by KYW’s Steve Tawa
A Philadelphia judge began hearing a second day of legal arguments over Mayor Nutter's plan to shutter 11 library branches, because of the budget crisis that quickly unfolded last month.
After listening to library advocates on Monday, city lawyers present their case to the judge on Tuesday, saying the mayor, under a charter requirement, must balance the budget, which has a more than $1 billion deficit over the next five years.
On Monday, in companion lawsuits, a group of library advocates and three city council members filed papers contending Mayor Nutter could not close the libraries without council approval (see previous stories).
Plaintiffs called several witnesses, including Sharon Vann, whose 11-year-old daughter goes to the Queen Memorial branch near 21st and Federal Streets. She says her daughter loves the librarian -- Miss Elizabeth -- who taught her daughter computer skills, and a love to read:
"If you're a child that likes to read like mine, she's limitless."
When the mayor walked into his second floor reception room to announce after school program alternatives on Monday, he was confronted by library advocates who had spent the better part of their day being admonished by the judge for their side comments during the court case over branch closings.
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