Local News in Brief : Members of Library Board Lose Court Bid
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has refused to reinstate the ousted members of the Monterey Park library board in a case that turned into a debate over foreign language books.
Judge Kurt J. Lewin rejected arguments that reinstatement of the board was necessary in part because Mayor Barry L. Hatch had undue influence over library operations.
Hatch, a vocal advocate of temporarily halting U.S. immigration, urged the city librarian last summer not to “cater too much to foreign languages.” He was one of the leaders on the council in replacing the library board last year with a less-powerful advisory commission. Hatch and other council members said they simply wanted more control over library finances.
Lewin’s ruling was the result of a motion filed last month by lawyers for three ousted board members and for the Friends of the Library of Monterey Park, a volunteer support group.
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