Snarky Szynaka

Fellow blogger PeoriaIllinoisan recently expressed his dismay that the Peoria Public Library is not open on Saturdays over the summer. Library director Ed Szynaka took the time to respond, explaining that “ALL branches will be open on both Saturday and Sunday when we finish this building alignment.” “This building realignment” refers to the library’s plan to expand some branches, close others, and build a new branch on the north end. But, he added, “we cannot issue the bonds that will let us move forward without the approval of the City Council.”

Then he makes what I consider to be a bit of a snarky comment at the end:

Thank you for supporting the recent vote. 72% of your fellow citizens who voted that also supported that measure. Now getting the City Council to support what the citizens voiced is becoming a very difficult task. Why is no one questioning that issue.

Just for the record, 9,970 votes were cast in favor of the referendum, which was indeed 71.61% of the votes cast (13,923). However, it’s about 14.8% of the total number of registered voters (67,011), and 8.81% of the total Peoria population (113,107). And it’s an advisory referendum, not a binding one. Hence, the need to go through the city council.

I voted for the referendum, but with the understanding that the money to be spent by the library would be subject to city council oversight. It wasn’t a blank check, as Mr. Szynaka seems to imply. I’m willing to pay more for improved library infrastructure and services, but last I looked, the library reps aren’t elected. I don’t want unelected people spending my money with no oversight. I don’t want the city council saying, “oh, the people voted for it, so let’s just let the library do whatever they want with $35 million.”

The best news that came out after that vote was that Gary Sandberg was appointed library liaison. I’m confident that Gary will keep their feet to the fire and make sure that no money is being wasted. And that’s why I’m not “questioning that issue.”