Citizens Defending Libraries: PHOTO & VIDEO GALLERY: February 29, 2016 Press Conference- Request Eric Adams Postpone Brooklyn Borough Board Vote

Why Is New York City Planning to Sell and Shrink Its Libraries?

Defend our libraries, don't defund them. . . . . fund 'em, don't plunder 'em

Mayor Bloomberg defunded New York libraries at a time of increasing public use, population growth and increased city wealth, shrinking our library system to create real estate deals for wealthy real estate developers at a time of cutbacks in education and escalating disparities in opportunity. It’s an unjust and shortsighted plan that will ultimately hurt New York City’s economy and competitiveness.

It should NOT be adopted by those we have now elected to pursue better policies.

Monday, February 29, 2016

This page will be and has been updated.

From one of two Brooklyn News 12 coverage reports that night

The press release describing the event is here:

• PRESS RELEASE- Citizens Demand Brooklyn Borough Board Postpone Critical Vote on Future of Brooklyn Heights Library- A Call for Transparency, Full Investigation of BPL Hoaxes & Bid-Rigging - Monday, February 29, 2016

The letter delivered to Brooklyn Borough President Adams is here:

• Monday, February 29, 2016, Letter to Borough President Eric Adams Requesting Insistence on Transparency and Full Investigation Into Cooked Books and Rigged Bidding Before Calendaring Brooklyn Borough Board Vote On Brooklyn Heights Library

The media advisory noticing the event is here:

• MEDIA ADVISORY- Citizens Demand Brooklyn Borough Board Postpone Critical Vote on Future of Brooklyn Heights Library- A Call for Transparency, Full Investigation of BPL Hoaxes & Bid-Rigging, Sunday, February 28, 2016

Here is a link to a 8.5 minute special downloadable March 1st radio report on the press conference by WBAI reporter Mitchel Cohen who has already produced several other radio reports on the library sales aired by WBAI:

LINK TO DOWNLOAD special 8.5 minute March 1st radio report on the press conference by WBAI reporter Mitchel Cohen

We are looking for better photos when the entire crowd had arrived. Please send if you have them.

Here is more press coverage:

• Brooklyn Daily Eagle: Group files federal complaint over sale of Brooklyn Heights Library- Borough Board to vote on issue Tuesday night, By Mary Frost, March 1, 2016

• The Jewish Voice: Activists: Bklyn Public Library Sitting on $100M Despite Crying Poverty, by Guy Malone, March 2, 2016

• The Home Reporter/The Brooklyn Spectator: Sale of Brooklyn Heights library to impact Sunset branch, by Jaime DeJesus, March 7, 2016.

• The Home Reporter/The Brooklyn Spectator: Star of Brooklyn: Christopher Robles, By Christopher Malone, March 7, 2016.

Robles has been a strong voice in the battle against the development at the Sunset Park library.

For more Brooklyn Eagle reporting on the rally and on the vote see:

• Brooklyn Heights Press & Brooklyn Daily Eagle: Borough Board approves sale of Brooklyn Heights Library- BP Eric Adams votes in favor of sale, By Mary Frost, March 2, 2016.

For a report on the vote the next day as well as coverage see:

• Report on March 1, 2016 Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams & Brooklyn Borough Board Vote On Selling and Drastically Shrinking Brooklyn Heights Central Destination Downtown Library