On Sunday, November 3, CDL along with the Unitarian Universalist Weaving the Fabric of Diversity Committee, hosted the firstForum on the Sell Off of Public Assets in New York City. The room was filled with representatives from various affected groups: citizens fighting to save hospitals, housing, parks, schools, and libraries. The groups are finding they have much in common and that similar tactics are used across the board to privatize and exploit public assets. One group that successfully fought to save PS 199 shared what they did. A goal of the forum will be producing a letter for our incoming elected officials about our common concerns and what we all need. We were covered by a reporter from Epoch Times, see below.
Community Groups Unite Against Sale of Public Assets By Genevieve Belmaker, Epoch Times | November 3, 2013http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/342292-community-groups-unite-against-sale-of-public-assets/
Great minds pursue similar themes! Thursday night Barnard College held a similar panel discussion forum about the sell-off of libraries, parks, schools and public housing. At that forum the effectiveness of our efforts were praised, see link below.
http://barnard.edu/events/public-accountability-nyc
On Monday, CDL and the Committee to Save New York Public Library held a rally outside the NYPLFundraiser Gala honoring Mayor Bloomberg to show outrage at the greatest hypocrisy: honoring the great defunder and looter of public resources.Bloomberg News covered the event and our rallyhttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-05/scene-last-night-kravis-schwarzman-set-for-new-mayor.html
More Coverage of our Monday protest plus one of those weird quotes- Bloomberg, shrinking libraries, extols their expansion! Library Lions honorees are greeted by protestors at the NYPL | MobyLiveshttp://www.mhpbooks.com/library-lions-honorees-are-greeted-by-protestors-at-the-nypl/
“Libraries are the heart of our neighborhoods, serving not only as centers of learning, but as hubs of creativity and innovation. With nearly 40 million annual visitors across more than 200 branches, libraries are also an essential part of our city’s human capital infrastructure. Our administration has worked to sustain and enhance our libraries, helping them respond and adapt to our residents’ changing needs. New Yorkers need libraries now more than ever, and we are grateful to everyone who is helping us preserve and expand them.”—Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Below are links to some excellent video footage of the rally, thanks to James Lane. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLXUWIVA8gU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vikjwtFGc-8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1_9-lQOcBg
Photos of the event are up CDL's Facebook page and are coming in over twitter feeds (including our own Twitter feed):https://twitter.com/mikevilensky/status/397516000645484544
Tuesday, election day could mark a change of direction for the city and the way public assets are handled. Take the difference between what Bill De Blasio and Joe Lhota said about the Central Library Plan. See their quotes here.Candidate Lhota's Flub!: He thinks library lovers don't read the Wall Street Journal!!- Checking In On Mayoral Candidates’ Library Positions, de Blasio vs Lhota
http://noticingnewyork.blogspot.com/2013/11/candidate-lhotas-flub-he-thinks-library.html
We know that whatever a politician says before taking office the important thing is what ultimately happens afterward. We are hopeful with your continued voice and our combined efforts that we can keep the pressure on to stop the looting of our public libraries and our shared sacred spaces.
Events
CDL meeting Sunday, Nov 10, 4:30-6:00 PM
101 Clark St, Clark and Henry St
2,3 to Clark St, 4,5,R to Court St Borough Hall A, C to High St, contact Martha Rowen 413-388-8829
Finding Our Common Ground
Second Forum on the Sell Off of Public Assets
Thursday, Nov 14, 4:00-6:00 PM
Marriott Marquis Hotel Cantor Jolson Room
West 46St and 7th Av-enter at Times Square
If you are part of an effort to stop the sell off and plundering of public assets come to this meeting. Similar to our first forum, we are reaching out, finding common ground and enlarging our coalition. Co-hosted by Lynn's Kids International and Citizen Action, Contact Kristina Andreotta, kandreotta@citizenactionny.org, 212-523-0180 x23
Community Advisory Committee meeting on the sale and shrinkage of the Brooklyn Heights Library Thursday, Nov 14, 5:00-7:00 PMBrooklyn Borough Hall (double check final location on CDL's calendar before coming)Contact Michael White, mddwhite@aol.com, 917-885-1478
Friday December 13, 10:30 AM Assembly Committee on Libraries has a second Hearing On New Yorks Central Library Plan (The subject will be superior alternatives to the CLP.)
Micah Kellner Chairman
250 Broadway, Room 1923, 19th Floor
Come and testifyContact Lindsey Facteau, facteaul@assembly.stste.ny.us518-455-4881 The State Assembly’s Committee on Libraries and Education Technology will hold a public hearing in Manhattan on the Central Library Plan (CLP) and feasible alternatives to the sale of the Mid-Manhattan and Science, Industry, and Business Libraries, and the destruction of the stacks at the iconic 42nd Street Library. Contact Lindsey as soon as possible to fill out the form. You will need to supply 10 copies of your testimony. If you don't have prepared testimony on the day of the hearing, we can give you some. Contact Michael, mddwhite@aol.com
Call and write our newly elected representatives about the importance of protecting libraries and public assets. Let them know we need new library leadership, leadership that will put the books back into the libraries where they belong and make the needs of the communities and patrons the priority again.
Mayor Bill De Blasio, info@billdeblasio.com, (212) 669-7250, Comptroller Scott Stringer, info@stringer2013.com, 212-349-2013, Public Advocate Letitia James, ljames@council.nyc.gov, 718-643-1115 ask for Barbara, Councilman Stephen Levin, slevin@council.nyc.gov, 718-875-5200, Councilman Brad Lander, Lander@council.nyc.gov, 718-499-1090 Contact your city council person, they do pay attention!
Lynn Rosen has a new book called Mr. Rights Saves The Libraries written for children. It's about Mr. Rights saving libraries in New York! See how he does it. Here is the link for paperback and Kindle versions, proceeds to help save libraries.http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Rights-across-Saving-Libraries/dp/1492936952/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1381516405&sr=1-8&keywords=Lynn+Rosen
Comment from a library user this week"A whole set of stacks disappeared on the 5th floor NW corner of the midtown Mnhtn library. It used to contain art books as well as other subjects. Now it's just open space with tables."
We are all connected, exploit some, we all feel it. Carolyn McIntyre
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