Access is critical for local economy
As someone who would be directly affected by the increase in property taxes from the new library, I support the project. I am a business owner, homeowner, and commercial property owner here in Turners Falls, and I wholeheartedly think that projects like this are one the best uses of our money in order to keep the town livable, affordable, and the thriving place for small businesses that it is.
Part of my support for this current project comes from my own learning experience that I had in regards to the Unity Park upgrades 15 or so years ago. I grew up in Greenfield, moved away, and then returned to the area. When I first came back, I was surprised to see that the town of Turners was putting resources into a playground, when it seemed clear that there were other needs that could be addressed. Empty storefronts on Avenue A and unused buildings were the norm, and I just assumed at the time that more direct investment in attracting businesses would be a better approach to move the town forward.
What I didn’t see at the time was what the effect of having a free to use, clean, and safe public space for families would be for the town. The park is full every day, the waterfront and bike path is populated by bikers, runners and walkers, and it’s just a very pleasant place to be. Then the skate park came along, and with it I was fully convinced of the need for public spaces for people of all ages. Our shop is right next to the park, and I am continually inspired by the multi-generational use of it, especially the kids and teenagers who go there regularly to diligently practice, and to have a space they can be in that is not school or home. These young people are developing skills that they will bring to wherever they end up in life.
The library would serve some of these similar functions of community, and far more. Turners Falls is currently experiencing a resurgence precisely because the town invests in making things possible, and we have a thriving micro economy that is resilient in the face of national and global unknowns. Things like meeting places and tool lending are but a couple specific examples of things the library does that support the small economy and have returns much bigger than the investment cost.
We also have a large population of lower income people, and people who do not have access to cars, for whom having access to the programming and resources that the library provides would be life changing. It’s a fact that kids who grow up being supported and connected to the bigger world (and adults too) will go farther and live better, and are more active and contributing members of a community.
The economics of access and possibility are very real. This library vote is critical, because we will not have another chance at a funding match like this for a generation. The only way to “save” the current library would cost far more than the current plan for the new one would, and even then would not provide the same level of service to the community.
Sayre Anthony, co-owner of Nova Motorcycles, Nova Works, Nova Real Estate
Turners Falls