Archive: Opinions

Everyone looks for signs of maturity.   Naturally parents are the first to recognize these signs.   As children slowly experience life and learn important lessons at home, school, their places of worship and other community centers, they undergo an important transformation from their youth to adolescence to adulthood.  This transition is marked by signs of maturity whereby parents, teachers and other civic leaders place more trust in and expect more out of these new members of society. 

The same is true in other areas of our lives.  The investments we make toward retirement, trees and shrubs we plant, or a pricy bottle of wine we purchase for a special event, each of us looks for and expects signs that they are maturing and growing into something beyond our expectations. 

Along these same lines, we believe that our communities mature as well.  From the humblest of villages to the most prosperous of towns and cities, each has undergone a lengthy period of growth and transformation. 

As our communities mature, their needs become greater. Village and town boards are created to provide for the needs of its residents.   Roads and bridges are built and maintained along with other vital infrastructure.  Water and sewer projects provide a higher standard of living.

Somewhere along its transition toward maturity, volunteer fire departments and emergency rescue squads are formed.  Although these organizations are staffed by volunteers, their services are by no means free.  Our taxes pay for the training of personnel and the purchase and maintenance of equipment.  Although some of us may never have the need for the fire or rescue squads, every household contributes toward the cost thereby insuring a level of safety for all who live in the community.

As a village or town evolves, it takes on other roles as well addressing the specific needs of its residents.  Our youth and our seniors are tremendous resources in our community.  Tax dollars fund programs for young and old alike so that no one is left out.  Tax dollars are spent for the betterment of all offering an even higher standard of living.   

And this is why the tax payer funding of our library is right for this community.  Everyone can take advantage of the programs and services a library offers regardless of age, ability, social position or financial standing.  A library is the great equalizer.  The Town of Lansing has come of age.  It has reached its level of maturity, and needs a library that can meet the needs and demands of an evolving community. 

On Tuesday, send a message to Tompkins County and the rest of New York State:  Vote no on the proposal to cut funding for the library.   Keep our community well informed, well read, and well ahead of the learning curve.  And that is to the point. 

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