WBAI Reporting About The Sale and Shrinkage of NYC Libraries- “Behind News,” "The Morning Show," Plus News Reports

WBAI has been exceptionally good recently reporting on the battles concerning the sell off and shrinkage of libraries.  This page consolidates links (chronologically arranged) to some of that reporting.  This page will be updated as needed.

    •    Report on November 18, 2015 City Council Subcommittee hearing, by Mitchel Cohen, November 18, 2015

    •    November 30, 2015 Interview with Steve Levin About Selling off the Libraries, by Mitchel Cohen, November 30, 2015 

This includes Steve Levin’s denial that a compromise deal was in the offing.  It also include the story (activism and Domino project related) he met his wife.

    •    Report on Citizens Defending Libraries December 9, 2015 Event Gathering Outside Councilman Steve Levin’s Office evening BEFORE the City Council vote, by Mitchel Cohen, December 9, 2015

        This includes a street performance of Judy Gorman’s Library Song.

    •    Report on Citizens Defending Libraries December 10, 2015 Event Gathering Outside Councilman Steve Levin’s Office evening AFTER the City Council vote, by Mitchel Cohen, December 10, 2015.

This includes Councilman Mark Treyger explaining councilmen votes and discussion of Stephen Levin sellout of community.

    •    Report on Citizens Defending Libraries request to U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara to investigate Brooklyn Heights "pay to play" library sale- on WBAI Morning Show, by Mitchel Cohen, June 28, 2016.  (54 minutes in).

This includes an interview with Marilyn Berkon and goes into the subsidy of the subsidy of "pay to play" deal by diverting NYC Department of Education funds.

On the right at back:  WBAI's Mitchel Cohen- NY1 covering the same story caught Mitchel in the background as Levin was taken to task for voting to sell the library on December 16th.  NY1 ran this footage (and scenes of Citizens Defending Libraries holding signs in the balcony of the Council Chambers) when it took phone calls from a complaining public about the council awarding itself a substantial pay hike.

NY1 December 16th- Rebroadcast when council raised its salary

    •    WBAI News: In the news tonight the New York City Council agrees to sell of the Brooklyn Heights Library, Linda Perry anchor, Mitchel Cohen reporting, December 16, 2015 (Library story starts at: 3:24)

This segment includes Councilman Steve Levin being confronted in the City Hall rotunda over his betrayal of the community and the lack of transparency he promoted.

    •    8.5 minute special downloadable March 1st radio report on the press conference by WBAI reporter Mitchel Cohen, February 29, 2016.

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

    •    Report Selling of NYC's Public Libraries, by Mitchel Cohen, July 1, 2016.  (54 minutes in).

This includes two audio reports, one a lengthy report on the protest opening of a shrunk-and-sunk library to "replace" the Donnell library.  There is also an interview with Marilyn Berkon of Citizens Defending Libraries abou the investigation of the library sale by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.

    •    WBAI "The Morning Show":  Michael G. Haskins Interviews Citizens Defending Libraries Co-Founders Michael D. D. White and Carolyn E. McIntyre, January 7, 2016 (interview, the last 1/2 hour about 3/4ths through the two hour show was broadcast at 7:30 AM).

    •    WBAI "The Morning Show":  Michael G. Haskins Interviews Citizens Defending Libraries Co-Founders Michael D. D. White and Carolyn E. McIntyre, June 17, 2016 (interview, the last 1/2 hour about 3/4ths through the two hour show was broadcast at 7:30 AM).  (Link to downloadable file.)

Hear about the latest NYPL for sale, the so-called Donnell "replacement," litigation, the federal criminal investigation, how NYS Attorney General Eric Schneiderman should be taking action to save the public from the loss of the Brooklyn Heights and other libraries.

    •    WBAI "The Morning Show":  Michael G. Haskins Interviews Citizens Defending Libraries Co-Founders Michael D. D. White and Carolyn E. McIntyre, November 10, 2016 (interview, the last 1/2 hour about 3/4ths through the two hour show was broadcast at 7:35 AM).  (Link to downloadable file.)

Hear about the connection of the libraries to the presidential election (the campaign Hillary could have waged to win for the Democrats and what prevented her), plus startling new news about how Booz Allen Hamilton, the nation's top private spy corporation was hired for a dismantling overhaul of the city's important libraries.

Nellie Hester Bailey on right, Laurie Frey of Love Brooklyn Libraries! on left

     •    WBAI "Behind The News with Nellie Bailey":  Selling NYC Libraries With Michael D. D. White of Citizens Defending Libraries and Laurie Frey of Love Brooklyn Libraries!, Wednesday, March 9, 2016 5:00 pm.  (This is a full one-hour interview after the vote of Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and the Brooklyn Borough Board.)