Please see the attached note from the San Marco Preservation Society regarding the slated closing of the San Marco Library and the adjoining Balis Community Center. We’re hopeful you will take a few moments to email your City Council representative and the Finance Committee that will be addressing these cut on Thursday August 15th.
(Reprinted from SMPS press release)
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Please Help Save Balis Community Center and The San Marco Library!
The Balis Community Center and the San Marco Library are cornerstones of San Marco. But both are on the city budget chopping block. Balis is targeted for elimination THIS THURSDAY in the Finance Committee meeting. Balis was built in 2003 with 1 million dollars of private money in a Public/Private Partnership. But the City is about to turn its back on its community partners.
If closed:
The Community Center and Library will sit vacant.
Landon Middle School students will lose a safe space for after school.
Children will lose access to programs and meals.
Vacant buildings, vacant playground will mean neighborhood deterioration.
Email the Finance Committee Members BY THURSDAY MORNING!
Ask them to RESTORE FUNDS to the PARKS and LIBRARY BUDGETS for Balis Community Center and San Marco Library!
Ask them to KEEP THE CENTER OPEN, and allow local non-profits to run programming if necessary.
Finance Committee Members:
Greg Anderson, Chair:GAnderson@coj.net
Stephen Joost, Vice Chair: Joost@coj.net
Reginald L. Brown: RBrown@coj.net
Richard A. Clark: RClark@coj.net
Robin Lumb: RLumb@coj.net
Matt Schellenberg: MattS@coj.net
Clay E. Yarborough: Clay@coj.net
Dr. Johnny A. Gaffney: Gaffney@coj.net
John Crescembeni: JRC@coj.net
Please email District 5 Council Member Lori Boyer as well: LBoyer@coj.net
And forward this email to your friends, family, and social media contacts!!!
A suggested letter that you can send to Finance Committee members is provided for your convenience here Library letter.pdf.
For more information of this topic, a flyer is provided
here Save the San Marco Library Flyer.pdf.
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