If you find yourself in downtown Riverside, be sure to drop by the second floor of Riverside Library’s Main Branch – it’s right next door to The Historic Mission Inn Hotel and Spa. And since this flash is space and place based, it occupies the future home of the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture and Industry – let’s hope a battle does not flare up over the omitted Oxford Comma here…what fun we have with words about space, over time.
Or maybe it does not and will not. A few votes could wreck all that…
A vote (scroll to bottom to see how everyone voted, and where to send your comments) by two Riverside City Council members brought us to this day. Fresh faced new member Chuck Conder took a gander and then took a “no way” vote. Recently re-elected Jim Perry followed suite. When I came across this display while enjoying story time with dozens of other parents and kids, I found the emptiness a suitable image for the state of things.
It begs the question: Is something empty really empty? For instance, as the “new home” for the Library waits for one more “yes” vote from the city council, what sits in that empty lot? What is it about an empty pedestal that sparks a thought? Who is to say what belongs in the space? And how much is too much? What is the correct price tag? Would your answer be at all contingent upon economic status, race, age, or interest? Of course it would. Each of us would probably put something different on that stand. And we all would have solid reasons for doing so. And frustration when anything but our vision appears before our eyes.
But that’s the horror of the empty space. While you study it, it studies you back. Matches you glare for glare, each moment you try to keep the space a void, it’s power over you only grows stronger. That empty space will follow you everywhere you go. It will only relent when you replace it with something else.
On Tuesday Oct 3rd, the debate renews at Riverside City Council (links to agenda). I will be there voicing my support for the $40 million investment in a community service that touches nearly every citizen in the city. This is one of the few resources that categorically and apolitically support education and learning. Let’s see if a city of 300,000 can muster the support. I’m really not sure it can.
Some minutia for those who follow Riverside news –
For Riversiders -here is where to send messages of support for the new library
https://riversideca.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=563820&GUID=FB317AEC-6E8C-4441-B133-7AA035184589&Search=
Then click “eComment” link near middle of screen. Next, SCROLL TO #31 (MAIN LIBRARY), select “SUPPORT” and add comments.
Here is the link to your own councilperson
http://www.riversideca.gov/council/
And here is what that page looks like. Each one has a link to email and phone.
Here is how city council voted earlier this month. You can talk to any or all of them, not just “your guy” 😊
Mike Gardner – Yes – Mike responds fast. He corrected me on a mistake I made – he talks to people who agree and who disagree with him.
Andy Melendrez – Abstain. Rumor has it his property nearby is over 500 feet away, so he can vote on this if he wants. I tried to confirm this fact with his office. No response. My last four messages to his office went unanswered – two on measure Z and my two on this issue – so good luck. Side note, this is my councilperson and yours if you live in Ward 2.
Mike Soubirous – Yes. Another person who responds, even when you disagree with him.
Chuck Conder – No. Appears to be a pretty strong no.
Chris MacArthur – Yes.
Jim Perry – No. But, he did respond within minutes of my message to him asking to reconsider. He says he is working on a solution.
Steve Adams – Newly appointed. Was the previous councilmember here as well. Hope he votes yes but I am not confident on that.
The Horror & Freedom of Empty Space
