Fresno Famous

In full disclosure: I serve on the board of the Friends of the Fresno County Library, am involved in the Dinner in the Library event, and know people who work at (and even regularly use) the library.

From the start, the backers of Measure B (which would continue the one-eighth of one percent sales tax originally passed in 1998) have been cautiously optimistic about it chances on the Nov. 6 ballot. The nation/state/county/city are in financial-crisis mode and there is a segment of people who think (and are vocal about the fact) that government is bad. And government controls taxes. Therefore taxes are bad.

Or something. 

That's obviously a sweeping generalization, but you've heard the sentiment. Those who oppose the measure say we (as individuals, I guess, though I'm not quite sure) can't afford another tax (even a tax we're already paying) and that there are other ways to come up with money to support our libraries.

And there are, no doubt. If measure B fails, we will see those avenues exploited to their fullest.

What happens in the meantime will be devastating. Estimates are that 150 of the library system’s 292 employees will lose their jobs and half the system’s 34 branches will close. That will have a direct effect on actual people who live in neighborhoods across the county (including yours). 

I refuse to believe that people are so calloused and jaded they can't see the benefit of Measure B. Especially given its cost to the average resident is $12 a year. Even if you never use the library, even if you're strapped for cash, that's a minor cost with major payoff. 

How much do you spend on Starbucks each week? 

Check it out: You may believe that government creates more problems than it solves. Or that as citizen we are overtaxed. That's fine. Misguided, but fine. But I would urge you to consider this: Your income tax dollars (well over $12 a year) are spent on all manner of things with which you may not agree (I personally would rather not pay for drone attacks). If they want to raise a tizzy, start there. But if we're going to pay taxes (and we are) it should be for something that provides positive results and an increased quality of life. For your city. Your neighbors.

By all accounts that is what Measure B has done and will continue to do.