The Future of Libraries in California?

Although I was aware that the library in Salinas (hometown of John Steinbeck) was due to close, I didn’t know that towspeople had voted against measures that would have kept it open. They couldn’t spare a half-cent tax increase. Let me repeat that: half-cent.

But the closings may foreshadow a crippling of local services across California cities and towns, whose treasuries have been siphoned by a state government grappling with its own dire shortfalls. “I hope they can look at Salinas and really get the wake-up call,” said Jan Neal, manager of the Steinbeck library.

People of California: Next time a bodybuilder and action movie star tells you he can balance the budget without cutting services, you might want to think twice before voting him in.