|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Commission honors MLK with library plaque
By DAVE SHELTON
Article published on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 |
LARGO – Facing millions in budget cuts and little support for the project, the City Commission on March 18 voted unanimously to limit a proposed memorial for Martin Luther King Jr. to a library wall plaque.
The vote ended five years of controversy that at one time had risen to a $250,000 new entrance to the city's Central Park.
The project was launched by a citizen's committee that in 2002 recommended that the city spend about $15,000 to build a granite memorial plaza adjacent to the former city library. The money was budgeted, but never spent.
Then in 2006 former City Manager Steve Stanton unveiled the quarter-million-dollar concept that would have replaced the former library building. Already facing budget cuts that year, the city commission ordered Stanton to scale back the plans.
Joan Byrne, Parks, Recreation and Arts director, proposed a $60,000 project. The commission budgeted the money, but rescinded that action and cut the project back to $15,000.
Commissioners Rodney Woods and Andy Guyette were charged with finding private funding for the rest of the memorial's cost. They were unsuccessful in raising even $1,000 for the project.
A resident suggested the city scale back its plans, saying it made more sense to have an area in the library dedicated to the slain civil rights leader, rather than setting aside space in the park.
This concept appeared to win growing
support among commission members led by Commissioner Mary Gray Black. At the March 18 meeting Black introduced a motion directing the library director and the Library Advisory Committee to find an appropriate location for a “relief” bust of King to be hung.
Black's motion also limited the memorial's cost to $15,000.
Woods, who has championed the project, changed his tune from a week ago when he said he had “great hope” the memorial in Central Park would become a reality.
Discussion followed several impassioned pleas by residents for the project to be scrapped completely.
Former Mayor Bob Jackson pointed to city efforts to annex the mostly black Ridgecrest area into the city. He said that while the city as a whole had approved the annexation, Ridgecrest residents clearly opposed it.
Jackson and Curtis Jackson both said Woods' inability to raise contributions for the memorial proved that there was no support for the project. Geoff Moakley added that taxpayers are already paying $10 million for a King memorial in Washington, D.C.
Several residents voiced concern over a report that Woods was asking to have the Largo Public Library renamed in King's honor. Mayor Pat Gerard said this was not under consideration.
Woods made one last effort to save his project. He asked that all of the city's advisory committees be asked for input. He failed to gain a “second” to his motion.
“This is not about Ridgecrest,” Woods said. “It is about this community. Five years ago I defended this community against a newspaper that said this city was mean spirited. Let's vote and get this over with.”
|
Article published on Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Copyright © Tampa Bay Newspapers: All rights reserved. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Tampa Bay Newspapers
9911 Seminole Blvd.
Seminole, FL 33772
(727) 397-5563
Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
|
|
