Library Update: Library Outsourcing Opponents Announce New Actions

Posted on January 17, 2018 by Escondido Neighbors United

The most recent update from the Save Our Escondido Library Coalition.  Please sign their library petition!

Library coalition outlines to
continue campaign to restore Escondido Public Library to public control.

January 15, 2018, Escondido: On the day the Escondido city council
handed over the Escondido Public Library to an out-of-state corporation to
operate, library outsourcing opponents announced new initiatives geared to
restoring the Escondido Public Library to public hands and to help other
communities defeat Library Services and Systems (LS&S)
from taking over other libraries.

“While
we were disappointed that the judge failed to allow the temporary restraining order,
the lawsuit is still viable and we hope it will prevail,” stated frequent
library user and Escondido resident Victoria Tenbrink ,
“We take heart in the news from Santa
Clarita which just ousted LS&S from their library.  It is interesting that the Santa Clarita
Council estimates they will save almost $400,000 in doing so,”  in reference to the news that the Santa
Clarita City Council unanimously voted to end the LS&S contract last week.  Santa Clarita Votes Unanimously to
Take Back Library.
Another recent news report found poor performance by LS&S led to their
ouster, a sad harbinger for Escondido’s library.  As Escondido prepares to outsource, another
city drops firm.    
In
response to the transfer of the Escondido public library into private hands, the
Save Our Escondido Library (SOEL) coalition announced five actions in response
to the transfer of management from the public to a private corporation

LIBRARY
DISTRICT PETITION DRIVE: No Bond
without an Independent Library District. 
Building on the success of the
petition drive to oppose privatization of the library, which garnered over
4,000 signatures and mobilized residents, a new petition drive has been
launched.  The petition reads, “We, the undersigned, are calling for the creation
of an independent library district that would remove all control of the library
from the Mayor and City Council. Further, we will oppose any library bond until
management of our library is returned to public control and a plan is in place
to re-open an East Valley branch library.” Save our
Escondido Library Coalition is urging all residents of Escondido to sign this
petition.   Escondido
Library District Petition 

COMMUNITY LIBRARY MONITORING PROGRAM: SOEL announced a program of community library
monitors. These volunteers will visit the library regularly and evaluate the
operations of the library. Visits will be unannounced. 
COMMUNITY LIBRARY COMPLAINT
SYSTEM:  A particularly revealing exchange during the
October contract hearing at city hall was when city staff could not answer the
simplest question from Councilmember Olga Diaz about how complaints will be
handled.  It was clear to SOEL that the
city did not know how complaints would be addressed.  Slow response to problems was also cited in
the reasons LS&S was dropped from Santa Clarita. SOEL will also encourage
people to report any complaints to the city and to SOEL so that resolution
of them can be tracked. Complaints can be filed here Community
Library Complaint Form

STOP LIBRARY OUTSOURCING
WEBSITE—A Community Guide to Protecting your Library from Privatization.  Sadly, the story of the hostile takeover of
the Escondido Public Library is not an isolated one.  SOEL fully believes that LS&S will use
the Escondido takeover as a launching pad to attempt to control other county
and state public libraries. This new website shares information SOEL has found
during our fight and makes it available for other communities who will be
forced to fight to keep LS&S from taking over their library.  “I wish
we would’ve had access to information in a website like this when we began our
struggle, so we hope it will help other communities.” stated Escondido
resident Christine Nava.  The website can
be accessed here:  Stop Library Outsourcing: A Community Guide for Saving your Library

VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE:  SOEL will be
initiate an Escondido voter registration drive. “It is now obvious to everyone, Mayor Sam Abed and Councilmembers Ed
Gallo, John Masson, and Mike Morasco do not listen to the public and are not
worthy to care for our public services, said Brenda Townsend, a long-time
Escondido resident.  Abed, Gallo, and
Masson are up for re-election in November, 2018.  SOEL is urging all eligible residents of
Escondido to
register to vote. (click
link) Voters can also check their status here.

“While we are disappointed in failure of the TRO,” stated Laura Hunter, an organizer with Escondido
Indivisible, “we are even
more energized, committed, and focused on Election Day, November 6, 2018 to
achieve a new mandate for change in Escondido.”
Please
email saveescondidolibrary@gmail.com  to be added to the Save Our
Escondido Library Coalition information list. 
You can also visit Stop
Library Outsourcing for more information.
###
About Save Our Escondido Library Coalition: The coalition was formed by local
Escondido community groups and local residents in response to the outsourcing
of the Escondido Public Library.   The Coalition now works to restore the library
to public control.

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Reminder why we need a Felicita Creek Cleanup Strategy

Posted on January 9, 2018 by Escondido Neighbors United
Urban runoff.  It’s real.  Today’s storm is just a reminder that storm water runoff is a large source of pollution.  If you were out today you saw the large amount of foamy pollution in Felicita Creek…and the poor egrets trying to feed out of it.
Escondido Neighbors United (ENU) has repeatedly asked for our creek to be prioritized for a comprehensive clean up strategy. So far, no success. These photos should make clear that this pollution is a problem and needs to be addressed. We will post more on this later.  These photos taken between 10:50 and 11:10 am, January 9th, 2018 at various points along the creek and in the park.  The white is soapy foam.


 

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Council Outsources Library: End 123 year tradition to make the Escondido Corporate Library

Posted on October 20, 2017 by Escondido Neighbors United
A very sad day for our city. 
  
Escondido City Council Breaks 123 Year Tradition of
Public Operation of Escondido Library, votes to Outsource Remaining Library
Council Votes to Export Tax Payer
Funds out of state to LS&S corporation, hedge-fund

Escondido City Hall: For the
second time, Mayor Sam Abed and the councilmen on the city council ignored the unanimous recommendation of Library Trustees and a petition
from over 4,000 residents by voting to outsource the Escondido Public Library.  Over 125 people
demonstrated outside of City Hall and attended the City Council meeting yesterday
afternoon in opposition to a proposed contract to outsource the city’s sole
remaining library to for-profit, venture-capital-owned library outsourcing
company, LS&S.  Dozens of citizens
spoke during the public comment period, citing concerns ranging from the length
of the contract to the lack of specific accountability measures. Nevertheless,
the City Council voted 4 to 1 in favor of signing the contract, with
Councilmember Olga Diaz being the sole dissenting vote.
Diaz
stated, “We will mourn the loss of what we had forever”.
Councilman
Morasco abandoned his earlier opposition position and rejoined the rest of the
Councilmen, locking the city into a 10-year contract with LS&S.
This is
the first library in San Diego County to fall to the LS&S corporation.
This
vote and the way it was promoted should be of concern to all residents of
Escondido.  Relevant documents were
hidden from the decision-makers, overwhelming evidence produced of problems at
other LS&S libraries was discounted, and the Council ignored their own
advisors, the Escondido Library Board of Trustees, in pursuing this path.
Concerns
citizens voiced about the contract at the meeting included:
·        
That allowing
LS&S to manage the library with public funds without transparency is not
supported by state law which states the Library Board of Trustees should manage
the library.
·        
The 10-year
length of the contract. Originally the public was told this would be a 5-year
contract.
·        
LS&S staffing
policies. One speaker read from comments of LS&S employees, who have
complained about low and stagnant wages, poor benefits, and low morale. Another
questioned how LS&S can make our library better using fewer, less qualified
staff than we have now.
·        
Questions about
the accuracy of the calculation of the supposed financial savings.
·        
Serious concerns
about problems with staff and finances that emerged in Jackson County, OR, once
LS&S (formerly LSSI) was bought out by a private equity firm.
·        
Lack of
specificity in the contract. One speaker, who said he worked as a specialist in
contracting for 30 years, said he was alarmed by the lack of specific goals,
objectives, roles, responsibilities, and tasks in the contract, and ways to
measure if goals were met and tasks completed.
·        
The failure of
the contract to include the usual indemnification of the city against legal
action and termination clauses that are clear and protective of the city’s
interest.
“Even if some City Councilmembers are not
opposed to the idea of outsourcing in general, this contract has so many
problems and questions, it is their duty to think carefully and make sure our
city isn’t being taken advantage of,” said Escondido resident Shelley Spisak. “It
doesn’t seem like they have done their due diligence as our elected
representatives.”
The flaws in the contract are significant. City
Attorney McGuinness struggled to answer the most basic operational questions
from Ms. Diaz such as how a complaint from a patron will be handled. The
contract also uses tax dollars to pay a purchasing fee to LS&S and caps
their expenses for energy to run the buildings. LS&S is also guaranteed a
3% increase each year of the contract, not to mention the considerable
corporate profits which have been 30% of tax payer funds paid elsewhere.
A letter from Ms. Cathy Shaw, a current Board member in Jackson County
Oregon, was rife with challenges her district was facing under LS&S, and warned
“Think long and hard about this decision. Once made, the lack of transparency
of the private equity firm will make a return to a community-held asset
difficult to recreate. And if a decision of this magnitude is forced upon an
unwilling and unreceptive community, the backlash may be swift and decisive.”
As one speaker testified in speaking against
the contract, “If you do support this, remember we all sit at the table of
consequences.” 
“Having lived through this experience, this is
now about more than just saving the library, it is about saving Escondido from
this failed leadership,” stated Laura Hunter, an organizer with Escondido
Indivisible. “Our members will now look to the elections in 2018.”  
Litigation is also under consideration.  Any readers interested in donating to the
Library Defense Fund should email saveescondidolibrary@gmail.com.


















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About Save Our Escondido Library
Coalition: The coalition was
formed by local Escondido community groups and residents in response to the
City of Escondido’s move to consider privatization of the Escondido Public
Library. The coalition seeks to educate themselves and the public and to
provide a conduit for Escondido residents to voice their concerns.












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Draft South Centre City Area Plan out for Southern Escondido – Comment period open

Posted on September 23, 2017 by Escondido Neighbors United

Escondido is seeking input on a new draft South Centre City Area Plan .
Please take a look at this and provide your input.

Per the city website, the South Centre City planning area is located in an area that is described by the General Plan as a future growth area (also called Target Area).  The South Quince Street Target Area, South Escondido Boulevard Target Areas, and the Centre City Parkway Target Area are identified in the City’s General Plan (Target Areas C, D, E, and F).  These interconnected Target Areas comprise approximately 420 acres of Escondido’s more established and older sectors of the city and extends 2.25 miles along Centre City Parkway and Escondido Boulevard. 
The overall effort to create a South Centre Center Area Plan, called Envision South Centre City, will culminate into something that is called a “specific plan.”  A specific plan is a planning document that consists of new zoning standards and design guidelines for a specific area of the city.  Zoning standards define the allowable uses and bulk or scale of development, while design guidelines address the appearance and quality of development. 
City staff has been working with various residents, businesses, and community members over the past two (2) years to develop a draft specific plan to facilitate the development of residential, commercial, and industrial properties in response to the needs and wants of the community.  If approved, the new specific plan would effectively establish a link between implementing policies of the General Plan and the future, individual development proposals within the South Centre City planning area.  With a focus on the neighborhoods surrounding Quince Street, South Escondido Boulevard, and Centre City Parkway in southwest Escondido, the South Centre City Specific Plan would bring together detailed regulations into a focused development scheme to improve community health, safety, sustainability, and economic prosperity, while respecting the unique character of South Centre City and preserving the community values of southern gateway character. 



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Help Save our LIbrary: Rally to Roll out the UnWelcome Matt for LS&S Saturday, Sept 16 at 10 am

Posted on September 15, 2017 by Escondido Neighbors United
LS&S
corporation and equity owners to be focus of UN-welcoming activities

Library supporters will converge in front of
the Escondido Public Library on Saturday, September 16 at 10-11am in a rally to
oppose outsourcing our library to Library Systems and Services (LS&S), a Maryland-based corporation owned by an equity firm.

After
reading how LS&S mis-managed operations and staff at an Oregon library
(which they have operated for over 10 years) and with the looming vote on the
part of the Escondido City Council to hand over our library to the same
corporation, we knew we had to get our message out even more strongly.  Here is information that just surfaced about LS&S’s record in Oregon.  The full report is here.
Members
of the Save Our Escondido Library Coalition will ceremoniously remove the “existing” Welcome
Mat in front of the library and replace it with Escondido’s “One-and-Only Unwelcome
Mat” specifically for the City Council’s proposed library outsourcing
company, LS&S.

Coalition members plan to show LS&S
in no uncertain terms that we don’t need them and don’t want them here!   

Members will be on hand to distribute flyers and collect
petition signatures during the rally.  There will also be the opportunity
to make a small iPhone video and send to LS&S investors and management.
The library is located at
239 S. Kalmia Street, Escondido.   Bring
your signs, neighbors, friends, family, and cellphones if you have one.
Over 3,000 people have signed a petition against the
outsourcing.  They have been joined in
opposition by the Board of Library Trustees, the Library Foundation, and the
American Library Association. 
The rally is the next step in resistance to outsourcing our
library! 

Please
email SaveEscondidoLibrary@gmail.com  to be added to the Save
the Escondido Library Coalition information list.  You can also visit On
the Issue Escondido Indivisible
###

About Save Our Escondido Library Coalition: The coalition was formed by local
Escondido community groups and residents in response to the City of Escondido’s
move to outsource the Escondido Public Library. The coalition seeks to educate
themselves and the public and to provide a conduit for Escondido residents to
voice their concerns.  





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Help us STOP outsourcing of our Escondido Library- There is still time

Posted on August 31, 2017 by Escondido Neighbors United
If you support our Library
Mayor Abed, Gallo, Masson need to hear from you  
Last week, Escondido Mayor Sam Abed and Councilmembers Ed Gallo and John Masson voted to move
forward to outsource operations of the Escondido Public Library to the private,
for-profit, out-of-state corporation Library Systems and
Services (LS&S) which specializes in taking over failing libraries. But,
ours isn’t failing. 
We are proud
of our library and its great staff and programs. Outsourcing would spell
the end of our library as we know it.
Please
join the 3,000
residents already opposing outsourcing the library because: 
·    We would lose local control of an important
city resource.
·    Our local tax $$ would go to a corporate
organization in Maryland, not stay here in our community.
·    The cost-benefit analysis did not correctly
assess all impacts.
·    No alternatives (there are many) were
publicly evaluated so that the best option could be selected.
·    This action will further divide the
community and erode support for a bond for a new library.
·    This action will cause a loss of
volunteers, donations, and skilled library personnel.
·    Outsourcing of our library is opposed by
the Escondido Library Board of Trustees, Library Foundation, and American
Library Association
Our library is more
than a building;
it is the programs and people
who make it the soul of the community. We need to preserve our library as a
true community resource, responsive to the needs of our residents. Although Council
took one vote (3-2) to move forward, a contract has not yet been signed. Please
speak out and stand up for our librarians, patrons, and library programs.  There
is still time!   
WE NEED TO ACT NOW!
CONTACT Mayor Sam Abed, Ed Gallo, and John
Masson.
Email or call Mayor’s Office: 760-839-4610 , City Council’s Office: 760-839-4638
Email them all
at once using this link:   https://www.escondido.org/city-council-contact-us.aspx   or send a letter to 201 North Broadway,
Escondido, CA 92025
Ask them to:
1.      
Stop the LS&S contract process.
2.     
Solicit, evaluate, and consider, at a minimum,
proposals from the current library department and county through a public
process.
3.     
Impanel a Budget Committee to develop a
comprehensive, sustainable plan to address the pension crisis and the paydown
of pension liability
CONTACT LS&S and ask them to withdraw
their proposal and step away from our library. 
President Paul Colangelo at 800-638-8725 Paul.Colangelo@lsslibraries.com
Ed
Garnett, Vice President, Business Development, Ed.Garnett@lsslibraries.com
2600
Tower Oaks Blvd., Rockville, MD 20852, Office: 301.540.5100 Cell: 410.598.2921  
SHOW YOUR LOVE To our wonderful current
library staff.  Email jaxelrod@escondido.org  
TALK to your friends and neighbors.  Help Save our Library services!  
SIGN UP Email us at SaveEscondidoLibrary@gmail.com

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ENU letter to Mayor and Council to OPPOSE library outsourcing

Posted on August 11, 2017 by Escondido Neighbors United

Today, members of Escondido Neighbors United filed a letter to urge opposition to outsourcing our public library.   ENU comment letter to City Council on Library Outsourcing

Everyone is encouraged to communicate your thoughts with the Escondido Mayor and Council on this important topic.  You can file an email to them here .

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Library Trustees agree with public, Vote unanimously to oppose outsourcing our library

Posted on August 9, 2017 by Escondido Neighbors United
Sporting library heart badges, over 150 residents were on-hand as the Board of Library Trustees voted unanimously to oppose the outsourcing
of the Escondido Library.


Citing
concerns about loss of transparency, accountability, volunteer support, and
community cohesion speaker after speaker urged the Trustees to save the library
and recommend against outsourcing.  A frequent
theme of the commenters was a lack of trust and confidence in the current
Council majority when it comes to libraries. It was very apparent the
Council closing of the East Valley Branch is still an open wound for Escondido
residents.  At the end of the meeting the Trustees voted unanimously to oppose outsourcing and the audience burst into cheers!

Media Release


This is
a significant victory for Save Our Escondido Library Coalition who have worked
tirelessly since the first heard about this threat to our library last month, but the fight is not over!  The City council still has to vote on this.  Please join the Save Our Escondido Library Coalition at the next City Council meeting on August 16th.  A rally in front of City Hall will be held at 3:30 and residents are invited to speak to the Council directly on public comment at 4:30.


Please
email Liz White at liz_white@me.com to be added to the Save the Escondido Library Coalition
information list.  You can also visit On
the Issue Escondido Indivisible
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News Roundup: Library Privatization in the media

Posted on July 31, 2017 by Escondido Neighbors United

Here is some the breaking news about the effort to Privatize the Library.  Please weigh in with our elected officials and news outlets and share your position!

Coast News Inland

Logan Jenkins SDUT

Times Advocate 

SD Union Tribune

San Diego Free Press 

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ENU files comment letter on Chatham Cleanup monitoring report

Posted on May 23, 2017 by Escondido Neighbors United

Here is the comment letter we filed this week ENU Comments on Oct 2016 Monitoring report.  We will be looking forward to the responses of the agencies to ensure that additional action is taken to stop the pollution from day-lighting into the Creek, monitoring the ‘leak’ in Felicita Road that has been running for months, amend the report as requested, release additional results, and restore the Contamination Notice so that Park users know what is going on in the park.

You can review the full report here 2016 December report on October 2016 monitoring event.
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