It is curious to watch the Gazette editorial board blow hot and cold within the same editorial (Gazette, July 15). The editorial "Decision delayed" criticized St. Albert city council for not following the "New Facilities Predictive Model" which said we do not need a second library until 2021. Then they proceed to criticize city council for delaying the project even though the computer modelling shows we do not need to even consider a library for another four years.
It seems to me that the only group that has tried to be consistent in this matter is the majority of our city councillors. When the library board, through intensive lobbying, created the impression that a vast majority of the population wanted a second library, they tried to comply with public sentiment by accelerating the new library project. When it became evident from the petition that the vast majority did not want a second library and tax increase of 3.5 per cent they put the project on hold and asked for a plebiscite.
Whether you believe in plebiscites or not, the majority of city council has at least been consistent in its desire to do what the majority of the electorate want to have happen. That is refreshingly different than the conflicting positions taken in the Gazette's editorial.
Steve Stone, St. Albert
