This is truly a case of the have and the have nots in Erie. The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was designed to help those most affected by the pandemic. Erie County gave $1.5 million to Gannon University for Project NePTWNE, despite the fact that they are tax-exempt religious institution, despite their large endowment, despite the fact that they had online classes during the pandemic and continued to collect tuition money. They spent taxpayer money and are taking taxpayer space, not on saving jobs and helping people affected by the pandemic or even the library itself, but on a vanity project to occupy our library. As of this writing, there has been no full accounting of that money. Both the county executive and Gannon have touted that this is great for tourism. However, if the money was to be invested in the library, then it should have been invested in the library itself—especially in terms of what ARPA was supposed to achieve. Erie has a 33.5% child poverty rate with the county having a 20.1% child poverty rate. Erie’s child poverty rate is the highest among PA’s 10 big cities. Why it’s increasing
While the aim of reducing nanoplastics is needed and admirable, there is no guarantee it will be achieved and no key performance indicators (KPIs) tied to this grant. The money went to Gannon to build something bright and shiny (made of plastic) for tourists and paying students. Many of the children that the library serves have to worry about their next meal. They don’t have any agency in choosing whether or not that food is packaged in plastic. This exhibit should have been located on Gannon’s campus instead of occupying the library and taking space and money from programs that could have directly impacted the lives of these children. Instead, the haves get more and the have nots are again overlooked.
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; …or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
~Exodus 20:17 (NIV)
Keep Our Library Public! 