No drama or collusion at Red Hook library

Dear Editor:

The article about the Red Hook Public Library’s retaining wall (“Another mural controversy in Red Hook — this time at the library,” Sept. 14, 2020) and ensuing letter trashing Red Hook from Roberta Seligman (“Letter: Red Hook has no respect for art,” Sept. 15, 2020) were needlessly inflammatory and speculative.

The activists who created the petition against the mural in the center of the village (“Red Hook mural that some viewed as depicting slave is painted over,” June 22, 2020) are adults who grew up in Red Hook, and the issue they raised has nothing to do with the work being done to update, renovate and maintain our historic library. As for the retaining wall in the children’s garden at the library, updates had been planned since 2018.

I take my children to the library often, and we enjoy the garden space. I had noticed that the wall was chipping and stained. The plan for the wall, after resurfacing, is a fresh mural on one part, and a chalkboard for the children on the other. I can’t wait to bring my kids there when it’s done. When they added the playhouse, there was chalk for a small board inside, and the children used the chalk to write on every available surface in the garden.

Any lawsuit brought against the library for this routine update will only take funds and focus away from all the good work the library does for our community. This vengeful collaboration against those librarians who work so tirelessly for our community is disgusting.

What a shame it is that the article tries to dredge up drama and collusion where there is none — a complete intrepid reporter failure.

Melody Narvaez

Red Hook