De Blasio’s allies call for shelving of $150 million for library renovations

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Wednesday, April 9, 2014, 12:13 AM

Smith, Bryan, Freelance NYDN Allies of Mayor de Blasio are calling for the shelving of $ 150 million allotted toward the renovations of the New York Public Library main branch at Fifth Avenue.

Some of Mayor de Blasio’s closest allies — including Susan Sarandon and the Rev. Al Sharpton — are asking City Hall to kill $ 150 million in capital funding for renovations on the New York Public Library’s Fifth Ave. main branch.

The advocates want de Blasio to reallocate that money toward struggling branch libraries.

“Taking money away from branch libraries to subsidize NYPL’s real estate plans will hurt students, seniors, immigrants (and) job seekers,” the coalition wrote in a letter to de Blasio.

As a City Hall candidate, the mayor was critical of the project, but he’s been silent on the issue since taking office.

John Minchillo/AP As a City Hall candidate, the mayor was critical of the project, but he’s been silent on the issue since taking office.

The plan was approved by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg and includes the sale of the Mid-Manhattan branch.

The financial plan de Blasio released in February included the $ 150 million in funds for the library, but his aides said the document was only “preliminary.”

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