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Monday, January 5, 2009
Nutter "Astounded" Library Patrons Won't "Compromise."

Mayor Nutter, responding this morning to a judge's refusal to overturn her order blocking the city from closing 11 branch libraries, praised her and pounded the seven library plaintiffs and three City Council members who won that legal victory last week.  Nutter painted three options presented this morning to Common Pleas Court Judge Idee Fox by the city as "compromises"  in a difficult financial situation.

"I am astounded at the complete unwillingness by the plaintiffs to even discuss a compromise," Nutter said after Fox met with attorneys for both sides this morning and then rejected the city's motion to reconsider her ruling from last Tuesday.  The city had asked Fox to either reverse that ruling, allow the closures to happen while the city appeals to the state Commonwealth Court or give the city three weeks to "drastically" scale back staffing and schedules at every library branch in the city.

Nutter said his meetings over the weekend with supporters of other libraries showed that many are "not thrilled" with the idea that keeping the 11 branches open will mean significant impacts everywhere.  "It's a theoretical thing that you read about in the a newspaper until it really happens," Nutter said.

Posted by Chris Brennan @ 12:00 PM  Permalink | 21 comments
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Comments
Posted by snevets 01:52 PM, 01/05/2009
Oh, Mayor Nutter, I too was "astounded" by this library controversy. However, it was directed at YOU who repeatedly refused to compromise with the library patrons as we tried desperately to keep the 11 libraries open. You would not even discuss any other options we presented on the table nor would you allow us extra time before your scheduled 12/31/08 closings to attempt to find outside funding. Despite my pleas, you looked into my eyes at your December 8th Town Hall Meeting when we were talking privately and repeated twice that the libraries WILL close. NOW, you're astounded that WE won't compromise??? "Hats Off" to Common Pleas Judge Idee Fox for her wisdom, courage and fortitude responding justly to the cries of our citizenry and "bucking" the City Hall political machine. Remember her name everyone at the next election for judges.
Posted by MCaesar 03:17 PM, 01/05/2009
Nutter's arrogance is amazing. How about you ASK City Council for permission to close city buildings? How about you actually meet with citizens and get their opinion BEFORE you make the decision!
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Posted by Manny-Mann 03:49 PM, 01/05/2009
Preference (also called "taste" or "penchant") is a concept, used in the social sciences, particularly economics. It assumes a real or imagined "choice" between alternatives and the possibility of rank ordering of these alternatives, based on happiness, satisfaction, gratification, enjoyment, utility they provide. More generally, it can be seen as a source of motivation. In cognitive sciences, individual preferences enable choice of objectives/goals: We prefer libraries over Latrice Bryant.
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Posted by jackryan823 04:07 PM, 01/05/2009
Where is Sam Katz when you need him. Oh, thats right, he was not elected multiple times. Good job Philly.
Posted by thelastRepublicaninPhilly 04:20 PM, 01/05/2009
Wisdom huh? Don't close 11 libraries so the rest can survive. Now 20 will close. Brilliant!!!!
Posted by thelastRepublicaninPhilly 04:26 PM, 01/05/2009
Where is it written that these 11 libraries must stay open? Aren't there about 57 total? If you want to go to the library so badly, hop on SEPTA and go down to the next one. In fact, there is a really big on downtown. Go there. Mayor Nutter is required to balance the budget; a law that all of you agreed to.
Posted by ybp 04:29 PM, 01/05/2009
well... Nutter certainly has business acumen, BUT it seems as if he forgot that he is working in the public, not private, domain as an elected official... yes, he is the CEO, but his constituents are surely his board of directors and he must work within those constraints.... Mr. Nutter, you may NOT unilateraly make decisions concerning hundreds of thousands, no matter if you believe them to be in the best interest, before consulting and possibly compromising with the affected groups.... www.nutter2010.com www.nutter2011.com
Posted by main liner 04:30 PM, 01/05/2009
if you think this is a partisan issue, your a moron (read: republican).
Posted by brs50 04:43 PM, 01/05/2009
The same Philly residents protesting library closings probably had to put down their no casino signs. That extra revenue casino would come in handy especially since the city has more libraries per capita than any other large us city and a work force head count as large as 1950 when the population was over 2 million. I'm sure the Philly solution is don't cut anything just get someone else to pay. I'm so glad I live in Montgomery County.
Posted by Christine 04:47 PM, 01/05/2009
The law that Nutter needs to comply with is a 20 year old directive requiring City Council's approval before closing public buildings. As a City Councilman, you can be guaranteed that Nutter supported the law. Now, as Mayor, he decides to become Ferdinand Marcos and treat Philly like the Phillippines, making sure that he is above the law instead of bound by it. Glad to see the honeymoon is finally over.
Posted by CleanupPhilly 05:42 PM, 01/05/2009
I'm astounded that the mayor won't COLLECT and FORECLOSE on the $522 million in OVERDUE UNPAID REAL ESTATE TAXES OWED THE CITY FOR YEARS. but is "astounded" that I won't compromise. Here is the money hiding in plain sight Mr. Mayor. Why won't you aggressively collect on these deadbeats before cutting valuable services to voters? http://www.hallwatch.org/proptax/about/redelinq/stats/summary
Posted by CleanupPhilly 05:45 PM, 01/05/2009
Christine above is totally right. The judge supported the law that states that the legislative body is a check on the mayor when making decisions that have potentially permanent consequences such as the shuttering of 100 years of library assets that may never be resurrected without Council participation and approval. The law is legit, the plaintiffs have standing, checks and balances hold, what is confusing for the mayor to grasp, except that he has inadequate legal counsel?
Posted by CleanupPhilly 05:50 PM, 01/05/2009
LastRep is right that the mayor has to balance the budget, but he has to do it where he is able, and that would mean being an administrator who goes after what is owed the city. The largest debt to the city is also the easiest to collect -- overdue real estate taxes. But the mayor is afraid to alienate people who owe the city money, so he chose to alienate people who love libraries. Nutter is not a total idiot -- there are 130,000 owners who owe the city property taxes of a combined $522 million. He wants their indulgence. It's like the Vatican selling dispensations for forgiveness. It's also a corrupt practice that has to end in Philly, this expectation of votes for being allowed to not pay or be years late on your property taxes. Here's the data from the city that shows this to be a long time practice: http://www.hallwatch.org/proptax/about/redelinq/stats/summary
About Chris Brennan and Catherine Lucey
PhillyClout
Chris Brennan, a native Philadelphian and graduate of Temple University, joined the Daily News in 1999. He has written about SEPTA, the Philadelphia School District, the legalization of casino gambling, state government, the mayor, the governor, City Council and political campaigns.

Catherine Lucey joined the Daily News in 2002. Since then she has written about murderous drug gangs, political protesters and Harry Potter. For the past two years, she covered the 2007 mayoral election. Now that the battle is over, she has moved down to the City Hall bureau where she will report on the Nutter administration.

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