We wanted to highlight this statement made to the City Council by our very own Vi Ha at the City Council Budget Hearings last Tuesday, April 29th.

 

"Good afternoon Councilmembers.

My name is Vi Ha and I am the Young Adult Librarian at the Central Library.

I live in [Council District] 1. 

What differentiates a good city from a great city is infrastructure and the role of city government is to maintain infrastructure. 

The voters of Los Angeles approved Measure L to restore Library services. Our hours have been restored, but our staffing has not been.

Libraries are considered a core service and we are expected to have professional service, but we are struggling. 

Managed hiring prevents us from adding new people what is clearly expected from us as mandated from Measure L, to maintain our services.

As a teen librarian at the Central Library, I work directly with teenagers. I teach classes, lead tours, create activities that encourage teens to be future active citizens for the City. I've had to cancel these activities because of staffing shortages.

Do our services matter? We need new staff to continue our services. City Councilmembers, you need to maintain our infrastructure."

-Vi Ha, Librarian, Teen'Scape and Chief Rank and File Steward

 

If you want to make your own statement to City Council keep an eye on your Guild emails!  We will also be putting a post up with some basic information about how to get to City Hall and how to ask for Furlough time to do it! 

We support Dolores Spears and so should you!!!!

Dolores Spears is the Business Representative for the Librarian's Guild from AFSCME Council 36. 

She is running to become the At-Large Representative in the United Neighborhoods Neighborhood Council and we can't think of anyone better to represent the homeowners of her district!  

She also makes sure to represent the city workers to her residents.  We need union advocates in all areas of our city government and Dolores is one such person.  

We hope you will support her as we do!

The election is SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2014 from 10am-4pm

Vote at the Council District 10 Field Office

1819 S. Western Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90006

Dolores is Running in Council District 10.  Her flyer states:
"Eligible Voters: You must be at least 14 years or older and who live, work, own property or participate in the UNNC Community, and affirm a factual basis for it.  UNNC Borders: Between the south side of Pico Bl., north side of Rodeo, east side of Crenshaw and the west side of Normandie.  Moving inward to Western at the 10 freeway, then to Arlington at Jefferson, following the eastern boundry [sic] of Council District 10."

So unfortunately, due to some technical difficulties we are unable to attach Dolores' campaign flyer or the white paper she references in this message to the guild, but we will send them out to our members in an email. 

Some important information from her flyer in the meantime...

Dolores Spears is running to become

the AT-LARGE REPRESENTATIVE

for UNITED NEIGHBORHOODS NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL (UNNC)

Dolores is...

20 Year Resident of Jefferson Park

Appointed to UNNC Board in 2012

UNNC Outreach Chairperson

Strong supporter of Block Club Activities

Moved UNNC Motion Opposing Murphy Oil Fracking

Opposed New Liquor Licensing in Jefferson Park

Strong Supporter of CD 10 Movies in the Park and Holiday Events

Assisted in organizing and supported the Holiday Toy Giveaway in Leslie Shaw Park that was given to over 500 children

The statement she sent to the guild follows...

"Hi everyone,

Attached is my candidate flyer, the Election is Saturday, May 10.  I was appointed to the Board in 2012 to fill an unexpired seat and now have to run for election. One does not have to be a registered voter, to be eligible to vote, one must be 14 years of age and older, live, work, worship, go to school, own property or conduct business on a regular basis within the Neighborhood Council boundaries in CD 10 (see the flyer for boundary information).

In the Valley, a group of very conservative Neighborhood Council members formed a group called the Budget Advocates. If you look at the City Council Agenda, you will see that they will be doing a presentation to the Council.  Attached is their “white paper”, full of additional cost, such as healthcare and no raises to City employees.

Although I have been supporting Block Clubs speaking out against Fracking and other Neighborhood activities, I have been the only Board member that has been speaking up in support of the sacrifices that City employees have already made.

Please post my information on your blog, email and other media used to communicate with Guild members and other Library affiliates.

Thank you for the support.

Dolores"