Your Two Cents Worth Can Make a Difference
It’s budget time in Chula Vista – and it is essential that the library receives adequate funding to serve the community during the coming year. The Friends Executive Board urges its members to let the City Council know that they believe the library is an important part of the community.
Friends are invited to attend a public workshop from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 14, in Council chambers to learn more about the proposed budget. And Friends are encouraged to attend the City Council workshop at 4 p.m. Thursday, May 24, to express their support for the services the library provides. Friends may also call or write individual Council members to remind them that the library must be a priority, even in a difficult economy.
The opening of the Otay Ranch branch library in April was an important step forward – and the new branch recorded more than 10,000 visitors in its first two weeks of operation! Obviously, the community needs and wants a public library that can continue to provide these essential services.
The library logged more than 600,000 visitors last year, and that number will certainly increase in 2012 with the opening of the new branch at Otay Ranch. Yet, the library ranks near the bottom statewide in per capita funding for books. City funding could provide additional books, extended hours at Otay Ranch and essential improvements to the Civic Center and South Chula Vista libraries.
Friends are invited to attend a public workshop from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 14, in Council chambers to learn more about the proposed budget. And Friends are encouraged to attend the City Council workshop at 4 p.m. Thursday, May 24, to express their support for the services the library provides. Friends may also call or write individual Council members to remind them that the library must be a priority, even in a difficult economy.
The opening of the Otay Ranch branch library in April was an important step forward – and the new branch recorded more than 10,000 visitors in its first two weeks of operation! Obviously, the community needs and wants a public library that can continue to provide these essential services.
The library logged more than 600,000 visitors last year, and that number will certainly increase in 2012 with the opening of the new branch at Otay Ranch. Yet, the library ranks near the bottom statewide in per capita funding for books. City funding could provide additional books, extended hours at Otay Ranch and essential improvements to the Civic Center and South Chula Vista libraries.
Contact Information
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Contact the Mayor and City Council by mail at 276 F Street, Chula Vista 91910, by phone at 619 691-5044, or through the city’s website at http://www.ci.chula-vista.ca.us/City_Services/Mayor_Council/contact.asp
Or contact individual members: Mayor Cheryl Cox - ccox@chulavistaca.gov Council member Rudy Ramirez - rramirez@ci.chula-vista.ca.us Council member Pat Aguilar - paguilar@chulavistaca.gov Council member Pamela Bensoussan - pbensoussan@chulavistaca.gov Council member Steve Castaneda - scastaneda@chulavistaca.gov |
State Funding an Issue, Too
State funding for libraries is also at risk, as the State of California struggles with a projected $16 billion budget deficit. Governor Jerry Brown's proposed cuts will jeopardize critical services for the blind, such as the Braille and "talking books" programs, and literacy programs aimed at helping adults gain the basic reading skills they need to secure employment.
Friends can make their voices heard by writing to key legislators. Click this link to download a sample letter to be sent to the legislators below.
The Honorable Bob Blumenfield, Chair, Assembly Budget Committee
The Honorable Mark Leno, Chair, Senate Budget Committee
The Honorable John A. Perez, Speaker, California State Assembly
The Honorable Darrell Steinberg, President Pro Tem, California State Senate
Friends can make their voices heard by writing to key legislators. Click this link to download a sample letter to be sent to the legislators below.
The Honorable Bob Blumenfield, Chair, Assembly Budget Committee
The Honorable Mark Leno, Chair, Senate Budget Committee
The Honorable John A. Perez, Speaker, California State Assembly
The Honorable Darrell Steinberg, President Pro Tem, California State Senate
