It seems like it was little more than a month ago when SPicy heard such strong words of support coming from Mayor Coleman about one of the most important resource a city can have: our public libraries.  Saint Paul does have an amazing library system.

But last week, the same valuable educational resources were used in a way SPicy could never have imagined. These great education resources that have their own budget, their own board, and their own "official" friends were used as political hammers to "encourage" members of the City Council to support  Mayor Coleman's budget proposal. 

Friends of SPicy tell scary stories of how the persuasion process now works on the third floor of city hall.

Newly minted Deputy Chief of Staff Ann Mulholland met with several council members who were not going to vote for the Mayor's budget.  Small talk escalated to big threats - including threats to close libraries in wards of people who voted against the budget and its tax increase.  

How could something like this happen?  Libraries are for good.  Books make people smarter.  Words in the wards are things we are proud of.  The Mayor loves our libraries.  Was there a clue that we all missed?

SPicy looked back on the Mayor's budget speech - and it all now makes sense.  SPicy's problem?  Not reading between the lines.  Here's what SPicy missed the first time:

What Coleman Said:
Saint Paul is rightfully proud of its library system.

What SPicy thinks Coleman meant:
We know that the small number of voters in this city love the libraries

What Coleman said:
But, hours alone do not measure the quality of the libraries...

It's measured by the person whose passion for reading is stirred by a librarian who knows just the right book to recommend.

What SPicy thinks Coleman meant:
And when you are voted out of office, not even librarians will remember your name.  And librarians will know which person to recommend to parents on election day.

What Coleman said:
The goal is to maintain this same number of system-wide hours while providing the widest access to the greatest volume of services. In fact, we do just that.

What SPicy thinks Coleman meant:
That's what we want to do - not what we will actually end up doing if you vote against us.  You would not want to be the one person who is responsible for us having to deny access to our libraries?]

What Coleman said:
This budget improves our libraries. But, by making these changes, we will reduce permanent spending by nearly $200,000.

What SPicy thinks Coleman meant:
We will even more money to improve the other libraries- by cutting the library in your neighborhood - if you don't change your vote.

What Coleman said:
Better service, better price.

What SPicy thinks Coleman meant:
Better vote for our budget or your library gets it.