A Nutter Crisis

摘要

Philadelphians love their libraries. Benjamin Franklin opened the first successful lending library in America there in 1731. The first free library was chartered in 1891. Andrew Carnegie donated $1.5m for the construction of two dozen more in 1903. Even as the city's population fell, new libraries kept opening. So it was a big deal when Michael Nutter, the city's mayor, decided in November to close 11 of them in an effort to cope with the city's fiscal woes.rnPhiladelphia's problems are huge and getting huger. By law the city's five-year fiscal plan must be balanced annually. As well as seeking emergency federal help for public pensions, infrastructure, and access to capital for short-term cashflow, Mr Nutter has been forced to make difficult cuts. Every department's budget has been slashed and will probably still lose another io%-3O%. His rescue plan so far has delayed tax breaks and reduced the city's payroll. He has cut his own salary by 10%. Seven fire companies and several city swimming pools are on the chopping block. Mr Nutter has been forced to hold a series of town hall meetings to explain the cuts and the crisis. He got an earful, especially over the libraries.