Pleasanton High School students Rally for the Library

HOORAY for our high school students who exercised their rights and civic duty to speak out at Tuesday’s city council meeting. Two-thirds of the speakers were Foothill and Amador Valley students, most of whom were not even old enough to vote, but they were there letting the city staff and council know their feelings about the proposed library cuts.

They were asking the council not to shorten the library hours and Sunday closure. Others spoke about the necessary work of pages who restock nearly 1 million books a year. The students were passionate about what the library has done to give them a place to study and collaborate, citing study groups for projects and preparing for their “We the People” competitions, in which Foothill and Amador Valley students have excelled nationally.

The City Manager and staff have recommended library cuts as one of the ways to balance the budget, but these speakers were asking them to find other ways rather than affecting one of the most used and beneficial programs affecting the citizens of Pleasanton.

Jake Nguyen, one of the students speaking, has also started a petition drive to urge the City Council to vote against the cuts to the library. Way to go Jake!

If you would like to help these students in their effort, YOU CAN SIGN THE PETITION, and let the city manager and council know that you don’t agree with the library cuts.

TO SIGN: www.rb.gy/bcwlhn or use the QR Code.

The City Council has already taken the Swim Center and Firehouse Arts off the “cut list” recommended by the City Manager, let’s ask them to take the library off the list also.

You can also email the city council and let them know how you feel.