Attempt by Library-Lionhearts to Short-Sheet a Landmark Fouled

New York, NY: — Jefferson Market Court, a Venetian Gothic icon on Sixth Avenue and West Ninth Street that looks like a castle on steroids, is overdue for a facelift. Thanks to vigilant Villagers, this beloved building now has the government funding for this operation.

Constructed in the nineteenth century as part of a large judicial complex, Jefferson Market Courthouse — a library since the mid-1960s — is one of Greenwich Village's and New York City's greatest landmarks, and has been shrouded in scaffolding since 2003 to protect the public from the building's deteriorating facade. More than $2 million had been allocated for renovation of the library by New York Senator Tom Duane and current New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.

However, the library leadership — helmed by Paul I.O.U. LeClerc and Susan C.Y.A. Kent — wanted to use the tax-payers' money for a controversial Teen Lounge [unnecessary INTERIOR construction], and was not planning to use those funds to repair the facade of the building [EXTERIOR REPAIRS] nor improve services for the handicapped and the elderly.

The N.Y. Public Library spent about $200,000 on pricy interior plans for a Teen Lounge, music video hookups, recliners, teenage-think murals, and fanciful indoor renovations geared to slackers-who-prefer-truancy-over-reading vs book-lovers.

Longtime Village residents, frustrated by arrogant remarks from overpaid New York Public Library officials, and determined to get the endangered FACADE repaired, have been working since October 2005 to re-direct the public funding to fix the exterior. The group was spearheaded by several determined firecrackers including [in alphabetical order] Cynthia Crane, president West 11th Street Block Association; Doris Diether, Community Board 2; Marilyn Dorato, director, GVBA; LindaAnn LoSchiavo, West 9th Street Block Association; Fredda Seidenbaum, Christopher Street East Block Association; E. Mary Shannon, a Gay Street resident; Sharon Woolums, West 8th Street Block Association; and others.

Success! Senator Duane and New York City Council Speaker Quinn confirmed that the remaining funding will be directed to repair the facade of Jefferson Market Library as well as to make interior repairs that increase access for the DISABLED and senior citizens — — and this work will begin in 2008.

Updates will appear online — http://jeffersonmarketcourthouseny.blogspot.com/ — — —