Left In Lowell

The most democratic place in Lowell should stay that way

54 Responses to “The most democratic place in Lowell should stay that way”

1. Eleanor Rigby Says:
   April 2nd, 2008 at 8:27 pm

   It sounds to me like AK is building a portfolio of conflict-of-interest questions and down right illegal actions that will eventually be submitted to the appropriate agency(s) by someone who will get fed up with his antics!

   As I recall there was already a warning about the CC getting involved in personnel issues by the solicitor during a CC meeting recently is he going to claim he didn’t think it also applies to subcommittee meetings?

2. K-R-S Says:
   April 2nd, 2008 at 9:12 pm

   As for issues that happened a few years back or even 10 years back..puleese! We can only deal with the here and now.
   As for the personnel issues addressed by CC, ummm…yeah, this is a big negative in the “Big Book of Plan E” government. Perhaps, in addition to reading the City Budget, this CC should review the Plan E charter.

   Mimi-nice to see you’ve returned to reason on the motion to go to mtgs. every other week. Going to mtgs. every other week, puts many items to back rooms or to places where most people aren’t even watching.

   The positive aspect of bringing any library issues to the forefront, is that now Dora St. Martin can justify a request for an increase in funding for the library. Go Dora!

   With so “much” outcry about naughty patrons, there is no better time like the present to request more $$$.

3. Mimi Says:
   April 3rd, 2008 at 6:39 am

   Yes, K-R-S. I saw the light. The bi-weekly CC meeting is a bad idea.

4. Always Right in Lowell Says:
   April 3rd, 2008 at 7:33 am

   Bi-weekly meeting are a really bad idea. We don’t need a government by subcommittee to run the city. I said it here before that I’m a frequent and long time library patron and have never seen anything out of the ordinary with the exception of teens being a bit too loud sometimes. Sounds like there’s way to much drama going on with a few employees, some of whom could use a personality adjustment and be a bit more pleasant to patrons. I thought they were talking about present day issues then I hear some of it was ten flipping years ago! Give me a break! KRS, like you, I am sick and tired of people looking for reasons to put down the city with preconceived ideas. CC AK needs to go!

5. kami Says:
   April 3rd, 2008 at 9:45 am

   Why is it that as soon as someone in this case the City Council expects people to behave in an appropriate manner in a public place, liberal society throw out the race card? Couldn’t it just be that people should act in an appropriate manner in a public place regardless of their race, dress and social status? Are you excused from acting appropriately because you’re a minority or poor? I don’t think you are. Is that what is being implied here? Would you accept this behavior in your own home? Would you allow someone to urinate on your carpet? I wouldn’t. Why do you expect the city to accept this type of behavior as caretakers of our “house”. I don’t care what color you are you should act appropriately. I watched the subcommittee and granted some of these issues are way too old to be discussing today. And it appears that some of these issues are union gripes that should be addressed in that venue. However some were legitimate. Urinating in the elevator to the point that the carpet has to be torn up and linoleum installed is unacceptable behavior. Can we all agree that defecting in the library is unacceptable behavior? Setting fires in the library? Exposing yourself in the elevator to the staff or anyone for that matter should result in permanent expulsion from the library. These are serious incidents. Does anyone really think that person should be allowed back in? I can’t imagine that anyone would want their child in an elevator with a man exposing himself. Look at what happened to that poor little boy in New Bedford. His mother was with him and he was still raped by a sex offender in the library. Don’t stick your head in the sand and pretend it can’t happen. So I guess we can’t guard against that because we have to satisfy the liberal desire to always assume that everything is tied to racism. I’m so tired of that old line. We’re talking about potentially very serious problems. Not simply someone that is too loud or whose clothes are unkempt. It’s ridiculous that these serious incidents are being marginalized to racism and elitism. And it’s an affront to real racism that does still exist. That’s always the fallback of liberals. If all else fails, scream racism. I don’t think the library is unsafe. I do think there are some problems that can and should be dealt with. But what we can’t do is allege that the reason someone was expelled was because solely of tattered clothing or race when they’ve literally been caught with their pants down in the elevator. Some people are just bad to the core. It has nothing to do with color or race or anything else. To be honest, statistically, it was probably a white male. Any profile I’ve ever read for a pedophile starts: white male age range 20’s to 40’s. But that’s ok to profile because he’s white so it’s deemed acceptable by liberals. I want my child to be safe in the library. I’m not willing to gamble with my child’s safety to appease someone who wants to blame everything on racism and elitism. Sacrifice your own child’s safety if you want, not mine. Honestly, a lot of kids that are down there have no where else to go. Many are poor and come from single parent homes. Don’t you think if nothing else that it is important they we ensure their safety and if possible provide them with direction on how to behave appropriately? Apparently, they’re not getting it at home which is where it should come from. Absent that, I think the City is doing the best that it can by funding a behavioral specialist and a security guard at the library.

6. Mr. Lynne Says:
   April 3rd, 2008 at 10:24 am

   I’m confused… who brought up race?

7. K-R-S Says:
   April 3rd, 2008 at 10:29 am

   Yea, I was wondering that myself…

8. MOONLIGHT Says:
   April 3rd, 2008 at 11:10 am

   i agree with all you ladies, councillor towtruck was warned

   already by the solicter about meddling in personnel matters

   but unfortunely he does not listen, the libary comes under the

   manager and only him

9. Lynne Says:
   April 3rd, 2008 at 11:54 am

   Yes, because we all need more behavioral specialists guarding doors. That’ll teach ‘em.

   I think you need to answer Mr. Lynne, Kami, who exactly are you ranting against?

10. kami Says:
    April 3rd, 2008 at 12:53 pm

    The original post says “shade of your skin”. That is a catch phrase for race. I believe Martin Luther King Jr. used the “color of your skin” in his most famous speech. Shade and color are used in the same way, to represent race.

11. Mr. Lynne Says:
    April 3rd, 2008 at 1:12 pm

    “The most democratic place in Lowell should remain open and welcoming to all regardless of societal prejudices about age, perceived addiction problems, shade of their skin, accent, how they dress or even if they smell.”

    Ok… after re-reading this sentence five times, I fail to see how it can be characterized as “liberal society throw[ing] out the race card”. Nor do I see how it in any way contradicts the notion that “…people should act in an appropriate manner in a public place regardless of their race, dress and social status.” I don’t see how the statement asserts that (liberals) advocate some kind of leniency concerning “appropriate manner” dependent on “race, dress and social status”.

    Have to do an awful lot of reading into the statement to come out with that I think.

12. Lynne Says:
    April 3rd, 2008 at 1:44 pm

    What Mr. Lynne said. I’m getting tired of people throwing out the race-card card.

13. inside/outside Says:
    April 3rd, 2008 at 4:57 pm

    Um, urinating in the library elevator? The carpet was simply a bad choice in the elevator to begin with, was getting frayed and worn, thus replaced with the rubberized flooring. No one urinated in the elevator from my understanding.

    But quick, look up in the sky! It’s a dumpster, it’s a tow truck…no, it’s Super AK!

14. Josh Says:
    April 3rd, 2008 at 7:22 pm

    I’m against the CC meddling with library policy, but you really did implicitly throw out the race-card there just by mentioning it at all.

    The Councilors were concerned about sketchballs hanging around the library and I have no doubt they are worried about folks with addiction problems or smelly people, but why did you have to mention prejudice against those with different shades or skin or accents? Unless it was brought up at the meeting, you’re just throwing it in there now with addicts and smelly people and thus making an implicit connection.

    Just saying…

15. Mimi Says:
    April 3rd, 2008 at 7:28 pm

    Kami:

    As Mr. Lynne said, you did an awful lot of reading into my statement and you misread it. If I thought this had to do with race, believe me I would have come out and said it.

    However, I do totally agree with your last comments: “…a lot of kids that are down there have no where else to go. Many are poor and come from single parent homes. Don’t you think if nothing else that it is important they we ensure their safety and if possible provide them with direction on how to behave appropriately?…” Yes, I totally agree with you.

    So, do you think in 2 months when this Sub-Committee meets again to review the library safety issue, they will ask the City Manager how much money he needs to make sure that we provide these kids with the right direction or will we solely focus on the concerns of the staff?

    And Josh:
    What I was trying to say is people whose appearance are different from yours. Believe me, I now regret saying it because instead of discussing the real issue at hand, using the library for political posturing, the topic has changed and we are parsing my words and assigning motivations which I did not have.

16. Mr. Inside Says:
    April 3rd, 2008 at 7:41 pm

    I think the Behavioral Specialist position should be transferred to Kazanjian Enterprises. It is grant-funded and won’t cost the taxpayers any money.

17. K-R-S Says:
    April 3rd, 2008 at 8:24 pm

    Grant funded by them?

18. Kpem Says:
    April 3rd, 2008 at 10:13 pm

    Have any of you honestly gone to the Lowell Library lately? The place is a dump and scary. The people outside just stare you and your children down until you just want to get back in your car and leave. I now go to the Tewksbury Library which is a much more family friendly place. Now that being said, the problem with the Lowell Library is that there is no place else to go. We need more work programs, homework programs, skate parks, boxing lesson grants, whatever will keep these kids busy.
    Bored kids=trouble. Do not pretend there is no problem at the library (I hate the Lowell Library and have tried a few times). Lets admit the problem is that we are failing our teens in Lowell. Your statement did sound as though people were being prejudice about the “class” of the people hanging out at the Library and that is not the case. The trouble is that the Library is the only “acceptable” place that parents allow their kids to hangout.

19. joe Says:
    April 4th, 2008 at 8:55 am

    Now, Kpem: they need somewhere to go after a long afternoon of very slowly walking in front of people’s cars against the light.

20. joe Says:
    April 4th, 2008 at 8:56 am

    The trouble is that the Library is the only “acceptable” place that parents allow their kids to hangout.

    Darn tootin’!

    Why can’t they mill about in front of CVS like they’re supposed to?

21. Marigold Says:
    April 4th, 2008 at 2:02 pm

    A dump, Kpem? The Pollard? Have you noticed the oak wainscoting, the stained glass windows, the grand marble staircase, the Oriental porcelain vase and the Civil War murals? I think it’s the most beautiful building in Lowell.

22. joe Says:
    April 4th, 2008 at 2:26 pm

    I like the way the windows glow golden at night.

    The building really is a jewel.

23. Kpem Says:
    April 4th, 2008 at 9:23 pm

    “Why can’t they mill about in front of CVS like they’re supposed to?”

    Yes Joe my sentiments exactly. If they can not act like human beings, control their language, and read and surf the web like everyone else then CVS sounds like a great place for them. The building is beautiful, but that is not what makes it so ugly. When you can not take a 4 year old to check out library books because the F-bomb is dropped every 2 minutes then the library is a dump. Spin this whatever way you want but these kids need someplace to burn some energy and the library is not it. Have you talked to a 17 year old in this city that truely tells you what the Lowell library is used for? So naive.

24. Kpem Says:
    April 4th, 2008 at 9:29 pm

    “Now, Kpem: they need somewhere to go after a long afternoon of very slowly walking in front of people’s cars against the light.”

    Yep, that too Joe.

25. waittilnextyr Says:
    April 5th, 2008 at 10:13 am

    “Yes Joe my sentiments exactly. If they can not act like human beings, control their language, and read and surf the web like everyone else then CVS sounds like a great place for them.”

    Are you serious?

    PS Joe was not.

26. Kpem Says:
    April 5th, 2008 at 1:31 pm

    No I am not serious about them hanging around at CVS and I know Joe was not. Why is it that we have to make so many excuses for bad behavior and bring the level of what is acceptable down. We are really cheating these kids by making excuses for them and damaging this “beautiful building in Lowell”. There is no place for these kids to go downtown after school and they may have no transportation or parents at home. The Library is a hangout to read, study, surf the net etc.. but not the type of hangout to socialize these kids need.

27. Kpem Says:
    April 5th, 2008 at 2:03 pm

    “There is nothing that gets me angry than someone insinuating that Lowell institutions are not safe; that Lowell is not safe. I just want to tell them to go pound sand”

    Mimi,
    Are the quotes from the Library employees not feeling safe in the Sun a lie by the employees or the Sun? They are there day in and day out and I would tend to take their word on the safety of the library.

28. Anonymous Says:
    April 5th, 2008 at 7:59 pm

    thank you kpem you are the most reasonable person here. and for everyone elses info, staff brought up those issues and more years ago to cox and now lynch and they’ve done nothing. which is why they are brought up today. od’s and molestations in the reading room, drunking sleeping in the reading area, staff being accosted. they all have happend, and i know firsthand that the carpet in the elevator was replaced because people repeatedly urinated on it. so mimi and others, don’t make assumptions. you try working there getting cussed at, thrown stuff at. you deal with stink bombs, winos, sex offenders, fires. maybe if your kid was sitting at the table by the window reading when those punks decided to kick in the window and got hurt, you’d think differently.

29. Lynne Says:
    April 6th, 2008 at 8:09 am

    Lovely. You know, when someone can’t even pick a nickname but posts as Anonymous, it’s hard to believe them. I almost didn’t approve the above comment, because there are a lot of really extreme accusations, one wonders that if such things were really occurring at the library we would have heard about it. Certainly the Sun probably would have published such things if they were credible, because newspapers love scandal, it sells papers. To be honest, I don’t see any evidence that this anonymous commenter has produced, so please take it with a grain of salt. But if this is the scuttlebutt that’s going around, better for it to be out in the open and discussed.

    IF there is anything to these accusations, of course they should be investigated. If they are merely rumor and innuendo to harm the reputation of either the library or the people in charge, then they should be ridiculed and dismissed. But I don’t like such things to be hidden, regardless. That is how we got to the way of politics in this city in the first place.

30. Eleanor Rigby Says:
    April 6th, 2008 at 1:37 pm

    I guess my biggest questions about what does or does not happen at the library is if these things are true, where are the police reports that were filed?

    Vandalism, threatening actions, drug overdoses and molestations in the reading room? These are crimes. Where are the reports and investigations backing them up?

    Or are there some library or city employees that are either blowing things out of proportion and/or suddenly find themselves politically aligned to someone in city hall willing to make political hay?

31. Mimi Says:
    April 6th, 2008 at 2:00 pm

    Kpem and Anonymous:

    I have come to my conclusions based on the facts. I read the 7-page report (dated 2.29.09) prepared by Assistant City Solicitor, Bryan Leahy. He prepared this report, (which looked at LPD records regarding the Library for the past 3 years) in response to a Council motion on the Pollard Memorial Library security and safety.

    The report outlines all of the type of calls made to the LPD, even those that had nothing to do with the Library but because they took place near the building, there were assigned to it.

    This is his part of his conclusion: [LPD records] “show that generally speaking the Library is safe, secure and crime free. Any allegations that crime such as drug, arson, vandalism, assaults and threats to employees or (patrons) regularly occur at the Library are unfounded.”

    In his report he does state that “disruptive youth” were the largest single type of response. Forty-three calls to the LPD in 900 days. Shouldn’t the question then be what are the non-profit social agencies, the Lowell School system, and other crime-prevention groups doing to eliminate the problem of “disruptive youth” at the Library.

32. kpem Says:
    April 6th, 2008 at 8:09 pm

    Mimi,
    You posted a quote that has some selective wording in it “show that generally speaking the Library is safe, secure and crime free. Any allegations that crime such as drug, arson, vandalism, assaults and threats to employees or (patrons) regularly occur at the Library are unfounded” When words like generally speaking and regularly occuring are used that still leaves room to understand why some employees at the library do not feel safe. I know you guys love the sun so here is their quotes from some library employees: http://www.lowellsun.com//ci_8782370?IADID=Search-www.lowellsun.com-www.lowellsun.com
    Lynne,
    First I would like to say that I too have posted as anonymous a few times. If you empty your temp files, passwords etc like you should, your screen name dissapears on Lil without realizing it and up pops the anon post. The Sun would not cover a drug overdose, drunks sleeping, or someone urinating in an elevator as these are the norms not news. There was coverage about a sex offendor in 2004? at the library, and someone being accosted there. This all comes down to how the people that work there feel not us. Teachers and Librarians do not go into there job thinking that they will complain about those they serve. I will be there Monday posting Power Plant Notices and will ask them how safe they feel the Library is so I know if this is myth or fact. I can only go by what I have seen (I will not bring my kids back there) and what my friends teens say happens there in the restrooms, and elevators. The only problem with AK’s motion is that it should have been about what we can do for these teens not blasting it as a lie.

33. Eleanor Rigby Says:
    April 6th, 2008 at 11:43 pm

    Kpem
    I guess you missed my question.

    You said “Maybe the Sun wouldn’t cover”…”a drug overdose, drunks sleeping, or someone urinating in an elevator as these are the norms not news.”
    Then;
    “There was coverage about a sex offender in 2004? at the library, and someone being accosted there.”

    So I’ll ask again, where are the police reports about those

    “a sex offender in 2004?” and “a drug overdose, drunks sleeping, or someone urinating in an elevator as these are the norms not news.” ?

    OR

    “There was coverage about a sex offender in 2004? at the library, and someone being accosted there.”

    Those are crimes, where they reported? investigated?

    And why is an incident that apparently happened 4 years ago relevant now 4 years later? Because now the people making the accusations have someone that will make political hay, it doesn’t matter whether that the accusations are years old!

    BTW, 4 years ago wasn’t AKs good friend and buddy, someone who could have dealt with these crimes, the CM?

34. kpem Says:
    April 7th, 2008 at 9:24 am

    Eleanor Rigby,
    I googled those incidents and could find them. Did you read the attachement I put up from the Sun quoting the peoples names that are afraid to be at the library working? This is all rather pointless. The people working there do not feel safe so a security guard has been hired and that has helped so that is great. The real issue at the library is as Mimi said “In his report he does state that “disruptive youth” were the largest single type of response. Forty-three calls to the LPD in 900 days. Shouldn’t the question then be what are the non-profit social agencies, the Lowell School system, and other crime-prevention groups doing to eliminate the problem of “disruptive youth” at the Library. ” Where is this document?
    Most of these agencies are for some reason not down town where they are needed.

35. Eleanor Rigby Says:
    April 7th, 2008 at 12:03 pm

    “43 calls in 900 days”….that would be about 17 calls a year, just over 1 a month. Doesn’t sound like a crime wave to me.

36. joe Says:
    April 7th, 2008 at 2:03 pm

    Shouldn’t the question then be what are the non-profit social agencies, the Lowell School system, and other crime-prevention groups doing to eliminate the problem of “disruptive youth” at the Library.

    No.

    That is an extremely low rate for a major public building with such a large population that uses it on a daily basis.

    We’ve got actual, non-made-up safety problems in this city.

37. waittilnextyr Says:
    April 7th, 2008 at 4:24 pm

    And now there is a double larceny reported from the library. Let’s hope they have cameras installed that will lead to arrests.

38. Eleanor Rigby Says:
    April 7th, 2008 at 7:16 pm

    I certainly hope cameras are already in place, cheaper than a security guard and will help to catch thieves.

    Kpem I did read the link you provided and it didn’t show me much of anything, just a report on the sub-committee meeting not facts of the frequency or severity of this crime wave at the library.

    I did read where a woman was accosted on an elevator and the perp was apparently arrested or at least known to the woman because a restraining order was issued. BTW accosted does not mean molested and since the legal remedy was just a restraining order I would suggest a molestation did not take place.

    Keeping photos of level 3 sex offenders available at the children’s desk is just good policy! It does not mean level 3 sex offenders are stalking the stacks of the children’s section.

    I also read were Bernie Lynch was aware of just 17 incidents since 2001 which is even fewer than what is quoted above. The story also mentioned that during the period that those “concerned” sited there were 1-million visitors to the library!

    Lowell has a rough enough reputation without people with an agenda, in this case it appears to be political, blowing incidents out of proportion! All the marketing in the world won’t counteract that type of nonsense.

39. Magnolia Says:
    April 8th, 2008 at 12:18 pm

    [Editor’s note: I’m letting this comment through, with reservations. Also, does this person realize you can’t catch HIV through spit, unless you were the most unlucky person in the world? Do we have to combat ignorance as well as alarmism now? –Lynne]

    Well, there was another incident at the Library this weekend. Read today’s Sun. As for the reputed lack of police reports to the library, I happen to have a scanner and there rae lots of times the police don’t file a report. You have to wonder if any of those reports cover the theft of the Director’s own laptop from her own office, a staff member’s purse being stolen,the frozen egg that broke several teeth of an employee, a couple of small fires, very expensice lights stolen from the elevator, the staff member robbed and assualted a few yoears ago, a leather coat stolen while the owner was just about 5 feet away , etc.,etc,etc. It doesn’t soundlike the Director or Trustees really care about the Assistants. And why would she hire a security guard and then tell them not to talk to him? That is just plain dumb. and yet another step between them and help if they need it. What happens if they can’t reach a supervisor? And in thos day and age of HIV and AIDS who wants to get spit at? The Director and Manager need a reality check and new conciences.

40. Mr. Lynne Says:
    April 8th, 2008 at 12:46 pm

    Magnolia seems to put forth an excellent (albeit very anecdotal) case… against the police. Seriously… theft, assault, fires, robbery… this doesn’t describe a managerial problem (Bush administration aside) but a criminal problem. If these are the problems then their outcry should be against someone else. Makes me wonder if they ‘protest too much’.

41. Lynne Says:
    April 8th, 2008 at 12:51 pm

    Or, if the incidents described were actually handled completely appropriately even though this person indicates otherwise, or if these complaints are from years and years of incidents, made to look by this commenter like there was a crime spree at the library since Lynch took office.

    That is why I let this comment through with reservations. This person does not have any credibility right now, as far as I’m concerned, as an expert on this matter. This is the difference between drive-by commenting and those who have spent months, or even years, commenting here.

    However, I let it through, so the discussion could be continued. Personally, even the manner in which this person writes throws doubt in my mind as to the credibility. But at least it will be out in the open.

42. Eleanor Rigby Says:
    April 8th, 2008 at 5:47 pm

    Magnolia, I also have a police scanner and if you actually do listen to yours you would have picked up on the fact that many calls that are dispatched turn out to be nothing at all, hense no report. I have heard calls for gunshots, turned out to be fireworks, etc etc.

    Speaking of “etc etc etc”, you claim to have knowledge of this crime wave, how about including a timeline along with your quote “etc etc etc”?

    So far I’ve seen two sets of number, 43 incidents in 3 years, 17 incidents since 2001. “Crime waves” like these are usually celebrated not condemned.

43. fairlady1212 Says:
    April 9th, 2008 at 8:45 pm

    and btw, magnolia is very credible. she knows first hand what has gone on, we’ve both been there. why is everyone so quick to judge the employees?? why are they written off as disgruntled while lynch and st martin are martyrs? both of you need to learn the meaning of unbiased, because you definitely know the meaning to prejudiced.

44. Magnolia Says:
    April 10th, 2008 at 7:40 pm

    Well, let’s try this again. First I apologize for my atrocious spelling the other day. I was excited to find a forum and this is my first effort this. I have been a Lowell library user for over 42 years. In my previous remarks, I mentioned incidents that I heard on my scanner which I have only had since Christmas of 2003. Should I post any more I will be glad to provide dates and times. I actually know the lady whose leather coat was stolen. I am aware that not all police visits to the library have reports filed. I believe the only person to mention bias was trustee Dunlap who suggested that staff needed retraining. I have never seen less than professional behavior by the staff manning the desks.

45. Eleanor Rigby Says:
    April 10th, 2008 at 10:24 pm

    fairlady,
    How am I biased? I am looking at the number of “incidents” over a 3 to 7 year span and I am not seeing a problem.

    The reports I am reading in our local “unbiased” newspaper say a majority of those “incidents” are disruptive teens.

    I will be your stongest advocate if you can show me how there is a problem but so far all I see is a couple of people with what appear to be a political agenda.

    Change my mind!

46. kpem Says:
    April 11th, 2008 at 8:59 pm

    Eleanor Rigby,
    No one needs to convince you of their concerns. They are much more familiar then you are with the situation. Do you really think that every incident in the city makes the paper? People can only tell you their own experiences and how they feel and it is rather impolite to just say sorry your feelings are not justified. This is not the fault of the city manager or the library director but rather the lack of support we have for the teens in this city. There are places for teens to go but not in the downtown where it is accessible to most.

47. Eleanor Rigby Says:
    April 12th, 2008 at 11:37 am

    Who said anything about “making the paper?” One set of numbers was presented to the CC subcommittee meeting by the police, the second set was presented by the CM. What paper?

    I did read in the paper that CC AK suggested 15 to 20 kids are always hanging out on the steps of the library and that number doubles! I don’t understand what he meant…that 15 to 20 kids turn into 30 to 40?

    The police (not the paper) say the majority of incidents at the library are disruptive teens…

    I asked Magnolia to provide a time line for his/her etc etc etc comment, so far I haven’t seen one.

48. Magnolia Says:
    April 12th, 2008 at 5:36 pm

    Eleanor - which incident do you need a time for. I mentioned that I have only had my scanner since Christmas of 2003 - so they would have all been since then. And i will keep track from now on.

49. kpem Says:
    April 12th, 2008 at 8:04 pm

    Well there has been one incident since this post was started that made it to the Sun and landed someone in the hopsital. I think that we will all now get to really see what happens at the libary now that the public is looking for the info. I have to commend Mr. Milanazzo for his response to the whole situation. Yes he agreed there is an issue (more than most here will do) and that we should have some involvement with teen agencies to see what can be done. Bernie also has added a 7 day per week security guard. So for nothing happening, there the city manager certainly seems to be reacting.

50. Eleanor Rigby Says:
    April 13th, 2008 at 11:15 am

    No one said Nothing is happening, I am saying it’s being blown way way way out of propotion for political purposes!

    Magnolia, you implied in post 39 that there is more here than is being reported by your etc etc etc. So as I said if there is a major problem I will lead the charge, but so far I don’t see anything that justfies the reaction.

    There is plenty of crime in this city, no one has to go and blow things out of proportion to make a point.

51. Magnolia Says:
    April 14th, 2008 at 11:43 am

    First of all I realy don’t think all these things we are talking about are teens only. Thanks to Mimi, I went back and reviewed the subcommittee meeting and listened to the woman who was accosted in the elevator. The man who fondled himself in front of her had been observed around the children’s area for 2 months before that incident by supervisors who never informed the library assistants about him. Did they report him to the director? If not, why not? If she was told, why didn’t she take action? That whole incident was preventable. The union president said this director does not hold staff meetings. Why not? The only staff meeting she has held was to inform them about the security guard. And then she tells them they can’t talk to him. What if they cannot reach a supervisor? What do they do then? I truely think that a lot of the problems can be traced back to not communicating with/or listening to the front line staff. And she did tell them not to talk to the guard. I ran into a staff member this weekend and ,while somewhat reluctant to talk , she backed up what the other 2 said at the subcommittee.

52. Eleanor Rigby Says:
    April 14th, 2008 at 5:54 pm

    So I have a couple of questions before I call for anyone’s head. First the guy fondling himself. He had been seen in the children’s area but what was he doing? Anything suspicious? Was he confronted by anyone?

    If he was acting suspiciously and no one confronted him then yes, someone should have been diciplined. If he wasn’t doing anything that would warrant a call to the cops then what is anyone supposed to do?

    Is this the incident from 4 years ago that prompted the policy of posting sex offender photos at the children’s library desk? If so, it was 4 years ago and it seems that however regretable and possibly preventable, steps have been taken to identify people like this now and in the future.

    Not holding staff meetings? I know I generally find staff meetings a waste of time but certainly they can be useful. As for why staff members can’t talk to a guard, I have no idea.

53. Magnolia Says:
    April 17th, 2008 at 4:04 pm

    weel, I had the scanner on again this afternoon just before 2:00 and Dora ( the Director) called the police for a drive-by on the Moody Street side of the library. Since there is no Moody Street in back of the library anymore, have no idea what that was about. About 5 minutes later someone called from the Referenmce floor for a stolen cell phone. Some poor soul probably turned their back for one minuite and someone took advantage. That floor is usually busy at that time of day. so they must have been real fast. A report was taken but I missed hearing the number.

54. Magnolia Says:
    April 29th, 2008 at 4:40 pm

    Does anyone out there know when the next Safety subcommittee meeting on the library is? I saw in today’s paper that they may have caught one of the guys that robbed the young man who broke his ankle But I also want to want to watch it as I heard a couple of good ones from a neighbor. She said that there was lady who had her wallet stolen week before last while her back was turned and that the security guard who came in later could not get access to the film because the director was not around. And last week the cash box was stolen from the desk.I did not have my scanner on - but do know the police were called. I have to wonder if that got caught on the security cameras as well and if they could get access right away. .

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