I can’t stop thinking about that speech at the Long Beach budget hearing.
If you haven’t seen it, there’s a viral video of a woman, who refers to herself as the “community grandma”, speaking out against proposed library budget cuts at a recent Long Beach city council.
In the video, she gives a heartfelt speech about the impact the library has had on her community. She talks about the quilting group she’s in and how the library has been a safe space for neighbors in need, citing an example of a friend who had been assaulted on public transport and then found refuge in the library. You can watch it below.
So what’s going on with the Long Beach budget? The City Council is proposing cutting library hours and reducing staff at a time when library usage is actually increasing in Long Beach. Under the proposal, several branches would be closed on Mondays, a day which sees an average of 1000 Long Beach residents using the facilities. Fourteen positions would be eliminated including a mental health associate.
If you’re as moved by this woman’s speech as I am, here’s what you can do.
You can help get the word out so Long Beach residents know what’s happening. The Long Beach library foundation has an online petition for residents to sign.
They are also urging residents to attend the next city council meeting on Tuesday, August 25th at 3pm to show their support for libraries.
This is exactly what libraries are for. Creating safe spaces, building community, and increasing access to information.
If you live in Long Beach or have friends in Long Beach, make sure they know what’s happening.
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