Why are Decisions in Omaha Made Behind Closed Doors?
The W. Dale Clark Library last week after its demolition was announced. Photo credit: Lyndsay Dunn/ NOISE
By Michaela Wolf
The author is a freelance writer and artist who has contributed articles to NOISE and is a lifelong resident of Omaha.
It seems antithetical to the job of mayor, at least in my mind, to make less public space without the knowledge or consent of the people who live there during the decision making process. Why were early decisions about the relocation of W. Dale Clark library and development of the property made behind closed doors? Bringing such decisions about the main library and downtown property to the public only after the major choices were made was shocking. Those issues deserve a lot of public input and discourse throughout the decision making process.
The job of public servants is to serve the public good. It is to water and tend to the orchard, not just to harvest the fruit. I want a mayor who is going to fund social services and go out on a limb to stand up for the library and other public spaces. Here it seems to be the opposite. Mayor Stothert is so willing to prioritize private interests above public ones, it is disorienting.
In October, the Mayor discussed ownership of the land, and the building where W. Dale Clark library still sits this way:
“The current W. Dale Clark Library is city owned. We own the land, we own the building, we own the property,” Stothert said. “But we will be very careful to make sure we still have a downtown library and it will suit our growing customers.”
Soon the property will become private space and the city will rent an old warehouse on 1401 Jones to become the new downtown branch of the Omaha Public Library. The city will get a vacant lot where the old UP headquarters was located, but it has not yet been determined what will be built there.
City council members voiced frustration with how these decisions have been made, the lack of transparency, and the rushed timeline. It makes me sad that W. Dale Clark will move from such a prominent location with a view of the Gene Leahy Mall, easily accessible by public transportation.
The author’s first library card, which she said was a “big incentive for me to learn to write my name!” Photo credit: Michaela Wolf
It’s hard to overstate the value of a public library. Personally, I do not know who I would be without the time I spent at the library during my childhood. The library is still one of my favorite places to go and it is an invaluable resource. Libraries are keystones in our community though they do not always receive that recognition nor funding. Libraries foster education and community in a way that few other spaces do.
Many mentions of how the skyline of Omaha will change have been noted. "It certainly will change our skyline forever in the future," Stothert said to KETV. A skyline may seem like a dramatic change, but the impact of libraries is much more profound and lasting. I hope that the public response to this decision encourages leaders like Mayor Stothert to include the public in decisions about the future of our city, especially related to public spaces, and to support the Omaha Public Libraries as the vital and beloved resource it is.
