Letter To The Editor: Library Move Unthinkable, Says Volunteer

I was one of the people along with my wife and three kids who participated in the amazing Super Saturday collection of signatures to Save the Renton Cedar River Library. We have been residents for over 20 years and the Library in the middle of Liberty Park has been a very special place for our family.

I liken moving the Library to if people wanted to move Pike Place Market in Seattle—unthinkable! I found out just a few weeks ago about the petition drive. We signed the petition that a neighbor brought near the end of the original deadline date thinking the drive was over and upset that we hadn’t heard about it earlier. Consequently, some of those initial signatures were ruled invalid and I just happened to run into a couple of people gathering library signatures again at a store I rarely shop who explained that 1442 new signatures were required in just a few days.

My wife and I decided we would never forgive ourselves if we didn’t try to save our beloved Library. We distributed flyers to businesses, we went door to door in our neighborhood areas on Super Saturday, and we contacted people at church. Eight out of every ten people we asked to sign the petition did so--quite a few thanking us for giving them the opportunity to have their voice heard! Many of the people we engaged had never even heard that the City was trying to move our iconic Downtown Library.

This is the Library that provides such a wonderful natural, peaceful setting when you go to nourish your mind and get your soul uplifted by the lovely Cedar River. This is the Library that you can go to when your kids are also playing a baseball game at Liberty Park. This is the Library where a family with young kids can get books for their minds and exercise their bodies through play on the nearby toys. This is the Library where you can grab books and go for beautiful walks along the Cedar River. This is the Library where you see the salmon returning up the river in the fall. This is the Library that is also next to the tennis courts, basketball courts and Skateboard Park. In short, this library is the Crown Jewel in the heart of Liberty Park and is the best place for families, seniors and most people in our community.

Eight out of every ten people signed those petitions. I’ll let others argue the cost projections. I’m speaking up for the soul of Renton. People want their Library to Stay where it is. I’m fighting to give other families and residents the opportunity to enjoy the blessings of this special Library that my family has experienced these past twenty years.

City leaders the people have spoken! It is your duty to carry out the wishes of the people and not bend to narrow special interests. If you have the will, you can keep our Landmark Library. I encourage people to contact City Hall and tell them that this is the community’s Crown Jewel and that you want your Library saved!

Sincerely,

Richard Bray
Renton, WA