Libraries are among the foundations of civilization. Whenever I got to any of our local libraries they are always in use despite inadequate facilities, often no AC in the summer, etc. NYC cuts libraries as fast as they can, it seems. To me there is something fundamentally wrong with a city that doesn't value its libraries. Seems at least one mayoral candidate agrees with me...

From Comptroller John Liu:

PRESS CONFERENCE: CITY COMPTROLLER JOHN C. LIU TO CRITICIZE UNDERFUNDING AND SELL-OFF OF NYC PUBLIC LIBRARIES TO PRIVATE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS

WHO - City Comptroller John C. Liu, Citizens Defending Public Libraries, Committee to Save the New York Public Library, Historic Districts Council
WHAT - Press Conference regarding the City Administration’s sell-off of public libraries to private real estate developers
WHEN - April 18 at noon
WHERE - The steps of City Hall

On Thursday, April 18th at noon on the steps of City Hall, New York City Comptroller John C. Liu will speak at a Citizens Defending Libraries press conference in protest of the sell-off of public libraries to private developers eager to build luxury condominiums and hotels on their sites.

Liu has decried the proposed sales that include in Manhattan the Mid-Manhattan and SIBL branches, and in Brooklyn the Downtown Brooklyn and Boerum Hill libraries. The Donnell library in Manhattan was closed in 2008 for sale to a developer who bought it for the site of a future luxury hotel. The sell-offs, which will result in shrinkage of the library system and assets owned by the public, include destruction of the famed research stacks of the 42nd Street library on Fifth Avenue behind the lions Patience and Fortitude.

My family switched to all wind through ConEd 10 years ago. I hope most of our readers have done this or are going to do it. It really makes a difference. Be part of the solution, not the problem. When coupled with a switch to compact fluorescent bulbs you wind up saving money, though the switch to clean energy alone (separate from switching to compact fluorescent bulbs) will cost you a few pennies a kWh per month more.

But in the long run it is worth it!

From Green America:

Thousands of Green America members have already clicked here to find out if their home can be powered by solar. Join them in finding out today if you can also have a solar powered home!

Just listen to one of our Green America members who already went solar through our partnership with Sungevity:

“I chose Sungevity because they had a lease option and offered the most stability in terms of company size, support, and number of installations, as well as customer satisfaction. Sungevity’s partnership with Green America added to my confidence that Sungevity is a trustworthy company. I was happy with the installation process because the paperwork was streamlined and the installers were prompt and tidy. When I had questions, there was always someone to give me clear answers. But, I LOVE my Sungevity because the on-peak bar on my electric bill usage chart is GONE! “ -Sungevity Customer, Silver Spring, MD

Join us this April in being powered by the sun. Go solar.

Other options for Green Energy in NYC include ConEd solutions (all wind power) or Green Mountain Energy.

From NY1: New York City Comptroller John C. Liu sat down with Errol Louis to discuss The People's Budget, his proposal to revamp the City's budget process.

The latest at the Brooklyn Heights Cinema:
70 henry street | bklyn, ny 11201 | 718 596 5095

Upcoming events:

SPECIAL EVENT: Brooklyn Heights Cinema Celebration Event
Sunday April 28th: 6 - 8pm
A special event to celebrate 40+ years of movies at 70 Henry Street
Tickets start at $60.00

With a special performance by the host of NPR's "Ask Me Another" Ophira Eisenberg

And some other cool surprises [silent auction, raffle...]

Bring your ticket to Bavacco after the event and enjoy a free glass of wine and some snacks with us

The money raised will go towards keeping the cinema solvent

CURRENT SHOWINGS:

The Place Beyond The Pines |
2 hours 20 minutes (R)
For the first time in 31 years - nominated in all 4 acting categories!

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes

Fri - Sun: 1:45pm | 4:30pm | 7:10pm | 9:40pm
Mon - Thurs: 5:30pm | 8:15pm

The highly anticipated new drama from director Derek Cianfrance ("Blue Valentine") powerfully explores the consequences of motorcycle rider Luke's (Academy Award nominee Ryan Gosling) fateful decision to commit a crime to support his child. The incident renders him targeted by policeman Avery (Golden Globe Award nominee Bradley Cooper), and the two men become locked on a tense collision course which will have a devastating impact on both of their families in the years following.

Ginger & Rosa | 1 hr 29 min. (PG-13)
Starring: Elle Fanning, Alice Englert, Annette Bening & Oliver Platt

Fri - Sun: 2:00 | 7:00pm
Mon - Thurs: 2:00 | 7:30pm

A look at the lives of two teenage girls - inseparable friends Ginger and Rosa -- growing up in 1960s London as the Cuban Missile Crisis looms, and the pivotal event the comes to redefine their relationship.

Admission | 2 hrs (PG-13)
Starring: Tina Fey, Paul Rudd & Lily Tomlin

Fri - Sun: 4:45 | 9:30pm
Mon - Thurs: 5:00 | 9:00pm

NO 9PM SCREENING Wednesday

A Princeton admissions officer who is up for a major promotion takes a professional risk after she meets a college-bound alternative school kid who just might be the son she gave up years ago in a secret adoption

Standup Comedy
Wednesday: 9 pm

Hosted by Shelly Colman
Featuring
with David Finklestein, Dave Lester Dean Masello & Katherine Williams

Okay, I admit it...I am a member of the Park Slope Food Co-op. We joined for the produce and the really low prices for quality items. We continue to be irritated but the Co-op but we never regret joining. Our diet is healthier at a lower price than what we had before joining.

And like many Park Slope Food Co-op members as well as all you other folks, we buy Eden Soy and other Eden Foods products. Why? Because they offer reasonably priced alternatives to the mega-dairy industry that has misused antibiotics for years and so contributed to the antibiotic resistant strains that are killing people. By mixing soy milk with regular milk for my kids we could cut down on our contribution to the deaths caused by the dairy industry because of their misuse of antibiotics.

Sadly I, for one, will now have to boycott Eden Soy. I will have to find another alternative to the cow milk that kills people by misusing antibiotics. Eden Foods has filed a lawsuit against the requirement under the Affordable Care Act to provide employees with contraception coverage.

Links here:

http://www.salon.com/2013/04/11/organic_eden_foods_quiet_right_wing_agenda/

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/04/11/1201076/-Eden-Foods-The-Organic-Food-Company-Sues-to-Escape-Covering-Contraception

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/04/11/1201084/-Know-Your-Food-Eden-Organics-doesn-t-like-the-birth-control

I have bought Eden Soy for 5 years. I have supported Planned Parenthood for more than 25 years. Eden Foods has chosen to tell women what they can do with their own bodies. I cannot support that choice. So I will stop buying Eden Foods products. If the owner of Eden Foods wants to say contraception is bad, I will disagree with him but support his right to say so. But if Eden Foods as a company files suit to block coverage of contraception (but not filing suit to block coverage of viagra, mind you!!) then I will boycott their asses.

I am sick of the right wing bias of so many companies. This is America. This is the land of competition. We have CHOICES here. I CHOOSE to boycott companies that don't live up to my ideals. THat is the beauty of capitalism. I can boycott stupid companies like Eden Foods that market to the left but then take a right wing extremist position on contraception.

Funny thing is, according to a taste test done by Huffington Post, Eden Soy soy milk isn't even that good, ranking 11 out of 13 in their taste test. Trader Joe's Soy Milk, West Soy and Silk test MUCH better in terms of taste than the anti-women Eden Soy.

So all you women out there who want to choose what to do with your own body...and to all of you who are looking for the best taste in soy milk, Eden Soy seems to be a BAD CHOICE. My family is giving them up.

Contact Eden Foods and tell them your opinion. (Remember, the right does this more than the left does...time we fight back as hard as they do!)