Upset over LGBTQ books, a Michigan town defunds its library in tax vote

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/upset-over-lgbtq-books-michigan-town-defunds-its-library-tax-vote

JAMESTOWN TOWNSHIP—What started as a fight over an LGBTQ-themed graphic novel may end with the closure of a west Michigan public library.

Voters in Jamestown Township, a politically conservative community in Ottawa County, rejected renewal Tuesday of a millage that would support the Patmos Library. That vote guts the library’s operating budget in 2023 — 84 percent of the library’s $245,000 budget comes from property taxes collected through a millage.

Without a millage, the library is likely to run out of money sometime late next year, said Larry Walton, library board president.

“I wasn’t expecting anything like this,” Walton told Bridge Michigan Tuesday. “The library is the center of the community. For individuals to be short sighted to close that down over opposing LGBTQ is very disappointing.”

*snip*


I hate these fuckers.

[obamanut2012]

1. K and r

[bluestarone]

2. I bet a LOT of people will be pissed off

If they do this. After the fact i mean.

[Skittles]

5. yes

as with abortion, they should be careful what they wish for

[murielm99]

3. These events are being organized all over the country. n/t

[Skittles]

4. children must be protected from books, but not guns

repukes are SOOOOO FUCKED UP

[lame54]

6. Ignorance over enlightenment

[sakabatou]

7. They do know they're not forced to read those books, right?

[Nevilledog]

8. They *can't* read. It's about keeping books away from those who can.

[keithbvadu2]

9. Yet they would let the Bible with all its filth remain.

Yet they would let the Bible with all its filth remain.

[sakabatou]

10. Of course. They think it's fine and dandy to let their kids read it.

Except... more often than not, the parents haven't read the Bible either, just what their pastor told them.

[area51]

11. This is insane.

[EnergizedLib]

12. 'Groom' our kids

Which of the people leading this movement will be the next to be busted for inappropriate sexual behavior?

[Celerity]

20. +10000000000000000

[sarcasmo]

13. Idiocracy is in full swing.

[savepatmos]

14. Sad day as a Jamestown resident

The Jamestown Conservatives group that coordinated the No Vote was very much a vocal minority here. They built a lot of outrage in a small contingent of residents based on a lot of falsehoods. I tried to coordinate some movement for a Yes Vote, but trying to get flyers and yard signs from the trustees was like pulling teeth, and it ended up being too little too late.

Saw someone in another thread suggest starting a gofundme for the library, so I did go ahead and set one up, I don't know how to get traction on something like that though.

[progree]

15. this!👆 👆 👆 👆 👆 👆 👆 👆 👆 👆 👆 👆 👆 👆 👆 👆 👆 👆 👆

[marble falls]

22. We're fighting it now in Llano County. (Next county over from mine)We donate directly to the ...

... library, we'll have a new library board in Nov. They stirred up a hornet's nest. The Libertarian ranch family powers that be don't want fuss, and they don't want to be told what to read or not read.

Uneasy coalition, but it will work.

[In It to Win It]

16. A handful of books means fucking with the ENTIRE library with thousands of books

[Demovictory9]

17. Yeah..short sighted

[marble falls]

23. It just never ends once it starts.

[Norbert]

18. The same library is likely to have Adolph Hitler's Mein Kampf on the shelf

We hear crickets on this book 'grooming' children to point out the absurdity of their argument.

[Celerity]

19. typical 'heartland' shithole shenanigans

[electric_blue68]

21. Ugh! The Bigotry AND the Stupidity of shutting down a whole library!