WHITE SETTLEMENT, TX:So, because some asswipe suffered a case of butthurt because he couldn't take his puppy to work, the City Council decided to get on their high horse and kick out the library cat.
Over children’s petitions and voters’ protests, the City Council has voted to fire Browser the library cat.
But the book-loving feline may yet have another life. His friends and fans vow to take his future to voters in November, forcing an election if necessary on whether the library can keep its six-year reading mascot.
Declaring that “City Hall and city businesses are no place for animals,” Councilman Elzie Clements led what Browser’s fans call a sneak attack on June 14, ending in a 2-1 vote giving the former shelter cat 30 days to find a new home.
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Mayor Ron White, a nonvoting council moderator under the city charter, supports Browser. He blamed pettiness at City Hall because a city employee wasn’t allowed to keep a pet at work.
“We’ve had that cat five years, and there’s never been a question,” he said.
“That cat doesn’t have anything to do with whether somebody can have their puppy at City Hall. That cat doesn’t hurt anybody. … The council just went out and did this on their own because they don’t like cats.”
This is one case where the Scorn of the Internet may save Browser his home and job.
There's already a move to reconsider on July 12th, just before the 30 days. After that, expect an ouster come November for 2 City Council members. Course White Settlement also refused to reconsider it's name a while back, saying it was proud of the heritage it showed.
ReplyDeleteYou'd be amazed how popular libraries are in communities. Whenever there's a referendum at the city or county level, I've seen people vote in high numbers to support that library even if it meant raising taxes/funding bonds to make that library go.
ReplyDeleteFor anybody to go against a library, that person courts disaster.
If the cat was tied into a children's reading program, there are going to be a large contingent of parents fighting for that cat to stay.
Firing the cat is always bad news. After the original owners sold the warehouse I managed, they took their cat with them. We ended up with the worst rat infestation I've ever seen. I still sometimes have nightmares about it.
ReplyDelete-Doug in Oakland
Browser can stay. The decision has been reversed, 7/1/16.
ReplyDelete