380 replies to this topic

[Folsomite]

Here's the thing:

a) I have the utmost respect for veterans of this country. They all risked it all for this country, and we owe our country's freedom to each and every one of them. I don't think they are a bunch of "kooks".

b) The library is long overdue. This thing has gone through I don't know how many publis hearings, where were you 2 years ago owhen they were discussing the options available.

c) The ballfield is old, neglected, and in a state of disrepair. Plenty of newer facilities can now take its place. I look at it like Candlestick Park. It was great in its prime and served many good years, but it eventually got too old. Pac Bell Park is now the jewel of San Francisco. We're not talking about some historical ballpark Willie Mays played in at the softball field... there are plaenty of new facilities now that can take its place. We don't have a softball field shortage in Folsom.

d) Farley's relatives are OK with it. Why does their voice not count?

e) A much better memorial will be put in place (and I believe the rock will still stay) with a flag garden and possibly a fountain. My grandkids will certainly appreciate that more than a rock. If JFK's memorial can be upgraded, certainly Mr. Farley's can.

f) What I do see is a bunch of old codgers unwilling to change and causing this mess, and I really think it's all out of spite too. Just because they may be veterans doesn't give them special treatment in my book... there are plenty of veterans who are actively in support of the new library. I believe the naysayers are in the minority though, as is evident with the difficulty they are having of getting the required 6000 votes.

g) There are plenty of veterans currently coming up with a solution to this. Mr. Farley will not be forgotten.

I must say...
If you're not part of the solution, you must be part of the problem!!!

Build this library. It will be a beautiful addition to Folsom. I personally think both the library and the garden will be wonderful additions to this community. Certainly better than a beat up softball field and a rock. I simply don't think the current memorial is a tribute to our fine veterans of Folsom.

[camay2327]

I keep hearing that the old ballfield is old, neglected, and in a state of disrepair.

Who's fault is it that the ballfield was not kept up?

Maybe the city or parks and rec?????

If the old ballpark was in perfect condition and had been kept up would they have been to quick to put the new library there???

Just a couple of questions.

Yes, I do support a new Library...

[DalOwnerX3]

[conspiracy mode on]
I think Borders is behind all this controversy. Think of it - if there is a bigger library, then more people will be checking books out and not buying them from the local bookstore, Borders. They are using the Lions and veterans as a smoke screen.

I say follow the money trail!
[/conspiracy mode on]

[dave]

You can "keep up" a ballfield all you want. Eventually it reaches a point, like an old car, where it is not worth it anymore and where it just costs too much.

Another major point: This was a not a field that was built to todays standards. It was thrown together, I believe, by volunteers. So it was never as good a field as the new ones are.

[camay2327]

Dave, are you saying that the parks and rec could not plow it under and redo the field?

I have seen a lot of bad ballfields in my time and most of them can be fixed up and then be in great condition.

In the Navy I pitched in a fastpitch league and played on some fields that were subpar but it was a ball field and we played.

[dave]

No, they could plow it under and redo the field. However, it would cost many thousands. While it may seem like the city's Parks and Rec dept has millions lying around, they don't. Every dollar is spoken for, with a list a mile long of unfunded needs and deferred parks.

To spend the money on that field would drop others off the list, and frankly, no one has come forward and said "we really like that field so please fix it" until now.

And it is not just plowing the dirt. Anytime the city undertakes such an action they would also be, most likely, required to fix the fencing and dugouts and before you know it, it'll cost big bucks.

My brother used to live in Navy housing and I loved the fields and tot lot play equipment everywhere. Outside of the military we just can't do it cheaply enough with all the myriad requirements that it be built with union level wages, high safety standards, handicapped accessibilty, etc.

If you wanna know why the list of needs is so long, look at Angelo Tsakapolous and his bank account. He took the country bumpkins in charge here for a ride and we are all paying the price. If Kipp and company did some homework they would have found that they needed to charge developers park fees, school fees, etc. He has an extra $50,000,00 or so that would have helped us a lot.

[dave]

That's $50 million, not thousand.

[camay2327]

Dave, thanks for the info. I know that it does cost a lot to keep parks up and I know that certain ones suffer here in Folsom.

There was no sign at Catlin Park south and after bringing it to the attention of the city of folsom, about two years ago, they finally got one installed there last month.

[Nina Phillips]

I see the issue of Marshall C. Farley Memorial Field in its present condition as part of the City's plan. It is the City's responsibility to keep the field up, in particular, the Parks and Recreation Dept. They are so poor at keeping the fields up it is pathetic. When my daughter was playing recreation soccer, whether it was on a City soccer field or at one of the school's, often times it was one of the dad's of one of the girls on our team that went out and mowed and striped the field so the kids didn't have to play soccer on grass 6 inches long.

The City failing to properly take care of that park and allow it to fall into disprepare and/or poor condition, will appear to make its position more appealing to those, in this situation, who would agree with the City that the library should go there. That entire park is the largest open space park in this City and it should be preserved. Contrary to popular belief, there is still land in this City available to build upon. Whomever thinks that building the library in the City Park is going to be the least expensive, better think again. This City, and for that matter, no governmental entity does anything on a cost saving scale. It will cost the same to put the library up no matter where it's placed.

Just remember, those of us against putting the library on Farely field want a library, but we want it put anywhere else. One thing that is interesting is that those opposed to the library being built in the City park are passionately opposed to it for good reason. However, those that are siding with the City to put the library in the park don't really have an equally passionate reason for wanting the library placed there. There is imbalance here.

[dave]

Nina: The city is quite good at keeping the city fields in good shape. Perhaps your daughter played on a school field where the district has been cutting back on mowing so the increasingly limited dollars can be kept in the classroom. I see nothing wrong with the dads helping out by cutting a school field. After all, their kids are the ones using the soccer fields. In fact, members of the Folsom Soccer Club are the ones who want to stripe the fields.

Now you don't really believe there is a conspiracy at the city to let the field go, do you? This idea to put the library there and thereby save the firehouse for other uses is recent. The Farley field has been on a long, slow decent for far longer.

The city absolutely does do a lot of things with cost savings in mind. It benefits them to do so. But maybe you are one of those people who see a conspiracy in everything and listen for the black helicopter spying on you at night. So I won't argue that anymore.

Another location would absolutely cost more because then we would have to pay for the land. The city does own some other land but it is mostly spoken for or unsuitable for a library.

Finally, I understand your argument regarding passion. My question would be is the passion really about the location? Or is it really about veterans and all they have done not being appreciated enough? That is understandable. That is why I wonder if the passion isn't merely misplaced.

The reasoning on the other side isn't passion, unless you can consider it passionate that we build a library in a central location, near city hall, on city land, with an eye for efficient use of all of the taxpayers dollars, not just the veterans tax dollars.

[waterbaby149]

Dave: apparently u live in Folsom, obviously not work, and don't seem to drive on Natoma, E. Bidwell and Riley during the days - the traffic is beyond control - there are no more short cuts to take - residents are so upset that streets have been closed to traffic - directing it at other residents - so u believe that the library location is a centrally located area - I live on Wales and work on Folsom Auburn near Greenback - a drive that use to take 5 minutes can now take 25 to 45 minutes.....and u say the library location is centrally located...
Folsom is becoming a bigger city and there is room to spread out - to say that there is no land available to the City without a cost is a joke - and u need to investigate your facts on this - or maybe it is because Mr.Mikolos made some sort of profit off those sites already - interesting that a man that is a mortgage broker does not have an interest with the developers - now let's see - let's put the library on an existing spot and not a spot the developers want to put houses or shopping centers
do u think this is all ridiculous - so do I as well as your arguments
U apparently have never felt passionatley about anything -
yesterday I met some Little League parents especially the Dad's - they are pastionate - they are pasionate about there children learning to play ball and not having to drive all over town to do it
and all these Dad's and Kids were at Farley field - that field that everyone claims is not used.
It is used - living near it I see that - there is music in the park, there is the little league opening day - which is a long standing tradition ....
oh that is alright it is ok to break tradition
your kind of appathetic bull....makes me sick

[dave]

Farley Field is an adult field. The little league field is next to it and will be upgraded as part of the library project. I have not heard that little league teams even play on it at all, except maybe for pre-season practice. So you will be able to hear those sounds still on opening day.

Waterbaby, you gotta make up your mind. You say that there is room to spread out for the library in one sentence. Then you say dads don't want to drive all over town to have their kids play little league. Which is it?

I think that sentence shows your bias. You see, people live outside of your neighborhood. So most people have to drive to different fields anyway. I doubt your team is just from the Wales area.

P.S. You spelled passionately three different ways, and none of them is right.

[Steve Heard]

To believe that the city council did something underhanded regarding the selection of this site is to accuse them of a heinous conspiracy, and for what?

What is their motive? Do they hate Mr. Farley? Softball? Do they want to anger the citizens? Cause more traffic? Offend the veterans and their families? Have a showdown with the Lions club?

Why? Why? Why?

Those behind the recall aren't saying the council made a mistake, they are saying they 'rammed the decision down our throats', and pushed the matter off untill it was too late in the evening for the elderly to protest, hid their agenda, didn't consider other sites, and discouraged public comment, and ignored the pleas of others.

Why? Why would they do this?

Is there buried treasure under that field that they can only get at under the guise of construction?

I don't mean to make light of this situation, but I haven't heard motive.

Somebody 'splain it to me.

[waterbaby149]

Symantics and spelling - good things to critize on to avoid the point

spread out refers to placing the libarary in another location

next saturday try the park - and see what field is what!

The memorial is in the park - to all veterans
the Farley field is dedicated to one veteran on lost his life in Vietnam

sorry I don't spell to your standards - and that is your only point - must mean we have merit

[Soccermom]

For the record (again) Farley field is used by FALL Folsom American Little League this year and in years past. I have wondered on this forum if we have so many ball fields in Folsom why is it that my son who is 8 plays and practices his entire season on FARLEY field? He has played on this field his entire time he has been in little league so far. I am curious about where these kids are going to go when this library is started. If the field was not needed we would certainly be scheduled to be praticing and playing on one of the newer fields that everyone is talking about. It is the same with soccer. We cannot keep up with the growth in this town and have adequate "nice" fields for all the kids involved in sports to play. All of them do not get to play on these nice fields that everyone seems to think are in such abundance. And it is usually the clubs who stripe and line and mow fields because the city can only afford to mow on their schedule. Fields need more maintenance then you can imagine with the use they are getting. Parks and rec cannot keep up with all of it! It is just like the school issue parents have to be invovled and help with maintenance and such when your kid is involved in any of the youth sports leagues. The majority are not City programs! And as I said before I am for the library, just wonder where the little leaguers are going to be sent? They would be practicing and playing there now if Farley field was not needed!