West Branch Library May Close!

[masswich.livejournal.com]

I have received an email from Ward 6 Alderman (Alderwoman? Not sure which she prefers) Rebekah Gewirtz regarding the impact on the City's budget of the firefighter arbitration ruling. Note that I have no opinion one way or the other as to whether the arbitration was correctly decided, but right now it appears to be having a significant budget impact. One of the possible casualties may be the West Branch Library in Davis.

Once libraries close, they almost never reopen. The building already needs work and if left empty will likely get worse. At some point the City would probably just sell it off.

If you are concerned, look up your local officials on the City web site and let them know. I personally think its a shame and that other options exist for dealing with this situation. Excerpts from the letter are below.

...Last month, the city and the firefighters union entered into arbitration at the Joint Labor Management Committee (JLMC) since they couldn't agree on a contract for the past five years. The JLMC ruled in favor of a compromise salary increase for the firefighters. The mayor presented a plan, as he is required to do by the JLMC, to fund the award at the Board of Aldermen (BOA) meeting on 1/12. ... The mayor's plan calls for large scale layoffs and the closing of the West Branch Public Library. Closing the library is not an option, and I am fighting to prevent this. ... I sponsored a resolution asking the mayor to come back to the BOA with a plan to fund the award over two years instead of one. The resolution passed unanimously on a roll call vote. ... There will be a series of meetings to discuss the contract award and its funding starting this coming Wednesday night, 1/18 at city hall at 6pm and a PUBLIC HEARING on January 30th at City Hall at 6pm. All are welcome to attend all meetings.

Meeting TONIGHT about mayor's plan to close Davis Square library (update: the library is safe!)

[jack-somerville.livejournal.com]

I got an email last night from Rebekah Gewirtz, Davis Square's Alderman. Mayor Curtatone has presented a funding plan to the Board of Aldermen that includes cutting library funding and closing the West Branch Public Library in Davis Square.

Now I'm not saying it's the best library in the world, but cutting funding isn't the answer. Somerville spends 0.96% of our budget on libraries. We could close them all down and it wouldn't be a drop in the bucket. Instead we need more, better libraries -- especially when times are tight and people are out looking for new skills and new jobs. Boston founded one of the first free public libraries in the world nearly 400 years ago. They're key to who we are as a people. Somerville will not lead the charge to end them.

If you agree, here's what you can do:

• Show up TONIGHT at City Hall at 6PM. Here's directions from Davis Square -- it's a 10 minute bus ride. Bring a sign or wear something red so we can find each other. Don't use your library voice. (And put the January 30th public hearing in your calendar now -- same time, same place, same color.)
• Call Mayor Curtatone's office: 617-625-6600. Tell him to get to work now on a plan that increases library funding, not cuts it. It won't take many calls to make a difference, and it's the best two minutes you'll spend all week. (When you call, you have to say "mayor's office," and then you have to insist on speaking with a real person. They'll tell you to email mayor@somervillema.gov, which is a good second option but not good enough.)
• Email, Facebook, Twitter. Not everyone reads Livejournal, but if we all tell ten friends we'll have an army.

Book people are quiet people. But libraries matter. Let's be heard.

UPDATE: Response from Mayor Curtatone's office pasted below.

UPDATE 2: Results of last night's meeting below.

UPDATE 3: The West Branch is safe under a new deal struck between the mayor and the firefighters!

( Email from Rebekeh Gewirtz after the cut ... )

Yiddish songs at Havurat Shalom

[havnik.livejournal.com]

An evening of Yiddish singing at Havurat Shalom

Friday January 27, 2012

Join us for services and a dairy/vegetarian Shabbat dinner followed by an evening of singing Yiddish songs. Reena Kling will teach many wonderful Yiddish songs – come join in!

Reena Kling is a long-time member of Havurat Shalom and a life-long learner of Jewish music.

Registration deadline: January 23. RSVP to registrar@thehav.org or 617-623-3376.

Requested donation: $16 per person; more if you can, less if you can't. Everyone is welcome, regardless of ability to pay.

Services: 6:30 p.m.
Dinner: c. 7:30 p.m.
Class: c. 8:00 p.m.

( Read more )