Prioritize equity: fund the West Frederick Library in County Budget
County Executive Jessica Fitzwater
County Council District 3 (D3), the County's most diverse and economically struggling district, is the only District without a Library. To prioritize equity, public resources must be distributed fairly and equitably.
In her first budget as County Executive, we are asking CE Fitzwater to prioritize equity. We ask that she include the necessary funding in this year's Capital Improvements Program (CIP) to ensure construction begins on the West End Library at Westside Regional Park by FY 2025.
We, Frederick County residents of West Frederick, support a Public Library along Rt 40 that is convenient and accessible, particularly for families densely populated around its three elementary schools. Westside Regional Park offers the best option to achieve this, and will create a resource hub being walking distance from two schools, and adjacent to a Community Recreation Center to be built by the City in the near future.
Good news: After months of advocacy and organizing, there is broad public support and even buy in from public officials for the proposal to build a new library at Westside Regional Park by FY 2025.
Next step: This project needs to be fully funded.
Please add your name to this message to the County Executive and additionally participate in the January 25 budget hearing at Waverley Elementary School to advocate for an equitable budget
Sponsored by
To:
County Executive Jessica Fitzwater
From:
Sebastian Brown
Dear County Executive Fitzwater,
In a year of an unprecedented budget surplus of nearly $50 million, the County must make long overdue public investments in communities and families that have historically not been proportionately included in the County's overall operation. County Council District 3 (D3), the County's most diverse and economically struggling district, is the only Council District without a Library. To prioritize equity, public resources must be distributed fairly and equitably.
We ask that the County Executive include the necessary funding in this year's Capital Improvements Program (CIP) to ensure construction begins on the West End Library at Westside Regional Park by FY2025.
Former County Executive Jan Gardner said the new library could be constructed by 2025 (up from the original projection of 2030), but only if an additional $3.6 million were budgeted. Considering the budgetary surplus, we believe the County is best positioned to fill this gap.
In November, the former County Executive held another community listening session about the West End Library to assess better which location the community preferred. The community clarified their preference at the listening session, similar to an earlier one in May. And this time, they represented a majority and a near consensus opinion. Twenty-two of 25 community members (many of whom were representing large, diverse community-based organizations) spoke in public comment to have the library at Westside Regional Park by 2025. They shared why it is the most accessible option to those in greatest need, that it is a place where the community already gathers, and that it would be a new construction alongside an already budgeted City Community Center to be built in the near future.
The new Administration can show its commitment to equity by presenting a budget that prioritizes the library's construction fairly and equitably, including the proportional participation of ethnic minorities in the construction and operation of the library. In a year of ~$50M budget surplus, we ask that you prioritize equity and include the less than $4M needed in the CIP to ensure the library is built by 2025.
Thank you for your consideration,