andrewslayman

Comment Threads

• thrillbot commented on Philadelphia Free Library System is shutting down
  The Commonwealth of PA is basically trying to assert control over Philadelphia. The city wants to increase its own sales tax by 1% for five years in order to balance its budget in the current economic climate. However, the Republican legislators in the rest of state, are doing the best they can to block this. Their goal is to get concessions they want (regarding education funding) in exchange for letting us raise our own sales tax. They refer to it as the "Philadelphia bail-out bill." Why they even have a say in the city sales tax is beyond me. It's...
• Nollie commented on Philadelphia Free Library System is shutting down
  2 things - This was posted by a local philly blog that has been covering the budget crisis: http://www.philebrity.com/2009/09/10/readers-cameraphone-we-regret-to-inform-you-that-due-to-the-budget-crisis-in-harrisburg-the-city-can-no-longer-support-your-brain/ Also, the Philadelphia Free Library is supported by both city funding and private funding. It was once described to me by an employee as having an incestuous relationship with the city. The library can't survive without city funding, but the library itself is actually in part a private organization. Kind of weird, right? So that being said, if they have private funds (i.e. $ from the pew foundation and other local non-profits) why can't some of those funds be used to...
• SesameG commented on Philadelphia Free Library System is shutting down
  I use the library, and I agree with every word Cory wrote. But I'm curious - is library use down or up, now that we have the internet? I googled "library use down" (7 hits) and "library use up" (67,000 hits), but that's not a very good way to find out. Does someone have numbers? I don't use rec centers, but I do use parks and walking/biking trails. I'd rather have libraries than football stadiums and wave pools....
• Avi Solomon commented on Philadelphia Free Library System is shutting down
  Letter sent to Obama!: "I am writing to you with deep concern over the closing of all branches of the Free Library of Philadelphia on 2nd October, 2009 due to lack of State funding. My 4 year-old son Uriel, together with thousands of kids from all socio-economic strata who are eager to read and learn, was in despair at the bleak prospect and I could not give him a reassuring answer. As a past guest of the Free Library, I appeal to you to intervene immediately to prevent the light of learning from being extinguished from this distinguished city that...
• NidSquid commented on Philadelphia Free Library System is shutting down
  Cory, an update - Harrisburg has approved the budget for the city so I believe this should prevent drastic action being taken - hopefully, this will prevent libraries from closing. We've also received calls at home about trash pickup switching to bi-monthly instead of weekly and hopefully now, we can keep the trash off the streets and our library doors open. Link to article: http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/heardinthehall/City_budget_crisis_nearing_resolution.html Thanks....