I think it is debt related. The debt guaranteed by "full faith and credit" general property tax revenue, i.e. cuts to basic services, is so proportionately huge that peeling out anything risks bringing the house of cards down.

If any of the debt gets called, they have to have the threat of closing all the libraries in their back pocket. They have to keep parks and libraries hostage so they know they have something citizens will pay the ransom for.

Never voting for or giving money to ANY of these current City-County office holders again. Never.

The folks who got the last ballot measure passed need to circulate a new one that get the politicians completely out of the loop, immediately. That's what they said they were doing last time, but it was a lie.

You're right. The library would bury the dreams of a new train if it came to a vote.

Take the library away from the county altogether. Set up a separate district, not beholden to Cogen and ilk. Makes more sense.

Never voting for...

That is the key.
...and pay attention to who is connected to the current set as well!!

Will add:
Revolving door continuing the agenda.
Eric Sten out of Gretchen Kafoury's
Sam Adams out of Katz's
Jeff Cogen out of Saltzman's office
Saltzman out of County into City
Kafoury and Katz to PSU
Katz from State to City
Blumenauer from County to City to Congress
Enough for now,
others can add to list.

Just because the County Commission is worthless...why not an initiative campaign to put it on the ballot?

At least then it'd be a "grassroots" effort...

I can understand a vibrant children's section, but why does the library feel obligated to provide computers, internet access, fee movies, newspapers, periodicals and virtually everything imaginable in printed form or otherwise. Establishing a separate funding district would simply be inviting further mission creep at taxpayer expense. We're talking about a current budget exceeding $61 million for a county library system! For 700k residents! Anyone in government ever consider downsizing or consolidating? Cut their budget in half and let them self fund the balance by installing video poker machines in every branch.

Had library administrators not fought tooth-and-nail - even going so far as to decline funding - to maintain the "right" to access porn from public computers, I'd be more favorably inclined toward them.

As it stands, I'm not about to vote them any funds. Should they alter their stance on the "right" to public-access porn, I'd reconsider.

Of course most of us like libraries. But many times this blog has been very dubious of "polls".

The June poll was more of a push poll with an itinerary to help build support for new library funding. Who knows about the latest poll. It might be more realistic. Look at how Clackamas Co politicians have used subversive polls for MLR, LO Streetcar and Sellwood Bridge.

That is why it is time to have more reality checks, like voting. We are in this zone in the last 30 years where the politicians and bureaucrats are dictating our agendas and citizens have been too complacent.

The reality is that staff and services will be cut. The reality is that although Multnomah County Library is a small system compared to others throughout the country it is one of the busiest. I don't think Mr. Cogen is being truthful and is only doing what might benefit him politically. I have been a library volunteer for over twenty years and a user of the library for almost 50 years.

I think it is funny that you are blasting the county for NOT putting a tax measure on the ballot. I love the libraries too, but voters are angry and broke. It wouldn't pass. Not right now.

Cogen and Adams were both pimping the failed PPS bond. Maybe Cogen is throwing the library under the bus for a do-over on the school bond ...

A n Oregon Public Records Act request to MultCo for Cogan's calendars and schedules, and E mails and phone logs for the last 6 months for any discussions with anyone concerning library district formation, or library funding, ought to shake loose the identities of whom ever the "private parties" who commissioned the supposed poll are, and might shake loose the identity of the polling firm, too.

Cogan isn't overly bright. He might have even received a copy of the poll.

I think it is funny that you are blasting the county for NOT putting a tax measure on the ballot. I love the libraries too, but voters are angry and broke. It wouldn't pass. Not right now.

You may be right, voters might reject the library tax district. But, shouldn't we be given the opportunity to decide for ourselves? After all, voters just approved the measure that made this measure possible in the last election. Obviously the majority of voters would like their voices to be heard on the issue.

I think the real reason the county is trying to kill it is that the library tax district would take a bite out of the revenue going to local governments. God forbid some property tax dollars be spend on municipal services instead of dumping it into some "sustainable" money pit.

Garage Wine,
Believe you may be on to something here, bringing up the failed PPS bond.

IMHO the school bond is dead dead dead, killed by the arrogance of Carol Smith and her merry band of pirates.

The Sec of State penalties for the election law violations destroyed the gang's credibility with the fence sitters and neutrals, in my mind.

There is a strong core of folks who will oppose any scholol bond, and until Carol and Windy Dave and the rest of the violators, PPS hasn't a prayer of getting a bond passed.

The really sad thing is that the Admin and the PPS Board are still talking only to each other, and have no concept how pissed off voters are about the shenanigans.

Why do you hate the Porn so much Max?

It's just naked people, what skin is it off your back if some people see it in a library?

Seems like the grand idea of public libraries is a little bigger than just a few naked pictures.

The idea is that if we let them censor porn what will be next?

Ever met a librarian? Yeah huge fans of Porn, every ine