Things to know for Marathon Monday Today is Monday, April 16 and rain or shine…the Boston Marathon goes on. On yesterday’s 5th anniversary of the Boston Marathon tragedy, the city remembers the marathon bombing with a day of giving back. Here’s what else you need to know for Monday… Patriots Day. The City offices are Read More…
Things to know for Tuesday Today is Tuesday, April 3 and if yesterday’s spring snow showers have climate change on your mind, see how some climate scientists, architects and engineers are rethinking Boston to cope with rapidly rising sea levels. Here’s what else you need to know for Tuesday… 1:00PM City Council Hearing on Boston Read More…
Much to the dismay of the Mayor’s Office and BPL Trustees, a group of State Representatives from Boston, including our local 3rd Suffolk District Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, have co-sponsored three amendments in the State budget that would force the City of Boston to keep all the branch libraries open in order to receive $3 million in State funding. While the North End and West End branches survived the City’s proposed budget cuts, four branch libraries remain at risk of closing. (See BPL Trustees Vote to Close 4 Branches; North End/West End Stay Open).
Note: The 12 State Representatives are: Reps. Forry, Moran, Basile, Wallace, Allen, Fox, Honan, Malia, Michlewitz, Rushing, Sanchez and Walz.
Press Release:
Boston State Representatives Mobilize to Save Local Libraries
Twelve State Representatives from the Boston delegation in the Massachusetts State House co-sponsored three amendments that seek to keep all Boston Public Library (BPL) branches open.
“The Trustees of the Boston Public Library and the Mayor of Boston have made clear their budget priorities,” Representative Michael Moran said. “Today, as a united group of legislators from neighborhoods throughout Boston, we are standing together and clearly stating that our priorities are to keep every branch library open.”
The BPL receives over $3 million worth of funding via three separate line items in the state budget. The amendments filed today would add additional language onto each line item, making their allocation contingent upon all 26 local branches remaining open in 2011.
“We had hoped that the Board of Trustees would do the right thing by keeping each branch open,” Representative Carlo Basile said. “Today we are taking steps to make sure that the right thing for our neighborhoods does happen.”
Good news for those of us with overdue books from the library! The Boston Public Library, including the North End branch on Parmenter Street, will waive overdue fines on books, CDs and DVDs, starting November 1st through Thanksgiving. It doesn’t matter how large the fine or how long you’ve had it out … all charges will be waived. If you lost it, you’ll still be responsible for the replacement fee in order to take out new books.
Great idea!