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Menino: Close libraries, community centers
By adamg on Thu, 03/04/2010 - 1:48pm
The Globe reports. No specific locations mentioned. The BPL board of trustees will meet next Tuesday (3 p.m., Rabb Hall at the main branch in Copley Square) to begin discussing how to decide which of 8 to 10 branch libraries to close.
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Comments
I'd rather we close the
I'd rather we close the mayor's office.
Ready for a Recall?
Are we ready for a recall yet?
Does he take a paycheck?
Does he take a paycheck? Because I'm sure if he does, it would pay for at least one library to stay open a bit more.
It seems like only yesterday
that we built a brand new, $17 million library in Mattapan. But of course, that was before the city's ill-fated municipal election.
And another new library in Allston a few years ago
This is just embarrassing. Boston is known as a city of literate and educated people. The last thing we should be doing is closing libraries.
And let's not forget ...
The shiny, sparkly Menino wing of the Hyde Park branch (it's actually ten years old now, but still cool).
Mr. Mayor, what a crock
Menino quoted in the Globe:
Let's break down the alleged logic in his comments: In order for libraries to be reborn, we first have to close them. And with 'em go those buildings that foster those "connections to each other" that the Mayor claims to embrace.
I guess he figures that folks are supposed to make those "connections to each other" on the streets. Or maybe everyone can gather at the Filene's Hole at Downtown Crossing?
Instead, perhaps he could try some honesty: "The economy stinks, tax revenues are bottoming out, the city is in decline, and I don't have any answers."
Bright outlook
You're too negative. Don't forget, this is the same mayor who has promised Liberty Mutual a $16 million property tax reduction over the next 20 years. Screw the libraries and community centers, we have a new midtown Boston high-rise to look forward to!
This is what I feared
Menino was fortunate to ascend to the mayor's office at a time when various forces were coming together nicely for Boston. He deserves credit for having facilitated some of those positive developments. He will be justly associated with one of the better runs in the city's history.
However, when he was running for another term, I got the feeling that we'd seen the best of him, that he was a capable mayor during more prosperous times but really didn't have the stuff to lead when times weren't so good. Statements like the one quoted from the Globe are just idiotic and insulting....the kind of doublespeak we hear all too often from politicians who are trying to con us into thinking down is up.
Agreed
Fair assessment of the man and the myth. The next couple of years will be very interesting as the city grapples with little to no revenue growth but continued rising expenses for health care and pensions - there will be little to nothing left for raises. Per John's comment on the LM TIF above I fear we are going to see pages of the old playbook - push every development that you can, even though there is too much capacity already in much of the system (40 million sf of development or roughly 10 years of demand is already approved with only 20% of that under construction) - because property taxes on new development is one of the only ways the city can generate incremental revenue. Much could have been done on the expense side over the last 10 years, but it was too easy to roll over for the unions when times were flush. Like many good politicians, Menino is a master of today but at the expense of tomorrow. In contradiction to Sidney Sheldon's eponymously titled book - who says Tomorrow Never Comes? It's here.
Cleveland, Marshall Community Centers definitely are at risk
The Cleveland & Marshall CC's in Dorchester are very much at risk. Under performing and under utilized for years. Even without the budget crisis, the rumor was that the BCYF supervisor over the Cleveland, Marshall, Holland and Perkins - Gloria Moon - wanted to close at least the nearby Marshall and shift resources to the Holland. Guess which center she used to run directly? And Ms. Moon is the same BCYF manager the city once tried to fire for allegedly running her own catering business out of the center.
The real outrage here is that the precincts at the Marshall voted for the Mayor in higher percentages than citywide - 71% and 77%. The Marshall has been allowed to languish for at least the 15 years I've worked around it in youth services. This is the black working class vote that is often said to be Menino's "insurance vote" (i.e. that puts him over the top) but is in fact the base of his support. Some way to thank the people!
Libraries kick ass
This is what doesn't make sense... our library for one is moving the product, doing programs, helping kids, mommies etc. They're doing what they are supposed to do.