tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post4404297599718048176..comments2024-01-30T07:41:20.885+00:00Comments on Broken Barnet: Phoenix rising: the library occupation continuesMrs Angryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-80398591269885151872012-10-13T01:51:52.035+01:002012-10-13T01:51:52.035+01:00Hmm, I think it is fair to say that the occupiers&...Hmm, I think it is fair to say that the occupiers' arrival has brought an unexpected new life to the story, which was languishing somewhat. But that is not to say that it is entirely the SFBL campaign that has made this such a successful campaign, and it is a success, whether or not the library is saved, it has acheived all sorts of things no one could have envisaged.<br /><br />When the occupation first happened I simply could not believe the council's reaction, and as you say, especially in the light of their refusal to negotiate with local campaigners. That is why I asked Barnet officers the question about only entering into talks when someone was 'holding a gun to the head'.<br /><br />As we now see, however, the negotiations were just playing along, and the real intent has always been to lever the occupants out of the premises at any cost. This tactic has not quite gone according to plan, has it?Mrs Angryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-49944820770585278572012-10-12T14:42:33.244+01:002012-10-12T14:42:33.244+01:00I salute the work of the occupiers and the extra l...I salute the work of the occupiers and the extra life they have breathed into the campaign. I think Pheonix's obvious celebrity has helped no end. Perhaps it was a figure head that had been missing all this time. However, the amazing work done by the SFBL group should not be pushed into the shadows of history by this dazzling light.<br />The local campaign had been and continues to be hugely successful. I have watch some inspirational people work courageously and tirelessly to save this library, surely these footsoldiers are the heroes.<br />Personally, and with no ill feelings towards the squatter whatsoever, have been offended by the council's willingness to negotiate with them whilst brushing SFBL aside.<br />We are only at this point now because of the selfless efforts of SFBL.Dr Vodkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02668468444425888716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-38817741659740378762012-10-11T22:26:16.050+01:002012-10-11T22:26:16.050+01:00well said, Phoenix: and you are right - why should...well said, Phoenix: and you are right - why should the community be told to pay for something that already belongs to them? The money needed to keep all our libraries could easily be found if the will was there, the problem is that the council prefers to allocate the funding to wasteful indulgences such as outsourcing consultants, and high pay for senior officers.Mrs Angryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-22665049717121532652012-10-11T22:06:09.674+01:002012-10-11T22:06:09.674+01:00Great write up,now we have time to really organise...Great write up,now we have time to really organise,calling all local support team come in and help,fill in the rota ,together we can win this.<br />This is your community centre and library use it or lose it.<br />Stop the Cuts.The 6 million for the Arts depot library which seems to be faltering could easily keep the libraries open and re employ the 19 of 25 librarians made redundant.and go a long way to saving many public services.<br />Lets talk solutions,the best one we heard this week was if the new chief executive took a pay cut from 190,000 o 160,000. Then the 30,000 could be used to borrow the 400,000 needed.But why should we pay for a building that already belongs to the community?<br />we are legally occupying,there is only one story time for kids ,same as used to run in the library, by a local mother who is CRB checked.<br />We have had woodhouse college teachers in offering books and saying they'd like to bring classes in,also 2 classes from the international school came in to learn about direct democracy,the community library,squatting and civil rights.<br />The library is a beacon of knowledge and learning.<br />More from Phoenix is on my blog www.phoenixrainbow23.blogspot.co.uk<br />Basically for 20 years since the 1992 Rio Earth summit our group has been setting up environmental community centres in some of the 1.4 million empty properties in the UK.<br />In this time we have negotiated with many councils and found that as usual they do not represent the will of their people but corporate concerns.We need more direct democracy in this country.Phoenixrisinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12371398605951283512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-26824733090226312442012-10-11T20:48:04.536+01:002012-10-11T20:48:04.536+01:00here is an interesting question - the council is i...here is an interesting question - the council is in its latest statement calling the occupation illegal. Is it? Has that been decided yet? I think not: the judge defined the occupiers argument as being that the council had given permission to the squatters and recognised them as licensees. Until the case is heard, presumably illegality has not been established. Tut tut, Tooting Twister.Mrs Angryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-53411499866539830272012-10-11T15:38:58.588+01:002012-10-11T15:38:58.588+01:00Hmm. Better. Please pay proper attention in future...Hmm. Better. Please pay proper attention in future, Mr Mustard.Mrs Angryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-47502958862737926742012-10-11T15:30:46.008+01:002012-10-11T15:30:46.008+01:00Nice one.Nice one.Ronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10650599998897942111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-83459484764958154222012-10-11T14:26:02.829+01:002012-10-11T14:26:02.829+01:00You are correct mum now that I have re-read what y...You are correct mum now that I have re-read what you wrote.Mr Mustardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12522242686839965655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-85393540918440503182012-10-11T13:28:54.064+01:002012-10-11T13:28:54.064+01:00Where did I say he was in favour of the people? If...Where did I say he was in favour of the people? If you read it properly, Mr Mustard, you would see I praise him for being fair, and making a difficult process accessible to the occupiers, which gave balance to the proceedings which would not otherwise have been there. My point was that giving fair consideration to the less advantaged party in the process is not something we are used to here in Barnet, where the system is used to confuse and confound the taxpayers and residents, rather then enable them to take part.Mrs Angryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-92121953091312978542012-10-11T10:52:06.440+01:002012-10-11T10:52:06.440+01:00I have to take slight issue with your early words ...I have to take slight issue with your early words about the judge being in favour of the people (I know I know I wasn't even there, earning a living and all that, ironically partly by recovering houses in Spain on which the mortgage is months or years overdue). The judge is independent and in favout o fjustice, mind you if he doesn't like the way you behave you can have a rougher ride.<br /><br />Refusing mediation was not the wisest move by the council. The refusal may cause any future award of costs in favour of the council to be lower than it would otherwise be.Mr Mustardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12522242686839965655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-314557510921063022012-10-11T08:21:04.611+01:002012-10-11T08:21:04.611+01:00thanks thisthanks thisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-35198436683880980082012-10-10T22:46:20.150+01:002012-10-10T22:46:20.150+01:00Dear Mrs Angry,
A commendable write up indeed. Sa...Dear Mrs Angry,<br /><br />A commendable write up indeed. Sadly you missed the most interesting thing. Poor old Rob Booth asking various questions about Barnet of local bloggers expecting simple answers, such as Metpro, SO15 & Helen Michael and the sorry tale of One Barnet. As each tale of woe unfolded, poor Rob had the look of a man who had bought a pet Chiwawa pupppy only to find it was grew into a Wolfhound on acid. <br /><br />Today was the day I realised that to a sane and dospassionate analytic mind such as Robert, the Borough is insanity personified. All this to a backdrop of kids reading books, old ladies dropping in new books and refugees just enjoying a degree of peace in a public space.<br /><br />Lord help those who think strangling such a baby is a good ideaRog Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08139705078907584931noreply@blogger.com