Thursday, Jan. 4, 2007 | Frances O’Neill Zimmerman, you imagine (i.e., desire) a main library “at least equivalent to libraries in other west coast cities.” Not very specific (Tarzana, Seattle, Compton?; main library, branch library, bookmobile?; what are you talking about?). Nevertheless, your example of the Edward Curtis exhibition hardly counts as a reason for building a new downtown white elephant (aka San Diego Homeless Day Care Center and Bathing Facility).
Until San Diego returns to some semblance of financial stability, the desires of a few self-important citizens for an expensive diversion that will not be used (homeless excepted) by more than one percent of the city’s population, seem ludicrous. At the present, of course, San Diego is headed in a course directly opposite solvency.
I suggest that if you want to spend $185 million on a structure that bears a remarkable resemblance to the bombed out nuclear memorial in Hiroshima, round up strictly private donations. Leave city funds and the taxpayers out of it!