|
|
|
Uploaded: Friday, March 12, 2010, 12:22 PM
Google gives $75K to keep bookmobile going
|
The city's budget problems were eased slightly on Tuesday when the City Council approved a $75,000 donation from Google to keep the library's bookmobile in service.
The donation effectively removes the elimination of bookmobile service from a list of potential budget cuts this year as the city faces a $5 million general fund budget deficit.
The city's bookmobile was unveiled in 2006, and was built with a $200,000 grant from Google. It was called the most high tech bookmobile in existence as it is equipped with a WiFi and several computers for its users.
Despite the new funds, the bookmobile may still have reduced service next year and could be eliminated in 2011-12, said library director Karen Burnett in a staff report. The increasingly popular service is usually funded with $97,000 a year. It stops at Castro School and the Googleplex, among other places.— Daniel DeBolt Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.
|
|
| Comments
|
Posted by localmom, a resident of the Cuesta Park neighborhood, on Mar 12, 2010 at 1:22 pm That's fabulous!! Go Google :) what great community involvement, and a very worthwhile contribution.
|
|
Posted by k, a resident of the Sylvan Park neighborhood, on Mar 12, 2010 at 3:33 pm Nice to see Google has finally done something for the community but with their resources they could be doing a lot more, 75K is not a lot for a company with founders worth billions... . Web Link
Google.org is involved in a lot of high profile initiatives, but would be nice if they put more effort to make donations that will impact the local community.
|
|
Posted by Seldon, a resident of the Cuesta Park neighborhood, on Mar 12, 2010 at 5:01 pm I think its great to have the Bookmobile program saved.
Google is trying to balance being a good corporate citizen, while keeping itself out of City politics. Pouring more money into the City with direct donations could be misconstrued, and setup a precendent and level of expectation that Google wants to avoid.
What I think would be a bad idea is what is happening with Genentech and the City of South San Francisco. As much money as they injected into the City over the years, the City keeps asking for more.
San Francisco is another example where leaning too hard on business just causes them to find greener pastures.
Mountain View does fine without gifts. We attract great people to live and work here because of companies like Google. We're just in a tight spot now because of the financial crisis and the State's woes. Nothing a little belt tightening and diciplined management of the City's finances can't address over time.
In fact, I hope to see more news about how the City intends to address the underlying problems with the City's budget. The bookmobile is really a peripheral issue. Renegotiation of the union contracts for city employees is fundamental driver of budget performance, that no amount of Google money is going to solve.
|
|
Posted by John the Man, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Mar 13, 2010 at 7:16 pm The city didn't even pay for the vehicle and it STILL can't even fund its operation. That is simply pathetic and unacceptable.
This is not good planning, not good public budgeting. You don't accept gifts for things that you cannot pay for the operation, upkeep, and depreciation on. That is really, really poor use of public funds.
|
|
Posted by Steve Nelson, a resident of the Cuesta Park neighborhood, on Mar 14, 2010 at 12:13 pm Note that the Shoreline District (all property revenue increases since 1969) will have a projected $20M dollar surplus this year. (Voice article and the city budget) Because this 'surplus' is used as a slush fund - it is not available for General Funds expenses [i.e. library operations.] So - Google property tax money -> Shoreline District fund and not to the schools ($10M) or the city General Fund.
This money that is NOT going to the General Fund is the money earmarked to go to the $30M dollar interest-free loan to the Shoreline Hotel. NOTE- NOT A DONE DEAL. Now is the time to talk (shout?) to the MV Council members. {if Google Hotel was not a good $ investment for Google - exactly why is a 0% loan a good investment for the MV community?]
Sheldon and John - thanks for the info on another city with a similar financial situation, and a perspective on responsible community financial planning.
|
|
Posted by Tanya, a resident of the Shoreline West neighborhood, on Mar 14, 2010 at 10:26 pm I agree with k. This is nice of Google but they could be doing a lot more given that they're billion dollar company.
|
|
Posted by Paul_C, a resident of the Shoreline West neighborhood, on Mar 15, 2010 at 1:47 am
Paul_C is a member (registered user) of Mountain View Voice I wonder how many people would be bitching about Google "not doing enough" if they'd done nothing at all here.
No good deed... and all that.
|
|
Posted by Robert, a resident of the Blossom Valley neighborhood, on Mar 15, 2010 at 3:29 am Google has done a good deed for donating to help the community keep the book mobile.
|
|
Posted by kanank, a resident of the Shoreline West neighborhood, on Mar 15, 2010 at 4:12 pm Google is too generous. The problem with the budget issue is because of the officials running our city paying themselves too much. They need to adjust their salaries down. But these officials and I am sure some of the library employees are paying themselves salaries,perks like the wall street investment banks and way out of line. They are getting away with everyhting because nobody is questioning and monitoring. Like the Wolves that guard the hens. They take their cuts of whatever comes in first and then let the public dry with service cuts,etc... What a bunch of corrupt people running our city.
|
|
|
| |
|
Send this story
Print this story
