S.O.S. From the Stacks

The New York Times ^ | May 4, 2003 | NY Times

[sdk7x7]

NYTIMES picks up story of conflict over New Rochelle Library tax... Liberals attempting to have unelected board raise taxes... Official opposition website at www.NRPL.info by the NR Republican, Independence, and Conservative Parties.

-sdk

[xm177e2]

The politicization of the library issue has greatly distressed library supporters, including Gayle Golomb, president of the League of Women Voters of New Rochelle and a native of the city.

"This is not political, it's a quality-of-life issue," she said. "We are already on an austerity budget in New Rochelle."

?

A tax is not a political issue? The LoWV cows so partisan, and yet they present themselves (and the media helps) as "non-partisan." Apparently being "non-partisan" means "agreeing with the LoWV" because "this is not political." In other words, only people who disagree with the LoWV are "political," by definition the LoWV is "non-partisan." More damn Orwell-speak.

[xm177e2]

Liberals attempting to have unelected board raise taxes...

How? By putting it to a vote for the general public to decide? How is that undemocratic or scandalous?

[stylin19a]

ummmm...way misleading. title doesn't match the linked article title.

This tax is budgeted the board and voted on by the residents. What's the problem ?

[tang-soo]

I wonder what Rob and Laura have to say about this?

[MineralMan]

"Liberals attempting to have unelected board raise taxes...

How? By putting it to a vote for the general public to decide? How is that undemocratic or scandalous?
"

I can't see the complete article. Is this really just a board putting a proposed increased tax before the voters? If so, then the headline is _really_ misleading.

[John Beresford Tipton]

"I wonder what Rob and Laura have to say about this?"

You'll have to look in the National Enquirer,
after all, they would have the "Petris' Dish"

[xm177e2]

I can't see the complete article. Is this really just a board putting a proposed increased tax before the voters? If so, then the headline is _really_ misleading.

Because of a confluence of events and decisions by the New York State Education Department, the New Rochelle City Council and the New Rochelle Public Library Board of Trustees, residents of New Rochelle may lose their main library, as well as the Huguenot Children's Library, if they do not vote to approve a new tax to support a $2.96 million budget on June 3. In the past, the library was paid for out of the New Rochelle city budget. But the city is suffering budget woes, and the City Council voted to remove library financing from its charter early this year after learning of the state law requiring that city residents must vote on library budgets. As a result, the library's city-based financing runs out on June 30. The new tax has already been voted down twice; the June 3 vote will be the last.

[Admin Moderator]

Let's stick with original titles. Thank you.

[Lockbox]

According to - New York State Small Business Development Center the NEW YORK STATE POPULATION section lists the population of New Rochelle as follows:

New Rochelle -- 72,182

Link = http://www.smallbiz.suny.edu/help/programs/IBP/NYfacts/NYpop/nypop.html

Now a pared-down budget of $2.96 million for the Library means that every person in New Rochelle would spend $41.00 for the Library

Or with the number of Households equals 26189, means the Library costs $113.02 per household in New Rochelle.

At those costs, why not close the Library and give each household free Internet. Maybe that would be real value!