WEST SIDE LIBRARIES BRACE FOR CUTS
The New York City Public Library could face devastating cuts if Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s proposed $37 million reduction in library funding is adopted. In addition to jobs lost through attrition, 736 additional library jobs could be eliminated, according to Susan Singer, a library manager at the Bloomingdale branch, on West 100th Street.
“It would be the worst cut in our history,” Singer said during a July 17 meeting of Community 7’s youth, education and libraries committee.
Six-day service is also under threat. West Side branches have already cut down on hours and instituted a hiring freeze. If the proposed changes go through, the surviving libraries would only open four days a week, according to Singer. Free programs for children would also be eliminated.
In response to the crisis, the library has instituted a fundraising and letter-writing campaign. To date, nearly 100,000 letters of support have been collected.
Bus Routes Spared, But Service Cuts Possible
New York City Transit released a new plan for service cuts Jan. 21, with the goal of saving $77.6 million. Upper West Side residents will bear less of the pain they would have endured under the old plan, proposed in December 2009. In the revised cuts, the M10 bus line that runs on Central Park West was saved from elimination. Overnight service through Central Park on the M79 and M96 bus lines, along with the M104, which runs along Broadway, were saved as well.
Here’s how the revised cuts will affect West Side buses and subways.
MTA CUTS TO WS STATIONS
West Side subway stations are about to get a little lonelier for straphangers. The MTA, which has targeted stations for staff cutbacks, has detailed proposed changes that will reduce the number of subway employees.
“The plan to reduce staffing in subway station and to eliminate some secondary full-time agent booths is a part of New York City Transit’s larger cost-saving efforts,” wrote Howard Roberts, Jr., president of New York City Transit, in a letter to Council Member Gale Brewer.
The staff cuts are expected to take about six years to complete, according to the letter.
Express stops along the No. 2 and 3 train lines will have fewer station customer assistants. The Broadway entrance to the Columbus Circle station, at West 59th Street, will have reduced booth agent service hours—between 3:20 p.m. and 10:40 p.m.—and automated access the rest of the day.
A part-time station customer assistant at the West 72nd Street and Broadway express stop will be eliminated at the 71st Street entrance.
The West 94th Street entrance to the 96th Street express station will only have part-time booth-agent service, between 6:20 a.m. and 1:40 p.m.
Similar cuts will be made on local stops along the 1 line. The 66th Street Lincoln Center subway stop will lose two part-time station customer assistants at the Columbus Avenue kiosk and northbound platform on the Broadway side. On the 79th Street local 1 train stop, a full-time station customer assistant will be cut on the northbound side of the tracks. The West 86th Street station will lose two full-time station customer assistants and have part-time booth agent service on weekday mornings and late afternoons.
