The Coalition to Save the Libraries, Neighborhood Networks, and a growing coalition of community groups and labor unions are coming together to demand no cuts to essential services.

We believe that by creating a tax system where everyone pays their fare share we can avoid cuts to libraries, rec centers, fire stations, and other essential services.

The attached flyer has our demands and a menu of options to raise revenue without putting the burden on the backs of poor and working Philadelphians or small businesses.

We are encouraging labor unions and community groups to sign on and individuals to call their city council people.

This is an opportunity for all of us to come together and influence how this financial crisis gets addressed. One option is to slash crucial services. Another option is create temporary tax increases for those who can afford to pay more.

The folks from the Friends of the Free Library who have been coordinating the citywide library campaign are now focusing their demands on closing all libraries three days per week, but not fully shuttering any libraries. I tend to think this is not the best demand. We have to be able to come up with a solution better than closing libraries three or four days a week. I think the Friends of the Library see this as the most winnable solution.

A lot of other solutions have been thrown around including collecting money from the Eagles, raising the wage tax by 0.1 percent, and asking for money from the federal government. I don't know how realistic any of these things are in the short term.

Do people think there is a winnable demand that we can make to keep libraries open? There will be a citywide rally on December 6. I think unifying around a demand for that action could be important.

--Eric