Trump goes after libraries, museums, American history

Big crowds turn out in Glens Falls and Saratoga to protest administration policies

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Finally, something most of us in Warren and Saratoga counties can agree with - the importance of libraries.

Year after year, voters approve funding for the library because of the value of their programs, services and initiatives.

Last Election Day 72 percent of Glens Falls voters, 64 percent of Queensbury voters and 64 percent of Moreau voters agreed to fund the library and its $5 million budget. That's a much higher percentage of support than any of the politicians on the ballot.

Donald Trump got just 51 percent of the vote in Warren Country.

Elise Stefanik had 54 percent of the vote.

So what most of us have in common is our support of libraries.

But not the Trump administration.

This past week the Institute of Museum and Library Services was essentially closed by the Trump administration with an executive order.

Keith E. Sonderling, the acting director of the organization, shot back in a letter - You can't do that.

Sonderling pointed out the order President Trump issued violated "Congressional intent" and the library was "bound by law to carry out requirements under other statutes."

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the federal arm of libraries that provides monies and grants to libraries all over the country.

According to Kathy Naftaly at Crandall Public Library, the New York State Library gets $8.1 million to fund the staff that divides up the monies to libraries all over the state, reviewing monies, programs and grants to libraries.

Crandall Library received $183,000 from the state through the federal government last year.

But if Trump's order is enacted, that money is gone.

Of course, funding libraries was just a small slice of what was slashed.

Trump also cut federal grants for arts and humanities, museums, archives, historic sites, and educational projects.

Is this what Trump voters demanded?

Also this week, the Smithsonian Institute - America's attic - was accused by Trump "of putting forward a version of history that “deepens societal divides and fosters a sense of national shame.”

Considering what is in the National Museum of African History and Culture, we should be ashamed.

The Smithsonian, which is free to the public, is the cornerstone of any trip to Washington, D.C. I seem to recall seeing Fonzie's leather jacket, the Wright Brothers first plane and the Enola Gay at Smithsonian sites.

“The Smithsonian Institution has, in recent years, come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology,” Trump wrote about his order.

A week earlier, the Voice of American was shuttered by Trump.

I suspect Trump has never been to the Smithsonian.

Then there is the Voice of American, which was also put out of business last week.

60 Minutes reported in its broadcast last week, "In its 83-year history, a lot of people have wanted to shut down Voice of America. The U.S. government-funded broadcaster began during World War II, broadcasting in German to provide the German people with accurate news and information. In time, the Nazis tried suppressing Voice of America by jamming its signals. Then, the communist leaders of the Soviet Union and China sought to silence it during the Cold War. The ayatollahs in Iran and the Kim family in North Korea have also sought to block out Voice of America."

Donald Trump lent our enemies a helping hand this week.

National Public Radio (NPR) and Public Broadcasting System (PBS) have also come under scrutiny.

The New York Times reported NPR assembled a 36-page document in 2011 that detailed exactly what would happen if federal funding stopped. It was bleak and hard to believe considering that public radio stations provide some of the only local news coverage in much of rural America.

Stations like North Country Public Radio are essential during emergencies in the North Country.

NPR's study believes it can weather the cuts, but consumers will need to pick ukp the slack with donations. That will favor city stations over rural markets.

Public televisions could be much worse shape because roughly 15 percent of its revenue comes from the federal government - about $373 million. The nightly national news cast, PBS Newshour, and the show Nature could face cutbacks.

As a regular consumer of PBS Newshour, I've always been impressed by its balance and depth.

But back to the local libraries.

Naftaly says Crandall can make up the $183,000, but it might have to cut back on hours.

Smaller libraries throughout the North Country might not be in the same situation, she said. The monies from the federal government help to fund summer reading programs, teen services, early literacy initiatives and public programming. All could be at risk thanks to the Trump administration.

That's part of the reason so many people were out in the street Sunday.

The state's share of monies from the federal government has not gone up five years.

Eliminating the funding to libraries will not alter the national debt, but it will make our communities poorer.

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The Warren County Democratic Committee posted this photo of the protest in Glens Falls Saturday.

Protests growing

The photos flooded Facebook on Saturday evening showing enormous crowds of people in Glens Falls and Saratoga protesting the Trump administrations actions. What was especially remarkable was it was rainy and in the 40s, but people still turned out.

There were even bigger crowds in New York City and Washington as Donald Trump took a long weekend to play golf.

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Queensbury meeting

The Town Board in Queensbury will again meet tonight at the Town Hall at 7 p.m.

If you are looking for a night out and have always been curious about what happens at Town Board meetings, this might be a good chance to check one out. They can be very entertaining.

It is also an opportunity to weigh in on the board's failure to address the conflict of interest facing one board member.

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Had to hurt

Rep. Elise Stefanik was expected to move into the U.N. ambassador's penthouse residence after resigning from Congress this past week.

But President Trump rescinded her appointment because her vote was too important in Congress.

What Stefanik gave up to be a "team player" was a 37th floor penthouse with panoramic views of the East River and Brooklyn. The residence previously rented for $58,000 a month, but was purchased by the United States government for $15.85 million

The apartment has five bedrooms and six and a half baths. Nikki Haley previously lived there as U.N. ambassador.

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Newspaper tariff

One bright spot so far for newspapers is that newsprint it buys from Canada is still exempt from the 25 percent tariff that Donald Trump imposed this past week, and the original baseline tariff of 10 percent.

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Stefanik for tariffs

Even though Rep. Elise Stefanik's North Country district will be directly impacted by the tariffs on Canada, Stefanik remains committed to Trump and his tariffs.

“For too long, Americans have suffered under unfair trade practices putting America last. We will not allow other countries to take advantage of us, and we must put America and the American worker first.”

Stefanik did not address the numerous vacation cancelations in the North Country that were the result of Trump's tariffs on Canada.

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The North Country Light Brigade was in action again Friday evening on the Exit 19 overpass.

Message of concern

The North Country Light Brigade was in action again on Friday with another important message.

They were position on the Exit 19 overpass for cars heading north.

Last American Newspaper

Here is a couple of photographs from Wednesday's rehearsal for The Last American Newspaper at Crandall Public Library.

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Ken Tingley spent more than four decades working in small community newspapers in upstate New York. Since retirement in 2020 he has written three books and is currently adapting his second book "The Last American Newspaper" into a play. He currently lives in Queensbury, N.Y.