February 8, 2015

Urban problems we hadn't started worrying about yet

Tree Hugger  - In Shreveport, Louisiana, a neighbor complained about Ricky and Teresa Edgerton's Little Free Library. According to the zoning administrator, "the book swaps are, by definition, libraries equivalent to Shreve Memorial Library, and under city law a library can only exist in a commercially-zoned area." Neighbors have rallied round, wondering "With everything that's facing our city right now they're going to take issue with this? It's not hurting anyone."

It's happening in Los Angeles too; The LA times starts its article:
Crime, homelessness and crumbling infrastructure are still a problem in almost every part of America, but two cities have recently cracked down on one of the country's biggest problems: small community libraries where residents can share books.

The owners were given a week to remove their library or the city would fine them. Evidently order came after an anonymous note from "a neighbor who hates you and your kids" was left on their library, ordering them to "Take it down or the city will."

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Books are heavy, flammable and libraries attract people who have too little to do, they can congregate under a bridge at less expense to the city.