Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Historic District’s Council Award to Library Defenders Including Citizens Defending Libraries

This page will be updated.

Leslie Kaufman od Library Lovers League, Charles Warren of Committee to Save the New York Public Library, Michael D. D. White and Carolyn McIntyre of Citizens Defending Libraries and Jeffery Kroessler the HDC presenter of the award.  Check out HDC's Faebook page for some of these good photos.
HDC Board member, professor and librarian Jeffery Kroessler delivering wonderful introduction to the library defnding award
Michael D. D. White of Citizens Defending Libraries and Leslie Kaufman of Library Lovers League

The award and program


HDC Executive Director Simeon Bankoff commencing the evening

Lynn Ellsworth of New Yorkers for a Human Scale City a coalition of which CDL is a part.  New Yorkers for a Human Scale City also got an award.

City Councilman Ben Kalos who also got an award: "Friend In High Places"
Just briefly-
    •    There was a lot of focus on the libraries at the Historic District Council awards evening event, particularly the Brooklyn Heights Library fight and new developments in regard thereto.
    •        There was much talk in the various addresses to the audiences about the Federal investigation re the Brooklyn Heights Library sale
    •        The introduction for the award to the library groups (by Jeffrey Kroessler)  was spot-on and astute in framing the issues and also had a nice focus on the way that BPL trustees in place at the BPL are largely antithetical to its mission.
    •    New Yorkers for a Human Scale New York also got an award which was a nice tie-in since it was only slightly more than two weeks ago we did the City hall steps press conference with them asking for the Preet investigation we just got word has now surfaced.
    •    Beverly Moss Spatt got a lifetime achievement award along with us and part of her introduction was the reading aloud to the audience of a letter she had published in the New York Times opposing the sale of the Brooklyn Heights Library (one we actually have up on our website.)
    •    Of course it was also important to tie this all in with the new NYPL Harlem Library sale, Pacific Street, Sunset Park, Central Library Plan, SIBL, Donnell, etc.-  Connect all the dots.
In short, it was a very valuable evening that will be significant in helping us continue the fight we need.  Also, without naming names of those who have remained anonymous in the generosity, we want to recognize with great thanks that there were angels at the event who have been important, financially and otherwise, in accomplishing some of the things we have needed to accomplish in some of our very critical fights, contributing significantly to our victories.
The event was Tuesday, May 24, 6pm - 8pm, at
Saint Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery
131 E 10th Street
New York, New York 10003
Here is the Press Release about the event
2016 Grassroots Awards and Preservation Party Press Release, by Historic Districts Council on Thursday, May 19, 2016
Here is what the press release says about the award for our library work- NOTE that it mentions our "Citizens Audit and Investigation into the library sales and shrinkages" that zeroed in early on the Brooklyn Heights Library sale, a precursor to the criminal investigation now unfolding:
The Committee to Save the New York Public Library (CSNYPL), Citizens Defending Libraries (CDL) and the Library Lovers League (LLL) each formed to fight recent development plans which threatened New York City's libraries. In 2011, the New York Public Library announced the Central Library Plan to sell the Mid-Manhattan and the Science, Industry and Business Libraries and demolish the historic research stacks in the 42nd Street Library. CSNYPL helped put faces and voices to the countless people who were staunchly against the plan, which was abandoned in 2014, thanks in large part to the group's advocacy efforts. In addition to opposing the Central Library Plan, the CDL has fought the proposed redevelopment and loss of many historic libraries around the city, including the Pacific, Red Hook and Sunset Park Branches in Brooklyn, through protests, outreach and petitions. CDL also launched a Citizens Audit and Investigation into the library sales and shrinkages to raise awareness and funds for the city's libraries. The LLL is a loose assemblage of longtime organizers, media experts and practitioners who have contributed to the successful campaigns to save the Pacific Branch Library in Brooklyn from demolition, and the NY Public Library's proposed Central Library Plan.
As noted, there was also be an award to New Yorkers for a Human-Scale City coalition that CDL is also a part of and that just recently was part of a press conference we and other community groups joined in on the steps of city hall calling for Preet Bharara to investigate de Blasio's "pay to play" operations (including specifically the library), which, with the new criminal investigation of the library sale is now actually underway.

Monday, May 23, 2016

MEDIA ADVISORY/PRESS RELEASE- US Attorney and DA Investigate de Blasio's Sale of Brooklyn Heights Library- Statements of Citizens Defending Libraries in Response

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York City
WHAT: The New York Post broke a major story on Sunday with a first follow-up today- In another new probe into into the de Blasio administration's `pay to play' activities and culture, US Attorney Preet Bharara and Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance have issued subpoenas to investigate Mayor de Blasio's sale of the Brooklyn Heights central destination library in Brooklyn (the second biggest library in Brooklyn), to a developer reportedly offering an inferior bid $6 million below one of the two higher bids for the property.  The recently enlarged and fully upgraded library is being sold for way below its value to the public, less than its vacant lot value and just a minuscule fraction of what it would cost to replace.  For more than three years Citizens Defending Libraries has been opposing this scheme and the similar sale of other New York City Libraries.  This is the kind of investigation Citizens Defending Libraries has been calling for and, accordingly, it is issuing statements in response.
WHEN: Sunday, Tuesday, May 22, 2016 & Monday May 23, 2016 (Original article and follow-up)
WHAT ELSE?:  Citizens Defending Libraries has available tons of information about this library sale, why is should not go forward as well as what needs to be investigated.  We also have information about other libraries under similar threat.
Links to the New York Post article and follow-up reporting about the investigation into the de Blasio administration library sale are available on the following page that also has links to coverage by other outlets (it was NY1's top story all Sunday).
•        Subpoenas Are Issued By US Attorney Preet Bharara and Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance In Investigation of de Blasio's Apparent `Pay to Play' Sale of Brooklyn Heights Library

http://citizensdefendinglibraries.blogspot.com/2016/05/subpoenas-are-issued-by-us-attorney.html
The revelation of the subpoenas investigating the library deal comes just two and a half weeks after Citizens Defending Libraries joined collectively with other community groups on the steps of City Hall for a press conference asking US Attorney Preet Bharara to investigate this and other 'pay to play' activities of the de Blasio administration sacrificing public assets to the real estate industry.  See:
 •    PHOTO GALLERY & VIDEO LINKS: May 4, City Hall Press Community Groups Conference- Call to End de Blasio's "Pay To Play" Developer Deals- Bharara Please Investigate

http://citizensdefendinglibraries.blogspot.com/2016/05/subpoenas-are-issued-by-us-attorney.html
Facts being investigated in the library sale case closely parallel another investigation that the City Comptroller Scott Stringer is involved in investigating, mentioned by the CBS News reporting of the new library investigation:

Also under scrutiny is a city-approved deed change that led to the conversion of the Rivington House nursing home on the Lower East Side into luxury condominiums.
The investigation will likely is likely bring much to light.  In September of 2014 Citizens Defending Libraries announced its Citizens Audit and Investigation that the BPL and city officials have been stonewalling since that time.  With criminal subpoenas they won’t be able to do that any longer.  See:

•    Monday, September 15, 2014, Press Release: Citizens Audit and Investigation of Brooklyn Public Library- FOIL Requests
The New York Post's follow-up story reports that it is not just the library being sold to bestow favors on the developer: In addition, NYC Department of Education Funds have been raided, blank check style, in an unspecified amount, as part of the deal concocted in the office of de Blasio's development mayor, Alicia Glen.  The backroom deal was unveiled at the last minute, further aiding the developer to push his deal through.

Here are statements from Citizens Defending Libraries about the investigation:
    •    The investigation points to the fact that the de Blasio administration, exemplifying all the wrong motivations, was willing to make its decision to sell the library to this particular politically connected developer and shaft the public with a super low price. . . .  Those way off target motivations on the part of the mayor confront us with the far bigger question: Why should we be selling this recently expanded, fully upgraded, central destination library, the second biggest in Brooklyn, at a minuscule fraction of its value to the public, netting only the tiniest sliver of what it would cost to replace?

    •    We should all be alarmed at this incredibly skewed system where, with the influence of money trammeling the public good, a de Blasio deputy mayor focused on real estate development [Alicia Glen- previously of Goldman Sachs] concocted a deal to sell off a valuable central destination library, the second biggest in Brooklyn at a minuscule fraction of its value to the public, a fraction of what it would cost to replace . .  Plus, as should also be another obvious component of the investigation, we see a blank check raiding of Department of Education funds to push this indefensible plunder along.

    •    When de Blasio officials are already netting such a very small amount to sell the library, the Brooklyn Public Library’s acceptance of $6 million less blows out of the water any pretext officials were offering as a reason to sell such a valuable library.  It’s clearly just about making deals with the real estate industry.

    •    There was an appalling lack of public process and colossal de Blasio administration arrogance displayed by the way that deputy mayor for development raided Department of Education funds, blank check fashion, with a backroom deal unveiled at the last minute to push this deal through on behalf of the developer.  Nobody from the de Blasio administration ever stopped to consult the public about what it wants . .  But you can bet they knew exactly what the developer’s needs were.

    •    One thing will be very interesting as this investigation unfolds: We have seen so often in these corruption investigations a narrative unfold that real estate industry developers are the `innocent’ victims of corrupt politicians like de Blasio who shake them down.  Here, however, there is a clear record, including in the minutes of the Brooklyn Public Library, that this corrupt deal was generated by those interested in dishing out real estate deals and planning to snare into service whatever elected officials came along afterwards.  Our hapless mayor was just too dumb, too cynical and too greedy to walk away from the trap. He should have done the right thing and represented the people who voted for him.  . . . . He should have heeded his own words spoken when he stood with us in July 2013 on the steps of the 42nd Street Central Reference Library calling for a halt to this other library sales around the city:
 It’s public land and public facilities and public value under threat. . . and once again we see, lurking right behind the curtain, real estate developers who are very anxious to get their hands on these valuable properties. 
CONTACT:
Carolyn E. McIntyre, Michael D. D. White
Michael White, 718-834-6184, mddwhite [at] aol.com
Carolyn McIntyre, 917-757-6542 cemac62 [at] aol.com

Follow us on Twitter: @defendinglibraries

For photos and videos of prior Citizens Defending Libraries rallies opposing the sale, shrinkage, underfunding of New York City libraries, and elimination of books and librarians in the two and a half+ years since its founding, see:

PHOTO GALLERIES- PAST EVENTS

                                                                  #   #   #

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Subpoenas Are Issued By US Attorney Preet Bharara and Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance In Investigation of de Blasio’s Apparent ‘Pay to Play’ Sale of Brooklyn Heights Library

NY1 Reports on Post's story as its top story appearing "In the Papers"

This page will be updated.

Here is big news.  This page will collect the links.

The New York Post has reported that US Attorney Preet Bharara and Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance have issued subpoenas to investigate Mayor de Blasio’s apparent “pay to play” sell off of the Brooklyn Heights Library to a developer, David Kramer’s Hudson Companies, making an inferior bid to acquire the Brooklyn Heights Library at a minscule fraction of its value to the public.  Why?  Apparently because de Blasio likes the developers who has sent contributions his way.

(If you would like to read Citizens Defending Libraries statements about this investigation go to the end of this page.)

The story is getting picked up and promoted by other outlets including by NY1 which ran it as its top story this Sunday.

Here are links to the reporting on the story (comments are possible at many of the sites):

•    New York Post: Feds, DA probe de Blasio's $52M deal to turn library into condo, by Aaron Short, May 22, 2016.

Here is the Post's next day follow-up article-

•    New York Post:  De Blasio pal's library deal gets even fishier, By Aaron Short, May 23, 2016
The Brooklyn Heights library-redevelopment deal under investigation for being awarded to a de Blasio pal who was outbid for the site includes a provision requiring the Department of Education to lease the basement and build a huge science lab there, The Post has learned.

But the DOE - which has to foot the unspecified costs of leasing the basement and building the lab - never asked for it, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.

"This was not their idea. They didn't want it," the source said. "If they were going to be forced to take space like this, they wanted a gym."

* * * *

Levin acknowledged Sunday that he was the man behind the lab plan, saying it "would be a great addition to Downtown Brooklyn."

"The DOE didn't really object to it. They went back and looked at it and said, `Yes it's possible,' and we worked through for how much space would be viable," he added.
•    NY1: Brooklyn Heights Library's Sale Investigated as Part of Probe Into the de Blasio Administration, By NY1 News, Sunday, May 22, 2016

•    NY1: In The Papers 5/22/16, By Kristen Shaughnessy, Sunday, May 22, 2016


•    CBS New York: Report: Investigators Probe De Blasio Administration Deal That Turned Brooklyn Library Into Condos, May 22, 2016

The CBS report makes this link to a relate investigation in which the City Comptroller Scott Stringer is involved in with some remarkably parallel facts:
Also under scrutiny is a city-approved deed change that led to the conversion of the Rivington House nursing home on the Lower East Side into luxury condominiums.


First Picture that went up on Real Deal's article.  It was photoshoped from our "Library Squasher" edition of the photo

•    The Real Deal: Prosecutors allegedly investigating De Blasio sweetheart dealDe Blasio was accused of awarding bid to Hudson Companies despite lower offer, May 22, 2016


•    The Brooklyn Heights Blog: U.S. Attorney and Manhattan DA Probing Library Deal, By Claude Scales on May 22, 2016



•        Brooklyn Eagle/& Heights Press: De Blasio administration defends sale of Brooklyn Heights Library- Denies knowledge of investigations, by Mary Frost, May 23, 2016
 •        Progress Queens: Council approval of Brooklyn library sale now subject of investigation raises questions about Van Bramer's judgment, by Louis Flores, May 24, 2016.  (This is a good longer form article that does extra research and provides extra background on the story.)
When Councilman Steve Levin sent out an announcement of a Brooklyn Heights Town Hall he was hoping the community would forget his betrayal on the library sale and just want to talk about trash can designs- Instead he got News12 Coverage trashing his handing the de Blasio a "pay to play" deal.

Steve Levin getting an earful about his betrayal on the "pay to play" Brooklyn Heights Library sale

  •        News12 Brooklyn: Critics want probe into `pay to play' developments, May 26, 2016

  •        AM New York: Library-condo deal heightens mayor's plight, By Liza Featherstone June 1, 2016.







 
 •         Curbed: Brooklyn Heights Library Redevelopment Plan Probed By Feds- The chosen developer didn't have the highest bid or provide the most affordable housing, by Zoe Rosenberg, May 23, 2016


    •    Gothamist: City Hall Insists Nothing's Fishy About $52 Million Library-To-Luxury Condo Deal, by Emma Whitford, May 23, 2016.




•    Bay Ridge Journal: DeBlasio Administration Investigated in BPL Re-Development Deal, May 22, 2016


•    Eastern News Feed:  Prosecutors investigating alleged De Blasio sweetheart deal at Brooklyn Heights library- e Blasio was accused of awarding bid to Hudson Companies despite lower offer, May 22, 2016



•    True News: Library investigation stories.
A picture of our protest appeared in the Post article
 Later in the evening NY1 ran their story with some fancier graphics and a denial fo wrong doing from a de Blasio spokeperson, Austin Finan.

As yet we don’t know whether any subpoenas went to a number of people who would  necessarily have been involved in implementing the selection of the inferior bidder, theoretically decision makers themselves.  The list would include officials working at the NY City Economic Development Corporation, Brooklyn Public Library President Linda Johnson, maybe people working under her, and BPL trustees like, for instance, BPL trustee and board treasurer Peter Aschkenasy, one of three people to whom making the now very suspect selection of Hudson Companies was reportedly delegated.
Marvel Archietitects guiltily tried to remove this frm the web.  Click on the link below for details.
Was Marvel Architects subpoenaed?  They are the architect part of the developer’s bidding team involved in the library deal.  We know that they were recently guiltily scurrying to remove from the web what they had previous put up on the web about their fundraising with the David Kramer.  See:
•    As Feeding Frenzy Elevates NY1 Covers DeBlasio "Pay To Play" Violation: Taking Campaign Contributions From Kramer's Hudson Companies While Handing Out Brooklyn Heights Library Deal- Marvel Architects Runs But Can't Hide
The above also includes links to stories that make clear why these subpoenas should likely have been coming.

As yet we also don’t know if other things related to the sale of the library for far below its value are being investigated.  High on that list of what ought to be investigated is the de Blasio administration’s raid on Department of Education funds to help push through the sale of the library with a backroom deal unveiled at the last minute that, conferred these extra benefits on the developer, blank check style for a black box “STEM” or “STEAM” facility.

More that ought to be investigated?  There is all the suspicious stuff that the BPL has been stonewalling our FOIL request about concerning whether their air conditioner repairs and related contracts really make sense. . .  A lot more.

For instance, consult our Citizens Audit and Investigation that the BPL has been stonewalling.  With criminal subpoenas they won’t be able to do that any longer:
•    Monday, September 15, 2014, Press Release: Citizens Audit and Investigation of Brooklyn Public Library- FOIL Requests
These unfolding events naturally bring to mind the ‘pay to play’ press conference where we recently joined with other community groups to call for a halt to de Blasio’s ‘pay to play’ shenanigans.
•    PHOTO GALLERY & VIDEO LINKS: May 4, City Hall Press Community Groups Conference- Call to End de Blasio's "Pay To Play" Developer Deals- Bharara Please Investigate
CITIZENS DEFENDING LIBRARIES STATEMENTS ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION

Below are things Citizens Defending Libraries has to say about the deal being investigated:
    •    The investigation points to the fact that the de Blasio administration, exemplifying all the wrong motivations, was willing to make its decision to sell the library to this particular politically connected developer and shaft the public with a super low price. . . .  Those way off target motivations on the part of the mayor confront us with the far bigger question: Why should we be selling this recently expanded, fully upgraded, central destination library, the second biggest in Brooklyn, at a minuscule fraction of its value to the public, netting only the tiniest sliver of what it would cost to replace?

    •    We should all be alarmed at this incredibly skewed system where, with the influence of money trammeling the public good, a de Blasio deputy mayor focused on real estate development [Alicia Glen- previously of Goldman Sachs] concocted a deal to sell off a valuable central destination library, the second biggest in Brooklyn at a minuscule fraction of its value to the public, a fraction of what it would cost to replace . .  Plus, as should also be another obvious component of the investigation, we see a blank check raiding of Department of Education funds to push this indefensible plunder along.

    •    When de Blasio officials are already netting such a very small amount to sell the library, the Brooklyn Public Library’s acceptance of $6 million less blows out of the water any pretext officials were offering as a reason to sell such a valuable library.  It’s clearly just about making deals with the real estate industry.

    •    There was an appalling lack of public process and colossal de Blasio administration arrogance displayed by the way that deputy mayor for development raided Department of Education funds, blank check fashion, with a backroom deal unveiled at the last minute to push this deal through on behalf of the developer.  Nobody from the de Blasio administration ever stopped to consult the public about what it wants . .  But you can bet they knew exactly what the developer’s needs were.

    •    One thing will be very interesting as this investigation unfolds: We have seen so often in these corruption investigations a narrative unfold that real estate industry developers are the `innocent’ victims of corrupt politicians like de Blasio who shake them down.  Here, however, there is a clear record, including in the minutes of the Brooklyn Public Library, that this corrupt deal was generated by those interested in dishing out real estate deals and planning to snare into service whatever elected officials came along afterwards.  Our hapless mayor was just too dumb, too cynical and too greedy to walk away from the trap. He should have done the right thing and represented the people who voted for him.  . . . . He should have heeded his own words spoken when he stood with us in July 2013 on the steps of the 42nd Street Central Reference Library calling for a halt to this other library sales around the city:
 It’s public land and public facilities and public value under threat. . . and once again we see, lurking right behind the curtain, real estate developers who are very anxious to get their hands on these valuable properties. 

Here is our Press Release with statements:
Monday, May 23, 2016- MEDIA ADVISORY/PRESS RELEASE- US Attorney and DA Investigate de Blasio's Sale of Brooklyn Heights Library- Statements of Citizens Defending Libraries in Response

Saturday, May 7, 2016

PHOTO & VIDEO GALLERY: Truth Park Opened, Senator Montgomery Speaks About Reforming The Brooklyn Public Library Board, Canvassing on “Bike the Branches” Day

This page will be updated-

It took a surprising amount of doing even with a state senator making the request, but May 7th Truth Park was opened for public use for the first time in years.  We gathered and Senator Montgomery spoke about legislation she has in the works to reform the board of the Brooklyn Public Library to expunge conflicts of interests, return to and keep the BPL on track with its mission and ensure that, in the future, it properly represents the public and the patrons it is supposed to serve.

If you have any questions why correction is in order, other than simply observing that the current board is hungry for turning libraries into real estate deals, plundering sales that benefit developers, not the public, just consider how astounding is the current composition of the BPL board:
Brooklyn Public Library Trustees- Identified + Biographical and Other Information Supplied
Just Wednesday night there were related discussion about the board of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation,  the question being posed: "How do we get the rascals out?"   As it happens, probably not so much by coincidence, there is startling overlap between the two boards, one pressing to sell park land for development, the other looking to sell libraries for development.

Here is a link to a page about the event on Senator Montgomery's own website:

"Senator Montgomery in Truth Park with Brooklyn's Citizens Defending Libraries" on the senator's site.
Preserving Public Libraries, Velmanette Montgomery, May 09, 2016

Photo above and below from article on the senator's website


We were also busy canvassing.  It was "Bike the Branches" day.  Most people had heard that there are five ongoing investigations concerning de Blasio's "pay to play" administration. They were also quite interested in hearing about how that ties in with money de Blasio was getting from the developer who want to buy the library for a minuscule fraction of its value to the public and how de Blasio is giving it to him even when his bid is an inferior one, $6 million (12%) below one of the two higher bids.





















"ALL THAT COME HERE TO SEEK TREASURE WILL NOT TAKE AWAY GOLD BUT THE SEEKER AFTER TRUTH AND INSTRUCTION WILL FIND THAT WHICH WILL ENRICH THE MIND AND HEART"

More information about the SEEK TRUTH, NOT GOLD inscription:
Monday, July 6, 2015, Handout Number 3 For July 6, 2014 Brooklyn Community Board 2 Land Use Committee Meeting- Come To The Library Seeking Truth NOT Treasure