revenue.

We need the Commissioners to know that CLOSING THE ISLAMORADA LIBRARY is NOT the easy option.

Get you to Marathon!

Need You To Take Action Now! Here is how and Why

2008-06-25T08:46:00.000-07:00

June 24, 2008
Dear Friends of the Helen Wadley Branch Library Islamorada,

Yesterday, I attended the monthly Library Advisory Board meeting to hear Deb Barsell, Division Director of Community Services for Monroe County, deliver a shocking and grim report about the current state of county fiscal affairs.

She reported significant shortfalls in the county budget will necessitate reducing or eliminating funding for a variety of community services. She unequivocally explained that library services were in jeopardy.

Ms. Barsell went on to say that the county commissioners were the ones to ultimately decide what services would be affected and in her opinion the only way to maintain community services at their current level would be to support an increase in the millage rate. The Library Advisory Board drafted a letter to the Board of County Commissioners to express concern and to lend support to this solution.

I urge you to phone and/or write each commissioner to express your concern about the potential for cuts in our current library system. Please realize that the commissioners will hold a special budget meeting on July 2, 2008 at 10:00 AM in Marathon and they need to hear from you prior to this meeting. It would be even better if you could attend the meeting.

Thank you for your continued support of our community library. I urge you to make five phone calls or write five letters to your commissioners prior to July 2, 2008 to express your wishes about this critical community service.

Sincerely,
Elizabeth Jolin, President
Friends of the Helen Wadley Branch Library Islamorada

Commissioner Dixie Spehar
500 Whitehead Street, Ste 102
Key West, FL 33040
305 -292-3440
boccdis1@monroecounty-fl.gov

Commissioner George Neugent
25 Ships Way
Big Pine Key, FL 33043
305-292-4512 or 305-872-1678
boccdis2@monroecounty-fl.gov

Commissioner Sonny McCoy
530 Whitehead Street
Key West, Florida 33040
305-292-3430
boccdis3@monroecounty-fl.gov

Commissioner Mario Di Gennaro
9400 Overseas Hwy, Ste.210
Marathon 33050
305-289-6000
boccdis4@monroecounty-fl.gov

Commissioner Sylvia Murphy
99198 Overseas Highway
Key Largo, FL 33037
305-852-7175
boccdis5@monroecounty-fl.gov

Is the Islamorada Library Closing??

2008-06-25T08:34:00.000-07:00

On June 24th, at the Marathon library, the Library Advisory Board met and discussion included closing the Helen Wadley Branch Library in Islamorada.

In the end, it will be the county commissioners who decide how to allocate funds, but if you use the Islamorada Library, these commissioners need to hear from you now.