Urge Council to Support Library

The Moorpark City Council vote on Oct. 1 regarding the library was a disappointment to say the least.

It seemed so logical, just good sense, to include the library in the infrastructure of the city, along with fire and police departments, roads, flood control, water, etc. It too is a vital part of the community that is affected by population growth just like those other things.

Everyone expects the developers to balk. After all, they are in the business of making money. That is why we don’t vote for developers to do what is best for our city. The City Council is who we trust to do that, and we expect them to be honest, nonpartisan and informed--it’s their job.

Two of them let all of us down Oct. 1. Council members Debbie Teasley and Bernardo Perez voted against including our library as a recipient of new developer fees. Why? Do they think the library is unimportant? Do they think a library budget like last year’s 3 cents per person per year for books is all the people of Moorpark are worth? (In comparison, Thousand Oaks library budget allows $5.54 per person per year.) Not everyone feels the way I do about libraries, but I can’t believe they don’t care.

The Moorpark Library can get very busy. I bet neither of them has been there at about 3 p.m. on a school day. I’m there two days a week from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and I can tell you, it is still packed then. There are parents and small children, but most are students doing schoolwork. But many are also there because it’s a safe place to be until their parents get home from work.

I once overheard a county supervisor say to his assistant after a vote: “Well, no one complained so I guess they think it’s OK.” How will they know how you feel if you don’t tell them?

There will be another vote this Wednesday at 7 p.m. with the full council. Come if you can. Call 529-6864, Ext. 222, for the council members’ voice mail.

JEAN TUFTS

Moorpark