What's really behind the Seattle Public Library closures? Homeless drug addicts causing security issues. But media blames 'staffing.'
The recent announcement of the Seattle Public Library closures mean branches will be dark one day a week into June.
Seattle’s libraries have shifted from being just about books to dealing with the fallout of these crises. Drug-addicted and mentally ill homeless individuals have escalated emergencies across library branches, creating an environment where safety concerns are dictating too many operational decisions.If the city of Seattle didn’t embrace permissive policies around the homeless, the libraries would be open as normal.
An attack at a Portland, Oregon library branch several weeks ago sparked demands from librarians that the county step in to help. A homeless man in an apparent mental health crisis “bum-rushed and head-butted” a library staffer, according to an SPL, through a spokesperson, makes it clear that the branches “welcome everyone, and that includes people from many different backgrounds and life situations, including people who are in need or are in crisis and need additional support.”
SPL downplayed the impact ending fines would have on its budget. However, it clearly impacted the SPL budget which could have helped to fund additional staff to deal with the homelessness crisis.who either implemented or advocated for policies that worsened homelessness now say that we should adopt their plan to address Seattle Public Library closures.
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