Former Gerber/Hart President speaks out on Library move (and more)

Over the weekend I wrote a op-ed piece on the Gerber/Hart library moving (or not) to Rogers Park at the end of April. I received a comment for the former President of Gerber/Hart, Brad Tucker. This belongs as more of a head-line, than just a average comment buried in the comments section.

Craig,

I am surprised you are jumping on Tracey Baim's bandwagon regarding Gerber/Hart’s upcoming move. As an ally of the LGBT community and someone who cares about Rogers Park, I would have expected you to celebrate the fact that Gerber/Hart would be helping build your community. I am curious: Whom have you talked to? What sources have you confirmed? 

As far as I am concerned, Tracey Baim and her reporters have stooped lower than any reporter in the gay press ever has on this one. I don't know if she thinks she can put the library out of business so she can claim it’s collections for her for-profit gay history website or she is now in the business of making up the news, not reporting it. 

During my term as President of Gerber/Hart, I considered Tracy Baim to be a good friend of the organization. Why doesn't someone ask her why she's turned on the Library and is going for blood?

The front-page innuendoes, distortions, and lies reported constantly in the Windy City Times over the past two months are baseless and without merit. Tracey's mother was a respected author and journalist. I’d bet that if she knew what her daughter was publishing and the insidious manner she using in an attempt to destroy the reputation of Gerber/Hart, she would slap her in the face.

Gerber/Hart has been around for 31 years. It's always been a volunteer run organization. Mistakes and have made, but the Library can claim huge victories over the years – including the fact that it's still in business, serving the community and thriving financially. The newly adopted bylaws reflect the fact that the Library and Board members are subject to attacks from all sides. This time it’s from Tracey Baim and the Windy City Times. Next time it may be for copyright infringement because someone looking to make a profit scans and puts Library or Archival materials on a website without author permission. Come on… with friends like Tracey Baim, who needs enemies?

When G/H moved to Granville 13 years ago, there was angst and upheaval in the community also. The space severed us well over the years, but now the Library MUST (I repeat MUST) move.

I promise you in writing that the Library is 1) moving and 2) the decision will prove to be one of the smartest decisions every made by Gerber/Hart. I know what it takes to move a library – we moved Gerber/Hart in one day. I have no doubts that Karen and her volunteers can’t move it in two months.

Yes, I have some insider information. No, I am not going to share it. I care too much about the future of Gerber/Hart to play into Tracey Baim's hate mongering. I just hope she is willing to apologize to Karen Sendziak and Gerber/Hart Library as loudly as she has criticized them. I wonder if Tracey will be willing to write a check for the thousands of dollars in support she has cost the Library at a time when the Library needs community support the most.

From the information I have, I know that Karen Sendziak should be lauded as a heroine, not a villain. Too bad Tracey and her reporters weren’t willing to take the time to find the truth.

Craig, I am over-the-top angry at Tracey Baim and the Windy City Times, but I am also very disappointed in you for helping to spread her insidious gossip and innuendos. 

Brad TuckerFormer PresidentGerber/Hart Library

(P.S. North Community Bank is also moving into 6500 N Clark. I’m not a rocket scientist, but it seems to me that if North Community Bank is moving into the building maybe the owners are getting financing from…. gee, who do you think?)

BLOGNOTES: Brad, thank you for responding with your insight into the library. I know had this been any other blog or blogger, you wouldn't have even responded at all. I thank you for that, also.


I've based my blog post on visiting the location the Library has issued in it's press release. The release states the move will be done by the end of April. Since my visit, I've put in an official inquiry myself. One I won't divulge at this time, as the findings aren't in yet. 


The way I see it, there is way too much construction work to be done at 6500 North Clark. Way, way, way - too much. Work, that at this time, hasn't even been started. 


Nor were there any "official permits" for work to be done posted on the property, as required by the city.


It's not hard to see nothing is being done, or that there is not permits for work to be done displayed on the building. Anyone can go by and look in the windows themselves. Kate Sosin did herself, after reading my report. Then filed a report of my findings without proper accreditation.


I did stop by the Granville Library location on Sunday, after I filed this, and found the volunteers boxing books, preparing to move. That was a positive site to see.


If my findings in the next month come up in favor of this move being completed by May 1, 2012, meaning - if Karen Sendziak and her volunteers can move the library to the location at 6500 North Clark Street by then - I will eat a big dish of 'crow' - as my dad use to say, and report the conclusion fairly here.


I'm not here to trash Karen on how she runs the Library's board meetings or day-to-day operations. I'm here to talk about the Library moving to 6500 North Clark from its current location it's leaving in Edgewater by the end of April.


 I'll leave the "front-page innuendoes, distortions, and lies reported constantly" up to WCT, as you say.