Citizens Defending Libraries

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Response of Mayoral Candidate Christine Quinn to Citizens Defending Libraries Questions For Candidates For New York City Offices

Citizens Defending Libraries is requesting candidates for New York City political offices to answer questions with respect libraries (posted on its we pages August 13, 2013). Below are the responses to these questions furnished by mayoral candidate Christine Quinn.

To find out what other candidates provided responses (and navigate to them) go to the Citizens Defending Libraries August 13, 2013 posting.

Questions and Responses From Christine Quinn

1. New York City is growing (including in wealth) and public library usage is up very substantially, 40% programmatically and 59% in terms of circulation, yet libraries are currently being funded at their lowest level in years, a drastic reduction from the past. Do you favor this low level of funding or believe that funding should be restored at least to, or above, the level that libraries were funded in the past?

Response: [Christine Quinn did not provide a response to this question.]

2. Are you in favor of or do you oppose the sale of libraries, public assets of the library system and the reductions of library space (including such sales and reductions as have been proposed by the New York Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library)? Please explain.

Response: [Christine Quinn did not provide a response to this question except to the extent that in her generalized response below she refers to her responsibility in having this year `restored' the city budget amount for libraries this year to these historically low levels that library funding has been reduced to under Bloomberg while she was Speaker of the City Council.]

3. More specifically, are you opposed to, in favor of, or neutral about the following proposed library sales, shrinkages and consolidating of library assets (Please explain and amplify your stated position–Note that one of the sales and reductions has already occurred– Donnell– while others are proposed and/or in progress):

    a.    The Donnell Library at 53rd Street across from MoMA between Fifth and Sixth Avenues
    b.    SIBIL, the Science, Industry and Business Library, (its sale is considered to be part of the NYPL’s “CLP,” Central Library Plan)
    c.    Mid-Manhattan (its sale is also considered to be part of the CLP)
    d.    Demolition and removal of research stacks underneath the Central Reference Library at 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue (its sale is also considered to be part of the CLP).
    e.    The NYPL’s “Central Library Plan” (involving the consolidating shrinkage of the libraries noted above)
    f.    The Brooklyn Heights Library (the operations of which function on a combined and integrated basis with the Business and Career Library in the building)
    g.    The Pacific Branch Library at 4th Avenue and Pacific in Brooklyn
    h.    The Clinton Hill Library in Brooklyn
    i.    All other libraries in Brooklyn that the BPL might consider similarly selling or leveraging as a stated part of the strategic plan it published
    j.    Other libraries NYPL might decide to similarly sell and shrink, such as libraries in Harlem, North Manhattan, Staten Island or other parts of Manhattan or the Bronx.

Response: [Christine Quinn did not provide a response to this question, nothing that supersedes her previous press release statement strongly supporting the Central Library Plan notwithstanding the library sell-offs and shrinkage entailed:

"This visionary project by the New York Public Library, embodied in this beautiful building by Norman Foster, is central to this great institution’s evolution as a vital part of our city, as it has been for over a century. I applaud NYPL for listening and heeding the concerns of the stakeholders, and for crafting a project that sensitively addresses its dual mission as a great center of scholarship—and as the people’s library for all New Yorkers—for the next century."]

4. Many people consider it an indication of a problematic mind-set on the part of decision makers that libraries are being sold for what they believe are very inadequate prices: The 97,000 sq. ft. Donnell Library, much of it recently renovated, was sold to net the NYPL only $39 million while the penthouse in the fifty-story building replacing it is on the market for $60 million and SIBL was recently completed using substantial public funds for $100 million but 87% of it was just sold for $60.8 million. Are you opposed to the sale and shrinkage of library assets in general or do you accept sale and shrinkage if you consider that ‘an adequate price’ is obtained for the sale? If the latter; please describe what you believe to be an ‘adequate price’?

Response: [Christine Quinn did not provide a response to this question.]

5. Are you opposed to the sale of library space and assets in general or would you accept the sale of libraries if they were not being shrunk (or were being increased in size) and you considered that ‘an adequate price’ was being obtained for the sale? Again, if the latter please describe what you believe to be an ‘adequate price.’ Alternatively, if you believe that the presumption should always be that libraries should not be available for sale or redevelopment because of such things as the disruptions and hardship caused and the way a generation of children and other will be significantly deprived of services, please elaborate upon this point of view.

Response: [Christine Quinn did not provide a response to this question.]

6. There is now a demand for internet and electronic services at the library. Although a Pew poll shows that younger readers strongly prefer physical books, ebooks now make up 20% of the book market. In some cases libraries are the only place to access certain electronic data and services (often requiring assistance of a librarian to do so). Most people believe that libraries should now provide computer and electronic services (“bridging the digital divide” for those needing such service), which may require even more space. Notwithstanding, do you believe that there is an adequate justification for NYC libraries to be effecting substantial reductions in the inventories of physical books available for those visiting at libraries, even in the face of increased demand? Please explain your position.

Response: [Christine Quinn did not provide a response to this question.]

7. Do you believe the libraries should be reducing professional library staff, or increasing such staff of at least maintaining the level of such professionals available to assist the public?

Response: [Christine Quinn did not provide a response to this question.]

8. Some believe that professionally trained librarians are often in the best position to comment knowledgeably on the directions in which the New York City library system is being steered, but actions are being taken to silence such staff and prevent them from commenting, including directives to staff, loyalty oaths and “nondisparagement” (confidentiality) agreements the NYPL wants departing librarians to sign in return for severance. Do you condone such silencing policies or feel they should be considered to be contrary to public policy?

Response: [Christine Quinn did not provide a response to this question.]

9. Do you believe that the currently ongoing sell-offs of libraries and shrinkage of library space should be investigated and/or audited by appropriate government authorities? Please elaborate.

Response: [Christine Quinn did not provide a response to this question.]

Response to questionnaire provided on behalf of Christine Quinn: We greatly appreciate your interest in Chris' positions on issues that are important to your members. As Speaker of the New York City Council, Chris has been an advocate of our libraries, and views them as a vital part of New York's cultural, educational and economic systems and will continue to support them if elected Mayor. She restored $106.7 million in budget cuts to the city's libraries, and has supported this funding throughout her eight years in the Council. Protecting libraries are an important part of Chris' platform. She has a plan to use the city's 206 libraries as community resource centers, or "Mini City Halls," improving delivery and access of services. Under this plan, libraries will serve as a one-stop shop for New Yorkers seeking help navigating access to important programs and services. With Mini City Halls, we'll bring all that City Hall has to offer right to New Yorkers' doorsteps. This program will be community-specific, providing health screening, English lessons and tax preparation help, as well as many other services. Finally, she will work to restore full six-day service to the city's libraries.

As you can imagine, the Christine Quinn for NYC Mayor campaign receives a large number of questionnaires requesting her specific policy positions on various topics. Unfortunately, not all of such requests can be answered in the detail requested.

We have attached to this letter some of Chris' selected accomplishments as Speaker, as well as some of her core ideas for the city as Mayor.

You can find more details on Chris' accomplishments and ideas at her campaign website http://www.quinnfornewyork.com/. You can also download the Quinn Ideas App there to keep abreast of her policy ideas throughout the campaign.

[Attached to the response was a sheet presenting bullet points the first of which (below) mentioned libraries, the next eight of which didn't, followed by a paragraph that began with a sentence (below) that stated Christine will "continue to fight for the middle class."]

Among other things, as Speaker of the City Council, Chris

• passed seven on-time, balanced budgets that kept firehouses open, protected libraries, and prevented the layoff of 4,100 teachers
* * * *
As New York City's next mayor, Christine will continue to fight for the middle class. . . .

* * * *
Again, to find out what other candidates provided responses (and navigate to them) go to the Citizens Defending Libraries August 13, 2013 posting.

Friday, August 16, 2013

Response of Mayoral Candidate Randy Credico to Citizens Defending Libraries Questions For Candidates For New York City Offices

Citizens Defending Libraries is requesting candidates for New York City political offices to answer questions with respect libraries (posted on its we pages August 13, 2013). Below are the responses to these questions furnished by mayoral candidate Randy Credico.

To find out what other candidates provided responses (and navigate to them) go to the Citizens Defending Libraries August 13, 2013 posting.

Questions and Responses From Randy Credico

1. New York City is growing (including in wealth) and public library usage is up very substantially, 40% programmatically and 59% in terms of circulation, yet libraries are currently being funded at their lowest level in years, a drastic reduction from the past. Do you favor this low level of funding or believe that funding should be restored at least to, or above, the level that libraries were funded in the past?

Randy Credico: I support increasing funding beyond the past. I consider libraries to be one of my top funding priorities.

Randy Credico: I oppose. I oppose. I am a library freak. Without a library growing up I would not be where I am today. NO SALES of any public library. PERIOD. They should be protected like landmarked buildings.

    a.    The Donnell Library at 53rd Street across from MoMA between Fifth and Sixth Avenues
    b.    SIBIL, the Science, Industry and Business Library, (its sale is considered to be part of the NYPL’s “CLP,” Central Library Plan)
    c.    Mid-Manhattan (its sale is also considered to be part of the CLP)
    d.    Demolition and removal of research stacks underneath the Central Reference Library at 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue (its sale is also considered to be part of the CLP).
    e.    The NYPL’s “Central Library Plan” (involving the consolidating shrinkage of the libraries noted above)
    f.    The Brooklyn Heights Library (the operations of which function on a combined and integrated basis with the Business and Career Library in the building)
    g.    The Pacific Branch Library at 4th Avenue and Pacific in Brooklyn
    h.    The Clinton Hill Library in Brooklyn
    i.    All other libraries in Brooklyn that the BPL might consider similarly selling or leveraging as a stated part of the strategic plan it published
    j.    Other libraries NYPL might decide to similarly sell and shrink, such as libraries in Harlem, North Manhattan, Staten Island or other parts of Manhattan or the Bronx.

Randy Credico: I am opposed to any closing of any library. I am for the opening of new libraries.

Randy Credico: I find it sickening. This is a trend that is growing all over the city. It is time to tax wall street and not sell another library. I say we can open up new ones and preserve old ones with my proposed 1 percent sales tax on all wall street transactions.

Randy Credico: I am putting up a fire wall against the sales of any library.

Randy Credico: I am a book person. I have a kindle but never use it. I think it is better for all to stick to books. Maybe some space should be set aside but I believe that should be part of another social service, that being internet services for the public. In another department.

7. Do you believe the libraries should be reducing professional library staff, or increasing such staff of at least maintaining the level of such professionals available to assist the public?

Randy Credico: We need to put more dedicated staff to work in libraries and make the system the best on the planet.

Randy Credico: I oppose the silencing . I support whistleblowers.

9. Do you believe that the currently ongoing sell-offs of libraries and shrinkage of library space should be investigated and/or audited by appropriate government authorities? Please elaborate.

Randy Credico: I think we need a strong investigative unit headed by someone with the principles of Glenn Greenwald and Julian Assange to dig in and see the trail of money and corruption that lies at the root of this scandalous back room policy.

* * * *
Again, to find out what other candidates provided responses (and navigate to them) go to the Citizens Defending Libraries August 13, 2013 posting.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Citizens Defending Libraries Questions For Candidates For New York City Offices

Below are questions (being posted and promulgated as of August 13, 2013) that Citizens Defending Libraries is requesting candidates for New York City political offices to answer. The answers they provide will be linked to below. Information will also be provided below respecting any candidates that are not providing answers to these questions.

* * * *
Many of us feel that libraries provide more value to New Yorkers than just about any other institution. More people visited public libraries in New York than every major sports team and every major cultural institution combined. Libraries are an almost infinitesimal fraction of New York City’s budget.

“Last year our city’s libraries helped 370,000 people find jobs; hosted 40 million visitors; provided New Yorkers with more than 8.7 million public use computer sessions; taught tens and tens of thousands of children and adults to read and new immigrants to speak English; and returned $6 value for every $1 allocated from city funds.”

Joanne King, Director - Communications Queens Library

    Citizens Defending Libraries Questions For Candidates For New York City Offices

1.    New York City is growing (including in wealth) and public library usage is up very substantially, 40% programmatically and 59% in terms of circulation, yet libraries are currently being funded at their lowest level in years, a drastic reduction from the past. Do you favor this low level of funding or believe that funding should be restored at least to, or above, the level that libraries were funded in the past?

2.    Are you in favor of or do you oppose the sale of libraries, public assets of the library system and the reductions of library space (including such sales and reductions as have been proposed by the New York Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library)? Please explain.

3.    More specifically, are you opposed to, in favor of, or neutral about the following proposed library sales, shrinkages and consolidating of library assets (Please explain and amplify your stated position–Note that one of the sales and reductions has already occurred– Donnell– while others are proposed and/or in progress):

    a.    The Donnell Library at 53rd Street across from MoMA between Fifth and Sixth Avenues
    b.    SIBIL, the Science, Industry and Business Library, (its sale is considered to be part of the NYPL’s “CLP,” Central Library Plan)
    c.    Mid-Manhattan (its sale is also considered to be part of the CLP)
    d.    Demolition and removal of research stacks underneath the Central Reference Library at 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue (its sale is also considered to be part of the CLP).
    e.    The NYPL’s “Central Library Plan” (involving the consolidating shrinkage of the libraries noted above)
    f.    The Brooklyn Heights Library (the operations of which function on a combined and integrated basis with the Business and Career Library in the building)
    g.    The Pacific Branch Library at 4th Avenue and Pacific in Brooklyn
    h.    The Clinton Hill Library in Brooklyn
    i.    All other libraries in Brooklyn that the BPL might consider similarly selling or leveraging as a stated part of the strategic plan it published
    j.    Other libraries NYPL might decide to similarly sell and shrink, such as libraries in Harlem, North Manhattan, Staten Island or other parts of Manhattan or the Bronx.

    NOTE: The Central Library Plan involving Mid-Manhattan, SIBL and the Central Reference Library stack destruction involves reducing more than 380,000 square feet of library space to 80,000. The Donnell sale for shrinkage and redevelopment reduced the 97,000 square foot library to 28,000 square feet of mostly underground, mostly bookless space that won’t be available until at least 2015, eight years after sale of the library was announced . The planned sale of the Brooklyn Heights Library reduces about 62,000 square feet of space to 20,000 square feet (originally proposed to be only 15,000 sq ft), as much of a quarter of the reduced space being placed underground.

4.    Many people consider it an indication of a problematic mind-set on the part of decision makers that libraries are being sold for what they believe are very inadequate prices: The 97,000 sq. ft. Donnell Library, much of it recently renovated, was sold to net the NYPL only $39 million while the penthouse in the fifty-story building replacing it is on the market for $60 million and SIBL was recently completed using substantial public funds for $100 million but 87% of it was just sold for $60.8 million. Are you opposed to the sale and shrinkage of library assets in general or do you accept sale and shrinkage if you consider that ‘an adequate price’ is obtained for the sale? If the latter; please describe what you believe to be an ‘adequate price’?

5.    Are you opposed to the sale of library space and assets in general or would you accept the sale of libraries if they were not being shrunk (or were being increased in size) and you considered that ‘an adequate price’ was being obtained for the sale? Again, if the latter please describe what you believe to be an ‘adequate price.’ Alternatively, if you believe that the presumption should always be that libraries should not be available for sale or redevelopment because of such things as the disruptions and hardship caused and the way a generation of children and other will be significantly deprived of services, please elaborate upon this point of view.

6.    There is now a demand for internet and electronic services at the library. Although a Pew poll shows that younger readers strongly prefer physical books, ebooks now make up 20% of the book market. In some cases libraries are the only place to access certain electronic data and services (often requiring assistance of a librarian to do so). Most people believe that libraries should now provide computer and electronic services (“bridging the digital divide” for those needing such service), which may require even more space. Notwithstanding, do you believe that there is an adequate justification for NYC libraries to be effecting substantial reductions in the inventories of physical books available for those visiting at libraries, even in the face of increased demand? Please explain your position.

7.    Do you believe the libraries should be reducing professional library staff, or increasing such staff of at least maintaining the level of such professionals available to assist the public?

8.    Some believe that professionally trained librarians are often in the best position to comment knowledgeably on the directions in which the New York City library system is being steered, but actions are being taken to silence such staff and prevent them from commenting, including directives to staff, loyalty oaths and “nondisparagement” (confidentiality) agreements the NYPL wants departing librarians to sign in return for severance. Do you condone such silencing policies or feel they should be considered to be contrary to public policy?

9.    Do you believe that the currently ongoing sell-offs of libraries and shrinkage of library space should be investigated and/or audited by appropriate government authorities? Please elaborate.

* * * *
END OF QUESTIONS
* * * *

In order of priority of focus, Citizens Defending Libraries is asking candidates for the following New York City Office to respond to these questions:

   1.   Mayor
   2.   Comptroller
   3.   Public Advocate
   4.   Borough Presidents, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx and Staten Island
   5.   City Council

Links to their responses will appear below:

1. Mayor

       a.   Bill De Blasio (D)
       b.   Bill Thompson (D)
       c.   Christine Quinn (D)
       d.   John Liu (D)
       e.   Sal Albanese (D)
       f.   Adolfo Carrión Jr. (D)
       g.   Anthony Wiener (D)
       h.   Anthony Gronowicz (G)
       i.   Randy Credico (D)
       j.   Erick Salgado, (R)
       k.   Joe Lhota (R)
       l.   George McDonald (R)
       m.   John Catsimatidis (R)

2. Comptroller

       a.   Eliot Spitzer (D)
       b.   Scott Stringer (D)
       c.   John Burnett (R)

3. Public Advocate

       a.   Tish James (D)
       b.   Daniel Squadron (D)
       c.   Cathy Guerriero (D)
       d.   Reshma Saujani (D)
       e.   Sidique Wai (D)
       f.   Thomas Robert Stevens (R)
       g.   Joiner-Eiland, Tyrrell L
       h.    James C. Lane (G)
       i.   Liatos, Deborah

4. Borough Presidents
a. Manhattan Borough President

           i.   Julie Menin (D)
           ii.   Gale Brewer (D)
           iii.   Robert Jackson (D)
           iv.   Jessica Lappin (D)
           v.   Casavis, David B
           vi.   Comrie, Leroy G
           vii.   Lobman, Sara

b. Brooklyn Borough President

i. Eric Adams (D)
ii. John F Gangemi

c. Queens Borough President

           i.   Arcabascio, Aurelio A
           ii.   Tony Avella
           iii.   Everly D Brown
           iv.   Seth Galinsky,
           v.   Melinda Katz
           vi.   Peter F Vallone, Jr.

d. Bronx Borough President

           i.   Roger Calero
           ii.   Ruben Diaz Jr.
           iii.   Mark Escoffery-Bey
           iv.   Carl L Lundgren,

e. Staten Island Borough President

           i.   Henry J Bardel
           ii.   Louis L Liedy Jr
           iii.   Richard Luthmann,
           iv.   James S Oddo

   5.   City Council:
       a.   Manhattan- Districts 1-10
           i.   District 1
               (1)   Chin, Margaret S
               (2)   Rajkumar, Jenifer
           ii.   District 2
               (1)   Del Rio, Richard
               (2)   Mendez, Rosie
           iii.   District 3
               (1)   Johnson, Corey D
               (2)   Kurland, Yetta
           iv.   District 4
               (1)   Garodnick, Daniel R
               (2)   Jnane, Helene
           v.   District 5
               (1)   Ed Hartzog (D)
               (2)   Ben Kallos (D)
               (3)   Micah Kellner (D)
               (4)   David Garland (R)
               (5)   Kallos, Benjamin J
               (6)   Minerva, Domenico G
           vi.   District 6
               (1)   Biberaj, Ken
               (2)   Braunstein, Aaron
               (3)   Cooper, Debra
               (4)   Gotbaum, Noah E
               (5)   Landis, Marc A
               (6)   Rosenthal, Helen K
               (7)   Siracuse, Thomas E
               (8)   Wymore, Mel
           vii.   District 7
               (1)   Barksdale, Alicia D
               (2)   Gonzalez, Christina E
               (3)   Johnson, Joyce S
               (4)   Lantigua, Manuel
               (5)   Levine, Mark D
               (6)   Lyles, Gary T
               (7)   Otto, Mark T
               (8)   Powell, Gerard D
               (9)   Ramadan, Zead
               (10)   Sasscer-Burgos, David S
               (11)   Tejada, Luis M
               (12)   Vargas, Ruben Dario
           viii.   District 8
               (1)   Cardona, Ralina M
               (2)   Gardner, Sean P
               (3)   Goodwin, Gwen
               (4)   Guerrero, Ariel E
               (5)   Humphreys, Tamika L
               (6)   Mark-Viverito, Melissa
               (7)   Santos, Edward N
           ix.   District 9
               (1)   Dickens, Inez E
               (2)   Morgan, Vincent S
           x.   District 10
               (1)   Castellanos, Francesca M
               (2)   Estrella, Miguel
               (3)   Pahaham, Cheryl A
               (4)   Rodriguez, Ydanis A
       b.   Bronx- Districts 11-18
           i.   District 11
               (1)   Cohen, Andrew J
               (2)   Keeling, Cheryl
               (3)   Reynolds, John H
               (4)   Stanton, Cliff I
           ii.   District 12
               (1)   Archer, Trevor
               (2)   Edie, Lenford
               (3)   Johnson, Pamela A
               (4)   King, Andrew L
               (5)   Oloruntoba (Toba), Adeyemi L
           iii.   District 13
               (1)   Schweizer, Raphael
               (2)   Vacca, James
           iv.   District 14
               (1)   Cabrera, Fernando
               (2)   Vigueras, Jessica D
           v.   District 15
               (1)   Agosto, Kenneth G
               (2)   Alvarez, Albert
               (3)   Batista, Raquel E
               (4)   Bauza, Joel M
               (5)   Rivera, Joel R
               (6)   Thompkins, Cynthia
               (7)   Torres, Ritchie
           vi.   District 16
               (1)   Alvarez, Pedro
               (2)   Berkley, Carlton
               (3)   Diallo, Ahmadou T
               (4)   Gibson, Vanessa L
               (5)   Johnson, Daryl L
               (6)   Muhammed, Naaimat
               (7)   Newsome, Walter L
               (8)   Omotosho, Bola
               (9)   Sierra, Carlos M
           vii.   District 17
               (1)   Arroyo, Maria
               (2)   Pabon, Julio
               (3)   Velez, Jose
           viii.   District 18
               (1)   Moore, William R
               (2)   Nestler, Walter G
               (3)   Palma, Annabel
       c.   Queens- Districts 19-32
           i.   District 19
               (1)   Duane, John F
               (2)   Graziano, Paul D
               (3)   Saffran, Dennis J
               (4)   Shafran, Austin I
               (5)   Vallone, Paul A
               (6)   Voskerichian, Chrissy
           ii.   District 20
               (1)   Chou, Evergreen C
               (2)   Hahn, Sunny
               (3)   Koo, Peter A
           iii.   District 21
               (1)   Ferreras, Julissa
           iv.   District 22
               (1)   Ciafone, John J
               (2)   Constantinides, Costa G
               (3)   De Stefano, Danielle M
               (4)   Kann, Gerald F
               (5)   Peterson, Daniel P
               (6)   Prentzas, Constantinos
               (7)   Serpe, Lynne
           v.   District 23
               (1)   Weprin, Mark S
           vi.   District 24
               (1)   Blishteyn, Alexander
               (2)   Lancman, Rory I
               (3)   Rahman, Mujib U
               (4)   Veras, Andrea M
           vii.   District 25
               (1)   Dromm, Daniel P
           viii.   District 26
               (1)   Jimmy Van Bramer (D)
           ix.   District 27
               (1)   Caughman, Manuel
               (2)   Flowers, Joan E
               (3)   Mays, Gregory
               (4)   Miller, I. Daneek
               (5)   Peeden, Sondra H
               (6)   Vanel, Clyde
           x.   District 28
               (1)   Evans, Eugen W
               (2)   Kayode, David B
               (3)   Marthone, Joseph R
               (4)   Payne, Breina
               (5)   Powell, Hettie V
               (6)   Wills, Ruben W
               (7)   Winslow, Christina
           xi.   District 29
               (1)   Koslowitz, Karen
               (2)   Torodash, Jon
           xii.   District 30
               (1)   Caruana, Craig N
               (2)   Crowley, Elizabeth S
           xiii.   District 31
               (1)   Brown, Ricardo A
               (2)   Duncan, Michael R
               (3)   Murray, Scherie S
               (4)   Richards, Donovan J
           xiv.   District 32
               (1)   Ruiz, William
               (2)   Simon, Lew M
               (3)   Ulrich, Eric A
       d.   Brooklyn- Districts 33-48
           i.   District 33
               (1)   Stephen Levin (D)
               (2)   Stephen Pierson (D)
           ii.   District 34
               (1)   Lopez, Vito J
               (2)   Reynoso, Antonio
               (3)   Santiago, Gladys
               (4)   Soto, Humberto
           iii.   District 35
               (1)   Olanike Alabi (D)
               (2)   Lauriw Cumbo (D)
               (3)   Ede Fox (D)
               (4)   Frank Hurley (D)
               (5)   Jelani Mashariki (D)
               (6)   Jesse Hamilton (D)
           iv.   District 36
               (1)   Cornegy, Jr., Robert E
               (2)   Foy, Kirsten J
               (3)   Swiney, Reginald
               (4)   Taylor, Akiel B
               (5)   Tillard, Conrad
               (6)   Waterman, Robert M
           v.   District 37
               (1)   Council, Kimberly N
               (2)   Espinal, Jr., Rafael L
               (3)   Mateo, Heriberto
               (4)   Sheikh, Helal A
           vi.   District 38
               (1)   Gonzalez, Sara M
               (2)   Menchaca, Carlos
           vii.   District 39
               (1)   Brad Lander (D)
           viii.   District 40
               (1)   Eugene, Mathieu
               (2)   Grant, John E
               (3)   Kinard, Sylvia G
               (4)   Thomas, Saundra P
           ix.   District 41
               (1)   Daniel, Kathleen
               (2)   Jackson, Al
               (3)   Kinard, Stanley
               (4)   Mealy, Darlene
               (5)   Wright, Byron J
           x.   District 42
               (1)   Banks, Christopher W
               (2)   Barron, Inez D
               (3)   Henry, Sean K
               (4)   Lucas, Nikki I
               (5)   Miles, Leon B
               (6)   Powell, Regina
               (7)   Whitehead, John C
           xi.   District 43
               (1)   Dwyer, Patrick
               (2)   Gentile, Vincent J
               (3)   Quaglione, John F
           xii.   District 44
               (1)   Flusberg, Jacob M
               (2)   Greenfield, David G
               (3)   Hayon, Joseph
           xiii.   District 45
               (1)   King, Erlene J
               (2)   Similien, Jean H
               (3)   Williams, Godwin
               (4)   Williams, Jumaane D
           xiv.   District 46
               (1)   Maisel, Alan
               (2)   Narcisse, Mercedes
               (3)   Testaverde, Anthony
           xv.   District 47
               (1)   Dobrin, Todd A
               (2)   Lisyanskiy, John
               (3)   Mobley, Connis M
               (4)   Sullivan, Andrew J
               (5)   Treyger, Mark
           xvi.   District 48
               (1)   Bhushan, Natraj S
               (2)   Deutsch, Chaim M
               (3)   Kagan, Ari
               (4)   Lotovsky, Alexander L
               (5)   Oberman, Igor
               (6)   Scavo, Theresa R
               (7)   Storobin, David
       e.   Staten Island- Districts 49-51
           i.   District 49
               (1)   Macron, Mark A
               (2)   Rose, Deborah
           ii.   District 50
               (1)   Giovinazzo, Lisa E
               (2)   Mancuso, John
               (3)   Matteo, Steven
               (4)   Mirocznik, Mendy
           iii.   District 51
               (1)   Ignizio, Vincent M
               (2)   Walsh, Christopher

Friday, July 12, 2013

PHOTOS & VIDEO & MORE- First half of July 2013: Two lawsuits against the Central Library Plan, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio Comes Out Against CLP

De Blasio: Halt NYC Library Sales Until Properly Reviewed

(View above directly in YouTube for best viewing.)

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio stands with Citizens Defending Libraries. Right to left: Michael Hiller attorney in Citizens Defending Libraries lawsuit, Carolyn McIntyre and Michael D. D. White, co-founders of Citizens Defending Libraries, Bill de Blasio

• Wall Street Journal: Library Puts Renovation Plan on Pause, by Jennifer Maloney, July 12, 2013

• New York Times: Public Advocate Questions Library Plan to Renovate Fifth Avenue Branch, by Robin Pogrebin, July 12, 2013

•        Library Journal: New York Public Library Agrees in Court to Delay Central Library Plan, by Gary Price on July 12, 2013

•        Library Journal: Second Suit Filed to Halt NYPL Central Renovation, by Meredith Schwartz, July 11, 2013

•        Wall Street Journal: Library's Plan to Remove Stacks Hit With Another Suit, by Jenifer Maloney
The Wall Street Journal, July 10, 2013

•        New York Times: New York Public Library Is Sued Over Book Plan, by Robin Pogrebin, July 10, 2013

•       New York Post: Real-estate fiction- NY Public Library?s risky scheme, by Nicole Gelinas, July 7, 2013

•        Wall Street Journal: Lawsuit Filed to Stop New York Public Library Renovation, by Jennifer, July 4, 2013

•        New York Times: Opponents Sue to Block New York Public Library Renovation Plan, Patrica Cohen, July 4, 2013

• Park Slope Food Coop Linwaiters Gazzette: Citywide Sell-Off and Shrinkage of Libraries: Brooklyn Libraries to Be Sold Like Manhattan’s Donnell, by Mary Ann Fastook, July 11, 2013

• The Huffington Post (Huffpost New York): NYC Mayoral Candidates on the Central Library Plan, by Susan Bernofsky, 07/15/2013

• The Leonard Lopate Show: The NYPL Renovation Controversy, Tuesday, July 16, 2013. The New York Public Library’s plan to renovate its Fifth Avenue building, which includes removing research stacks, has been met with criticism. Some opponents of the project filed a lawsuit to stop the project. Scott Sherman, contributing writer for the Nation, and David Levering Lewis, professor of history at NYU who is part of the law suit, and or New York Times writer Michael Kimmelman, talk about the controversial New York Public Library renovation.

We invited Anthony Marx, president and CEO of the NYPL, to join the conversation, but he was unable to be on the show today. He'll be on July 24th to discuss the renovation project.

DeDlasio: latest public statement from the Public Advocate website.

De Blasio Decries New York Public Library Renovation Plans and Sale of Two Midtown Libraries

Public Advocate’s Letter

July 12, 2013

Hon. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
City Hall
New York, NY 10007

Dear Mayor Bloomberg,

I am writing to express my deep concern over the proposed changes to the City’s library systems in Manhattan and Brooklyn. I am calling on the City to halt the New York Public Library’s plans at the Central Library, and for a thorough, independent cost audit and review of the proposed project. In addition, I am calling for a reconsideration of the Brooklyn Public Library’s plans for the Brooklyn Heights and Pacific branches until a similar review can be completed.

The City’s three public library systems are critical public cultural institutions and have served our City well – supporting scholars and independent researchers, providing resources and services for immigrants and job-seekers, and serving as an intellectual home and refuge for life-long learners and avid readers. Over the past 12 years, these institutions have faced budget cuts and public divestment, struggled to meet operating costs, forced to reduce hours and services, and suffered from hundreds of millions of dollars in deferred maintenance on aging air conditioners, boilers, computers and roofs. But these fiscal challenges are not a rationale to engage in drastic measures – if anything, they underscore the need for prudence, frugality and caution.

The “Central Library Plan,” which involves a $150 million in dedicated City funds, would close and sell off the Mid-Manhattan Library and the Science, Industry, and Business Library, consolidating operations at the crown jewel of the New York library system – the Fifth Avenue Central Library of the New York Public Library. The plan involves a dramatic alteration by architect Norman Foster and the relocation of a substantial portion of the site’s distinguished research stacks.

The NYPL claims this renovation would cost $300 million and save the system substantial funds in the long run. But recent testimony by Tony Marx, President of the New York Public Library, suggested this estimate has not been corroborated by independent sources, and that the figure is preliminary. Outside critics have identified the substantial engineering challenges associated with the proposed renovation and are skeptical that the plan’s $300 million price tag wouldn’t grow much larger, potentially catastrophically so. The City should immediately halt all plans to sell Mid-Manhattan Library and the Science, Industry, and Business Library to developers until a thorough, independent, and publicly disclosed assessment is completed. This review should evaluate the complete financial risks associated with the current plan, and seriously consider alternative ways to use City funds to ensure the preservation of the NYPL’s valuable collection stored at the Central Library and preserve the Mid-Manhattan branch as a functioning library. In the words of the New York Time’s architecture critic Michael Kimmelman, “the last thing [library officials] want to be remembered for is trashing their landmark building and digging a money pit.”

Similarly, the Brooklyn Public Library system has explored the option of selling the Brooklyn Heights and Pacific Street branches to developers in order to raise money to support the system and alleviate the need to make repairs at those sites. These sales – which would turn over public land permanently to private parties – should not be rushed through in the waning days of the Bloomberg administration. The Brooklyn Public Library needs money, and a reasonable and sensitive plan involving the retention of community library space and partial redevelopment might be worth consideration. But a much more thorough review is needed. We need to ensure we are driving the hardest bargain possible with the developers and maximizing the public’s return on the land.

Thank you for your attention in these matters,

Bill de Blasio
Public Advocate for the City of New York

Cc: Tony Marx, President and CEO of the New York Public Library
Linda Johnson, President of the Brooklyn Public Library

De Blasio Decries New York Public Library Renovation Plans & Sale of Two Midtown Libraries

For more information about the important and influential hearings Mr. de Blasio refers to, Assembly Committee hearings held by Assemblyman Micah Kellner on June 27, 2013 go here: Testimony By Citizens Defending Libraries At June 27, 2013 State Assembly Committee Hearing On Selling New York City Libraries.

For information about how the New York City Comptroller has also decried the sell-off of libraries for real estate deals participating in Citizens Defending Libraries Library Protection Week events held in April go here: PHOTO GALLERY- CDL's Library Protection Week.

Here is the link to the Park Slope Food Co-op Linewaiters Gazzette which has a full page article on the libraries, page 6 by CDLer Mary Ann Fastook

Dropbox link for access to legal papers filed with court for the second lawsuit, the one with Citizens Defending Libraries as one of the Plaintiffs.

Citizens Defending Libraries, et al v. NYPL, et al Complaint Filed 7/10/2013.

Citizens Defending Libraries Complaint Filed 7-10-13 against the NYPL

Edmund Morris Affidavit

Edmund Morris Affidavit supporting CDL v. NYPL lawsuit

Analyn Swan Affidavit

Analyn Swan affidavit

Christabel Gough Affidavit

Charles Warren, Architect, Affidavit

Charles Warren Affidavit

Midred Schmertz, Architect, Affidavit

Mildred Schmertz Affidavit

Memorandum of Law in Support of Order To Show Cause

Memo of Law in Support of Order To Show Cause