(no subject)
Did this over Twitter last night, but figured it was worth a public post here:
Philadelphia will shut libraries, playgrounds and courts by Oct. 2 if the state doesn't grant a tax hike and pension relief.
So, what does this mean? According to the Philadelphia Library website:
* All branch and regional library programs, including programs for children and teens, after school programs, computer classes, and programs for adults, will be cancelled
* All Parkway Central Library programs, including children programs, programs to support small businesses and job seekers, computer classes and after school programs, will be cancelled. We are exploring the possibility of relocating the Philadelphia Author Series programs to other non-library facilities.
* All library visits to schools, day care centers, senior centers and other community centers will cease.
* All community meetings at our branch and regional libraries, and the Parkway Central Library, will be cancelled.
* All GED, ABE and ESL programs held at Free Library branches will be discontinued, students should contact their teacher to see if other arrangements are being made.
It's not just the general public getting screwed here; it's those who are the most vulnerable. Children, job-seekers, small businesses, immigrant populations -- the disenfranchised, and those who have no voice. People who need the most assistance, who are actively reaching out to try and get it. People who are the least likely to raise a fuss, because they're too busy trying to survive.
This is not how you fix an economy. It doesn't get any better by pretending that these are non-essential services, that these programs are any less-necessary to the welfare of your city than public transit or schools. Things cannot improve if you leave people with no outlet to try and help themselves.
I know there's no easy answers, but I also know that this is not the answer.
Philadelphia will shut libraries, playgrounds and courts by Oct. 2 if the state doesn't grant a tax hike and pension relief.
So, what does this mean? According to the Philadelphia Library website:
* All branch and regional library programs, including programs for children and teens, after school programs, computer classes, and programs for adults, will be cancelled
* All Parkway Central Library programs, including children programs, programs to support small businesses and job seekers, computer classes and after school programs, will be cancelled. We are exploring the possibility of relocating the Philadelphia Author Series programs to other non-library facilities.
* All library visits to schools, day care centers, senior centers and other community centers will cease.
* All community meetings at our branch and regional libraries, and the Parkway Central Library, will be cancelled.
* All GED, ABE and ESL programs held at Free Library branches will be discontinued, students should contact their teacher to see if other arrangements are being made.
It's not just the general public getting screwed here; it's those who are the most vulnerable. Children, job-seekers, small businesses, immigrant populations -- the disenfranchised, and those who have no voice. People who need the most assistance, who are actively reaching out to try and get it. People who are the least likely to raise a fuss, because they're too busy trying to survive.
This is not how you fix an economy. It doesn't get any better by pretending that these are non-essential services, that these programs are any less-necessary to the welfare of your city than public transit or schools. Things cannot improve if you leave people with no outlet to try and help themselves.
I know there's no easy answers, but I also know that this is not the answer.