“No Means No”

While in Galena this past week, I noticed a sign like none other I have seen.

Actually, there were two of them.

Two candidates each for the local school board.

Above was the slogan,

No Means NO

The candidates on this sign are Laura Edmonds and Tom Long.

The candidates on this sign are Laura Edmonds and Tom Long, two of four”No means NO” candidates.

Asking what it meant at the antique mall near Galena Territory, I learned that last November a large bond issue had been defeated. The man said it was for $36 million and the alternative to building a new high school was $9 million to repair it.

Not a tough choice, he indicated.

Looking into it before writing this, I found that the referendum was for $24 million. (You can find what was on the ballot here.)

Two other candidates. Katie Wienen and Milan Blaho are the other two candidates saying, "No Means NO."  They promise

Two other candidates. Katie Wienen and Milan Blaho are the other two candidates saying, “No Means NO.” They promise “a NEW Galena School Board.”

And now four candidates seem to be running on the platform on not putting that bond referendum on the ballot again.


Comments

“No Means No” — 1 Comment

  1. First, there were many figures being tossed about by the School Board before the election.

    Only later did it become clear that the real figure being considered was “only” $24 MM.

    The “only” is the real issue here in Galena.

    Galena, please remember, is a community of re-cycled buildings.

    If it were not, none of the historical buildings would still be standing.

    It was only with a great deal of imagination that individuals (without public funding) were able to rehab or reconstruct them.

    But more important is the fact that school enrollment has been flat in Galena for many years, so one has to wonder why it is necessary to build larger facilities.

    In fact, the repairs that are needed on the existing buildings are relatively minor compared to those done on historic buildings in this town.

    The major objection seems to be with the primary school building that has a poor traffic pattern.

    Those of us with any experience in construction know that walls can be erected, existing walls can be moved, and additions can be built, all at much less cost than $24 MM!

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