Backlash causes city to reconsider using library taxes for [Wal-Mart]

[MountainLaurel]

In Saskatoon, SK, Canada: The city wanted to divert taxes collected for the public library, to build an overpass that would mainly benefit a new Wal-Mart.

In the face of widespread opposition, the city is preparing to back away from its proposal to divert library taxes into a south side interchange project.

The interchange plan for Clarence Avenue and Circle Drive has produced a hail of protest, with a large number of people complaining to the library and a lineup of ratepayers forming to blast city council for the idea.

snip

The city's plan is to share the cost of the interchange with developer First Pro, which is dealing with an unnamed anchor tenant widely believed to be Wal-Mart. First Pro is to contribute $2.8 million toward the $14-million cost. Another $1.7 million will come from the city's transportation expansion reserve, and the city will also apply an interchange levy.

That leaves $5.5 million unaccounted for, which was to be paid by diverting both municipal and library taxes into paying off the interchange over 15 years.

This would have amounted to about $550,000 a year, of which the library's share would have been about $50,000.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/story.html?id=393ab831-eef3-4fc1-89fd-f784eb383beb&k=98849

And here is some background on the project:

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/local/story.html?id=c88cdabe-2d2b-4eb2-b9bb-01c8c779bc66

(I love the acronym for that one: Should Exploitative Economics Persist? (ShEEP) :rofl:)

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/business/story.html?id=d679eced-3642-4588-9927-ea8df2f7bef7&k=76914

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/forum/story.html?id=7357e909-66b1-41fc-89c8-8fdfe1f0600d

[Atman]

1. Wal Mart will make a brazillion dollars off the store

LET THEM PAY FOR THEIR OWN FUCKING INTERCHANGE!

[blondeatlast]

2. Our citizens would swarm the mayor and council chambers if that were

to happen.

They wouldn't DARE, I guarantee it. A great deal of our budget is from bond funds anyway.

I'm going to mention this to my supervisor, who will be attending the Public Library Association meeting next week.

You don't want to mess with librarians on listserves (think of Michael Moore's "Stupid White Men").

Keep us posted, if possible.

LOVE the acronym--perfect.

[MountainLaurel]

4. Hi from another librarian!

I got the original story from lisnews.com. I'll keep an eye out for updates about the decision to "reconsider" there.

[LostinVA]

5. And from yet another one... OMG

Libraries shutting down, collections not being added to, etc.... WAL-MART????

[MountainLaurel]

6. Pretty stunning, isn't it?

At least the Canadians haven't drunk the Kool-Aid about how wonderful Wal-mart is and are actively fighting this move.

[Peanutcat]

3. WTF!!

Hey! When I vote for more library taxes, I EXPECT THOSE DOLLARS TO GO INTO THE LIBRARY SYSTEM, YOU MOFOS! Goddamn fucking Wal-Mart can take care of themselves!