The mayor sends the library a message

As I read the Post-Gazette story about Mayor Luke Ravenstahl not signing the library funding bill ("House Members Scold Ravenstahl Over Funding for Carnegie Library," June 16), I reminded myself of two things.

First, the mayor had earmarked $1 million for the Carnegie Library in his hoped-for tuition tax. Neither council nor Carnegie Library had asked for -- nor expected -- that.

So it seems to me that it should be apparent that the mayor does want the library to get money it might need.

Second, I remember the mayor quoted in an earlier Post-Gazette article saying he wanted to be shown some accountability for the need and use of the money by Carnegie Library management. He was the one who asked for an audit of the library. I think he has learned and remembers the results of the audit: The sky was not falling on Carnegie Library; the shortfall is much, much less than people feared.

I also could not help but remember the mayor's mother writing in your pages last year how responsible with money he was even when he just received an allowance.

I am hoping that Mayor Ravenstahl's non-signing of council's "emergency funding" bill -- creatively initiated by Councilman Doug Shields and supported by all -- is to send a message to the library about more financial openness.

MARK KOHUT
Westwood