THIS is OUR house!
Another Honor for “Save Blasco!”
Please take the poll below.
“So, we went from being an Athens band to being a Georgia band to being a Southern band to being an American band from the East Coast to being an American band and now we’re kind of an international phenomenon.”
~Michael Stipe
Congratulations for 2nd State Films for yet another honor for being named finalist for the Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival 2025. If you haven’t watched “Save Blasco!”, it’s available for viewing at the link.
Just a reminder that this was a labor of love by 2nd State Films, and no donations were used to fund this award-winning documentary. Thank you 2nd State Films for getting our story out there!
“Witnessing is the essence of being a documentary filmmaker. Capturing moments in time; never knowing how history will judge them.”
~Pamela Yates
Brenton Davis’ resounding defeat last night was the first victory for the taxpayers. Congratulations to Erie County Executive-Elect Christina Vogel! Let’s make taking back the library the second victory for the taxpayers.
Some people have expressed worry about donating to our cause because of possible repercussions. Although there have always been 2 anonymous giving options with the online links, keep in mind that Davis will be out of office in 2 months. There has never been a better time to give.
“Elections belong to the people. It’s their decision.”
~Abraham Lincoln
This post was scheduled to send at 7am on Tuesday, November 4th when the polls opened. Have you voted yet? If not, you have until 8pm tonight. As long as you are in line to vote by 8 p.m., you are entitled to cast a ballot.
Remember when the county executive posted this after he got the initial approval for the lease and after he proposed cuts to the library staff? He didn’t show much empathy when county employees were slated to lose their jobs on his budget recommendation. Do you think the irony of this election day is lost on him?
Voter turnout will determine the results of this election. One-third of people eligible to vote did not vote in the 2024 election. That is even more embarrassing than the county executive’s job performance! Keep Our Library Public going forward–protect it from Brenton Davis! Vote him out, along with Council Members Bayle and Winarski.
“When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”
~Maya Angelou
A few points of clarification on this recent ad on the county executive’s re-election Facebook page–you know, the one where people are allowed to comment (unlike the official county Facebook page).
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, it seems that there is something missing in this ad. Funny how he isn’t taking credit for Project NepTWNE in this ad on his Facebook page, although he does on his re-election website, spelling it incorrectly. Maybe he’s finally realizing that giving away part of the library for $7/sq ft for 25-45 years wasn’t the flex he thought.
Help us to fight the lease by using the button below. And don’t forget to vote on Tuesday, November 4th!
“We learned about honesty and integrity – that the truth matters… that you don’t take shortcuts or play by your own set of rules… and success doesn’t count unless you earn it fair and square.”
~Michelle Obama
Every day it seems that the county executive is announcing some form of gap funding based on ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds that may or may not have been approved, depending on the situation. One of the more recent announcements was for the Corry brownfield remediation of $338,698. For a quick comparison, that’s 22.58% of the amount given to Gannon for Project NePWTNE. Apparently, Corry is not as high on the county executive’s priority list as a private university.
The announcements on the official Erie County Facebook page have been coming fast and furious lately, “coincidently” timed with his election campaigning, and where taxpayers cannot comment, because he has turned the commenting feature off. Rather that compare each and every announcement (with photo op) to the $1.5 million given to Gannon, we can direct you to some past KOLP posts regarding the priorities of the county executive:
A Tale of Two Cities – Keep Our Library Public!
Priorities, Part 2 – Keep Our Library Public!
Priorities – Keep Our Library Public!
“Action expresses priorities.”
~Mahatma Gandhi
“I understand that the legacy I leave behind is going to be a great success or a drastic dumpster fire. There is nothing in between.” ~Brenton Davis
We now know his “legacy” is the dumpster fire option, but don’t assume that other people turn out to the polls to turn Brenton Davis out of office. And don’t forget when you vote that Council Members Bayle and Winarski supported the Gannon lease and acted as Davis’ rubber stamps. Take some inspiration from the following quotes, and send a message by voting them out of office:
“Bad officials are elected by good citizens who don’t vote.”
~George Jean Nathan
“Voting is a civic sacrament.”
~Theodore Hesburgh
“Talk is cheap, voting is free; take it to the polls.”
~Nanette L. Avery
“The poll that matters is the one that happens on Election Day.”
~Heather Wilson
“Every election is determined by the people who show up.”
~Larry J. Sabato
“Voting is the expression of our commitment to ourselves, one another, this country, and this world.”
~Sharon Salzberg
“Not voting is not a protest. It is a surrender.”
~Keith Ellison
“When we vote, we take back our power to choose, to speak up, and to stand with those who support us and each other.”
~Loung Ung
“Voting is the first duty of democracy.”
~Lyndon B. Johnson
“Someone struggled for your right to vote. Use it.”
~Susan B. Anthony
Tuesday, November 4th, however, we get our chance to turn him out although the lawsuit will continue, so please donate below. Voter turnout will determine the results of this election. One-third of people eligible to vote did not vote in the 2024 election. That is even more embarrassing than the county executive’s job performance! Keep Our Library Public going forward–protect it from Brenton Davis!
Imagine, you’re an incumbent running unopposed for re-election, and 785 members of your own party take the time and effort to show up at the polls to write in any other candidate but you. The thing speaks for itself.
Or imagine, you are an incumbent Council Member Winarski who consistently votes with Davis–including the Gannon lease, and only receive 28% of the vote in the primary.
Send a message in the general election on November 4th, and vote them both out!
“To be persuasive, one must be believable; to be believable, one must be credible; to be credible, one must be truthful.”
~Edward. R. Murrow
At this week’s council meeting, council unanimously passed (7-0!) an ordinance directing the county executive to stop incurring or paying legal fees in excess of the budgeted appropriation. So far in 2025 the county executive has spend $11,412 over budget, due to the “high influx of lawsuits.” There have been 8 lawsuits filed against the county executive so far. Now, before he can spin this as to it being the other parties’ fault, what’s the common denominator here? Obviously, the county executive and his failure to follow the rules.
If someone has to sue you to get you to do your job properly, are you doing your job well? People in the private sector would be talking to HR or getting fired instead of talking with attorneys. Lawyers aren’t cheap; but the Gannon lease is. That’s why we need donations to fight the lease.
Tuesday, November 4th, however, we get our chance to fire him, although the lawsuit will continue. Don’t count on someone else to do the heavy lifting for you. Get to the polls and vote him out. One-third of people eligible to vote did not vote in the 2024 election. That is even more embarrassing than the county executive’s job performance! Get to the polls and vote him out–Let’s get to work! 😉
“Voting is the first duty of democracy.”
~Lyndon B. Johnson
“A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people. It is a never failing spring in the desert.”
~Andrew Carnegie
Keep Our Library Public!