Pay Raise Measure Advances

But Patterson, who is the committee chairman and a library supporter, tried to force the legislation onto the agenda, a rarely used maneuver known as a "discharge."

Fenty, who is the Ward 4 council member and a library supporter, said the city had exhausted numerous studies and public hearings to conclude that it needs a new downtown library. He said Williams's plan was a "good jumpstart" for improving the library system as a whole.

Council member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), also a supporter, urged his colleagues to join him and called the MLK library an embarrassment because of its poor maintenance.

But some opposing council members described the city's neighborhood libraries as "shameful" and "disgraceful" while questioning why the city would pour millions of dollars into a new central library when other libraries are closed or in disrepair.

Brown said residents go to the MLK library because it is in better shape than the facilities in their communities. "I can no longer sit here and listen to this foolishness," he said.

Patterson had the support of seven council members, but library ally Sharon Ambrose (D-Ward 6) had to leave the council session early because of illness. Library supporters offered to send a car to get Ambrose, but they said she was too sick to return for the vote.

The effort failed in a 6 to 6 vote.

Staff writers Susan Levine and Elissa Silverman contributed to this report.