Hi Library Defenders,
It’s a Thursday, our day for calls to save our libraries. Today, we’re asking you to call Eric Adams, Brooklyn Borough President.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams: (718) 802-3700
As you may know, last week the New York State Senate passed, by an overwhelming vote of 59-1, a billsponsored by Senator Michael Gianaris and supported by MayorBill de Blasio to“rein in the excesses revealed in recent reports and provide a long-term blueprint for an efficient, transparent and accountable library system of which every Queens resident can be proud,” representing much-needed reforms with respect to“transparency and accountability when it comes to public funds.” The bill, applicable to the Queens trustees, was supported by Queens Borough President Melinda Katz and every member of the Queens delegation of the State Legislature.
While this is good news, obviously we need legislation that also covers the New York and Brooklyn Public Libraries, whose trustees’ lack of transparency and straying from their mission has recently prompted articles in City Limits and Melville House (http://www.citylimits.org/news/articles/5135/new-scrutiny-of-city-s-library-trustees#.U6uHAbGTGSo,http://www.mhpbooks.com/the-new-york-public-library-board-could-use-a-few-good-librarians/).
That’s why we are asking you to urge Brooklyn President Eric Adams to call for a similar bill covering the Brooklyn and New York Public Libraries, including limitations on sales of libraries.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams: (718) 802-3700
Use the script below, adapt it as you see fit, or simply use your own words.
“Hello, my name is ________________; I live at ______________; my zip code is ________. I’m calling to ask Borough President Adams to urge him to work with our New York State legislators and Mayor de Blasio to create legislation like the Gianaris/Aubry Library Reform Bill, recently passed in the New York State Senate, for the Brooklyn and New York Public Libraries. The promise of an “efficient, transparent and accountable library system” should not be limited to Queens and is especially urgent in Brooklyn and in Manhattan, where important branch libraries are under threat of sale by boards of trustees who offer no transparency or accountability. This is an opportunity for Borough President Adams to protect the integrity of this precious public resource. In doing so, he will take a powerful step forward in healing the rift between the rich and poor in Brooklyn and in all of New York City.”
You can also adapt your message to an email. Here is his email address:
Borough President Eric Adams:askeric@brooklynbp.nyc.gov
If you prefer to write a letter, we encourage you to do so as that is a very powerful way to communicate concerns. Here is his address:
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Brooklyn Borough Hall,209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
As always, our weekly Thursday Thanksgiving thoughts will include all of you who are helping to make this a better world.
Martha Rowen
This message was sent to Suzannah Troy by Carolyn McIntyre, Mayor de Blasio: Rescue Our Libraries from Developer Destruction Campaign through MoveOn's public petition website. MoveOn Political Action licensed and paid for this service, but does not endorse contents of this message. To unsubscribe or report this email as inappropriate, click here:http://petitions.moveon.org/unsub.html?i=23465-579940-abOoKT
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