League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Los Angeles County, CA March 8, 2011 Election
	Charter Amendment LA-L Reassignment of Funds for Library System City of Los Angeles Charter Amendment - Majority Approval Required Official Results Pass: 136,676 / 62.9% Yes votes ...... 80,740 / 37.1% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Charter Amendment LA-L

Arguments Against Charter Amendment LA-L

Yes on Measure L, "Public Library Funding Act," provides emergency funding to keep neighborhood libraries open, our kids safe, literacy and job placement help for job seekers, with no new taxes and strict fiscal accountability. We cannot afford to wait any longer to provide emergency funding to our Los Angeles City libraries. State and City budget cuts have forced libraries to close their doors, cut vital services and reduce the number of qualified librarians. Without raising taxes, Measure L helps restore library hours, purchase books and sustain library services. Measure L is supported by neighborhood librarians, teachers and public safety, business, spiritual, elected and civic leaders. KEEP CHILDREN SAFE Los Angeles Public Libraries operate the city's largest after-school program, offering children a safe place to do their homework, keeping kids off the street and away from drugs and gangs. HELP RESIDENTS FIND WORK In these tough economic times, job seekers go to neighborhood libraries in the City of Los Angeles and work with librarians to use computers to apply for jobs, search for employment and take free classes in computer instruction, resume writing and job interviewing. HELP NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS EDUCATE OUR KIDS Severe budget cuts to school libraries and afterschool programs have elevated the importance of neighborhood libraries in our children's education. Measure L helps students succeed by providing access to library resources like tutoring programs, computers and books. LIBRARIES ESPECIALLY BENEFIT SENIORS, FAMILIES AND THE BLIND Libraries are important community centers that offer summer youth programs and special services for the blind and seniors. Measure L will help ensure that they continue to have access to these programs. REQUIRES STRICT FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY & TAXPAYER PROTECTIONS Independent financial audits All City budget expenditures are available on-line for public review City and State officials are prohibited from raiding neighborhood library funding. PERSONS SIGNING ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF CHARTER AMENDMENT L BERNARD C. PARKS Councilmember, 8th District City of Los Angeles TOM LABONGE Councilmember, 4th District City of Los Angeles MARTIN GOMEZ Los Angeles City Librarian Los Angeles Public Libraries FAYE WASHINGTON Chief Executive Officer YWCA of Greater Los Angeles JEFF BROWN Chairman Library Foundation of Los Angeles CHARLIE BECK Chief of Police Los Angeles Police Department JAN PERRY Council President Pro Tempore City of Los Angeles ERIC GARCETTI Los Angeles City Council President City of Los Angeles TYREE WIEDER President Emeritus Los Angeles Valley College VICTORIA MAGAW Senior Librarian Mid Valley Regional Branch Library Rebuttal to Arguments For This emergency was created by the City through years of overspending. The recession exposed the fact that City Hall has been living beyond its means, and, instead slapped us Library lovers with closures and reduced Library Services. This measure simply moves more money from one pot to another. Common sense should tell us that puts other City Departments at risk of losing General Fund allocations during this economic downturn. We could see further service interruptions from: Police Fire Recreation and Parks Transportation Street Services Los Angeles City/County is GANG CAPITAL OF AMERICA-400 gangs and 41,000 members. LAPD has responsibility NOT THE LIBRARY.  Keep the LAPD working like the Mayor promises. Help the Jobseekers; benefit the quality of life for all Seniors, Families, Children and Disabled by funding all Departments, not only Library. VOTE NO. THE CITY HAS THE POWER TO RETURN FUNDING TO THE LIBRARY WITHOUT A BALLOT MEASURE. PERSONS SIGNING REBUTTAL TO THE ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF CHARTER AMENDMENT L JAMES O'SULLIVAN President FIXLOSANGELES.COM PATRICIA MCPHERSON JUANITA DELLOMES LA Member AARP RON KAYE Interim Chairman LA CLEAN SWEEP JOYCE DILLARD

Our City Library is like Mother and Apple Pie. The Real Crisis At Hand is the Unfunded Pension Contributions and the City's Dire Financial Position. The 1998 Library Bond proponents sold us: "Give our Children a Place to Learn" "Improve the Quality of Life in All Our Communities throughout Our City." In spite of the Mayor's Gang Reduction and Youth Development Zones, LAUSD had 181,903 truant students last school year. The Library, partner in LACAN Los Angeles Computer Access Network, participated in the receipt of $7.6 million grant from the US Department of Commerce to expand public computer centers. It makes no sense the Mayor and Council closed our libraries. Hidden in the last two year's Library Budgets are Related Costs at levels 82% more than current Revenue: Pension & Retirement Health Resources Development All Other Departments Capital Improvements & Financing Department of Water & Power Building Services Their answer is to increase the Charter appropriation from the General Fund without cutting other costs in the City. Then, the Library will pay back that same increase into the same General Fund. There is no guarantee the libraries will reopen. This is the meaning of "using existing funds with no new taxes." A merry-go-round. We demand accountability of all existing funds, on or off the Annual Financial Reports. Identify those Departments that face funding cuts from this bait and switch scheme. Parcel Tax is only 32% of the City's Revenue subject to Home and Commercial Property Value declines. Identify the Sources of Revenue to maintain ALL Departments. Identify Waste. Find Government Efficiency. We must hold: Mayor accountable City Council accountable Board of Library Commissioners accountable Stop this ballot box budgeting. It's just too dangerous for our future. VOTE NO ON MEASURE L. PERSONS SIGNING ARGUMENT AGAINST CHARTER AMENDMENT L JOYCE DILLARD JUANITA DELLOMES LA Member AARP PETER GARCIA Echo Park Business Association VINCENT MONTALVO Member Central Group Sierra Club JAMES O'SULLIVAN President Fixlosangeles.com Rebuttal to Arguments Against Opponents' arguments are false and misleading A broad coalition of teachers, librarians, religious, public safety and civic leaders support Measure L. Measure L requires: Strict fiscal accountability Independent financial audits Neighborhood libraries receive a dedicated and consistent percentage of the city budget * No new taxes No hidden expenditures- all budgets available online Measure L provides the emergency funding Los Angeles Public Libraries need and reaffirms our commitment to fund these neighborhood libraries -- without raising taxes. Severe budget cuts have forced libraries to reduce services to 5 days/week, reduced operating hours and eviscerated services families, job-seekers and seniors depend on. Measure L restores library days and hours to provide: Students opportunities to learn and succeed A safe after-school environment for our youth free from gangs and drugs Resources to help job-seekers land a job Needed services for seniors and the blind Vote YES to save our neighborhood libraries. PERSONS SIGNING REBUTTAL TO THE ARGUMENT AGAINST CHARTER AMENDMENT L BERNARD C. PARKS Councilmember, 8th District City of Los Angeles TOM LABONGE Councilmember, 4th District City of Los Angeles ROY STONE Senior Librarian-Fairfax Branch Los Angeles Public Library RABBI JOHN ROSOVE Rabbi Temple Israel, Hollywood DOLORES ANITA PATTON Educator RICHARD RIORDAN Former Mayor, City of Los Angeles MARIA CASILLAS President Families in School LUPE CANALES New York Times' Librarian of The Year Los Angeles Public Libraries PATRICK ISIDORO Firefighter ALICIA MOGUEL Senior Librarian + Benjamin Franklin Branch Los Angeles Public Libraries