Civil Rights Cases & Complaints against City of Saskatoon
Friday, February 21, 2025
Letters by Ashu M. G. Solo in Agendas for Saskatoon City Council, Saskatoon Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee, and Saskatoon Public Library Board of Trustees
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Snow Ramps on 33rd Street Overpass
Sent: Monday, February 10, 2025 7:34 AM
To: cynthia.block@saskatoon.ca; kathryn.macdonald@saskatoon.ca; senos.timon@saskatoon.ca; robert.pearce@saskatoon.ca; troy.davies@saskatoon.ca; randy.donauer@saskatoon.ca; jasmin.parker@saskatoon.ca; holly.kelleher@saskatoon.ca; scott.ford@saskatoon.ca; bev.dubois@saskatoon.ca; zach.jeffries@saskatoon.ca; Web E-mail - Mayor's Office <mayors.office@saskatoon.ca>
Subject: Snow Ramps
Saskatoon City Council:
On January 21, 2016, I strongly criticized City Council in the StarPhoenix letter to the editor below for not allocating enough money for snow removal and de-icing and for snow ramps on the sides of bridges. Now there are potentially lethal snow ramps by the sides of the overpass on Circle Drive over 33rd street while heading toward the north. These snow ramps look like they could launch a car onto the street below. You need to allocate more money for snow removal and de-icing and hire a competent city manager. See the following 2016 letter to the editor:
Remember the snow ramps that launched a car off a bridge in 2013? They're back: Letter to the Editor
JANUARY 21, 2016 11:00 AM
Once again there are snow ramps on the sides of bridges in Saskatoon. In 2013, such a ramp caused a vehicle to go from the North Circle Drive Bridge into the South Saskatchewan River.
The streets now are extremely icy, which is causing countless accidents. How many people need to drive off bridges before city council wakes up and allocates enough money for snow removal and de-icing? How many winter driving accidents do there need to be before they open their eyes?
How many people need to be injured or killed, and how many cars need to be damaged before the mayor and councillors care? How many voters need to tell them to increase funding for snow removal before they listen?
City council has instead wasted taxpayers’ money on a new police station, an art gallery, Tasers for police, a transit lockout and excessive salaries and benefits for councillors. The mayor and councillors are inept and need to be removed from office in the next election.
Ashu Solo, Saskatoon, from Jan. 21, Letters to the Editor
Sincerely,
Ashu M. G. Solo
Monday, February 10, 2025
Campaign finance reform for Saskatoon City Council candidates
Sent: Friday, February 7, 2025 5:06 PM
To: 'cynthia.block@saskatoon.ca' <cynthia.block@saskatoon.ca>; 'kathryn.macdonald@saskatoon.ca' <kathryn.macdonald@saskatoon.ca>; 'senos.timon@saskatoon.ca' <senos.timon@saskatoon.ca>; 'robert.pearce@saskatoon.ca' <robert.pearce@saskatoon.ca>; 'troy.davies@saskatoon.ca' <troy.davies@saskatoon.ca>; 'randy.donauer@saskatoon.ca' <randy.donauer@saskatoon.ca>; 'jasmin.parker@saskatoon.ca' <jasmin.parker@saskatoon.ca>; 'holly.kelleher@saskatoon.ca' <holly.kelleher@saskatoon.ca>; 'scott.ford@saskatoon.ca' <scott.ford@saskatoon.ca>; 'bev.dubois@saskatoon.ca' <bev.dubois@saskatoon.ca>; 'zach.jeffries@saskatoon.ca' <zach.jeffries@saskatoon.ca>; 'Web E-mail - Mayor's Office' <mayors.office@saskatoon.ca>
Subject: Campaign finance reform for Saskatoon City Council candidates
Saskatoon City Council:
This letter is in your agenda.
I want to draw your attention to this letter to the editor I wrote on campaign finance reform for Saskatoon City Council candidates:
Ashu M. G. Solo, “Change needed for the way we elect Saskatoon city council,” The StarPhoenix, Sept. 28, 2024,
URL: https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letters-change-needed-for-the-way-we-elect-saskatoon-city-council
Municipal council candidates should be banned from receiving business and union donations. Also, municipal council candidates should be banned from receiving individual donations greater than a reasonable amount like $50.
See the email below that I sent to Saskatchewan MLAs about this issue.
Sincerely,
Ashu M. G. Solo
From: Ashu M. G. Solo
Sent: Wednesday, January 29, 2025 12:54 AM
To: cbeaudrymla@gmail.com; reginalakeview@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; reginawascanaplains@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; reginapasqua@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; saskatoonriversdale@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; tbromm.mla@outlook.com; reginacoronationpark@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; loricarrmla@sasktel.net; david.chan@yorktonmla.ca; ken.cheveldayoff.mla@sasktel.net; saskatoonwestview@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; reginawalshacres@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; office@jeremycockrill.ca; reginaelphinstonecentre@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; mla@wc-q.ca; kgartnermla@outlook.com; saskatoonsilverspring@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; goudymla@gmail.com; saskatoonuniversitysutherland@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; canningtonconstituency@sasktel.net; jharrisonmla@sasktel.net; mla.humboldt-watrous@outlook.com; everettmla@sasktel.net; reginauniversity@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; office@terryjenson.ca; saskatoonchurchillwildwood@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; warrenkaedingmla@sasktel.net; pacarltonmla@sasktel.net; mla@traviskeisig.ca; dakotaarmriver.mla@gmail.com; saskatooneastview@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; mlawoodriver@sasktel.net; jamie.martensmla@outlook.com; saskatoonchiefmistawasis@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; lumsdenmorsemla@outlook.com; mjnorthmla@sasktel.net; cumberland@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; scottmoe.mla@sasktel.net; premier@gov.sk.ca; saskatoonfairview@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; saskatooncentre@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; reginarochdale@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; jimreitermla@sasktel.net; saskatoonnutana@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; panorthcote.mla@sasktel.net; batochemla@outlook.com; reginanortheast@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; reginadouglaspark@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; saskrivers.mla@outlook.com; saskatoonsoutheast@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; steelemla@sasktel.net; saskatoonmeewasin@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; office@cktmla.ca; dwarrington@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; mla@kevinweedmark.ca; office@weyburnbengough.ca; office@canorapellymla.ca; reginamountroyal@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; reginasouthalbert@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; colleen.young@sasktel.net
Subject: Campaign finance reform needed for municipal council candidates
Members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan (Sask. MLAs):
I want to draw your attention to this letter to the editor I wrote on the dire need for campaign finance reform for Saskatoon City Council candidates:
Ashu M. G. Solo, “Change needed for the way we elect Saskatoon city council,” The StarPhoenix, Sept. 28, 2024,
URL: https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letters-change-needed-for-the-way-we-elect-saskatoon-city-council
You should enact legislation to ban municipal council candidates from receiving business and union donations. Also, the legislation should ban municipal council candidates from receiving individual donations greater than a reasonable amount like $50.
Let’s have a better democracy rather than a corporatocracy or plutocracy.
Sincerely,
Ashu M. G. Solo
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
FW: Public Libraries Act, 1996 needs to be reformed
Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2025 3:31 PM
To: cynthia.block@saskatoon.ca; kathryn.macdonald@saskatoon.ca; senos.timon@saskatoon.ca; robert.pearce@saskatoon.ca; troy.davies@saskatoon.ca; randy.donauer@saskatoon.ca; jasmin.parker@saskatoon.ca; holly.kelleher@saskatoon.ca; scott.ford@saskatoon.ca; bev.dubois@saskatoon.ca; zach.jeffries@saskatoon.ca; Web E-mail - Mayor's Office <mayors.office@saskatoon.ca>
Subject: FW: Public Libraries Act, 1996 needs to be reformed
Saskatoon City Council:
Below is an email message that I sent to Saskatchewan MLAs on how the The Public Libraries Act, 1996 needs to be reformed so that only municipal councils, not library boards, can get new libraries built. See this letter to the editor that I wrote for further information:
Ashu M. G. Solo, "Library board lacks legitimacy to tax, build," The StarPhoenix, Aug. 15, 2024, URL:
https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letters-sask-nuclear-plan-intended-to-delay-move-from-fossil-fuels
The people of Saskatoon have been fooled into believing that the Board of Trustees can impose whatever library taxes it wants without consent of City Council. We know that’s not the case.
As a condition of imposing library taxes requested by the Board of Trustees of the Saskatoon Public Library, you should better review how the board plans to spend this money, demand that the board stop building unneeded new libraries, and demand that the board decrease the exorbitant salaries of library executives. See this letter to the editor that I wrote for further information:
Ashu M. G. Solo, "Cut salaries of Saskatoon library managers," The StarPhoenix, July 13, 2024, URL: https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letters-college-wrong-to-discipline-doctor-for-anti-abortion-advice
See the email below.
Sincerely,
Ashu M. G. Solo
From: Ashu M. G. Solo
Sent: Wednesday, January 8, 2025 7:28 AM
To: cbeaudrymla@gmail.com; reginalakeview@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; reginawascanaplains@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; reginapasqua@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; saskatoonriversdale@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; tbromm.mla@outlook.com; reginacoronationpark@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; loricarrmla@sasktel.net; david.chan@yorktonmla.ca; ken.cheveldayoff.mla@sasktel.net; saskatoonwestview@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; reginawalshacres@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; office@jeremycockrill.ca; reginaelphinstonecentre@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; mla@wc-q.ca; kgartnermla@outlook.com; saskatoonsilverspring@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; goudymla@gmail.com; saskatoonuniversitysutherland@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; canningtonconstituency@sasktel.net; jharrisonmla@sasktel.net; mla.humboldt-watrous@outlook.com; everettmla@sasktel.net; reginauniversity@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; office@terryjenson.ca; saskatoonchurchillwildwood@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; warrenkaedingmla@sasktel.net; pacarltonmla@sasktel.net; mla@traviskeisig.ca; dakotaarmriver.mla@gmail.com; saskatooneastview@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; mlawoodriver@sasktel.net; jamie.martensmla@outlook.com; saskatoonchiefmistawasis@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; lumsdenmorsemla@outlook.com; mjnorthmla@sasktel.net; cumberland@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; scottmoe.mla@sasktel.net; premier@gov.sk.ca; saskatoonfairview@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; saskatooncentre@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; reginarochdale@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; jimreitermla@sasktel.net; saskatoonnutana@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; panorthcote.mla@sasktel.net; batochemla@outlook.com; reginanortheast@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; reginadouglaspark@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; saskrivers.mla@outlook.com; saskatoonsoutheast@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; steelemla@sasktel.net; saskatoonmeewasin@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; office@cktmla.ca; dwarrington@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; mla@kevinweedmark.ca; office@weyburnbengough.ca; office@canorapellymla.ca; reginamountroyal@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; reginasouthalbert@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; colleen.young@sasktel.net
Subject: Public Libraries Act, 1996 needs to be reformed
Members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan (Sask. MLAs):
The Public Libraries Act, 1996 should be reformed so that only municipal councils, not library boards, have the authority to get new libraries built. See this letter to the editor I wrote:
Ashu M. G. Solo, "Library board lacks legitimacy to tax, build," The StarPhoenix, Aug. 15, 2024, URL:
https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letters-sask-nuclear-plan-intended-to-delay-move-from-fossil-fuels
The library board in Saskatoon has been recklessly and foolishly having a new downtown library built when the existing downtown library is excellent. See these letters I wrote for further information:
In this letter to the editor, I talk about how in-person libraries are becoming obsolete and being replaced by online libraries:
Ashu M. G. Solo, "Saskatoon should shelve costly plan for new downtown library," The StarPhoenix, Jan. 30, 2024, URL: https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letter-saskatoon-should-shelve-costly-plan-for-new-downtown-library
In this letter, I talk about consumption of alcohol and recreational drugs in the Saskatoon Public Library:
Ashu M. G. Solo, "New Downtown Library Not Needed," Agenda of Saskatoon Public Library Board of Trustees for the City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada, Apr. 24, 2024, p. 7, URL: https://saskatoonlibrary.ca/isl/uploads/2024/04/2024-04-24-Board-Agenda-Pkg-PUBLIC.pdf
In this letter to the editor, I talk about several issues with the Saskatoon Public Library including exorbitant library taxes:
Ashu M. G. Solo, "New downtown Saskatoon library a foolish waste of tax dollars," The StarPhoenix, June 11, 2024, URL: https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letters-new-downtown-saskatoon-library-a-foolish-waste-of-tax-dollars
In this letter to the editor, I talk about excessive salaries of library executives while other library staff voted for job action because their salaries aren't keeping up with inflation:
Ashu M. G. Solo, "Cut salaries of Saskatoon library managers," The StarPhoenix, July 13, 2024, URL: https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letters-college-wrong-to-discipline-doctor-for-anti-abortion-advice
In this letter, I talk about different problems with building a new downtown library:
Ashu M. G. Solo, "Library, arena, auditorium, potholes, snow removal, deicing, and campaign finance reform," Public Agenda: Governance and Priorities Committee for the City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada, Aug. 14, 2024, pp. 81-82, URL: https://pub-saskatoon.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=222893
In this letter to the editor, I talk about how an unelected library board shouldn't be able to get a new library built and talk about problems in communicating with this unelected board:
Ashu M. G. Solo, "Library board lacks legitimacy to tax, build," The StarPhoenix, Aug. 15, 2024, URL: https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letters-sask-nuclear-plan-intended-to-delay-move-from-fossil-fuels
In this letter, I talk about why The Public Libraries Act, 1996 should be reformed and forcing the library board to limit executive salaries:
Ashu M. G. Solo, "Saskatoon Public Library, executive salaries, and reform of The Public Libraries Act, 1996," Public Agenda: Governance and Priorities Committee, City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada, Sept. 11, 2024, URL: https://pub-saskatoon.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=224308
In this letter, I talk about many issues with the Saskatoon Public Library:
Ashu M. G. Solo, "Constructive Criticism of the Board of Trustees for the Saskatoon Public Library," Agenda: Saskatoon Public Library Board Meeting, City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada, Sept. 18, 2024, pp. 154-155, URL: https://saskatoonlibrary.ca/isl/uploads/2024/09/2024-09-18-Board-Agenda-Pkg-PUBLIC.pdf
In this letter, I talk about why The Public Libraries Act, 1996 should be reformed:
Ashu M. G. Solo, "The Public Libraries Act, 1996 needs to be reformed," Agenda: Saskatoon Public Library Board Meeting, City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada, Sept. 18, 2024, p. 156, URL: https://saskatoonlibrary.ca/isl/uploads/2024/09/2024-09-18-Board-Agenda-Pkg-PUBLIC.pdf
Sincerely,
Ashu M. G. Solo
Sunday, September 15, 2024
Criticism of the Board of Trustees for the Saskatoon Public Library
Sunday, September 8, 2024
Saskatoon Public Library, Executive Salaries, and Reform of The Public Libraries Act, 1996
Sent: Sunday, September 8, 2024 4:42 AM
To: charlie.clark@saskatoon.ca; darren.hill@saskatoon.ca; hilary.gough@saskatoon.ca; troy.davies@saskatoon.ca; randy.donauer@saskatoon.ca; cynthia.block@saskatoon.ca; mairin.loewen@saskatoon.ca; sarina.gersher@saskatoon.ca; bev.dubois@saskatoon.ca; zach.jeffries@saskatoon.ca; david.kirton@saskatoon.ca; mayors.office@saskatoon.ca
Subject: Saskatoon Public Library, executive salaries, and reform of The Public Libraries Act, 1996
The following letter is in your agenda. It’s imperative that you read this and the letters at the links below:
Saskatoon City Council:
Below is an email message that I sent to Saskatchewan MLAs on how The Public Libraries Act, 1996 needs to be reformed so that only municipal councils, not library boards, can get new libraries built. See this new letter to the editor that I wrote for further information:
Ashu M. G. Solo, "Library board lacks legitimacy to tax, build," The StarPhoenix, Aug. 15, 2024, URL:
https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letters-sask-nuclear-plan-intended-to-delay-move-from-fossil-fuels
As a condition of imposing library taxes requested by the Board of Trustees of the Saskatoon Public Library, you should better review how the board plans to spend this money and demand that the board decrease the exorbitant salaries of library executives. See this letter to the editor that I wrote for further information:
Ashu M. G. Solo, "Cut salaries of Saskatoon library managers," The StarPhoenix, July 13, 2024, URL: https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letters-college-wrong-to-discipline-doctor-for-anti-abortion-advice
Sincerely,
Ashu M. G. Solo
August 25, 2024
Subject: The Public Libraries Act, 1996 needs to be reformed
MLAs for Saskatchewan:
The Public Libraries Act, 1996 should be reformed so that only municipal councils, not library boards, have the authority to get new libraries built. See this letter to the editor I wrote:
Ashu M. G. Solo, "Library board lacks legitimacy to tax, build," The StarPhoenix, Aug. 15, 2024, URL: https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letters-sask-nuclear-plan-intended-to-delay-move-from-fossil-fuels
The library board in Saskatoon is recklessly and foolishly having a new downtown library built when the existing downtown library is excellent. See these letters I wrote for further information:
Ashu M. G. Solo, "Saskatoon should shelve costly plan for new downtown library," The StarPhoenix, Jan. 30, 2024, URL: https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letter-saskatoon-should-shelve-costly-plan-for-new-downtown-library
Ashu M. G. Solo, "New Downtown Library Not Needed," Agenda of Saskatoon Public Library Board of Trustees for the City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Sask., Apr. 24, 2024, p. 7, URL: https://saskatoonlibrary.ca/isl/uploads/2024/04/2024-04-24-Board-Agenda-Pkg-PUBLIC.pdf
Ashu M. G. Solo, "New downtown Saskatoon library a foolish waste of tax dollars," The StarPhoenix, June 11, 2024, URL: https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letters-new-downtown-saskatoon-library-a-foolish-waste-of-tax-dollars
Ashu M. G. Solo, "Cut salaries of Saskatoon library managers," The StarPhoenix, July 13, 2024, URL: https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letters-college-wrong-to-discipline-doctor-for-anti-abortion-advice
Ashu M. G. Solo, "Library, arena, auditorium, potholes, snow removal, deicing, and campaign finance reform," Public Agenda: Governance and Priorities Committee for the City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Sask., Aug. 14, 2024, pp. 81-82, URL: https://pub-saskatoon.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=222893
Sincerely,
Ashu M. G. Solo
Saturday, August 10, 2024
Library, Arena, Auditorium, Potholes, Snow Removal, Deicing, and Campaign Finance Reform
Sent: Sunday, August 11, 2024 12:20 AM
To: 'charlie.clark@saskatoon.ca' <charlie.clark@saskatoon.ca>; 'darren.hill@saskatoon.ca' <darren.hill@saskatoon.ca>; 'hilary.gough@saskatoon.ca' <hilary.gough@saskatoon.ca>; 'david.kirton@saskatoon.ca' <david.kirton@saskatoon.ca>; 'troy.davies@saskatoon.ca' <troy.davies@saskatoon.ca>; 'randy.donauer@saskatoon.ca' <randy.donauer@saskatoon.ca>; 'cynthia.block@saskatoon.ca' <cynthia.block@saskatoon.ca>; 'mairin.loewen@saskatoon.ca' <mairin.loewen@saskatoon.ca>; 'sarina.gersher@saskatoon.ca' <sarina.gersher@saskatoon.ca>; 'bev.dubois@saskatoon.ca' <bev.dubois@saskatoon.ca>; 'zach.jeffries@saskatoon.ca' <zach.jeffries@saskatoon.ca>; 'mayors.office@saskatoon.ca' <mayors.office@saskatoon.ca>
Subject: Library, arena, auditorium, potholes, snow removal, deicing, and campaign finance reform
The following letter is in your agenda. It’s imperative that you read this and the letters at the links below:
Saskatoon City Council:
Because of the decision of Saskatoon City Council to loan $67.5 million to the Saskatoon Public Library, I want to draw your attention to these letters I wrote:
Ashu M. G. Solo, "Saskatoon should shelve costly plan for new downtown library," The StarPhoenix, Jan. 30, 2024, URL: https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letter-saskatoon-should-shelve-costly-plan-for-new-downtown-library
Ashu M. G. Solo, "New Downtown Library Not Needed," Agenda of Saskatoon Public Library Board of Trustees for the City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Sask., Apr. 24, 2024, p. 7, URL: https://saskatoonlibrary.ca/isl/uploads/2024/04/2024-04-24-Board-Agenda-Pkg-PUBLIC.pdf
Ashu M. G. Solo, "New downtown Saskatoon library a foolish waste of tax dollars," The StarPhoenix, June 11, 2024, URL: https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letters-new-downtown-saskatoon-library-a-foolish-waste-of-tax-dollars
Ashu M. G. Solo, "Cut salaries of Saskatoon library managers," The StarPhoenix, July 13, 2024, URL: https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letters-college-wrong-to-discipline-doctor-for-anti-abortion-advice
Most people believe that the City of Saskatoon has its priorities all wrong. Instead of the City of Saskatoon spending money on a new downtown library, more money should be allocated for pothole repair, snow removal, and deicing. I know someone whose car tires were ruined three times due to potholes in Saskatoon. I know someone who couldn’t get his car off his street for days two times in the past few years because of inadequate snow removal. One of his neighbors ended up paying for a private company to clear the street. This problem wouldn’t have occurred if the City of Saskatoon had been doing snow removal on an ongoing basis instead of waiting until after large snowfalls.
Saskatoon doesn’t need a new arena or new auditorium. The existing arena and auditorium are fine and can be renovated if required. Building a new arena and auditorium in downtown Saskatoon will cause a colossal amount of environmental damage due to the building materials used. Also, building a new arena will cause a parking nightmare. It’s already hard enough to find parking in downtown Saskatoon.
City council candidates should stop taking campaign contributions from construction contractors so these donations don’t influence their spending decisions. There needs to be campaign finance reform to limit individual contributions and prevent companies from donating to candidates.
Sincerely,
Ashu M. G. Solo
Saturday, April 20, 2024
Letter on New Downtown Library
This letter was sent to the Board of Trustees of the Saskatoon Public Library on April 1, 2024:
April 1, 2024
Board of Trustees for Saskatoon Public Library:
Saskatoon doesn't need a new downtown library. I want to draw your attention to this letter to the editor I wrote for The StarPhoenix on how libraries will become obsolete:
Ashu M. G. Solo, "Saskatoon should shelve costly plan for new downtown library," The StarPhoenix, Jan. 30, 2024, URL: https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letter-saskatoon-should-shelve-costly-plan-for-new-downtown-library
The online library I refer to in this letter to the editor is called Epic and is available at https://www.getepic.com/.
The existing downtown library already has a theatre, a meeting room, an art gallery, a computer classroom, a local history room, a kids' section, a kids' story room, an arts and crafts lab, a young adult section, computers, photocopiers, a writer in residence, outreach workers, a section for newspapers and magazines, and a section for movies, documentaries, music, audiobooks, and videogames. That's all Saskatoon needs in a downtown library.
The downtown library doesn’t need a kitchen, recording studios, and labs for post-production, 3D printing, graphic design, etc. These are services that private businesses should offer.
If more computers are needed for public usage, the computer classroom can be opened to the public when it isn’t being used for courses.
A lot of families don't want to use the current downtown library because of alcohol and illegal drug consumption there. I was talking to a security guard at the existing downtown library who said that people are drinking alcohol in the library and smoking marijuana in the washrooms including the washroom in the kids' section. Are you going to constantly have a security guard in each washroom? Recreational substance consumption will continue in the new downtown library so a lot of families won't want to use it too.
Some other libraries have seed libraries. Saskatoon Public Library should have a seed library too. This doesn’t require a new building. It requires a box to store the seeds.
Because the City of Saskatoon keeps building new facilities like a new police station, new art gallery, and now a new library, property taxes are way too high now and there isn’t enough funding for quickly fixing potholes, snow removal, and deicing.
There’s a lot of public anger about your decision to build a new downtown library. The will of the public should be respected for an issue like whether to build a new facility.
Sincerely,
Ashu M. G. Solo