tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post9088641087152840264..comments2023-12-24T05:26:48.861-05:00Comments on The Pittsburgh Comet: Thursday: All Good News, Really, in Retrospect!Bram Reichbaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05620172942925293407noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-1445229963863734272009-10-30T18:30:18.281-04:002009-10-30T18:30:18.281-04:00Why would the City (taxpayers) give the Library AN...Why would the City (taxpayers) give the Library ANY money unless they can show 1) they are sustainable, 2) they won't waste money on Barbara Mistick and 3) they won't waste millions building new libraries? Think people. This is outrageous. So we give them millions of dollars and they shutter five libraries three years from now. What have we accomplished? Why not give the buildings to the neighborhoods and let them raise funds to keep them open and independent of Carnegie system. I bet they would do better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-12001677873583168222009-10-30T09:33:14.234-04:002009-10-30T09:33:14.234-04:00Great to see some optimism from Bram. I was also h...Great to see some optimism from Bram. I was also happy to see a news blip about PIRC, more library funding options, and the commuter rail study. Sweet stuff. It's too bad the last mayoral debate was wasted muddling through the same issues instead of discussing any of these important issues (at least according to the run-down in the P-G.)illyriashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07729280972013286906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-62492668833855459772009-10-30T09:31:51.257-04:002009-10-30T09:31:51.257-04:00My position is basically almost always Libertarian...My position is basically almost always Libertarian so I think libraries should be supported by an independent non profit.<br /><br />However, even I see some value in funding the libraries for a few years and setting a deadline for their becoming independent of government funds. <br /><br />People need to realise, the city is structuraly bankrupt and cannot make good on all the promises it's made. It can't even show a clean set of books and disclose it's obligations.<br /><br />The myth that by putting all the eggs in the government basket we can get away from making hard choices is false, instead, by trying to hide and evade our problems we risk having a fiscal meltdown in which most of our eggs are broken.<br /><br />Yes, most likely a non profit will have to close a branch or two.<br /><br />Ironically, the money already raised for IMHO misguided "Pittsburgh Promise" would have gone a long way to creating a private library endowment.John Morrishttp://diggingpitt.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-24410709546669422732009-10-30T09:25:02.534-04:002009-10-30T09:25:02.534-04:00The library system is a great asset. However, the ...The library system is a great asset. However, the people who have managed it in the past years are not. Plenty of serious mistakes have been made by upper management. <br /><br />I would love to see heads roll -- then the library system can be saved. <br /><br />Those who are not good stewards should not be rewarded for their serious screw ups.Mark Rauterkushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17157914569686528007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-19199952681498139712009-10-30T09:23:56.853-04:002009-10-30T09:23:56.853-04:00Tacitus: I think we're going to see a very dif...Tacitus: I think we're going to see a very different map this election. Acklin is going to well in the East End neighborhoods, as DeSantis did, and also surprisingly well in the southern neighborhoods, where he has family and spent a fair amount of his youth. Meanwhile Harris is going to take a big share of the African-American communities, despite Hop Kendricks endorsement of Acklin. Won't be surprised if Luke wins though, due to the split opposition, but with less than 50 percent of vote.Doklinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-75310506528600312132009-10-30T09:17:44.496-04:002009-10-30T09:17:44.496-04:00Where does that anger come from, Anonymous 8:18? N...Where does that anger come from, Anonymous 8:18? Next you'll be pissing on school crossing guards because, hell, there are fewer Pittsburgh Public School students every year, and they don't vote or pay taxes! Who needs 'em?<br /><br />For the record, I go to my local public libraries about twice a week. Same with my wife and two kids.The Unreadnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-51039337263946523332009-10-30T03:18:48.601-04:002009-10-30T03:18:48.601-04:00More people go to the libraries in a year than the...More people go to the libraries in a year than the TOTAL attendance at Pirates & Steelers games. <br /><br />I've had a library card for almost 2 decades & it's enabled me to read an incredible number of books & to learn things along the way.<br /><br />I hope the people of Pittsburgh will call their council members & ask them to vote for this short term funding. There are hundreds of library supporters talking with elected officials and the CLP staff & board members. People in the neighborhoods are using their libraries more than ever during this economic downturn.<br /><br />Hopefully the politicians holding the purse strings & the library's management will get together and agree to short term funding, keeping all the branches open and working, in earnest, towards creating a dependable funding stream.<br /><br />This is not a political issue, nor is it a photo opp.<br /><br />In case anyone forgot, PNC Park & Heinz Field get $13 million/yr. from RAD. In comparison, the library gets only slightly more for service it gives year round, at 19 branches. <br /><br />I haven't had a chance to go back & check stories on how/why the RAD was created in the 1990s, but I'm pretty sure its goal was to fund the library, the stadiums were added later.Gloriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05110400345431171111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-76002654122255902302009-10-30T00:44:54.299-04:002009-10-30T00:44:54.299-04:00Save the libraries!Save the libraries!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-25163945670308821902009-10-29T23:14:16.209-04:002009-10-29T23:14:16.209-04:00I am in that minority also, as I have used my loca...I am in that minority also, as I have used my local city library more in the last 5 years, than the ten years prior. I routinely order books through inter library loan and they arrive at my local branch within a couple of days.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-65408291635752136892009-10-29T22:32:58.857-04:002009-10-29T22:32:58.857-04:00Well, maybe I'm in the minority, but I go to m...Well, maybe I'm in the minority, but I go to my neighborhood library all the time. <br /><br />They have a nice website that allows you to reserve any book, cd or movie you want from any library in the Carnegie system. When it arrives, you receive notification via e-mail and as soon as you walk in they have it ready for you at the front desk.<br /><br />I would much rather see public money go to the library than one of Verbanic's cronies.TTnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-25931711213448404382009-10-29T20:18:01.457-04:002009-10-29T20:18:01.457-04:00I hope Luke doesn't give a dime to the Library...I hope Luke doesn't give a dime to the Library. Honestly, when is the last time any of you on here have been to the Library? Don't lie. Hardly anyone goes to the Library and system is too large. <br /><br />Why are the bloggers criticizing the Library for paying an outrageous salary to Barbara Mistick, which includes a Duq. Club membership? If this were Luke or any other organization you would be screaming bloody murder.<br /><br />The fact of the matter is the most people with a brain will be angry is the City gives them one more dime. They have mismanaged an oversized organization and we don't need anymore wasteful spending in this City.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588280325775325323.post-6080441051864639642009-10-29T17:41:16.765-04:002009-10-29T17:41:16.765-04:00http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pittsburgh_Mayor...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pittsburgh_Mayor_2007.PNG<br /><br />Four more inevitable years?1https://www.blogger.com/profile/03917947305361546321noreply@blogger.com