Though the tax has raised money — $109 million in the last 18 months — the project stalled as the tax was challenged by the beverage industry and merchants. Now, with the court's ruling, the city has an opportunity to finally put the shovels in the ground. The city also has a responsibility to make sure as many of those shovels as possible are wielded by minority workers from the communities these libraries serve. And Council has a responsibility to make sure we don't revert to our old Philly ways — playing small-time politics on big-time issues.