Library presidents call for restoration capital funds

Most of the city’s public libraries could soon close their doors to New Yorkers on weekends.

The Adams administration announced last month its final budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year and it failed to include a restoration of cuts made to the library system.

Advocates and lawmakers say that has put library services and programs at risk.

They are looking for a restoration of $58 million in operating expenses and $130 million in capital funds.

(Spectrum News NY1 graphic)

The Adams administration and City Council must now work out the final city budget by the end of June.

Linda Johnson, the president and CEO of the Brooklyn Public Library, Dennis Walcott, the president and CEO of the Queens Public Library and Tony Marx, the president of the New York Public Library, which includes the Bronx, Staten Island and Manhattan, joined NY1 political reporter Bobby Cuza on “Inside City Hall” Tuesday to discuss more.

“These cuts mean that we can’t be there for what New Yorkers need and what the [Adams] administration needs us to do,” Marx said.