Photo by myself, at the main branch of the New York Public Library.
Protesters occupied the steps of the main branch of the public library, Monday night. People held signs and handed out flyers to passersby.
The story I got from the protesters was that budget cuts will mean that some library branches will be eliminated.
Budget cuts also mean job losses, fewer books available for researchers and fewer library branches. At the same time, the buildings that once housed libraries would be available for developers. Developers mean tax money and future hotels or high-end real estate.
Ah yes, it's all about money.
There are many are very happy that New York withstood the recession for the most part. But there are also those who look around at the huge stores and very expensive apartments and long for 'Old New York', a city that was shabbier around the edges but that was filled with unique nooks and crannies.
For more about the libraries from the protesters point of view, visit their Save NYC Libraries website, here.
Related posts: Women in Black, Against War, Portrait of a Picket Line, in Hell's Kitchen, and Occupying Wall Street, One Day at a Time.
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