Swift, Negative Response To Councilman's Library Funding Idea

Negative reaction came swiftly this morning to City Councilman Bill Green's idea to take part of the city's property tax and dedicate it to fund the Free Library of Philadelphia.  For details, see an earlier post here.

Mayor Nutter, who tangled with Green late last year on the library issue, was not impressed.  "I think that at this time given our financial situation, this would be a tremendously irresponsible action," Nutter said immediately after Council wrapped up for the day. "I think the councilman has gotten all the public relations [benefit] he's going to get out of the libraries."

Councilwoman Marian Tasco, the Democratic majority leader, called Green's idea "a little dangerous" and said it could lead to other Council members targeting money to departments. "I'm not sure that selecting any one department over another would be the right thing to do," Tasco said. "While we all love the Free Library, I love something else. Each Council person has their own pet department. Actually, I'd like dedicated funding to [the Department of Licenses & Inspections]."

Councilman Brian O'Neill, the Republican minority leader, also had "mixed feelings" about Green's proposal. "It isn't that the libraries aren't a good cause. It's that there are a whole lot of good causes in the city," O'Neill said. "I don't know where you stop."

Green's legislation has five Council co-sponsors -- Frank DiCicco, W. Wilson Goode Jr., Joan Krajewski, Curtis Jones Jr. and Jack Kelly.  "It prevents the libraries from continuing to be a whipping boy every time there is a budget crisis," Green said after introducing the legislation.

UPDATE, 2:40 pm:  Green just called PhillyClout to respond to his critics, especially what he called "name-calling" by Nutter.   He said a series of recent budget forums showed that city residents don't want libraries impacted by budget cuts.  "It would take politics out of the libraries forever," Green said of his legislation. "Name calling doesn't help kids. Books do."