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Urban League needs to vacate building |
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It is time to return the Mason Square Branch Library to the people of Springfield.
As a citizen and a resident of the McKnight Neighborhood, I appeal to Mayor Domenic Sarno to move with all due speed to ensure that the Springfield Urban League vacates the library building at 765 State Street. I have been assured that the Mayor has every intention of doing so.
The Urban League was officially notified on Sep. 18, 2009 of the eminent domain taking by the City of Springfield of the library property. The city of Springfield assigned a certified relocation specialist to help the Urban League move to another location, as required by law.
By law the Urban League has had four full months to remove themselves from the property. That time period is up on Jan. 18.
The citizens of Springfield, and particularly the citizens of the Mason Square neighborhoods are entitled to have their neighborhood branch library back and we need to know that the City administration is aggressively pursuing the turn-over of the property from the Urban League to the city of Springfield.
The deed to the property has been transferred to the city; the Springfield Urban League is now merely a tenant, but it appears that Henry Thomas, CEO of the Urban League, seems to be unwilling to obey the law and move along. What's the hold-up?
I have asked the City Council to do everything they can to keep the process moving and to help keep the public informed of the progress. President Tosado assigned a committee to stay on top of it, which Ward 4 Councilor E. Henry Twiggs has agreed to chair. Both Mr. Twiggs and Ward 3 Councilor Melvin Edwards, who together represent the neighborhoods in the Mason Square area, have said they will make sure the library is returned to service as soon as possible. I hope the rest of the City Council is on board, since this affects the entire city of Springfield.
Let's get the Mason Square Library back in full service for this most deserving and - so far - patient community of 26,000 souls.
Kathryn A. Wright
Springfield
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