kathy-dahlkemper-questions-wisdom-of-leasing-blasco-library-to-gannon-

      A voice of reason and experience! Kathy Dahlkemper, former Erie County Executive, asks why the County Executive and some on County Council are so ready to give away space in our public library?

Giving space to Gannon will not benefit the Blasco and the paltry rent $23,000 per year they are required to pay will not make up for what we are giving away. If they were to pay the true value of the space, the yearly amount would be more likely be $262,000 per year. The difference amounts to $239,000. So if effect we are donating  $239,000 to Gannon every year. And remember Gannon is a private Catholic College owned by the Catholic Diocese of Erie. How does that make any sense? And what is to stop Brenton Davis from giving away library space to any other private entity that says they have an education program that will benefit Erie Citizens? The library is not for sale of for rent!

"Gannon will be paying only $7/sf for a 25-year lease without any increase in cost over that time period. This certainly does not cover the cost of any of the office leases currently in place with the county. With the huge tax increase put forward by County Executive Brenton Davis and approved by County Council in the 2024 budget, all taxpayers should be outraged that the county executive is not looking at how he can cut expenses rather than giving away our public space for a song."

Gannon does not NEED the Blasco Library for project NePTWNE's research lab to succeed, but we need to KEEP OUR LIBRARY PUBLIC for current and future library programs. 

If you know others who live in Erie County or are Gannon Alumni anywhere in the world, ask them to tell Gannon and County Government to rescind the lease by signing our petition. 

#keepourlibrarypublic #gannonrescindthelease #wronglocation #attackondemocracy