Chicago mayor wipes out overdue library fees to fight 'generational poverty'

[WNYresident]

Chicago mayor wipes out overdue library fees to fight 'generational poverty'

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is erasing overdue fees for library books and other items to "remove barriers that deter youth and low-income patrons" from reading and other educational activities.

Lightfoot announced Monday the Chicago Public Library will be "fine-free" starting Tuesday, making the Windy City the largest city in the nation to do so.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/chi...r-library-fees

"Like too many Chicagoans, I know what it is like to grow up in financially-challenging circumstances and understand what it is like to be just one bill or one mistake away from crushing debt," Lightfoot said in a press release.

How much are library fines these days?

The liberal mayor said she's not as concerned about the economics: “This is about educating folks, giving them access to learning, having a safe space where people can come and learn."

Is the point of a library fine is to get the stuff you borrow back on time? Doesn't the fine teach responsibility? If you are not responsible with someone else's property you get fined for not bringing it back?

She celebrated the move as a way to end "regressive practices disproportionately impacting those who can least afford it, ensure every Chicagoan can utilize our city's services and resources, and eliminate the cycles of debt and generational poverty because of a few mistakes."

How much stuff would someone have to have from a library that is caused generational poverty?

The city's library system blocks cardholders when they owe a fine of $10 or more. One in five cards banned from withdrawing belong to children under the age of 14, according to library officials.

So 20% of the children in Chicago don't return what they borrow? Isn't that the issue that needs to be addressed?

[sharky]

LOL
Next year will be an article about how the library no longer has half the stuff they had this year

[WNYresident]

Ok that was funny but...

I was thinking about this. Many time the actually root of the issue isn't addressed. "Not being responsible and returned what you borrowed".

Just like in NYS. "Our taxes are too high". Instead of literally address the spending issue they come up with just BS. Like on our town boards who know our property taxes are too high yet they don't address the main cause. I would be looking into privatization to get a get base line for negotiations or looking to change service providers. You have to do what you have to do.