Save Our Libraries (San Diego, Stockton, Mountain View: sales, city hall, university)

[mossomo]

Hello. Did you know this? They're trying to close our libraries.

On Nov. 5th Mayor Sanders announced the closure of 7 libraries, 9 rec centers and a gym.

The libraries chosen to be shut down include: OB, University Community, University Heights, Mountain View/Beckwourth, Carmel Mountain Ranch, Clairemont and Allied Gardens/Benjamin.

Sanders chose the following Recreation centers for closure: Penn, Adams, Azalia, Cabrillo, Cadman, Tecolote, Stockton, Presidio and Lopez Ridge, plus the Black Mountain gym.

Public Council hearings are scheduled for today, Wed. Nov. 19th, at 2:00 PM
at City Hall, 202 C St., 12th floor

These cuts need the approval of the City Council. Don't let this happen. Call or write your council man/woman. Pass these numbers/emails off and have friends & family call too. If you don't know who represents you, thats alright, check here: City Council | City of San Diego

District 1 City Council President Scott Peters
E-mail: scottpeters@sandiego.gov
Telephone: (619) 236-6611
From North County (858) 484-3808
Fax: (619) 236-6999
Chief of Staff email: mpintar@sandiego.gov

District 2 Councilmember Kevin Faulconer
E-mail: kevinfaulconer@sandiego.gov
Telephone: (619) 236-6622
Fax: (619) 236-6996
Chief of Staff: johnrivera@sandiego.gov

District 3 Councilmember Toni Atkins
E-mail: toniatkins@sandiego.gov
Telephone: (619) 236-6633
Fax: (619) 595-1481
Chief of Staff: dzprice@sandiego.gov

District 4 Councilmember Tony Young
E-mail: anthonyyoung@sandiego.gov
Phone: (619) 236-6644
Fax: (619) 236-7273
Chief of Staff: jslack@sandiego.gov

District 5 Councilmember Brian Maienschein
E-mail: bmaienschein@sandiego.gov
Telephone: (619) 236-6655
From North County: (858) 673-5304
Fax: (619) 238-0915
Chief of Staff: lwitmondt@sandiego.gov

District 6 Councilmember Donna Frye
E-mail: donnafrye@sandiego.gov
Telephone: (619) 236-6616
Fax: (619) 236-7329
Chief of Staff: shadley@sandiego.gov

District 7 Council President Pro Tem Jim Madaffer
E-mail: jmadaffer@sandiego.gov
Phone: (619) 236-6677
Fax: (619) 238-1360
Chief of Staff: afaucett@sandiego.gov
Consultant to Rules Committee: elowe@sandiego.gov

District 8 Councilmember Ben Hueso
E-mail: benhueso@sandiego.gov
Telephone: (619) 236-6688
Fax: (619) 231-7918


Don't forget to let Mayor Sanders know how you feel.

Mayor Jerry Sanders:
Email: JerrySanders@sandiego.gov
Telephone: (619) 236-6330
Fax: (619) 236-7228

Thanks!!!

[sav858]

This is horrible, I can't believe they are trying to close all these libraries and recreational centers. This city is so damn cheap and has the most messed up priorities sometimes. They are willing to close libraries and rec centers that educate people and keep kids of the streets but thinks its too much to ask residents to pay for their own damn trash pickup service like everyone else in the county and state. Charging $10/month for trash service, which is 1/2 the rate of comparable cities, would erase SD's deficit and give it a small surplus, allowing all the libraries and rec centers to stay open.

It's always good to be fiscally conservative but San Diego is RIDICULOUS at times, they'd rather cut public services instead of pension benefits and refuse to get rid of that stupid 80+ year old law making it illegal for the city to charge for trash service. And of course San Diegan's vote out the one man actually trying to do something about the pension mess, Mike Aguirre, and instead elect some idiot that will just let City Hall rape the taxpayers of SD.

Sorry for the rant but I seriously cannot stand how cheap this city is sometimes and how utterly messed up their priorities are.

[ubringliten]

Why don't the city increase taxes, like our sales or property tax to avoid closing these libraries?

[leighland]

This is all due to the Pension budget crisis. I am not surprised to hear this. Its probably a choice between fire/police and services. Somethings will have to go..

[jksouthbay88]

Does ex-mayor Dick Murph. have anything to do with this?

[Sassberto]

The city is broke and the residents won't pay any more taxes. It's going to get worse before it gets better.

[tande1n5]

Originally Posted by ubringliten

Why don't the city increase taxes, like our sales or property tax to avoid closing these libraries?

In case you're not aware, this is usually met with substantial opposition. In many/most cases, enough to can the thought.

[sav858]

I don't get why someone doesn't propose a damn trash pick up fee, there are very few good arguments against having one, pretty much all cities charge for trash service.

If San Diego were to charge a mere $10/month per household for trash service, which is HALF the rate of comparable cities, that would generate over $50 million a year. Which is enough to close the $43 million budget deficit and give it an actual surplus w/o cutting services.

Pretty much almost all the fees and taxes San Diego charges for certain things is less than all comparable cities in CA and we don't even charge for trash service like they do. People here are cheap and expect a free lunch it's really pathetic actually....

[tande1n5]

Originally Posted by sav858

I don't get why someone doesn't propose a damn trash pick up fee, there are very few good arguments against having one, pretty much all cities charge for trash service.

If San Diego were to charge a mere $10/month per household for trash service, which is HALF the rate of comparable cities, that would generate over $50 million a year. Which is enough to close the $43 million budget deficit and give it an actual surplus w/o cutting services.

Pretty much almost all the fees and taxes San Diego charges for certain things is less than all comparable cities in CA and we don't even charge for trash service like they do. People here are cheap and expect a free lunch it's really pathetic actually....

I think that you'd get opposition and the folks in the city council know that, since folks aren't going to want to pay for something they get right now for free. It's a bit hard to pull off when you can say "but, we've ALWAYS done it like this!" I agree with you, by the way, since just about every other American city works like that, and San Diego really shot itself in the foot over that one, but I think it is what it is, and that's exactly why. Free lunch.

[ubringliten]

Well, I am willing to pay a little tax to keep these great amenities. Increase it from 7.75 to 8.0%, and that's still lower than most other cities.

I hear that trash fee is already included in the property tax.