Statement
before the Glenn
A. Walsh
Council of
The City of
Carnegie Library’s Electronic Mail: < gaw@andrewcarnegie.cc
>
Allegheny
Regional Internet
Site: < http://www.andrewcarnegie.cc
>
Branch Library 2007 December 5
Good morning. I am Glenn A. Walsh of
Yesterday, I learned that a public hearing regarding a
proposal to permanently abandon the Allegheny Regional Branch of The Carnegie
Library of Pittsburgh, the city’s first Carnegie Library built in the
neighborhood where Andrew Carnegie grew-up, and build a smaller library
structure three blocks away, was scheduled for Monday morning at 10:00, in the
City Council Chamber.
This will provide very limited time to inform the
community of the issue and of the public hearing, and likely it will result in
very low attendance for this public hearing. Further, the busy Christmas season
is always a bad time to hold a public
hearing, as nearly everyone is occupied
with shopping and holiday events.
Is it not the purpose of a public hearing to really
get the opinion of many members of the public, not just to satisfy a legal
requirement? If so, then this public hearing should be scheduled in January,
when many more members of the public are available to attend.
Further, to maximize attendance from people in the
neighborhood, this public hearing should be scheduled during the early evening
in the neighborhood. The New Hazlett Theater, in
Yes, January is often cold and snowy. But, the people
of the North Side are very interested in the future of their community and very
concerned about their Library. I am confident in telling you that attendance at
a public hearing on a cold and snowy night in January at the Hazlett Theater
will be much higher than if the public hearing is held on a work-day morning
Downtown.
I urge the City Council President to schedule this
public hearing for an early evening in January, at the Hazlett Theater on the
North Side.
Thank you.
gaw