Appreciation for Public Libraries

Public libraries have been public for a long time, and I want to keep them that way. I was pleased when Governor Brown signed a bill that was sponsored by Das Williams that would make a city prove that contracting out to a private entity would be in the public interest. The private enterprise would have to prove that privatization did not result in layoffs, outsourcing, or reduced services.

I congratulate the Independent for reporting last month that there was so much public opposition to these restrictions that a provision for a public vote on privatization was withdrawn before passage. A long list of cities opposed the bill, including the City of Goleta.