KYW's Team Coverage
by KYW’s Steve Tawa
Judge Heidi fox has ruled in favor of library advocates. Mayor Nutter cannot close 11 branches without first getting Philadelphia city council approval.
The end result, all of the branches slated to be permanently closed as of New Years Eve will remain open. Library advocates have maintained through this two day hearing that library branches are essential to the fabric of the community; for the children, their homework and hobbies and staying out of trouble (see previous stories).
For many single adults libraries help people with job applications and resumes. And for older adults, just to keep busy, because after all, they point out, fifty percent of Philadelphians don't have computers in their homes.
Throughout these two days, the Nutter administration said it had to close these library branches because of an overall cutback because of a worsening budget situation. And, because of a state law, City Hall must balance its budget in a current five-year plan which projects a one billion dollar deficit.
The judge focused her entire case on an ordinance from 1988, a section in an ordinance, section 16-43, that says any city owned building cannot be abandoned or closed without city council approval.
In a written statement released late Tuesday, Mayor Nutter said the ruling "flies in the face of the home rule charter," and that the city would grind to a halt if council approval was needed for every decision.
Nutter said his administration will immediately look for other ways to save the money that would have been saved by closing the libraries.
And although the city will appeal, the mayor said the city would make every effort to comply with the order in the meantime.
KYW's Lynne Adkins reports that library officials say news that the 11-branches must remain open will keep them busy trying to comply with the ruling.
The Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation doesn't have enough employees to staff all its branches.
Spokeswoman Sandy Horrocks says workers were shifted to the 11-branches set to close just to keep them open thru the end of the year but now those workers are to return to their libraries and even more jobs are being lost thru budget cuts.
“Folks got the layoff notices December 6th and people, as they could, got transferred. Then, January 16th is the last day for the 49 people who got the layoff notices.”
Those openings will be added to the 111-employees currently needed in the library system.
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