Down here in Seabrook, we passed a referendum to issue bonds for the building of a new library several years ago to replace a facility that was just too small for our community and, to be honest, already showing signs of aging. During Hurricane Ike, the library was seriously damaged, and it has not reopened -- depriving this community of one of its major focal points.
Several months ago, the new plans were unveiled and we were promised a new library by the fall of 2010. Groundbreaking was supposed to be last week. But those who attended the groundbreaking got an unpleasant surprise.
It was supposed to be groundbreaking day for construction of the new Seabrook library, but instead came the disappointing news that the funding isn’t there.“The project is on hold,’’ Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Sylvia Garcia told the crowed gathered Tuesday on what was to be the site of a groundbreaking celebration.
“Please don’t feel like the Lone Ranger. Every (Harris County) construction project except toll road projects has been put on hold,’’ she said, citing the tight economy.
Excuse me!
Where is the bond money?
Where are the disaster recovery funds to replace the damaged building?
And why was this bombshell decision hidden from both the elected officials and the citizens of our community?
I'm putting our Harris County officials on notice now -- you need to find that money and find it now. Local folks are mighty pissed off about this. And to those of you who are planning on running for reelection next year -- I don't care if you have an R or a D after your name, if this project is not under way soon, I will make it a point to work for the defeat of each and every one of you.
And yes, that does mean you, County Judge Ed Emmett. You are a master at finding money for projects that are a priority for you -- make hurricane recovery for this corner of Harris County a priority or be prepared to lose this reliably Republican area.
And since Barack Obama was down in New Orleans today promising ever more federal cash to that city over four years after their hurricane, how about giving some attention to those of us who dealt with a major storm significantly more recently?
UPDATE: I'll give the man credit -- Ed Emmett has been in touch with me today (Sunday, October 18) to let me know he is going to look into the matter of the library here in Seabrook. I'll post more when he gets back to me with some details on what is going on and what the prospects are for getting this project underway.
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Comments on A Local Development That Pisses Me Off
No, no, it wasn't neglect. It was apathy - in that I don't care whether you're a blogger or a precinct chair or president of your PTA. It's that blaming other people (especially those in YOUR party) because your commissioner has twisted priorities is a bit, shall we say, ignorant and petulant. Check your facts on how Harris County works. Within their precincts, the individual commissioner - and the commissioner ALONE - decides how to spend that money. If Sylvia Garcia wants to budget the money, she could do it easily. (She literally has tens of millions in all three of her funds - road and bridge, parks, and libraries). But she isn't going to spend that money in a GOP area. Blaming Emmett or anybody else for that shows a working ignorance of the process. Your problem is Garcia, and she doesn't give a DAMN that you're a blogger or a GOP chair. And frankly I don't either.
|| Posted by Gerald McC, October 18, 2009 06:25 PM ||According to Garcia, ALL projects in the county are going unfunded, so you clearly don't know what you are talking about in this case, Gerald.
And since Judge Emmett seems to think he has some place looking into this situation, I'm clearly getting some results.
And as for you, if you don't give a Damn about me, why are you here on my website commenting? Why don't you just bugger off?
|| Posted by Rhymes With Right, October 19, 2009 08:06 PM ||Post a comment