In an opinion piece in the New York Daily News, David Giles calls upon the de Blasio administration to extend its efforts to strengthen infrastructure and promote equal opportunity by aggressively funding some of the NYC’s most valuable public spaces: its libraries. Estimates from the Center for an Urban Future put the cost of “pressing” capital needs alone at $1.1 billion; Giles argues that in our increasingly knowledge-based economy, these unmet needs will take a serious toll on the city and its residents over time.
It’s notable that Giles glosses over concerns about who would make key, big-ticket decisions about contracts and real estate deals in historically underserved neighborhoods—issues that would require careful consideration should de Blasio heed the call for an aggressive improvement plan—but it’s hard to argue with the thrust of his case. Libraries deserve lots of love, and cash besides.
