Reader comments
Former Salt Lake library's future as 'Leonardo' uncertain

Ridiculous | 3:48 a.m. Aug. 20, 2008

This is a waste of taxpayer money, if Mr. Giles has a pet project then let him have 3 months to come up with the money, if he can't don't ask the boot-strapped public to fund his pet project. The benefits of such a center are nil at best and can best be served by existing facilities. Stop milking the public, and Madame Councilwoman Love, you are not the one bailing him out, it is us, I do not know if you remember, it is all of our money not just your purse-strings to spend as you please.

William Becker | 8:15 a.m. Aug. 20, 2008

Make the facility in to a combined Theatre/arts space. Isn't the Mayor's brother looking for some land.

Jo Jo | 8:55 a.m. Aug. 20, 2008

Ridiculous--you may have voted against the bond in 2003, but the majority of Salt Lake voters approved it. The Mayors (former and current) and city council here have had 5 long years to do what the people of Salt Lake asked them to--to create a art and science center operating at least at a national level. The required money was proposed to be matched from local taxes and private donations. The donations have been secured and the citizens voted for the Leonardo. The blame lies with the mayor and city council betraying the people's trust.

Comments continue below

Jessica | 9:00 a.m. Aug. 20, 2008

Maybe the Church can purchase the building and covert it to a temple.

Mayhem Mike | 9:42 a.m. Aug. 20, 2008

Jessica, maybe the Church can purchase the building and convert it to a center to help the mentally challenged. You can be the first attendee.

turnitintoasoccerstadium | 9:50 a.m. Aug. 20, 2008

By sucking up the government trough and questionable financials this is starting to sound like Rï¿½al Leonardo

Lasertrac | 11:23 a.m. Aug. 20, 2008

Ridiculous: Are you an idiot? City Council members are elected to represent the citizens. I was in the meeting last night. Jill Remington-Love didn't speak condesceningly as though it was "her" personal money. I don't know of any of the current City Council members who think they can spend taxpayers money just as they please. If you disagree with their budget priorities then show up at public meetings and voice your opinion, or better yet, since seem to know more than everyone else, run for public office yourself. Establishing spending priorites with set revenues is never easy. The Leonardo is a good concept. But I agree with you, it can be better served by other entities within the community.

President Cleveland | 12:00 p.m. Aug. 20, 2008

"There is nothing easier than the expenditure of public funds. It doesn't appear to belong to anyone and there is an overwhelming desire to bestow it upon someone". Grover Cleveland

Not the greatest President of the U.S. but he knew a rat hole when he saw one. Leonardo is just that.

The Narcissus? | 12:15 p.m. Aug. 20, 2008

I voted yes, but not for this. Everyone do the math and READ the documentation and proposals and take them into historical context. The Leonardo has already spent a major chunk of the $10m match on salaries, consultants and who knows what else. Also some of that "match" seems to come from other City and public funds. More than once it was the Leonardo who came begging to the City for more money as their "scope-creep" made their castle more appealing and "world-class" to the corporate, academic and museum elite. What happened to the charter school in early plans? The Leonardo is holding the City hostage by staging an expensive exhibit rather than focusing on securing the $5.5m extra funding they promised, and opening before the latest 11-hour proposal (with no City input) was approved. Oh yes, a proposal created by a Leonardo Board member's firm (yes pro-bono) but how convenient the new numbers nearly matched the bond money amount) Is this new Director full-time? Present FULL financials: executive compensation, income statements, balance sheets, cash flows for All Leonardo's dealings and "entities". The Public deserves accountability and competent management from the Leonardo; not more past excuses and blind optimism.

SLC gal | 12:32 p.m. Aug. 20, 2008

Doesn't the zoo need more room? I would totally go down there to see the giraffes and polar bears any day of the week!!!

To Ridiculous | 12:44 p.m. Aug. 20, 2008

Please, Utah desperately needs more cultural institutions. Facilities like these with thought-provoking exhibitions will help Utah become more cultural and less shallow. Utah "culture" is only a mirror of the latest hack reality tv show. Our children are becoming thoughtless drones. The Leonardo needs to get some serious donor support but the city, per the voters, needs to support them as well.

Abraham Kleima | 3:15 p.m. Aug. 20, 2008

The East and West sides of Salt Lake City are different economic cultures.
The educational, cultural needs of the West Valley: Kearns & other West S.L.C. cities are different from Wasacht, Cotton Wood, Alta & other East cities.
Utah Humanities, and Other S.L.C. councils cater for the East S.L.C. It obious, most of theirs members of board directors are well stablished professionals who can send their children to private schools, and to do help proyect in foreig countries. So the semirich care for the semirich.
In the West cities of S.L.C. we have an epidemic of drugs addiction; inefficient, uneducated police force; bussiness predators on the illigal population of mostly Mexican and indifferent underpayed teachers. No one gives a iota about Leonardo type of proyect in the West side.
Your nespaper should consider rotating editor and journalist.
All men are not created equal.
This is just another USA myth.

Michaelangelo | 3:45 p.m. Aug. 20, 2008

"The Leonardo" is a waste of space & money. There's a lot of better things to do with the space. When I went down there, the pictures on the wall were not worth the cost to hang them up.

Jeff | 12:40 p.m. Aug. 21, 2008

From the reading of most of these comments, it would appear that most do not know the situation at hand. Further, while it is interesting to know individual's opinion on whether they find such programs beneficial, I am not sure that we really care.
For the record, I will support such a facility and throw in my support for this facility and future facilities directed to educating our community.
I have never heard of a community regretting having science, art, and educational facilities in their cities

solardavinci | 2:20 p.m. Aug. 22, 2008

The Leonardo's new plan is a pragmatic and realistic response to the present fund raising and economic climate--it maintains the unique vision and objectives which led SLC voters in 2003 to approve the bond. It will produce a ]venue and resource which exists no where else in the world -- a testament to SLC's vision and quality. It will provide opportunities for youth and adults to expand their creativity, interests, and education.

Such a project requires vision and guts--from the community and from its leaders, as well as from The Leonardo and its supporters. The Leonardo is a unique, useful, practical, and important project--let's get on with it--and thank those who have worked so hard--and will continue to work on it -- for their confidence in the citizens and residents of Salt Lake City and Utah.

Let's stop arguing, blaming, and otherwise looking for excuses--let's get to work and build and develop something our families, friends, and neighbors can be proud of--of great benefit to youth and adults and to al sectors of our diverse community.

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