Steve Badraun's comments are a perfect example of why this project is so overdue - because it is much easier to simply say "no".

A library is about more than just books - it's about what a community values. Most people will place a higher civic value on building a library on that wonderful piece of land than selling it to the highest bidder and having another skyscraper apartment that only millionaires can buy into.

A great deal of money has already been raised privately for this project, with more to come, and ALL of Coeur d'Alene's citizens deserve a new library - including the very high density of people that live within a short walk or bike ride of the proposed library location.

Steve seems like a nice guy, and I met him a few years ago, but as far as I know he doesn't live here anymore, and he isn't among those working every day to make Coeur d'Alene and North Idaho a better place to live.

Mike Kennedy

DFO: Mike makes some good points. But I value Steve's opinion (even though he now lives in Nampa) because he was deeply involved in Coeur d'Alene for years as a planner and businessman.

---

---