Please vote for keeping the downtown library over the Cedar River.

Both sides agree the Cedar River site is unique and incredibly beautiful. Plus a lot bigger. And it works well. So why do some powerful interests want to move the library to the Piazza? I don’t know. But I smell a rat.

Their numbers don’t add up. The cost figures cited by those in favor of the Piazza location don’t take into account the high cost to repurpose the Cedar River location, ignore the size of the buildings, and have fluctuated so much they have lost credibility.

Their arguments don’t add up. The best King Parker can come up with is that the Piazza location would be a “Whammer Deal.” And now we hear from the advocates how the Piazza location will supposedly revitalize downtown. It doesn’t make sense. Let’s focus on keeping a great library, instead of relying on the city’s poor track record related to development.

The support for keeping the Cedar River library is a grass-roots, transparent, volunteer effort by Renton residents. Their only motive is to have a great library for Renton.

If the library is moved, what will happen to the Cedar River location? Up until recently, it was a total mystery. Does anyone really believe there was no plan for this incredibly great site? They were just going to leave it vacant? Fat chance.

Now, they’ve come up with some supposed alternative uses for the site.

Does anyone really believe this? Let’s not get fooled again. There is no money, no guarantee. I can see the vultures circling. Let’s stop any

secret plans for the Cedar River site, whatever they were, and keep our

great library location. And if there was no plan, then they were

just totally incompetent.

In the interest of public disclosure, prior to being elected mayor, Denis Law owned the Renton Reporter. You have to love the Renton Reporter. It’s at least honest: “City Council should have voted not to put the location to a vote.” That’s a pretty brazen kick in the teeth of Renton citizens. The basic argument is “Well, maybe CC screwed up, but let’s keep going down the wrong path, and all you residents just stay quiet and keep paying your taxes.” It’s the same motivation and argument as the unethical (and probably illegal) letter from Bill Ptacek of KCLS.

If you are undecided, just visit the Cedar River library. Walk around the spacious interior. Look at all those computers. Gaze at the river and birds. See all the youth enjoying the area. Isn’t it incredibly beautiful, plus a great library? Why change to boring and utilitarian? Let’s keep this wonderful unique treasure.

Daniel Goldman, Renton