In sharp contrast to county executive Chris Collins, whose thick-headed policy toward public libraries has made Erie county a national laughing stock, Democratic challenger Mark Poloncarz today issued a report supporting the institution.

Click here to download a copy of the report, “Libraries: An Economic Engine for Our Future.”

“I use the library. I have a library card. I don’t believe Chris Collins does,” Poloncarz remarked. He attacked the county executive’s proposal to create a special tax district to support libraries, saying it was adding taxes and bureaucracy to try to solve a problem he himself created.

From the report: “Collins created a funding crisis by specifically targeting the county’s library system for drastic cuts at the same time he refused to spend tens of millions of dollars of federal stimulus assistance and increased the salaries of some of the county’s highest paid employees. For the 2011 budget, Collins cut $4 million from the Buffalo and Erie County Library System. After public outcry and hard work by our legislators, $3 million was restored to the 2011 budget.”

But now let’s get back to the burning question that everyone wants answered: Does Chris Collins have a library card or not?

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