Volumes of civic effort

At this Christmas season, it is nice to know that miracles still happen. Two months ago, it appeared closure of the East Side Library was a done deal. Yet, with the input of citizens throughout Spokane, this little library on Stone Street has been saved.

This was a true effort in bipartisanship. Fifty students and parents from Sheridan Elementary School loaded a chartered bus paid for by Cindy and John Zapotocky and attended a City Council meeting, many having their first lesson in civil disobedience and civic duty. The signage was provided from the Children’s Investment Fund. The Spokesman provided coverage to bring this issue to the forefront for the citizens. We all came together to let the library board and the City Council know that making cuts on the backs of the poor is no longer tolerable.

We thank the library board of trustees for voting to keep the library open. And we must also thank the librarians for forgoing a raise once again to assure that our children and families in the East Central neighborhood will still have access to books and the Internet.

I still believe in miracles.

Louise Chadez

Spokane