633 Royce Avenue

Pittsburgh (Mt. Lebanon), Pennsylvania 15243-1149 U.S.A.

Telephone: 412-561-7876

                               Electronic Mail: < gawalsh@andrewcarnegie.cc >
                                                                                 Web Site: < http://www.andrewcarnegie.cc >
                                                                                 2008 January 4
 
Letters to the Editor
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
34 Blvd. of the Allies
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Electronic Mail: < letters@post-gazette.com >
 
Dear Editor:
 
On January 1, two leaders of the Federal/North Committee started their year by attacking me (“Belated opposition,” Letters-to-the-Editor,
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2008 Jan. 1). So, please let me set the record straight:
 
First, my opposition to moving the historic Allegheny Regional Library dates back to 2006 Sept. 14 when I testified against this move at the
URA Board meeting. Note that I was quoted in Mark Belko’s article the next day (“Library's new site OK'd,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2006 Sept. 15).
I expressed similar sentiments at the neighborhood meeting later held in Bowdish Gallery of the original Buhl Planetarium building (part of the Children’s Museum).
 
Second, RAD funds the overwhelming majority of the operating budget of Carnegie Library. As a Mt. Lebanon resident, I pay the RAD tax like everyone else,
so I help pay for all of the Carnegie Libraries! According to Mt. Lebanon Library Director Cynthia Richey, only 28 percent of the Mt. Lebanon Library’s
operating budget comes from RAD funds; and, she confirms that anyone, from any community, can speak before a Mt. Lebanon Library Board of Trustees
meeting. Also, please note that Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees meetings are not open to the public, a violation of Title 22, Section 141.21
of the Pennsylvania Code!
 
Third, not only do I carry a library card, I was a Life Trustee for the Andrew Carnegie Free Library in Carnegie, Pa. from 1995 to 2000! And, as a frequent visitor
to the North Side, I usually used the Allegheny Regional Library at least once a month.
 
Finally, I did not oppose the Children’s Museum’s use of the Buhl Planetarium building; I opposed their removal, from the building, of several historic artifacts
including the Zeiss II Planetarium Projector, which is now dismantled in The Carnegie Science Center warehouse. Now that the Science Center has missed two deadlines
to reassemble the Zeiss Projector, it seems this historic projector will remain in warehouse storage, indefinitely, educating no one!
 
Glenn A. Walsh
Mt. Lebanon

Special Note: The preceding letter was e-mailed to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on 2008 January 5. A slightly abbreviated version of this letter (to partially meet the newspapers's 250-word limit on letters-to-the-editor) was e-mailed to the newspaper on 2008 March 21.

* Walsh, Glenn A. Letters-to-the-Editor:
"About my views." (Last letter of six letters on web page)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2008 March 29.
Response to letter-to-the-editor personal attack,
regarding both Carnegie Library and Buhl Planetarium,
published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on 2008 January 1.
Original, more detailed response was e-mailed to the
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on 2008 January 5.