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People across the state of California signed onto a petition opposing the Santa Clarita City Council’s decision to privatize the public library system.
On Tuesday, October 12, Santa Clarita community member Deanna Hanashiro delivered these petition signatures and comments to a City Council hearing.
Click here to sign the petition at SEIU.org
Deanna and her teenage daughter are volunteers at the Valencia library. Deanna told the Council:
“In less than six days, we have received over 1,000 signatures and comments. You might not care what someone in Orange County or San Francisco thinks about how we conduct our business in Santa Clarita but some of these emails are from Santa Clarita and the unincorporated areas around here.”
“I’ll be leaving you their comments and once again I ask you to withdraw your Aug. 24 vote and listen to the community’s concerns especially since you will be losing the $1.4 million special library tax.”
Sign on now to show your support
Camarillo Residents Speak Against Privatizing Libraries
The movement to prevent the privatization of libraries is gaining momentum, but more needs to be done. This week, we learned that public libraries in Camarillo, California might soon be outsourced to the same private equity-owned company that’s taking over Santa Clarita’s system.
Jackie Griffin, director of the Ventura County Library system, responded to the news:
“I don’t want to slam the city of Camarillo, but I am at a loss at why anyone would want to privatize a library,” Griffin said. “I understand Camarillo wants their own library, but what I truly don’t understand is the concept of turning over tax dollars to a private company that has no public financial information out there and is not in the community. Privatizing is so different from what the American library system is about.”
Read What Californians Are Saying About Public Libraries
Here are a sample of the comments we submitted to the Council from online activists this week…
“We need our Canyon Country, Valencia, and Newhall libraries to remain as Country libraries. I am highly satisfied with the job that Los Angeles County is doing to run our libraries. The City of Santa Clarita should consider it’s citizens’ opinions.”
– Judy of Canyon Country, CA
“Libraries must be responsive to the community. Private libraries will be responsive only to the bottom line.”
– Resident in El Cajon, CA
“There’s nothing wrong with our libraries, why have another company come in and revamp it? It’s going to make it impersonal to the residents of Santa Clarita, and it’s not going to resemble home as much as it does now. I understand this may be for the sake of money, but do we really have to use our libraries for it?”
– Catie of Santa Clarita, CA
“The citizens and users of the public library system should be allowed a say in this matter before moving forward with the decision to allow for an informed decision.”
– Raul of Santa Clarita, CA
“Some things just need to be part of the public fabric and not a money-making enterprise. Please reconsider this action.”
– James of Corona, CA
“Private companies strive to make a profit as their first priority, not to fulfill the needs of library patrons.”
– Resident of Encitas, CA
“Public Libraries must stay public, meaning cities must fund and run libraries, not private businesses with bottom line goals.”
– Francisca of Coronado, CA
Join the movement on Facebook: Save Our Santa Clarita Libraries