City officials should be ashamed of comments

Bob Pasicznyuk and Chuck Wieneke should be ashamed of themselves. If the library director and City Council member, respectively, are concerned that drug dealers and prostitutes would be too close to the library because a bus depot is next to it, and that “downtown libraries perceived as catering to the homeless can come to be seen as unsafe,” I might suggest that it is up to the police department to make it safe - not make law-abiding, bus-riding, homeless people suffer because of it.

Besides, I know of many prostitutes in business suits (Kenneth Lay), and drug dealers hiding behind corporate logos (Merck pharmaceutical) that have both homes and cars and would be welcomed.

Who needs the library more? Successful home and car owners? Or people down on their luck trying to better themselves? I think I hear Ben Franklin (founder of the public library) rolling over in his grave.

Rob Bierl

Cedar Rapids