Take Nothing for Granted

“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!

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Res Ipsa Loquitur, revisited

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!

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“To be persuasive, one must be believable; to be believable, one must be credible; to be credible, one must be truthful.”

~Edward. R. Murrow

Attorneys are Expensive

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! 😉

Please Donate!

“Voting is the first duty of democracy.”

~Lyndon B. Johnson

Protect Public Equity!

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“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

Remember, Remember the 4th of November

In the November 4th election, please remember that Charlie Bayle (District 6), Jim Winarski (District 4), Ellen Schauerman (District 7), and Brenton Davis (county executive) supported the Gannon lease. All but Schauerman are up for re-election. Please show up to the polls (or mail in your ballot), and use your vote to tell them what you think of their vote for Gannon over the taxpayers of Erie County!

Please Donate!

“Every election is determined by the people who show up.”

~Larry J. Sabato, Pendulum Swing

Last Call for Boscov’s Friends Helping Friends

Contact keepourlibrarypublic@gmail.com to support our latest fundraiser! Here’s a poster to help advertise as well. KOLP will have a table at the mall entrance from 8am-noon **PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE IN TIME** the day of the event on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. There is also a code on the back of the pass to use for online shopping.

KOLP_BoscovsDownload
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“I get by with a little help from my friends.”

~John Lennon and Paul McCartney

Banned Books Week

We are right in the middle of Banned Books Week–October 5-11, 2025. What’s the best way to make an impact? Stop by Blasco Library and check out a book–banned or otherwise! With the construction on the Bayfront Parkway, a trip to the library does take more effort. You may know that the county executive used the library numbers–including during the pandemic–to “justify” staff cuts and the Gannon lease. Don’t give him the opportunity to capitalize on this construction project by letting the numbers slip. Visit Blasco today!

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“Banning books gives silence when we need speech. It closes our ears when we need to listen. It makes us blind when we need sight.”

~Stephen Chbosky

Gannon, Your Privilege is Showing

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.

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“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; …or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

~Exodus 20:17 (NIV)

It’s All About the Location!

The Blasco Library is worth more than all these Gannon properties combined. (This according to County records.) No wonder Gannon is fighting so hard to keep their toe-hold (and then some) on what Brenton Davis so generously signed over to them.

Did Davis at least get a partnership contract? Memorandum of understanding? No he did not. 🤔

Support us at Keep Our Library Public. We are fighting for what belongs to you.

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“To ask why we need libraries at all, when there is so much information available elsewhere, is about as sensible as if asking if roadmaps are necessary now that there are so very many roads.”

~Jon Bing