Young protesters save libraries, pools

LINCOLN — Mayor Chris Beutler stared down a group of sign-toting protesters Friday and delivered a message: You win.

Beutler announced that, despite budget woes in the Capital City, he plans to spare from closing two neighborhood libraries and four neighborhood pools.

The protestors, about a dozen 10-year-old girls, had organized a protest earlier this year at Lincoln's South Branch Library after the city libraries had recommended closing it and the Bethany Branch Library due to anticipated budget cuts.

But on Friday, Beutler announced that the libraries and pools would be spared — for now. The signs carried by the kids this time read, “Thank You Mayor” and “Thank You Lincoln.”

Beutler credited the first protest, organized by fourth grader Grace Doll, for helping persuade him and the Lincoln City Council to provide funding for the facilities in the upcoming budget.

He said he preferred to call the action “listening to constituents” rather than “caving in.”

“As we celebrate Independence Day, it's important to point out that what these girls did is part of a great American tradition ... when we don't agree with our government, we protest,” he said.

The city library board had recommended the closings this year. Shutting down four community pools — Irvingdale, Arnold, Belmont and Ballad — also had been under consideration. Lincoln has five other larger, “community” pools that attract the bulk of summer swimmers.

Gregory Mickells, assistant library director, said the mayor found funds elsewhere in the budget and eliminated one library job to stave off the closings. The mayor's budget includes about $392,000 for the two libraries and $179,000 for the four pools.

“No one wanted the libraries or pools to close,” Beutler said. “But we are simply not generating enough revenue growth to keep pace with the increased costs of providing services.”

This week, the mayor had announced that he planned to cut the city work force by 28 jobs, hire fewer part-time summer workers, reorganize the city water/wastewater department and rebid the city's insurance plan to cut $5.6 million from the budget.

About 60 people attended the short news conference at the South Branch Library, including City Council members Jonathan Cook, Jayne Snyder, Doug Emery and Eugene Carroll.