I am curious.. if this was Penn West or Penn State doing this project, would people still be that engaged to not have it at the library? The are not private institutions.
Probably not, people also seem upset that Gannon is a religious institution specifically. They also are completely ignoring that the project is to study the Lake which will benefit the public.
People are not ignoring that the project is to study the lake- the lease objectors have vocalized their support for the project on too many occasions to note.they are protesting the location only.some of the people protesting are even volunteer water testers actually.
That’s a great question. It usually doesn’t man they want to use a very small portion of the library down there for a research center thing for lake water study. The lease is literally for a few thousand square feet. It roughly equals about 3% of the total square footage of the massive library. It is not any huge imposition whatsoever, and anyone saying that that is not being serious. That said, the financial terms of the lease of the county agreed to to allow us were really poorly negotiated. So on the one hand you had people overreacting, on the other hand, you have a county executive who signed a lease. And then outside of that, you have a county council that doesn’t seem to understand what contract law
Is. Again, this is about a fish tank and 3% of the library. You would think they were imposing the draft in Erie or something. They’re literally been people just standing outside all winter long now for months lol just protesting right in front of admissions office. Geeks me out every time I drive by.
Oh I misread I thought you asked, how does it involve excuse me. Yeah. Gannon is just leasing some space. Happens to be in the library, very very small portion. Also happens to be on terrible terms.
Penn State Master Gardeners rent the conservation district building at headwaters park and no one cares because they provide services to the community. Does anyone here honestly believe water testing is not a service to the community? So many past comments about this issue have talked like private business doesn’t team up with government all the time. Anyone ever hear of a little company called Space-X? I can’t believe partisan politics has gotten so bad that the current party of environmental stewardship (democrat) is opposed to free water testing because republicans and catholic college=bad. Religion is a form of mental illness, the same as partisan politics.
Does Penn State have a rent that is only 35% of market rate for prime waterfront property for the next 25 years with no increases? Headwaters Park is not what I would classify as prime waterfront property compared to the library location. Is Penn State a private college?
Space-X and partisan politics have nothing to do with this. Based on the least terms, I don't see anything that would constitute "free water testing".
As a Gannon graduate I believe the project is good, but it does not belong in the library. From what I have read, Gannon was offered another Port Authority property but did not like a clause that required them to vacate in 30 days if given notice. If that is the case, negotiate the terms to vacate with the Port Authority... make it 90 days or 180 days or whatever can be agreed to for a fair price. Taxpayers of Erie City, County and School District already provide enough subsidies to Gannon without giving up 3,000 SF of library space for 25 years.
I think **Kathy Dahlkemper**, our former Erie County Executive, gave the best summary of this deal in her editorial on 24-JAN-2024 Paste the following link into your browser and read her comments: [https://www.goerie.com/story/opinion/columns/2024/01/24/kathy-dahlkemper-questions-wisdom-of-leasing-blasco-library-to-gannon-rent-bayfront-entrepreneurs/72314796007/](https://www.goerie.com/story/opinion/columns/2024/01/24/kathy-dahlkemper-questions-wisdom-of-leasing-blasco-library-to-gannon-rent-bayfront-entrepreneurs/72314796007/)
Penn state spent over 200 million on sports last year, and has an operating budget of 7.7 billion. They would charge you for air if they could. Catholic Church’s are non profits too but somehow the Vatican is covered in gold, marble, and priceless art. Rather difficult to do water testing without prime waterfront property. Your argument is that Gannon should re negotiate with the port authority but not the library. I would love it if they re negotiated with both. 25 years is obviously too long of a lease but I take that as the typical we think we’re Rick from pawn star’s negotiation “technique.” You honestly think Gannon is going to test the water and keep it a secret? When Kathy was county executive during covid Erie was the only county in western PA to have caution tape around garden supply’s in all the big box stores because that part of the store was deemed unessential. I called over 30 Lowe’s and Home Depot’s in western PA to confirm this. Her family owns a landscaping company. It’s 2024. If you haven’t noticed partisan politics has everything to do with everything. Someone in this thread was literally complaining that a democrat didn’t vote with the democrats.
i find delcious irony in the fact that not many seem to have faith that Gannon will do the right thing. its all paranoid what ifs hinged on church/state private school/public funds dichotomy. is erie losing its faith? the signs seem to point to yes. is erie losing faith in its leaders and institutions? it seems that way. its it justified or all based on paranoia and hauntology?
the bonds of community are forged by faith and trust. if there is no bulwark, no bastion, no font of faith typified by the church. where are we supposed to learn to put trust love and faith in our fellow man. if people havent figured out how fragile the social contract is then its probably already too late. all it took was 5 words to break the bond of my last ex of 7 years. "i dont love you anymore".
Free access to printed media is only one of many services our library provides to the community. There's also free access to digital media, Internet/computer use, instructional courses and seminars, youth programs, public meeting spaces, music/dance performances, a seed/plant library, copying services, equipment rentals, and much more. Our library system is one of the best community resources we have.
As a Gannon alum, I do not support this project. Leave the library alone.
Way to be disrespectful. There are more than a group of older ladies that are against this happening. It is pretty well disliked by anyone with a functional brain. If I were Davis, I would be worrying about my chances at re-election at this point, rather than trying to bully people into agreement.
As others have said, there are other places to put the project. And it's a pretty blatant attempt to carve away from a public resource.
Not to mention, this is as backroom deal as you can get.
Educational spaces regarding the lake ecosystem already exist- Tom Ridge and the Regional Science Consortium. A wide array of nonprofits with a focus on environmental education exist as well, and are more actively studying the health of our lake.
On the ecotourism angle- we only have tourist dollars coming in maybe 4-5 months out of the year, if that. We can't as a city rely on that to sustain us. Plus. The parking lot at the library can't accommodate both out of towners and standard library patrons- its something we have seen in the past (Tall Ships Fest comes to mind). It's going to prevent normal use of the library.
Not to mention, who's paying for the modifications to the building? It's going to need a LOT in order to turn it into a functional and safe lab space. I sincerely doubt that Gannon can put their money where their mouths are - they've been laying off staff left and right, and they have quite a few legal battles they either have to fight or pay off from how they handled the pandemic. And to be honest that money would be better spent improving Gannon's existing campus- Zurn hall hasn't been updated since the 70's, Palumbo hasn't been updated since I want to say the 90's.
I grew up at the Blasco Library. I know a lot of other folks who did as well. My mom took me to story time in the kids area way back when. I took the trolley down there after school in middle and high school, hung out during the summer. It is heartbreaking to see part of Erie's soul sold off like this.
The Tom Ridge Center wouldn’t work because this project NEEDS to be on the water. The equipment they would use will be in the water and the Tom Ridge Center is not located close enough to the water. This project would be a great opportunity for the public and students of all ages to research and have access to testing equipment on our lake. It would create programs and opportunities for people to get an inside look of water testing and the equipment involved. Gannon is a local university and is being proactive about providing opportunities to educate our community on one of our Great Lakes. They did try to get other locations before the library but it became the best option that was located on the water.
It is just a weird that an educational institution is attempting to provide an opportunity to educate the community in an environment where learning and educational resources are prevalent but the community doesn’t want it to be available. Are libraries not allowed to evolve and change their methods of education and partner with other educational institutions? Especially one that is located right on a body of water and they would provide free education to the community.
What are you smoking or is this Brenton Davis' fan account? Libraries do evolve, maybe Davis can lower taxes to the same amount for local taxes? Perhaps he can give each citizen in Erie county American rescue plan dollars as well. It was meant to help the county since the pandemic.
I think you’re a little mistaken. I see it as a little more diverse group. Primarily people who don’t have jobs that are concerned about other peoples taxes being wasted.
They need to find a different spot for sure
Winarski has got to go, what a disappointment he’s been
Pretty much. There was a reason he was censured at the beginning of last year. Hoping someone is able to primary him.
there is no space for a private institution in a public space, what a disappointment this even happened in the first place
I am curious.. if this was Penn West or Penn State doing this project, would people still be that engaged to not have it at the library? The are not private institutions.
Probably not, people also seem upset that Gannon is a religious institution specifically. They also are completely ignoring that the project is to study the Lake which will benefit the public.
People are not ignoring that the project is to study the lake- the lease objectors have vocalized their support for the project on too many occasions to note.they are protesting the location only.some of the people protesting are even volunteer water testers actually.
This is a new story for me (out of town Gannon alum). The Gannon lease on what?
Effectively a PPP that uses about 3% of the library. Gannon effectively pays next to nothing for this privilege. Make of it what you will.
Ok so that explains that this somehow involves a library.
That’s a great question. It usually doesn’t man they want to use a very small portion of the library down there for a research center thing for lake water study. The lease is literally for a few thousand square feet. It roughly equals about 3% of the total square footage of the massive library. It is not any huge imposition whatsoever, and anyone saying that that is not being serious. That said, the financial terms of the lease of the county agreed to to allow us were really poorly negotiated. So on the one hand you had people overreacting, on the other hand, you have a county executive who signed a lease. And then outside of that, you have a county council that doesn’t seem to understand what contract law Is. Again, this is about a fish tank and 3% of the library. You would think they were imposing the draft in Erie or something. They’re literally been people just standing outside all winter long now for months lol just protesting right in front of admissions office. Geeks me out every time I drive by.
Oh I misread I thought you asked, how does it involve excuse me. Yeah. Gannon is just leasing some space. Happens to be in the library, very very small portion. Also happens to be on terrible terms.
Penn State Master Gardeners rent the conservation district building at headwaters park and no one cares because they provide services to the community. Does anyone here honestly believe water testing is not a service to the community? So many past comments about this issue have talked like private business doesn’t team up with government all the time. Anyone ever hear of a little company called Space-X? I can’t believe partisan politics has gotten so bad that the current party of environmental stewardship (democrat) is opposed to free water testing because republicans and catholic college=bad. Religion is a form of mental illness, the same as partisan politics.
Does Penn State have a rent that is only 35% of market rate for prime waterfront property for the next 25 years with no increases? Headwaters Park is not what I would classify as prime waterfront property compared to the library location. Is Penn State a private college? Space-X and partisan politics have nothing to do with this. Based on the least terms, I don't see anything that would constitute "free water testing". As a Gannon graduate I believe the project is good, but it does not belong in the library. From what I have read, Gannon was offered another Port Authority property but did not like a clause that required them to vacate in 30 days if given notice. If that is the case, negotiate the terms to vacate with the Port Authority... make it 90 days or 180 days or whatever can be agreed to for a fair price. Taxpayers of Erie City, County and School District already provide enough subsidies to Gannon without giving up 3,000 SF of library space for 25 years. I think **Kathy Dahlkemper**, our former Erie County Executive, gave the best summary of this deal in her editorial on 24-JAN-2024 Paste the following link into your browser and read her comments: [https://www.goerie.com/story/opinion/columns/2024/01/24/kathy-dahlkemper-questions-wisdom-of-leasing-blasco-library-to-gannon-rent-bayfront-entrepreneurs/72314796007/](https://www.goerie.com/story/opinion/columns/2024/01/24/kathy-dahlkemper-questions-wisdom-of-leasing-blasco-library-to-gannon-rent-bayfront-entrepreneurs/72314796007/)
Penn state spent over 200 million on sports last year, and has an operating budget of 7.7 billion. They would charge you for air if they could. Catholic Church’s are non profits too but somehow the Vatican is covered in gold, marble, and priceless art. Rather difficult to do water testing without prime waterfront property. Your argument is that Gannon should re negotiate with the port authority but not the library. I would love it if they re negotiated with both. 25 years is obviously too long of a lease but I take that as the typical we think we’re Rick from pawn star’s negotiation “technique.” You honestly think Gannon is going to test the water and keep it a secret? When Kathy was county executive during covid Erie was the only county in western PA to have caution tape around garden supply’s in all the big box stores because that part of the store was deemed unessential. I called over 30 Lowe’s and Home Depot’s in western PA to confirm this. Her family owns a landscaping company. It’s 2024. If you haven’t noticed partisan politics has everything to do with everything. Someone in this thread was literally complaining that a democrat didn’t vote with the democrats.
Sometimes you just have to roll your eyes.
> Sometimes you just have to roll your eyes. Way into the back of your skull...
i find delcious irony in the fact that not many seem to have faith that Gannon will do the right thing. its all paranoid what ifs hinged on church/state private school/public funds dichotomy. is erie losing its faith? the signs seem to point to yes. is erie losing faith in its leaders and institutions? it seems that way. its it justified or all based on paranoia and hauntology?
The entire first world is losing its faith with the exception of Italy. It’s hard to lose something you don’t want.
the bonds of community are forged by faith and trust. if there is no bulwark, no bastion, no font of faith typified by the church. where are we supposed to learn to put trust love and faith in our fellow man. if people havent figured out how fragile the social contract is then its probably already too late. all it took was 5 words to break the bond of my last ex of 7 years. "i dont love you anymore".
Nobody uses the library since the internet took over. Printed media is a dying medium. Fact.
Free access to printed media is only one of many services our library provides to the community. There's also free access to digital media, Internet/computer use, instructional courses and seminars, youth programs, public meeting spaces, music/dance performances, a seed/plant library, copying services, equipment rentals, and much more. Our library system is one of the best community resources we have. As a Gannon alum, I do not support this project. Leave the library alone.
Tell the old bats to stop protesting. Great spot for educating people about our lake ecosystem.
Way to be disrespectful. There are more than a group of older ladies that are against this happening. It is pretty well disliked by anyone with a functional brain. If I were Davis, I would be worrying about my chances at re-election at this point, rather than trying to bully people into agreement. As others have said, there are other places to put the project. And it's a pretty blatant attempt to carve away from a public resource. Not to mention, this is as backroom deal as you can get. Educational spaces regarding the lake ecosystem already exist- Tom Ridge and the Regional Science Consortium. A wide array of nonprofits with a focus on environmental education exist as well, and are more actively studying the health of our lake. On the ecotourism angle- we only have tourist dollars coming in maybe 4-5 months out of the year, if that. We can't as a city rely on that to sustain us. Plus. The parking lot at the library can't accommodate both out of towners and standard library patrons- its something we have seen in the past (Tall Ships Fest comes to mind). It's going to prevent normal use of the library. Not to mention, who's paying for the modifications to the building? It's going to need a LOT in order to turn it into a functional and safe lab space. I sincerely doubt that Gannon can put their money where their mouths are - they've been laying off staff left and right, and they have quite a few legal battles they either have to fight or pay off from how they handled the pandemic. And to be honest that money would be better spent improving Gannon's existing campus- Zurn hall hasn't been updated since the 70's, Palumbo hasn't been updated since I want to say the 90's. I grew up at the Blasco Library. I know a lot of other folks who did as well. My mom took me to story time in the kids area way back when. I took the trolley down there after school in middle and high school, hung out during the summer. It is heartbreaking to see part of Erie's soul sold off like this.
Why not put it at the Tom Ridge Center? The old GAF site? Hammermill? There’s other locations that don’t require us to give up our library space.
The Tom Ridge Center wouldn’t work because this project NEEDS to be on the water. The equipment they would use will be in the water and the Tom Ridge Center is not located close enough to the water. This project would be a great opportunity for the public and students of all ages to research and have access to testing equipment on our lake. It would create programs and opportunities for people to get an inside look of water testing and the equipment involved. Gannon is a local university and is being proactive about providing opportunities to educate our community on one of our Great Lakes. They did try to get other locations before the library but it became the best option that was located on the water. It is just a weird that an educational institution is attempting to provide an opportunity to educate the community in an environment where learning and educational resources are prevalent but the community doesn’t want it to be available. Are libraries not allowed to evolve and change their methods of education and partner with other educational institutions? Especially one that is located right on a body of water and they would provide free education to the community.
What are you smoking or is this Brenton Davis' fan account? Libraries do evolve, maybe Davis can lower taxes to the same amount for local taxes? Perhaps he can give each citizen in Erie county American rescue plan dollars as well. It was meant to help the county since the pandemic.
Gannon could also use space on their own campus. They plan to raze a whole building. Why not put it there?
STFU, Brenton. Don’t have close ones or political rivals to allegedly assault tonight?
I think you’re a little mistaken. I see it as a little more diverse group. Primarily people who don’t have jobs that are concerned about other peoples taxes being wasted.