10/17 Sup Com — City Council/Public Financing Authority, October 17, 2023 (part 1 of 2)

1 Moore, Tania
From: Michael McShane <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2023 5:04 PM
To: Dan Kalmick; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: Re: Book Banning and Voter ID at Tuesday's Council Meeting! As a long time Huntington Beach resident, I felt the need to respond snd offer my two cents:

1. re book banning. Banning books because of content IS government overreach. As a blue spot in a sea of red, isn't that a tenet of republicans?

2. Voter ID is voter suppression. Based on research, the level of supposed fraud that this law will prevent is outweighed by the legal residents who won't be able to vote.

3. Cronyism is rampant in the city council. If the CEO of the airshow sits on a Huntington Beach committee, make sure that individual recuses on all matters re airshow related. We dem and to see the full figures of the profits (and not including property tax values) rather than ethereal metrics with guesstimates of profits of said metrics.

4. E‐bikes. E‐bike regulations are sorely needed. It needs to be against the law for teenagers without licenses and proper insurance to ride on motorized vehicles on taxpayer funded streets. Period.

Huntington Beach is a great city. We need to continue to protect against over development, big oil, and preserving native burial grounds.

Michael McShane
Huntington Beach, Ca 92649
10/17/2023
20 (23-879)
1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2023 5:31 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Fwd: Library Books

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From: Nicole Howard <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2023 4:43:42 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Library Books

The City Council will be overstepping its role by trying to set up systems to reject children’s/young adult books that it believes has sexual content. This is a
decision that should be left in the hands of parents and children. Is it your intent to ban coming of age books such as: “Are You There God, It’s me Margaret?” because it discusses menstruation, or will you ban books that depict non traditional families? The City Council should not attempt to censor and ban books. As a child, I have fond memories of going to the library and picking out books of my choice. I learned to be independent by doing this. I will personally vote to NOT re‐elect any candidate that supports this nonsense. Furthermore, I will advocate this position to friends and family. There are far more pertinent issues for Council Members to address.

Nicole Howard
19662 Stern Ln
Huntington Beach
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1 Moore, Tania
From: Patti Akers <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2023 5:37 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: My opinion in advance of the October 17 meeting

I am against this process that you are creating which is in effect banning books. What gives a 21 person committee the decision‐making power to decide what books are available to HB residents?

I am against your expensive and illegal voter ID and suppression. Those pushing this are afraid of what would happen if
every legal HB resident votes.

The March election is a misuse of our city funds.

I will be working to make sure as many HB voters are registered and ready to vote what we believe.

You are not listening to your constituents.

Patti Akers

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1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2023 5:57 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Fwd: Voter ID/Book Banning items

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From: James Rodriguez <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2023 5:36:23 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Voter ID/Book Banning items

Hi CC,

As 25 years resident of Huntington Beach, I have not seen such an act of political soapboxing. The items to admend the city's charter
are frivolous and CC should be sanctioned. 1. Voter ID is suppression, many case judgements since the 1960s agree ID for voting is suppression. Similar to requirement of IQ tests and literary tests to vote. 2. Banning books is censorship. This is communist at its finest. Let me remind CC of the famous cases against Larry flint, that Mr. Flint publications were never censored in the U.S. by reglious institutions and 1st admendment rights of the constitution were upheld. Furthermore, Larry Flint said "freedom of the press is not the freedom for your ideas, but the ideas you hate the most".

We are wasting resources, time and money, for the political grandstanding of the current CC majority.

1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2023 5:58 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Fwd: Book Banning and Voter ID at Tuesday's Council Meeting!

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From: Maneck Bhujwala <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2023 5:35:52 PM
To: Dan Kalmick <[email protected]>
Cc: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Re: Book Banning and Voter ID at Tuesday's Council Meeting!

I agree with your informed and thoughtful opinion that we should not increase the tax burden on our city residents by
incurring high costs of half a million dollars in rushing to have special elections in March of 2024. I also agree with you on your concern about willy nilly rushing new laws to ban books in libraries.by a limited group of review boards instead of a public vote through the initiative process.

I urge the City Council members to reconsider hasty action that will end up hurting City residents in one way or another.

Regards,
Maneck Bhujwala
Resident of Huntington Beach since January 2004.

On Fri, Oct 13, 2023 at 4:03 PM Dan Kalmick <[email protected]> wrote:

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I want to thank all of you who have been participating in this flawed Charter Amendment process. After our final special meeting last week, three charter amendments are being proposed for a nearly half million dollar special election in March of 2024. Most of these amendments would go into effect in 2026, so why are we rushing for a primary ballot at massive cost. If they're that 2 important, put them on in November at 10% of the cost. The final vote on these charter amendments will be at our meeting this Tuesday (10/17) at 6pm. This will include: likely illegal VoterID (suppression) and voter intimidation - which will likely cause HB to run its own municipal elections (at what cost - who knows?), a restrictive flag policy, and some language clean up and appointment of vacant council positions (effectively Measure L from 2022 that this Council majority ran against.)

The next meeting will also see the return of Book Banning. At our study session, staff will be presenting research and some modest recommendations based on Gracey Van Der Mark’s unneeded policy to get involved in library policy. You can see staff's powerpoint here.

But then later on the agenda, MPT Van Der Mark and the "city attorney" have apparently jumped the gun (shark?) and brought forward a resolution that effectively creates a process to ban books. Read the revised resolution here (the title has been updated from what originally posted with the agenda.)

The request is to have all books that have any sexual content moved to the adult section. A twenty-one (you read that right, 21) person panel will "...review all proposed or new children's books and other materials procured by the City Libraries or City Librarians that may contain sexual content before the books or materials are placed in the City Libraries..." and "If recommended books or materials do not meet the City's community standards of acceptance, they may be rejected by vote of the community parent/guardian review board."

It’s poorly drafted and unclear if this committee will have the ability to “reject” all books or just “children’s” books. Is there an appeal process? (unknown) Rejecting a book from our library shelves is a ban. Let's be clear, this isn't about protecting children; this is big government overreach. What will this "committee of parent/guardians" find objectionable? The list is likely very long.

3 Mayor Pro Tempore Van Der Mark and the Council Majority lied. They said this wasn't about banning books. Well in my opinion, rejecting books from entering the library collection is, by definition, banning them.

As always you can send emails to [email protected] and [email protected] and let the City Council know how you feel about these policies and charter amendments.

Thank you all for your support and for coming out to meetings and sending emails. Your voices may fall on deaf ears of the new Council Majority, but your in-person turn out is being watched by hundreds of people online and at home.

Dan Kalmick,
Huntington Beach City Council

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1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2023 5:58 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Fwd: Process to choose books for our library and voter suppression

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From: Patti Akers <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2023 5:32:22 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Process to choose books for our library and voter suppression

I am against this process that you are creating which is in effect banning books. What gives a 21 person committee the decision‐making power to decide what books are available to HB residents?

I am against your expensive and illegal voter ID and suppression.

The March election is a misuse of our city funds.

I will be working to make sure as many HB voters are registered and ready to vote what they believe.

You are not listening to your constituents

Patti H. Akers

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1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2023 6:42 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Fwd: Library Books

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From: Donna Skinner <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2023 5:58:48 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Library Books

Leave the library alone. Librarians decide what books to include on our library's shelves. They are educated and experienced. The city council has no business in library management.

If individuals don't want their kids to see some books, they should monitor their children's choices.

__________________
Donna Skinner
DonnaSkinner.com

1 Moore, Tania
From: Sue Brewsaugh <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2023 7:56 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: HB Library
Please leave trained librarians in charge of the selecƟons and acquisiƟon of all materials in our library. They have trained to do this job and do it well. If anyone does not want to read or look at a book in the collecƟon then they can just ignore it. Parents need to supervise their own children and let others do the same.

Thank you,
Sue Brewsaugh
HB resident and library user for over 30 years

1 Moore, Tania
From: michaela kellner <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2023 8:30 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: On Resolution No.2023-41
Hello,

Let me ﬁrstly say I completely oppose this resoluƟon.

What people, read‐ and yes even children should be up to that person/child and their parental guardian.

Children don’t always read at the level of their age, they evolve diﬀerently, learn at their own pace.

Some children go
on to take college courses before high school. Would you deny those children the chance to learn beyond their years in a curriculum or subject maƩer that may be more advanced or even contain obscene material merely because of their age?
Would you sƟﬂe someone from reading beyond their age?

You guys remind me of the school librarian I argued with when I was 6 or 7 about reading The Hobbit because they thought it was too complex and large for me to read. I remember handing it back to her a week and a half later when I
completed it. It’s something that sƟcks in my mind. I’m sƟll an avid reader today, I read a minimum 100 books a year. I had read the enƟrely of available children books and series by the Ɵme I was 8 or 9, I had burned through them all, and used to pull a good majority of my reads out the the generalized adult science ﬁcƟon and fantasy secƟon. Nothing I read scarred me in anyway, nor was the content something that I could not maturely handle. But the decision to read was my own.

Other people shouldn’t get to have a say in what or when anyone reads. It’s frankly none of your business and it a gross overreach trying to grapple with moral control because it makes you feel beƩer . You don’t maƩer here, your choice has nothing to do with others. Quit imposing your moral control on anyone. That should between a child reader and their parent.

This is a wasteful use of Ɵme and resources.

Let the Librarians, you know people actually familiar with the books, publishing and their content handle this stuﬀ.

You have no place in it.

Thanks,

Michaela Kellner

1 Moore, Tania
From: Kristina Mahan <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, October 14, 2023 8:36 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: Library books
Dear council,

I am a long time HB resident. Here we are again with another agenda item from the tired extremist right wing play book.

Once again, you are creating problems where there are none. HB public libraries are not associated with the ALA. They already have a process for cataloging
books, and there is a process for the public to challenge books if they want to. Zero books have been challenged this year. There is no problem here! The only problem is Gracey's demented definition of pornography.

I do not want this extremist council majority in charge of deciding which books will be available to me and my children.

The current library system works and should not change. Our librarians are professionals and have always been trusted, and should continue to be trusted. No government involvement!

Kristina Mahan
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1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Saturday, October 14, 2023 11:43 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Library and Voting
Dear Members of the City Council,

I stand totally against the wrong-headed measure regarding the operation and administration of Huntington Beach Public Libraries. The administration of public libraries in California rests in the Library Law and falls under the State of California Department of Education. While the State may grant County governments some responsibilities, the overarching administration rests with the State.

A similar problem exists with the Voter ID proposal. The Constitution of the United States of America grants to the States the administration of elections. The State of CA has given specific responsibilities to our County of Orange. As outlined in a recent letter to the City from the Attorney General of the State of California, there is ample case law to inform the City Council that the process of Voting is not their responsibility.

Both of these proposals will undoubtedly be challenged in court if passed and submit the taxpayers of Huntington Beach to extreme financial liability. I urge you all to drop these measures immediately.

Bonnie Benton
6942 Tucana Drive
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
1 Moore, Tania
From: Che Chereskin <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, October 14, 2023 11:56 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: city council agenda items for 10/17/23
Modification of library policy
I have reviewed the PowerPoint prepared by city government staff (I believe) and have no serious objections to it although I think that it is unnecessary. At a time when resources are limited, it seems like a waste of time and money to have two groups doing the same job: the city librarians and the city government staff. In my opinion, the Huntington Beach Library staff already do a great job. I am very proud of our city library system and what it offers.

Procurement of books for the library
I have also reviewed 2023‐41 and
strongly object to the proposals therein. Although not stated, I assume that "child" is defined as someone under the age of 12 based upon the PowerPoint discussed above. However, young girls start to menstruate at around age 9 (or even younger) and thus, perhaps more than any other group, have a need for information on sexual matters. Likewise boys also have a need for factual material on aspects of sexuality. The proposed restrictions would deprive young people of a reliable source of information on sexuality just when they need it most! They will likely be able to get information from the internet, but anyone can put something on the internet so information from that source is potentially less accurate.

Although it would still be possible to access material through an adult, some young people may not want to involve parents or other adults while they are figuring things out.

Changes to City
Charter
Finally, I believe putting the proposed changes to the city charter to a vote should be postponed until it can be done economically. There is nothing urgent proposed. Furthermore, the legality of requiring specific identification for voting seems to be in question. It seems that this issue should be resolved before putting it before our citizens for a vote.

Sincerely,

Che Chereskin
1 Moore, Tania
From: Michael Gioan <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, October 14, 2023 2:32 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: It's time to go to work for HB, City Council!
Importance: High
I urge the City Council to reject the agenda items below. They are fallacious, futile, and serve absolutely no purpose for managing the City's affair.

I also urge the City Council to reprimand Ms. Van Der Mark, author of the propositions below, for wasting the City Council's time with her sick mental obsessions and desperate attempts to clean up her permanently tarnished image.

NO on Item 20 (23‐879): Review and cataloging of library material containing sexual content.

Resolution 2023‐41 reeks of Soviet‐era censorship regulations and barely stops short of Nazi book‐burning of "un‐ German" material (substitute "un
‐American" to taste). It's pure government overreach and violates free expression, which is of of the main tenets of our republic.

As usual, it is poorly written and vague enough to be interpreted well beyond its "officially intended" scope. It is also unpractical and undemocratic. Who will select the "magic 21"? What are the education and training requirements of this mind‐control squad in terms of law and ethics? Would they be required to be disciples of the church on Warner Ave near the fire station?

Since the resolution will likely be adopted in goose‐step 4/3, unless Mr. McKeon remembers again to think for himself,
that is, here's a book widely available to any child that I suggest the Banning Commission should review with extreme urgency for the multiple sexual references it contains, ranging from masturbation, to incest, via adultery, prostitution, exhibitionism, group sex, rape, not to mention debauchery and drunkenness. It's called "The Bible". I'll make the future "Book Banning Commission" work easy, they just need to look up the following chapters:
 Judges (16): 1 (prostitution)
 Genesis (19): 33 – 36 (incest and debauchery)
 Genesis (35): 22 (adultery)
 Genesis (38): 2 (rape)
 Genesis (38): 8 – 9 (masturbation)
 Genesis (38): 15 – 18 (prostitution)
 Samuel (13): 11 – 14 (incest)
 Ezekiel (16): 28 (group sex)
 Ezekiel (23): 3 (rape)
 Ezekiel (23): 5 – 8 (debauchery, group sex)
 Ezekiel (23): 11 – 21 (debauchery, group sex)
 Samuel (6): 20 (exhibitionism)
 Proverbs (7): 7 – 22 (prostitution, adultery)
 Isaiah (13): 16 (incitement to violence and rape)
 Numbers (31) : 18 (child rape)
The Bible should therefore definitely put out of reach of children, stat!

Of course, I'm using sarcasm here, because it's the only way to denounce the sheer hypocrisy and ridicule of this proposed resolution. It's astonishing that there are fewer sexual references in Das Kapital than there are in the Bible (and Karl Marx limits himself to describing the literally sexual fetish gold is for the bourgeoisie, as expressed in 2 Rheinische Zeitung, and Manuscripts, 1842‐44). Next time you try book banning, maybe you should also try and read the books that may be involved.

NO on Item 21 (23‐894): Adoption of Resolution 2023‐50 in support of Israel and condemning Hamas.

There's a French say about useless actions that goes (literally and accurately translated): "It's as good as pissing in a violin to make it play Paganini".

This statement serves absolutely no other purpose than being a pathetic attempt by Ms. Van Der Mark to whitewash her well‐deserved and well‐documented antisemitic reputation, remarkably by also containing obvious anti‐muslim overtones. I suppose that this is what we could call "killing two children with one bullet"! Because this is what's happening right now, on both sides and for reasons that are far beyond the comprehension of well‐to‐do Orange County dwellers.

Interestingly enough, there never was a resolution to denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine by the internationally‐ all‐powerful City of Huntington Beach, I really wonder why! And, please don't tell me it's because it happened before the "Fetid 4" were elected, they had all the time in the world to come up with a resolution on the subject, considering they have done nothing of substance for HB in the last 10 months and how important they feel their opinion is in the world order.

‐‐
Michael Gioan ‐ HB resident since 1991 and homeowner
1 Moore, Tania
From: Betty Kanne <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 7:36 AM
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: NO to March Ballot; NO to Book Restrictions
Council Member,

Two requests:

NO on the the March ballot initiatives. MOVE these unneeded/undesirable items to the November ballot if you MUST persist in squandering our money by putting these wholly unnecessary Charter changes to public vote.

You claim to be “fiscal conservatives”. Prove it. Move these items to the more fiscally responsible November General Election. No you won’t, because you’re terrified to do so, having openly admitting that each item would be soundly defeated by voters in November. This therefore, is a really just a shameful con.

Next, and most importantly I address the effort to Ban, Censor, or Restrict Books in our award winning library, the veritable pride of our community!

NO. I say vehemently NO to the formation of a 21 person Citizen Committee to seize control of the vetting of library books from the expertly trained, highly educated library science professionals currently employed within our library who are competently tasked with this important responsibility.

This is a cynical, flagrant attempt to simply and effectively magnify your tyrannical, ideological boot stamp of your mean spirited agenda. Why and how can you do this!? Well, because you have an unassailable 4/3 majority. You’re attempting to leverage and in fact amplify that one sided invincible power by forming an even more entrenched and ideologically rigid 12 to 9 person committee of opinionated members of our community specifically engaged to wage war against each other with an inevitable one-sided outcome.

It’s interesting to note that each of your pernicious Culture War forays have a decidedly homophobic stench. It’s either ban the Pride Flag or ban any book that even remotely alludes to the mere existence of a non-heterosexual world view. Why is this? Please answer this most telling question. We deserve to know the basis to this quite troubling reoccurring bias.

I harken back to the times when love, compassion, tolerance and basic human acceptance had a voice in these once respected chambers. But as noted “elections have consequences” and this community has unwittingly prostrated itself to these grim harbingers of hate, division and repression.

Stop assailing our community with your insidious agenda of government overreach and repression of the most vulnerable in our community.

Let Freedom Read!

Submitted by

Betty Kanne
Huntington Beach
(40+ year HB resident, homeowner, unfailing voter)
[email protected]
1 Moore, Tania
From: Linda Law <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 9:32 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: October 17th Council Meeting

Dear Council Members,
I do not understand the purpose in creating a whole other level of bureaucracy in the city to review books. The library purchases thousands of books for the children’s library every year. Will the review group be reading each of these thousands of books? Why does this group of 21 people get to decide what is appropriate and what is not? Let trained professional librarians and educators make these decisions, as they do every day across the country.

I do not understand why Council Member Van Der Mark does not share the titles of the books that she found so
objectionable. I sincerely hope that a known holocaust denier and friend of white supremacists would not be involved in the choosing of appropriate books for anyone.

As I have written before, there is no evidence of voter fraud that requires the presentation of a voter id or the monitoring of polling places. How much will it cost the City to run its own unnecessary municipal election? Does anyone know? I thought the city had limited funds but now they have the money to run an election and to create a new bureaucracy?

Thank you for your time.

1 Moore, Tania
From: Erin Spivey <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 9:43 AM
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: resolution 2023-41
To the City Council,

As a lifelong member of this community, I am yet again saddened and dismayed by this council's attempts at government overreach and bigotry. This latest move titled "Children's Library Materials Containing Sexual Content" is filled with the worst type of government censorship. Though it seems like this would be a good thing to remove explicit
sexual content from the Children's collection, it neglects to tell you that those things don't exist in the Children's collection! There is no smut, no pornography, no obscenity in the entirety of the library's collection!

The case cited in this vague and unconstitutional resolution, refers to a case regarding obscenity, not vague "sexual content." There are standards regarding obscenity and pornography in libraries and the Huntington Beach Public Library adheres to all of those standards.

But the vague language of this resolution using "sexual references" and "sexual content" has no standard. Those two
pieces are only in the eye of the user.

So if we are to apply the broadest possible interpretation, children or teens would not be allowed to access any of the following, and adults would have to go to a restricted section to access:

The Bible: sexual references are
made in Genesis, Ezekiel, Corinthians, Exodus, Leviticus, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, Samuel, and more
New Testament includes sexual references made in regards to prostitution, virginity, etc.

Any book that includes romantic kisses (as kissing is a sexual act in and of itself) including all stories related to Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, the Princess and the Frog, many Babysitter's Club, Froggy's First Kiss, etc Any teen books that discuss romance and sexual desire such as Twilight or The Fault in Our Stars The entire works of Shakespeare, notably Romeo and Juliet Required reading for school including, but not limited to, Of Mice and Men, A Tale of Two Cities, Pride and Prejudice, Catch‐22, Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, The Outsiders, Wuthering Heights, The Odyssey, The Scarlet Letter, and more.

Adult books to be moved to the restricted section:
history books
health books
books on pregnancy
books on menopause
medical books
romance novels
mystery novels
art books
biographies
philosophy
2 religious books

There are so many more that would be affected by this vague language that it is impossible to know the true effect.

Thousands of books would fall into this vague "sexual content" category, making a mockery of our library system. This type of vague censorship will be immediately challenged in court and lose, if any of the 100s of cases of precedent are anything to go by.

I urge you to vote no on this resolution and leave the libraries alone.

sincerely,
Erin Spivey
HB Resident of over 30 years.

1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 10:28 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Books
To the City Council,

As a 50+ resident of Huntington Beach, I’m in total agreement with the content of this email. I know the writer and she has the expertise to opine on this topic.

Please vote NO on resolution 2023-41

As a lifelong member of this community, I am yet again saddened and dismayed by this council's attempts at government overreach and bigotry. This latest move titled "Children's Library Materials Containing Sexual Content" is filled with the worst type of government censorship. Though it seems like this would be a good thing to remove explicit sexual content from the Children's collection, it neglects to tell you that those things don't exist in the Children's collection! There is no smut, no pornography, no obscenity in the entirety of the library's collection!

But the vague language of this resolution using "sexual references" and "sexual content" has no standard. Those two pieces are only in the eye of the user.

So if we are to apply the broadest possible interpretation, children or teens would not be allowed to access any of the following, and adults would have to go to a restricted section to access:

The Bible: sexual references are made in Genesis, Ezekiel, Corinthians, Exodus, Leviticus, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, Samuel, and more
New Testament includes sexual references made in regards to prostitution, virginity, etc.

Any book that includes romantic kisses (as kissing is a sexual act in and of itself) including all stories related to Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, the Princess and the Frog, many Babysitter's Club, Froggy's First Kiss, etc Any teen books that discuss romance and sexual desire such as Twilight or The Fault in Our Stars The entire works of Shakespeare, notably Romeo and Juliet Required reading for school including, but not limited to, Of Mice and Men, A Tale of Two Cities, Pride and Prejudice, Catch-22, Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, The Outsiders, Wuthering Heights, The Odyssey, The Scarlet Letter, and more.

Adult books to be moved to the restricted section:
history books
health books
books on pregnancy
books on menopause
medical books
2 romance novels
mystery novels
art books
biographies
philosophy
religious books

There are so many more that would be affected by this vague language that it is impossible to know the true effect.

I urge you to vote no on this resolution and leave the libraries alone.

Mary

1 Moore, Tania
From: Carol Daus <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 10:52 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: In Opposition to Resolution 2023-41
Dear Huntington Beach City Council Members:

I vehemently oppose Mayor Pro Tem Van Der Mark’s resolution 2023-41 that calls for a radical overhaul of our Public Library, which is widely revered by the community and its patrons. Since she announced her book banning proposal in June, the following events took place:

ꞏ Friends of the Library membership skyrocketed as library patrons expressed outrage over the Pro Tem’s plan.
ꞏ The library had its largest summer reading program ever with more than 3,600 readers joining the seven-week reading challenge (over 16,000 people attended the 200 events and programs offered at our five locations, and adults reported almost 2,400 books read!)
ꞏ HBPL was awarded the best children’s Storytime in Orange County, for the second consecutive year.

Why would a library of this statue require a remake?

Gracey is suggesting that any book with a reference of sexual content would be removed to the adult section—this wo uld decimate the teen/young adult section! She’s also suggesting that readers under 18 would require parental consent to check out books and that a politician-appointed “parent/guardian” review board would be involved in selecting books, which dangerously diminishes the role of trained librarians. This is an extreme form of political overreach and will need to be litigated in court, which is costly for HB taxpayers.

Finally, let’s make it clear. This is a book banning plan. It doesn’t matter if books aren’t removed physically from a library—if they’re made inaccessible to those who want to read them, it’s a ban. The First Amendment protects not just the right to speak but the right to receive information. Democracy is undermined when a minority--in this case 4 politicians-- force their own preferences and judgments on the rest of us (a community of roughly 200,000) by relocating books off library shelves and preventing new books from being acquired that they find objectionable.

Thank you,

Carol Daus
Huntington Beach resident of 28 years
2 1
Moore, Tania
From: Ginny C <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 1:11 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Vote Yes on Agenda Items 20 and 21
I am asking the HB City Council to vote Yes on Agenda Items 20 and 21.

I have been a resident of Huntington Beach for over forty years.

Thank You,
Virginia Crawford
1 Moore, Tania
From: Tony Daus <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 2:06 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
City Council ‐ Please do not vote for agenda item 20. Politicians have no business in selecting or screening books. Leave that to the professionals.

Stick to your job! This is a great examplenof unnecessary government overreach and is very likely in violation of the constitution.

Tony Daus
HB Resident 28 years

1 Moore, Tania
From: Nancy Ann Elliott <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 2:08 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
As a long Ɵme HB Library volunteer, I respecƞully urge you to vote no on Item 20. Leave book reviews to the experts, and parental controls to the parents.

Thank you,
Nancy EllioƩ

1 Moore, Tania
From: Debbie P <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 2:13 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
I strongly oppose the ban on books. Everyone has a right to choose the book they wish to borrow. 1 Moore, Tania
From: Marilyn Palomino <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 2:14 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Resolution: 2023-41
City Council Members,

I am a 37-year resident of Huntington Beach and worked in the community for 24 years. I am in total disagreement with the proposed changes in Resolution: 2023-41! It is unnecessary and poorly structured.

I worked as a social worker for two years and in education for 30+ years. I can tell you that child molestation and abuse of all kinds exists in families of all socioeconomic backgrounds. Removing the subject from literature will not make it disappear. It will however endanger children and teenagers and could potentially increase victimization over time. Victims are often threatened by perpetrators and told that they or their loved ones will suffer if they tell anyone. Sometimes victims read about a similar trauma and it gives them a different perspective and/or the courage to get help. A clear and honest exposure to human sexuality, racism. social issues and reality in general are constructive and should be age appropriate. Age-appropriate reading is and should continue to be determined by librarians with expertise. Trust their professionalism!

I’m very concerned that a few of you believe you know what is best for all children. Are you educated in child development or education? Are you library professionals? Your attempt to “restrict” access to classic works of literature is an infringement upon everyone rights. You have interjected yourselves into a profession that has no place in city government. Your attempts to micromanage the library system will be costly and ultimately challenged legally. Your recommendation to put together a committee of parents selected by city council members is ludicrous. What qualifications will these committee members possess? Will they be paid? “Stay in your lane!”

On another note, you have silenced my public voice by not allowing public comment on Zoom. I had surgery and don’t have the stamina to attend a meeting yet. This is not aligned with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

1 Moore, Tania
From: Jill Weber <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 2:15 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
Dear Council Members,

Please do not vote in favor of censorship. The librarians at Huntington Beach Library are capable of picking out books and movies.

Thank you,

Jill Weber
1 Moore, Tania
From: Donna Ryburn <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 2:16 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
Dear City Council,
I am wriƟng once more to oppose adopƟon of ResoluƟon No. 2023‐41. This is quite obviously a ﬁrst step in book banning! Also, obviously, you have forgoƩen that this is America!

Sincerely,
Don and Donna Ryburn
9842 La Cresta
HunƟngton Beach 92646

1 Moore, Tania
From: Susan Grantham <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 2:25 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
Please vote NO on Resolution 41 for reviewing and recataloging materials at the Huntington Beach Library.

Thank you,
Susan Grantham
9586 Bickley Drive, Hunting Beach 92646

To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented download of this pictu re from the Internet.

Virus-free.www.avg.com

1 Moore, Tania
From: Julie Hoagland <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 2:29 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Dangerous precedent

To city council of HunƟngton Beach

Please vote against banning books at our libraries

This direcƟon can easily lead to a socialist mentality.

This is a very dangerous precedent.

Let the ciƟzens choose what books are best for their families. If they are smart enough to vote let them vote by their
acƟons at the library as well

Julie Ford DDS
Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: Jerri Rubenstein <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 2:30 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
I am most adamantly opposed to this council or commiƩee banning any books whatsoever from our libraries. Let people choose for themselves and their families what is appropriate material. We are a free country!

Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: Jean Rowley <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 2:32 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20

Sent from my iPad

1 Moore, Tania
From: Liz Orban <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 2:38 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
Please do not spend our money on censoring books from the HB Library. I do not approve of censorship. Also, most books like Tom Sawyer are freely available on the internet.

Thank you.
1 Moore, Tania
From: Stephen MacDowell <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 2:43 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
Dear Huntington Beach City Council,

I respectfully request you drop your attempt to develop a Library Advisory Committee. It is a gross act of government censorship, and reflects very badly on the the city council members who support it. A free society thrives on the free exchange of ideas and information. I urge the Huntington Beach City Council to maintain our freedoms rather than endanger them.

Sincerely,
Stephen MacDowell
5601 Middlecoff
Hungtington Beach, Ca 92649
(714) 747-6638
1 Moore, Tania
From: judy gaglione <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 2:45 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
I strongly oppose agenda item 20. I am AGAINST ANYONE BANNING BOOKS!!!! You have no right in the free democracy of America.
1 Moore, Tania
From: judy gaglione <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 2:49 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
Don't Ban any Books in America!!
1 Moore, Tania
From: judy gaglione <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 2:56 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
I strongly oppose ANY AND ALL BOOK ൚൛൜൝൞ൟൠൡൢൣ BANNING. Who ever voted to Ban books in HB Will also be banned in the next election.
1 Moore, Tania
From: Gene Axelrod <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 3:03 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
With respect to ResoluƟon No. 2023‐41 one might quesƟon whether the subject maƩer represents the posiƟon of ConservaƟves that government should not be meddling in our lives, that we should be able to live with fewer regulaƟons not more and that cancel culture/wokeness must be resisted?

The ulƟmate eﬀect of the provisions of the referenced resoluƟon is more meddling in our private lives, more regulaƟon and more deference to so‐called wokeness.

Please record my strenuous objecƟon to the adopƟon of the resoluƟon.

Gene Axelrod

Sent from my iPad

1 Moore, Tania
From: Charles Spurgeon <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 3:17 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
As a retired teacher and college professor, a long‐time resident of Huntington Beach, and a Friend of the Huntington Beach Library, I am shocked you would even consider banning books or not trusting our librarians' judgement and supervision of collections.

I opposed censorship and banning books. So do the other two residents I live with.

Respectfully,
(and it is probably a good thing I cannot attend the meeting, because I might play King Lear and rage at you)

Dr Charles W Spurgeon, professor emeritus, English literature 17521 Still Harbor Ln, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
[email protected]

1 Moore, Tania
From: Dick Moore <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 3:21 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
I oppose agenda Item 20. Kathryn Moore
1 Moore, Tania
From: Ralph Eastman <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 3:23 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
We do not support any measures to ‘protect’ the public by denying them free and open access to ALL printed — in its various forms — library materials, regardless of their content. Be grateful that people conƟnue to want to read and make up their own minds. No to censorship in any form.

Ralph and Paula Eastman

Ralph Eastman
(Sent by mental telepathy)

1 Moore, Tania
From: Cheryle Johnston <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 3:25 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
I am a resident of Huntington Beach and a retired lawyer. I oppose Res. 2023‐41 on First Amendment grounds. Book banning is for Nazis! Our citizens have the right to choose and read what they want. Please do not go down his slippery slope of deciding what our people may read!

I applaud the written opposition to Res. 2023‐41 of the HBPL and its staff. 1 Moore, Tania
From: Debra Gala <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 3:32 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Agend Item 20
Dear City Council,
I am unable to aƩend Tuesday’s meeƟng as I have a prior commitment I cannot defer to anyone else. That being said, I ask you to strongly oppose ResoluƟon 2023‐41. That this ResoluƟon even exists is a a disgrace to the HunƟngton Beach community. Keep your focus on City Council business and leave book selecƟons for children eighteen and younger to the experts: librarians, parents/guardians, and teachers. Respecƞully, Debra Gala 714 968 6815
20612 Kelvin Lane. 92646

1 Moore, Tania
From: Gloria Rodriguez <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 3:33 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
I oppose book banning! Individuals and Families have the right to decide what's best. This is NOT Nazi Americaρςστ

Focus on ridding the Homelessness issue‼
1 Moore, Tania
From: Florence Sudakow <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 3:37 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Resolution 2023-41
I support the Huntington Beach Public Library. I DO NOT support book banning. This country was not built on narrow minded thinking.
1 Moore, Tania
From: Cheryl Narwich Smith <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 3:49 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
To whom it may concern,

I would like to speak out in opposition of the proposed book ban. I know that the council members are trying to say that it is not a ban. However, voting to move or remove public access to reading materials at the library is the definition of a
book ban. First off, the term "sexually explicit content" that is being thrown around, is extremely unclear. This is a very vague umbrella term that could mean a lot of things. One person's definition of "sexually explicit" might differ from the next. I have researched this agenda greatly and can find nowhere where the council has given a comprehensive definition of what the believe "sexually explicit" to mean, nor have I been able to locate a comprehensive list of books that supposedly meet the criteria. I believe it is quite audacious of the council to vote on something so vague as it can be quite misleading and leave it up to interpretation, which is a very slippery slope.

I am a mother of two elementary aged children. My daughters are 9 and 7. And yes, there is absolutely material that I would not want them consuming, but that is
my right as their parent to decide. What children can consume should be left up to their parent or guardian, not the local city council. And suggesting that the city council should decide what children are able to consume rather than their parent is an extremely dangerous overstep of our local government. I believe it is the right of any parent to decide that certain reading material is not appropriate for their child, however, no person/parent/government should get to decide what is appropriate reading material for ALL children. That right lies with the parents. It honestly terrifies me that my local government think they can decide better than I can which reading materials my children consume.

In summation, I urge the council to reflect on if what they are proposing is really about "protecting" the children of our community, and why they think they are more qualified to do that than the children's parents. And if nothing else,
please provide a comprehensive definition of what the council believes to be "sexually explicit" as well as a comprehensive list of books that are up for review so the parents of our community can get a better idea of what this proposition actually entails.

Thank you,
Cheryl Smith, a Huntington Beach resident who always votes and will remember how each council member votes on this agenda item.
1 Moore, Tania
From: Sue Berman <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 3:49 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
How sad and misguided your agenda item is! Feel free at any Ɵme to censor your own children’s reading materials, not the enƟre community’s. It is a small‐minded and bigoted thing to do! It destroys the freedom of others to read, discover, and learn. Frankly, it is un‐American.

Thinking that a small group of single‐minded opinionated people can do a more thorough job of selecƟng material than professional librarians who hold masters degrees in informaƟon and library sciences is ridiculous and shows how liƩle this council values educaƟon and professionalism.

CriƟcal thinking is a valuable skill this city council must learn to be producƟve and eﬀecƟve.

Susan Berman

Sent from my iPad

1 Moore, Tania
From: gail susskind <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 3:52 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Resolution 2023-41
I oppose Agenda Item 20, adopƟon of ResoluƟon No. 2023‐41.

Gail Susskind

Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: Barbara Snider <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 3:57 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
Regarding the reviewing and recataloging of speciﬁc library materials.

Dear City Council,
You may not realize how expensive this task will be. Also, your acƟons will be reversed as soon as the populace realizes what you’re trying to achieve ‐ censorship and exclusion ‐ and the library will have to take Ɵme and manpower to put items back where they belong. ConservaƟsm of your brand is becoming very expensive for taxpayers. Not only for the library, but in other areas of city and county government. Taxpayer funds need to go to city needs, not your ideological issues.

Libraries are democraƟc insƟtuƟons, meant to provide informaƟon for all areas of the community. Every item in the library has been reviewed by a professional librarian and chosen to ﬁll a need in the community. Maybe not your interest, but there are many library users that you are excluding based in your acƟons.

Please remember suicide is a real problem among young adults and children. They need to know they belong someplace and someƟmes the library is that place. I hope the American Library AssociaƟon, the ACLU and other democraƟc insƟtuƟons will bring
acƟon against what you are proposing, if you are successful. Everyone counts. It’s not anyone’s place to judge or exclude. That is cruel and damaging. We need our community to be accepƟng and open. That saves lives.

Sent from my iPad

1 Moore, Tania
From: MARY JULIENNE <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 4:08 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Proposed Book Ban

I reject the attempts of this city council to ban books. People have the right to access books and should be only concerned with their own belief systems for themselves and their own minor children. Butt out of everyone else's business. Church and state are separate. You cannot judge what is appropriate for residents in a diverse community. I vote and am not happy with this city councils over reach.

Get Outlook for Android
1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 4:18 PM
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: Say NO To Library Book Controlling/Banning
Gracey Van Der Mark's wanting to control the books in the library from the false info she has given is insanity. Say NO to this. Libraries already have books in the appropriate age range where they belong. Parents should be the ones to be responsible for what their kids read and check out. Not some uneducated high school dropout and her friends. Not a single one of you 5 (Van Der Mark, Burns, McKeon, Strickland and Gates) are qualified to say what goes where in a library or what parents can allow their kids or teens to check out. Teenagers are not little kids either. I'm sure Mrs.

Van Der Mark you probably weren't reading books as a teen but many of us did. With what you want done, many of those books would NOT be allowed to be checked out by teens in the library. Books that are written for teens but because it might have content you don't approve of it would have to be put some place else. Will we make sure there are no bibles in the kids section as well since the content in it falls under what you are talking about? There is more inappropriate content the bible than in the books on the shelves for kids in the library. Yet you would have to go in there and actually read the books to find that out and not try to search for things to be "outraged" over. BTW, any kid that has a cellphone, tablet or computer of their own at home is probably already looked at worse that way.

Treating teens like they are 5 yrs old and need a hand held to pick a book at the library is just wrong.

Some kids only learn about their bodies and puberty because of books in the library that are written for their age group. Not everyone has parents that will talk to them about this stuff. Shame on you 4 as we all know you will vote for it and do whatever you want like always no matter what we residents would prefer.

Who is picking this so called committee to decide on what is appropriate or not? Who is to say those people actually know how to do such a thing? The librarians already know how and do these things.

They have the proper training for it but a committee decided upon by the 4 will NEVER have that.

It needs to be asked, why is Gracey Van Der Mark so obsessed with the this? So much for you all and the claims of wanting government out of personal people's lives and choices when its all you keep trying to do is make decisions for us while you ignore real issues, what the residents are saying they want and head our city towards bankruptcy.

Anna

1 Moore, Tania
From: terryagriffin <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 4:46 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: WE SUPPORT AGENDA ITEM 20

It is NOT A BAN ON BOOKS. Rather common sense in favor of AGE APPROPRIATE ACCESS TO SEXIALLY EXPLICIT MATERIALS. Read the text.

I am disappointed in librarians who would encourage access to porn by young children.

Thank you.

Terry Griffin‐ HB RESIDENT

Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

1 Moore, Tania
From: Byrne <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 4:51 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Library Book Selection
Thank you for addressing the selection of materials being offered or promoted at our HB Library and Cultural Center. I have been very saddened these past couple of years to see the type of books that are being promoted and displayed at our library. I stopped checking materials out after the Friends of the Library defended the selling of pornograaphic magazines that they housed in glass cases next to the young adult section of the library. I fail to see why our library would promote materials that would encourage pedophiles and perverted behaviors that have been shown to be destructive and addictive.

I am concerned that our "Cultural Center" is forgetting that obscene and indecent materials are not literature; rather the opposite. It is not banning materials to uphold morals and protect young people from a perverted agenda.

If people want to read sexually explicit materials they are free to do so; the City of HB should not support that habit with tax dollars in a public place.

I support the resolution that Mayor Pro Tem Van Der Mark is addressing. I appreciate the courage and willingness of the council and Mayor to represent the citizens of HB who have children and grandchildren that they do not want exposed to the sexulaization that is currently taking place in other areas.

Carolyn Byrne
HB Resident 1983‐present
9292 Grand Drive

1 Moore, Tania
From: Mary <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 5:11 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
I am vehemently opposed to this agenda item. I have faith in our librarians and do not need the four Trumpers on the council, along with the city attorney, getting involved in what books should be in our library. Be assured that I will work diligently against your re‐election.
1 Moore, Tania
From: Athena Jaharis <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 5:27 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF)
Subject: Agenda Item 20
To Whom It May Concern:

I firmly disagree with any attempt to ban books and other materials within the Huntington Beach Public Library system.

A politically appointed committee does not have the right to determine what media I consume. Each individual should make the personal decision to view or read what they deem appropriate.

Thank you,
Athena Dryden
1 Moore, Tania
From: Lorraine Gayer <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 5:36 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: I Oppose Agenda Item 20 on the City Council Agenda

As a resident of HunƟngton Beach for more than ﬁŌy years and a voter, I oppose Agenda Item 20 on the City Council’s agenda.

I categorically oppose the banning of books from our public library system. The city of HunƟngton Beach is not some backwater community where extremists on the city council should be able to deny ciƟzens the right to choose the books and other materials they read in contravenƟon of the rights guaranteed by the ConsƟtuƟon and the Bill of Rights of the United States.

Further, I oppose the characterizaƟon of books adopted by our librarians as “pronographic” and “obscene.” Even the U.S.

Supreme Court ﬁnds it diﬃcult to deﬁne those terms. Councilwoman Gracey Van Der Mark’s claim to know the legal meaning of that term is laughable.

I support HunƟngton Beach’s librarians and trust their professional skills in curaƟng the city libraries’ book collecƟons for people of all ages in our city.

I support the right to read.

Lorraine Gayer
16682 Lovell Lane
HunƟngton Beach, CA 92647

1 Moore, Tania
From: Becky Weinthal <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 5:55 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Stop Book Banning!
I don’t need or want ANYONE telling me or my children what I can or can’t read. Maybe the morons who suggested this are too lazy or stupid to read or edit what’s given to their children and they want someone else to be their moral nanny.

If they’d actually read any history they’d know the folks who ban books are NEVER the good guys. I’m ashamed of HunƟngton Beach and this disgusƟng proposal.

1 Moore, Tania
From: Kathryn Moseley <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 5:58 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
I strongly oppose this resoluƟon. This is a free country and the library is a public enƟty. Each individual should have the right to determine what we want to read. We do not need the moral police to dictate what we read. Those that are opposed to certain content have that same right. This resoluƟon deﬁnitely aﬀects our personal freedom. Please do not vote for this anƟ‐freedom resoluƟon.

Kathryn Moseley
Taxpayer

Sent from my iPad

1 Moore, Tania
From: Judith Ashby <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 6:08 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
I agree completely with the Friends of the HunƟngton Beach Public Library. The City Council does not have the experƟse to decide if a book should be banned or not. Many books have been banned and are now available to the public. Many of those books have become classics. Let those who know books, have studied them, gone to school to learn about them decide which books should be in the public library. All books in the library are not available for children to read.

Parents also should decide if a their child can read a certain book. It is up to them and adults can decide that for themselves. It is not your job to decide for us!!! Thank you, Judith A. Ashby

Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: janet johnson <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 6:21 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
What are you thinking?

Libraries are meant to contain all kinds of reading material, with parental guidance assisting in young kids' selections of reading material that fits their needs and their interests and starts them on a route to good library use. This puts responsibility reading materials where it belongs...with parental guidance for young kids, which leads to intellectual freedom in adulthood. for It is not the City Council's job to control what and where reading materials are available.

Please be more considerate of the abilities of teens to think for themselves, as they are growing toward adulthood. Otherwise, you will may be directing kids to online resources, which you cannot control...but can lead to more serious issues.

Janet Johnson
1 Moore, Tania
From: Dorothy Boesch <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 6:33 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
I feel it is in the children's interest to have a review of books being ordered by the library to be sure that children under 16 are not being exposed to sexual explicit books.

Thank you,
Dorothy Boesch
1 Moore, Tania
From: Kelly Ann Laghaei <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 6:37 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: Oppose Resolution 2023-41
As a resident of HunƟngton Beach, a mother of three, and a library card holder, I oppose resoluƟon, 2023–41. Books that our children read should be selected by the family and not by the government. Our HunƟngton Beach librarians do a fantasƟc job of keeping our library stocked with a variety of books. When my children were younger, we would visit the library and they would ﬁll their book bags with the maximum number of books that they could check out at each visit.

Our public library is a giŌ to our community. This is where people come to learn new things, explore cultures, and read about diﬀerent viewpoints. Any interference by government as to what should be on the shelves is a disgrace and should be opposed.

Kelly Ann Laghaei

1 Moore, Tania
From: Mark Melanson <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 7:21 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
I strongly am opposed to this resoluƟon and feel it is an unnecessary and would start us down a path to a small group of parents deciding what books are unacceptable for anyone to read. Once we start down that road it is a slippery slope from which we cannot recover. We have seen what happens when we start to dictate to the libraries what books can be read by the ciƟzens of HunƟngton Beach. Parents need to act like parents and monitor what their minor children are reading if they are so concerned that they are reading material they deem unacceptable. I respect the wisdom and years of training that our librarians have to choose what books should be in the library and if there should be restricƟons on who can read them. We see what happened in places like Texas and Florida and we do not want to become like them.

Please reconsider this unnecessary proposal. Thank you for your Ɵme.

A concerned HB resident.

Sent from my iPad

1 Moore, Tania
From: Dina Chavez <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 7:23 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
HunƟngton Beach council will consider a children’s library book review board – Orange County Register (ocregister.com)

In the Sunday, October 15, 2023 article in the Orange County Register Mayor Pro Tem Gracey Van Der Mark is quoted: “She said librarians are already reviewing books, but this would bring the community into the process.” This is a lie. Librarians are always curating the collection in the library, this has absolutely NOTHING to do with the disaster that is Resolution 2023-41. I assume the MTP is trying to create a perception that librarians are banning books ahead of your resolution. They are not.

Later in the same article Van Der Mark says, “This is the beginning,” Van Der Mark said. “As issues and concerns come up, we could fine-tune it. We have to be flexible about this because it’s never been done before.” This has literally been done all over the country, I personally gave a 3-minute public comment about the high cost of Book Ban Committees at the September 19, 2023 council meeting. Meeting minutes from September 19 state: ‘Dina Chavez was called to speak and shared her opinions related to the extreme costs to implement book banning. (01:10:07)’. Finally, the quote ‘this is just the beginning’ - of what, exactly? Lawsuits? Chaos, unnecessary, unconstitutional, and un-American book bans? The resolution has not even been brought to the floor, been moved, debated, or adopted. The meeting does not take place until Tuesday, these comments appeared in the Sunday paper. Does this prove the public perception that you do not even bother to take the study session findings into account and have no plan to even debate the idiocy of this poorly crafted illegal book ban resolution? Interesting admission.

The issue statement from Mayor Pro Tem regarding Resolution 2023-41 states ‘I also requested a policy for procurement that includes new screening protocols for future materials intended for children and yet to be acquired by the HBPL be screened for obscenity and/or pornography.’ The Mayor Pro Tem may have asked for it, but she did not receive it. The motion that was passed on June 20, 2023 states: ‘An amended motion was made by McKeon, second Strickland to direct the City Manager to work with the City Attorney to return to the City Council at a Study Session in August September of this year with options to establish safeguards that would prevent minor access to age-inappropriate, obscene, pornographic and/or sexually explicit materials in City libraries’. No where in this motion does it say that the City Attorney was to craft a resolution about anything. This motion called for a study session, period. At the September 5, 2023, council meeting a motion was ‘made by Strickland, second Burns to approve the June 20, 2023 Council direction by directing staff to return with actionable policy options related to safeguards over City library materials on October 17, 2023.’ Redirect staff to return with actionable policies, no mention of having the City Attorney return with a Resolution.

This resolution is unwanted, unnecessary, costly, and uncalled for. It completely ignores the findings of the staff who provided you with valuable information to educate you about our public library system as well as show you the undeniable reality that you still refuse to accept: the library is not the problem.

Dina Chavez

2 1
Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 7:37 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
Please let the librarians educated to make such decisions do their job. Too much time and money will be spent on this item that could find its way into better projects. Jerry Donohue

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1 Moore, Tania
From: Cecily Gates <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 7:43 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Library book ban
HB city council,
Please vote no no no no no on the book ban or restricƟon or whatever people are trying to call it. I trust parents and your librarians who have masters’ degrees to make the decision about suitable books.

Thank you
Cecily Gates.

Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: Allison Murray <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 8:35 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: A real insight, from a real constituent.

Extreme disappointment has driven me to pen my first—but most necessary —message to the Huntington Beach City Council. I add my voice to the more than 600 letters sent regarding the blatant and specious attacks on literature, gestures masquerading as "protecting children."

As a 25-year veteran professor of English, I know intrinsically that children benefit from books, and by extension the benevolent nature of libraries in a score of ways, primarily as a secondary home and school. My earliest childhood memories were formed at the Huntington Beach Main Library and the Fountain Valley Library, where I was given freedom to choose whichever books interested me. I remember feelings empowered and engaged for the freedom of that choic

e. I spent more time with books than I did with television, and learned about the greater world outside of Orange County. Books taught me about the larger world—and there is such a place—and that lead to my studies at the University of London, UK, and the University of Wollongong, Australia. During my education, an English teacher asked us to write down our personal reading history, and while my classmates' submissions were a page long, mine was eleven pages, single-spaced. Thanks to libraries, and the kind guidance of the librarians, I discovered British Literature, mythology, history, and biographies of people who have truly contributed in positive ways to our country and the world. The books I discovered in libraries taught me about civic responsibility and engagement, about ethics, morality, honor—qualities sorely lacking in our current environment—library books even kept me from ever experimenting with drugs, though I dare not mention the name of the book for fear it will make the next must-cut-list. Literature has only had a positive benefit on me, as well as on the many students I've taught.

But books, and the intellectual challenge they often offer may appear threatening to the undereducated. Books compel us to look at our own biases, our ignorance and our fear. Granted, this can be scary for some. Their core values are sheltered by the cognitive dissonance that registers like a cacophony inside their primitive brain; note, this is not an insult, rather a psychological fact, which could be looked up. In a book. The noise created by the dissonance shuts out the capacity to listen, to absorb, and to learn. Learning requires us to revise our prior biases, or worse, delete them all together.

Books also offer us the greatest wisdom, specifically, "that government is best that governs least." This is a well-known quote from Thoreau, also available in a book, Walden. It's clear to 600 of us (and likely more who haven't yet penned their letters) that the reactionaries who are behind this plan to form a citizen's committee to effectively keep children from learning are acting on pretend issues to avoid the very real, and complex, work of actual governance. I appreciate their fear; real work is hard, and understanding democracy can feel frightening, but I know of kindly librarians who could gently explain how local, state and federal democracies operate.

City councils are formed by citizens like me who research candidates to vote for the most capable people, those who will listen to the voices of taxpayer, property-owning, voting residents. All we've seen from the far-right- foursome is ignorance. Ignorance is not innocence, but sin; oops, there goes another literary quote.

2 History proves that in each case of totalitarianism, the few in power start with book bans. Those of us who paid attention in our history classes remember the vivid images of burning books as the radicals tried to burn up ideas, thoughts, and the very ability to complete rhetorical analysis, and replace them with sheer intimidation. Were you aware that we recognize this pattern occurring right now in Huntington Beach? Something indeed is rotten in the state of Surf City (apologies, another pesky literary reference).

Let's leave the governing of books to those who are truly qualified, the librarians who hold degrees in Library Science. And let's ask our City Council to focus on the sincere and necessary work of solving real issues.

1 Moore, Tania
From: Ada Hand <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 8:45 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: My Opposition to Items on the City Council Agenda of 10/17/23 I am vehemently opposed to placing all the amendments to the City Charter on the spring ballot for the following reasons:
 You have no idea how much this will cost the tax payers, but one election and future elections will cost taxpayers many millions.
 State law forbids changes to the City Charter to go on the primary ballot. They are limited to the November ballot to ensure that a small turnout does not massively change the City Charter.  You lump three separate items into one ballot measure. This will lead to confusion as to what issues to vote for.

Confusing language on ballot measures has caused ballots to be overturned. Don't pay all our money to have it be thrown out.
 You campaigned on a platform of no changes to the City Charter and, instead, you propose to massively change the City Charter with only a sham of public opinion. You disbanded the City Charter Commission and instead manned the ad‐hoc group with three of the newly elected four members. You never allow participation by the other three members of the City Council.
 The State will most likely sue and win against this sham election, especially on Huntington Beach overturning the State Election Guidelines. The lawsuits will cost taxpayers millions.  Our city budget is already strained and you will have to cut costs to important services to make up for the losses mentioned above.
 City staff is taking an inordinate number of hours to work on these frivolous lawsuits.  You are obeying the Trump playbook of manufacturing problems that don't exist and then offering remedies that will be challenged in court and stir up animosities in our community.

I am also opposed to any change in library policies. As your staff's report shows there have been no challenges and, if there were, there is a vetted policy to address them as Gracie Van Der Maark found out when she lodged a complaint.

There is absolutely no need for this intrusion.

If you continue acting in this irresponsible manner instead of paying attention to real city issues, such as the Housing Element, I will consider it time to mount a recall.

‐‐
Ada J. Hand, Secretary
H.B. Mobile Home Resident Coalition
714‐717‐1294 (cell)
[email protected]

1 Moore, Tania
From: Laurie McCulloch <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 9:04 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
Honorable members of Huntington Beach City Council
I want to express my extreme displeasure with Agenda Item 20 and Oppose any consideration of adoption of item 20.

I can provide my own censorship and don’t need you to do it for me.

Sincerely,
Laurie McCulloch
1808;Park St.

Huntington Beach
1 Moore, Tania
From: Cathee Cohen <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 9:09 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
I am opposed to any attempts to ban books from our public library. This country was founded on freedoms and this would be a violation of my freedom of speech. You as an elected person to the city council of Huntington Beach took an oath to uphold my freedoms, even if you disagree with my rights. I believe that individuals have the right to decide what books they choose to read for themselves and their families. No individual or government appointed committee has a right to decide what I and my family are allowed to read.I want to reiterate my unequivocal support and confidence in our professional librarians to select, procure, manage, and maintain the collection of materials available in the HBPL just as they have for more than one hundred years

Catherine Cohen & Irven Cohen
120 Utica Avenue,
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
1 Moore, Tania
From: Aileen Manley <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 10:41 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20

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1 Moore, Tania
From: SUSAN WEXLER <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 11:51 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
Dear Majority Council Members,

I am vehemently opposed to the proposed Agenda item 20. It is a blatant violation of my first amendment rights and a power grab and government overreach that will cost the City of Huntington Beach a huge amount of money because it will be challenged in the
courts.

You are supposed to represent the taxpayers of Huntington Beach and protect us from lawsuits. You have embarked on a path that does not represent the majority of residents of our city. You have refused to listen. Have you even been to our libraries to see where these supposed
"obscene and pornographic" materials are located? Have you spoken in depth to our librarians?

Although I speak as a private citizen, I have been the president of The Friends of the Children's Library for the past four years. I know our librarians. I believe that the current system of book acquisition works. There are no problems with
the current system. Why have you created a problem where none exists?

I urge you to reject Agenda item 20 and VOTE NO.

Sincerely,

Susan Wexler
President, Friends of the Children's Library

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1 Moore, Tania
From: elena uranga <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:50 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Our Libraries

We use and appreciate our libraries, their personal and the books available as is.

We oppose any legislaƟon changing or banning any books and services they oﬀer .

Elena Uranga
20042 Harbor Isle
HunƟngton Beach, Ca. 92646

1 Moore, Tania
From: Paula Shawa <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 6:55 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: No on Agenda Item 20 / Van Der Mark book ban / Oct. 17 City Council meeting No on this proposal to take away from parents the authority to guide their children's reading choices. It is not the scope of this City Council to insert itself in the library's book selection. And it's none of your business what a family chooses to let its kids read!

And the
proposal to form a committee to oversee the book selection process is just another way for this extremist group of four to stick their noses in other people's business and tell them what to do. What happened to "Don't Tread on Me"? You're treading all over people's rights to make their own choices. Mind your own business!

Paula Shawa, HB resident
1 Moore, Tania
From: Brent Nichols <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 8:03 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Library
Please keep your government out of the library. I can parent my children and do not want big government interference in my parental choices. I do not co‐parent with the city council. Stay out of the book banning business please. Thank you Ruquan Nichols

Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: Maria Sugranes <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 8:24 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Public Library Book Selection -- Leave it to the professionals Do not embark in this superfluous policy. The present system works well. Huntington Beach parents and HBPL librarians have been doing their job well or there would be multiple book challenges. The city council is creating a problem where none exists.

‐‐
Maria Sugranes, HB resident since 1972 and retired librarian 1 Moore, Tania
From: Michele Burgess <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 8:24 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
To the "Gang of Four" on the City Council:

Keep your hands off our library and your self-righteous noses out of what we read and what we allow our children to read. I've lived in Huntington Beach since 1961 and we never had a library problem until the four of you showed up. If parents don't want their children to read certain books, they should accompany them to the library and monitor what they choose, or don't go to the library at all.

Don't foist your restrictive, backward ideas on the rest of us. The unmitigated gall of your proposal is appalling. Who the hell do you think you are? First the Gay Pride flag, now this. I can't wait for the next election to run you out of town. Mind your own damn business — and what others read isn't it.

This crap proposal is a waste of time and taxpayer dollars, and insulting to those of us who can read.

It's not your job, or your right, to protect us from ourselves. Why don't you do something productive, like work on the homeless situation, potholes in the streets, and the deafening noise and danger of motorcycles and other vehicles zooming around our city?

Michele Burgess
1 Moore, Tania
From: Tracy Luth <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 8:27 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: Support HB Public libraries. Vote no on resolution 2023-41 I am writing to encourage a NO vote on resolution 2023‐41. Please leave it to trained librarians to review and purchase materials for the library. Parents are free to monitor their own children's reading, but not the reading of others. It is not up to the city council to discuss book banning nor to hand pick a review board.

Tracy Luth

Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
1 Moore, Tania
From: Carol Daus <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 8:30 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: In Opposition to Charter Amendment-Costly Govt Overreach! Good Morning Council Members:

I have addressed this topic many times, but I want to make it official that I'm ardently opposed to the Charter Amendments that you want to place on the March ballot. They cost HB taxpayers too much money and you're inflicting government bloat on us. Are you
trying to bankrupt the city?

You are spending our precious money on non‐problems:

Voter IDs‐‐there's no election fraud
Flag‐‐restricting flags makes HB an unwelcoming city with a poor image

In addition, your preposterous library resolution is another costly proposal for a non‐problem. The HBPL is revered by
HB residents and does not have porn (which will be proven when the ACLU gets involved and utilizes the Miller Test).

STOP SPENDING OUR MONEY IN SUCH IMPRUDENT WAYS! YOU WORK FOR US, NOT A POLITICAL AGENDA. (By the way most of the growing opposition to your rulings is
coming from independents, not democrats. I advise you to listen to what the community is saying at Council Meetings and in emails.

1 Moore, Tania
From: Ginny Bean <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 8:42 AM
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Cc: Martha Elliott
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
Dear City Council and Supplemental Committee,

How do I know if you even read the emails that you receive? I have sent a few emails over the last few months for the first time in all the years that I have lived in Huntington Beach. I have only heard back from 3 of the city council members.

This committee that your proposing of 21 people appointed by the City Council to discuss how to handle books in the library is already a farce. Why? because the same people who voted to look into the books are the ones with the majority to appoint the committee. After watching the last meeting where this was a topic, I got the feeling that you were not truly listening to the citizens, but had already made up your minds as to which way you were going to vote. I think the parents should be the ones deciding what books their children should or should not read. Leave our Libraries alone, you are crossing over into areas of people's rights.

You say it's not a book Ban...but... What does it mean to ban a book? Book banning, is the most widespread form of censorship, occurs when private individuals, government officials, or organizations remove books from libraries, school reading lists, or bookshelves because they object to their content, ideas or themes.

Leave our library alone and work on the other issues that are more important to our city.

Sincerely,
Ginny Bean
45 year resident, parent and grandparent

1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 9:01 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Resolution 2023-41
To the City Council,

My family has been living in Huntington Beach since 1980. We have lived through many changes in the city council and none of the changes have affected me or gotten me more involved with city politics than the changes that the new majority wants to impose on the citizens of this city, many of whom have spoken up about these extremist proposals at meetings that I have felt compelled to attend recently.

A friend of mine has much knowledge of our city libraries and she forwarded to me the email that she sent to you already.I am copying her email because I am in total agreement with what she wrote. I hope you have been reading the many emails that I know you’ve been getting about your actions. Please pay attention to what your constituents are saying!

Here is the email that I have taken the liberty of copying!

I am yet again saddened and dismayed by this council's attempts at government overreach and bigotry. This latest move titled "Children's Library Materials Containing Sexual Content" is filled with the worst type of government censorship. Though it seems like this would be a good thing to remove explicit sexual content from the Children's collection, it neglects to tell you that those things don't exist in the Children's collection! There is no smut, no pornography, no obscenity in the entirety of the library's collection!

But the vague language of this resolution using "sexual references" and "sexual content" has no standard. Those two pieces are only in the eye of the user.

So if we are to apply the broadest possible interpretation, children or teens would not be allowed to access any of the following, and adults would have to go to a restricted section to access:

The Bible: sexual references are made in Genesis, Ezekiel, Corinthians, Exodus, Leviticus, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, Samuel, and more
New Testament includes sexual references made in regards to prostitution, virginity, etc.

Any book regarding Mary Mother of Jesus as a "virgin" (this would exclude any books about Christmas Eve, the manger stories, etc)
Any book including images or references to pregnancy (as pregnancy can occur as a result of a sexual act) example Mama's Belly or The birds, the bees, and the Berenstain Bears / Stan & Jan Berenstain.
2 Any book that includes romantic kisses (as kissing is a sexual act in and of itself) including all stories related to Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, the Princess and the Frog, many Babysitter's Club, Froggy's First Kiss, etc
Any teen books that discuss romance and sexual desire such as Twilight or The Fault in Our Stars
The entire works of Shakespeare, notably Romeo and Juliet Required reading for school including, but not limited to, Of Mice and Men, A Tale of Two Cities, Pride and Prejudice, Catch-22, Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, The Outsiders, Wuthering Heights, The Odyssey, The Scarlet Letter, and more.

There are so many more that would be affected by this vague language that it is impossible to know the true effect. Thousands of books would fall into this vague "sexual content" category, making a mockery of our library system. This type of vague censorship will be immediately challenged in court and lose, if any of the 100s of cases of precedent are anything to go by.

I urge you to vote no on this resolution and leave the libraries alone.

Sincerely,
HB Resident for 43 years
1 Moore, Tania
From: tarrik and paula Shawa <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 9:10 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected]; Casey McKeon Subject: NO on Charter amendment. NO on Book Ban
Please vote NO on both of the unnecessary items above.

Thank you.

Tarrik Shawa

1 Moore, Tania
From: Linda Moon <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 9:10 AM
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: October 17, City Council Agenda Items 19 and 20 I write in opposition to October 17, 2023 City Council Agenda Items 19 and 20 Agenda Item 19, Charter Amendments
Amendment #1
As many others have noted, this proposed amendment does not resolve any existing problem with elections. Rushing this matter, at great expense to the primary election ballot, for which a low voter turnout is expected, is intended to further the council majority’s goal of voter selection. You know that in the event that measure passes, and voter requirements for city elections are required to differ from those of the state and county, that separate municipal elections will thereafter be required at a cost of millions of dollars. Immeasurable time and resources will be required to establish and operate an independent election infrastructure, protocol, staff and equipment acquisition system. Whatever your opinion regarding Voter ID and ballot box monitoring, it fails to justify reduction of city services and increased taxes on our residents, who have not voiced any significant desire for such changes.

Amendment #2
Restricting flags in the charter, to prohibit all but government and service banners, serves only to institutionalize the current council majority’s ethos of bigotry, homophobia, and intolerance. Why become the city known for hate? Amendment #3
The proposals to mandate two-year budgets instead of one-year budgets and allowing cancelation of City Council meetings need not be in the Charter. The charter should contain only the foundational principles of city policy and structure. Charter cleanup provisions need not go to the March ballot at greater expense than would be required to put it on the November ballot, when it could be consolidated with the state election at little cost.

Agenda Item 20, Library Regulations
This is a shocking example of the council majority attempting to impose its own value system and religious tenants upon 200,000 residents who have not requested any change to library protocol.
2 Contrary to what Councilmember Burns has stated, you are not proposing legitimate oversight. This is blatant overreach.

It is not about parental control but replacement of parental values with the values of the council majority, who would apparently rather see our children have assault weapons than literary masterpieces. Parents have reasonable control now.

You want to replace the learned protocol of master degreed librarians with the uneducated whims of a politically appointed 21 member citizens committee reflecting your own lack of education, training and experience in library science or child development, which will result in the most chaotic realization of book banning.

Requiring parental written permission for all patrons under age 18 to access material including any sexual content or reference, including literary classics, will result in caging off half the library. Are you prepared to dedicate professional staff and funds to spend time sex rating library materials and guarding the stacks and computer monitors? You seek not just to ban books from kids but to ban kids from the library.

The proposed barring of unaccompanied children up to 12 years old will mean that middle schoolers will not be allowed to access the library with their classmates or access material created for their age range from which they are mature enough to benefit.

Our library has been renowned as one of the best in the west for 50 years. It will now be known as a repository of ignorance and hate. You are losing library staff now due to your anti-library pronouncements. Why would they want to stay and tolerate this disrespect and dismantling of their well-functioning systems. Why would any knowledgeable professional wish to work here in the future? We have a professionally staffed library that’s the envy of the country, Why would you want to destroy it? Nobody asked for this intrusion into our library system. This is about institutionalizing ignorance, not parental choice.

Linda Sapiro Moon, Huntington Beach CA
1 Moore, Tania
From: Sharon Young <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 9:14 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
As a member of the Friends of the [Huntington Beach Central] Library, I am vehemently OPPOSED to the proposed passage of the Adoption of Resolution No. 2023-41.

Like hundreds and hundreds of others, as an avid reader, I am of the opinion that such a proposal is in direct violation of our Constitutional rights.

Sharon Young
Costa Mesa, CA
1 Moore, Tania
From: Sheila Ellis <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 9:56 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: RESOLUTION 2023-41 and Proposed Charter Amendments Hello again ‐ I am writing to voice my objection to proposed Resolution 2023‐41.

Reading the resolution made my stomach churn. If you deem a book "obscene" or "pornographic," don't read it and you can certainly decide what your children read. You do not have the right to determine what I feel is appropriate reading for my family. This is a public library to include everyone. Our librarians are well educated and trained in knowing which books are appropriate for which age.

Parents are also quite capable in determining which books their children should or should not read. After reviewing the staff PowerPoint, it is clear there are already safeguards in place with the Miller Test and publishers' own strict standards. The library also has in place a procedure to object to a book. If only five books in five years have been challenged in our library, it seems that the council majority is again searching for a problem which does not exist.

"If recommended books or materials do not meet the City's community standards of acceptance, they may
be rejected by vote of the community parent/guardian
review board."

It is egregious that someone else has the right to determine what my family and I choose to read. Imposing someone else's beliefs on the entire population is censorship. You are again opening our city up to costly litigation by imposing book bans.

Additionally, I find it interesting that the council majority is fine with creating a new review group while canceling other community groups (i.e. human rights, mobile homes).

I renew my objections to the proposed charter amendments. Your complete disregard for the majority of HB residents who have made their voices heard on these issues is disgraceful.
2 ‐‐
Sheila Ellis
(She/Her)

1 Moore, Tania
From: Mary Martin Jim Aspaas <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:12 AM
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: Oppositon to Resolution No. 2023-41 “establishing a policy for the review and cataloging of library materials containing sexual content”
I am writing in opposition to the HB city council's proposition to establishing a policy for the review and cataloging of library materials containing sexual content, Resolution No. 2023-41. I do not trust that the council's appointees have the knowledge and expertise to make decisions which are based on their personal opinions. These decisions are against freedom of speech. Parents should be making individual decisions which books their children should be reading, not political appointees. This seems to be likened to the 1930's in Germany when the Nazi's banned and burned books. This is a very scary decision that you are trying to do and should not be made.

Mary Martin
17201 Hague Lane
Huntington Beach, CA 92647

1 Moore, Tania
From: Deniz Bereket <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:13 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: I oppose Agenda Item 20!
I oppose Agenda Item 20 – ResoluƟon 2023‐41!

Warmly,

Deniz Bereket
Director of First Impressions
Fusion Academy Huntington Beach
7711 Center Ave, Suite 120
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
657.200.2300 Direct

Click here for the Parent Live Binder!
Click here to access MyFusion!

1 Moore, Tania
From: The Silversteins <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:16 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Library
We are 44 yr HB residents, and licensed psychologist and social worker.

Our children and grandchildren had been active children's library users.

NO ONE HAS EVER BEEN HARMED BY READING WHATEVER IN THE CHILDREN'S LIBRARY

21 non-librarians passing judgment on what is available in the library is absurd interference.

DELETE THIS PROPOSAL IMMEDIATELY!

Stanley Silverstein, PhD
Deborah Silverstein, LCSW
1 Moore, Tania
From: Julie Hampel <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:21 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Comments on City Charter; Flags; Public Library October 16, 2023

Dear Huntington Beach City Council:
(Addressed specifically to Strickland, Van Der Mark, Burns, and McKeon)

I am painfully writing again (4th time) to oppose your proposed City Charter Amendments, the Restrictive Flag proposal, and Interference with Public Library Policies.

Life is busy and it is absurd to spend precious time on your foolishness. The Council has yet, after months of discussion, to produce a single reason for any of the changes to the City Charter or to Restrict Flags at City Hall. None. Zero. Zip. It is irresponsible of you as elected officials to continue down this path when you have heard from your citizenry that these items are not only unnecessary but are extreme actions which violate Civil Rights.

Formally, I oppose:

Items 2023-42; 2023-43; 2023-44;2023-45; 23-879 and any Supplemental language to change, alter or otherwise modify, vary, or Clean-up the current Huntington Beach City Charter, the Flags presented at City Hall and policies/processes at the Public Libraries.

First, you know there are no problems these proposed changes/Amendments will fix. However, you also know it will cause more problems and more division amongst the citizens of Huntington Beach. Your plan is to have the Citizens fight each other rather than you. Instead, you have shown us who you really are - very un- reelectable.

Secondly, flags are symbols of solidarity. Flags work to unite us. By eliminating LBGTQ/Pride Flags, you alienate that part of your Huntington Beach population. More damage is done. The City Council is supposedly apolitical. You and this Proposal are hypocritical when the City Council tent waved the ‘Trump’ flag during the Air Show. This Proposal is just pathetic and shows us how low you will go to create fear.

Thirdly, Public Libraries are for ALL of the public and not just a few. Andrew Carnegie, the father of Public Libraries, would be appalled at your actions against anyone wanting to learn. None of you are Librarians.

None. Leave books and reading material to the Librarians. Anyone not liking a library book, periodical or other reading material can choose not to look at it or check it out. Let Parents decide that for their children.

Finally: All these changes are to sow chaos and confusion which creates fear and hate. It is the opposite of what a City Council is meant to do. Stop trying to control people’s choices. It is a total waste of taxpayer dollars. Instead, start doing your jobs and improving our City instead of getting involved in everyone’s private business. It is very unbecoming behavior for anyone but especially an elected Huntington Beach City Council member.

Huntington Beach Citizen,
Julie Hampel

1 Moore, Tania
From: Kelli Kelly <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:21 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
Kelli Kelly
20591 Paisley LN
HunƟngton Beach, CA, 92646
[email protected]
16 October 2023

HunƟngton Beach City Council
2000 Main Street
HunƟngton Beach, CA 92648

Subject: OpposiƟon to ResoluƟon No. 2023‐41

Dear Members of the HunƟngton Beach City Council,

I am wriƟng to
express my strong opposiƟon to ResoluƟon No. 2023‐41, which pertains to the potenƟal banning of certain books from the city's libraries. It is my belief that this resoluƟon is unnecessary, as our City Libraries already have a reliable review process in place, overseen by professionally trained librarians. I ﬁrmly believe that book banning of any sort is dangerous and goes against the principles of free expression, intellectual freedom, and democracy that are the bedrock of our society.

Our city's libraries play a crucial role in fostering a diverse and inclusive community, providing access to a wide range of
materials that reﬂect the varied interests, perspecƟves, and experiences of our residents. These insƟtuƟons have long been a place where individuals can explore new ideas, engage in criƟcal thinking, and broaden their horizons through reading. The guidance and experƟse of professional librarians ensure that the collecƟon remains well‐balanced and meets the needs and interests of our community.

The proposal to ban books, as outlined in ResoluƟon No. 2023‐41, undermines the vital role that our libraries play in our community. It also raises concerns about censorship and the sƟﬂ ing of free speech, which are fundamental to our
democraƟc values. In a pluralisƟc society like ours, it is essenƟal to protect the right of individuals to access diverse viewpoints, even those with which we may disagree.

I would like to emphasize that our professional librarians are well ‐equipped to evaluate and make decisions regarding the
inclusion or removal of speciﬁc materials from the library collecƟon. They follow established policies and guidelines that ensure a fair, transparent, and inclusive process for all community members. This process, rooted in intellectual freedom and the First Amendment, has served our community well for years.

In conclusion, I respecƞully request that the HunƟngton Beach City Council reconsider ResoluƟon No. 2023‐41 and uphold the principles of intellectual freedom, free expression, and democracy. Let us conƟnue to trust the professional judgment of our librarians and maintain our commitment
to a diverse and inclusive library collecƟon for the beƩerment of our community.

Thank you for your Ɵme and consideraƟon of this maƩer . I hope that you will make the decision that upholds the values of our city and its residents.
2 Sincerely,

Kelli Kelly

‐‐
Kelli Kelly
[email protected]

1 Moore, Tania
From: Hannah Cole <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:24 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: I truly can't believe I have to say this but - Don't Ban Books Good morning City Council Members,

I am writing this morning to oppose the resolution set forward to establish a policy for children's library material containing sexually explicit content ‐ which is truly such a deceptive title to this resolution. I write to you as a professional librarian, with a degree in library
and information science, who studied under one of the foremost experts in censorship and book banning, Dr. Emily Knox. Let us be clear, the proposed resolution is censorship, in every way that censorship is defined.

I was in attendance at the city council meeting when this resolution was first proposed. The content raised by "concerned" parents of Huntington Beach was not cited, not clearly defined, and read and displayed for shock value rather than a genuine concern for the children of Huntington Beach. Every parent has the right to decide what their child should read. Nobody is contesting this right. We are contesting the right of a community board, with no experience in book publishing, information science, library science, or content review, to be placed in control of anything the council deems to be "sexually explicit" which as we have seen is anything that even mentions the existence of sex. But the city council does not seem interested in clearly defining anything within this resolution ‐ we have all been arguing over the definition of "sexually explicit" and "rights of parents" for months ‐ so let me try a different tactic. Censorship of children's material leads to broken and traumatized adults.

I was raised in a community similar to Huntington Beach with parents very similar to the majority sitting on city council. I attended church every Sunday. I believed in Jesus and participated in youth group. I listened to my parents and followed their rules. My reading was restricted. Sexually explicit material was forbidden in our house, in books, movies, and television ‐ and I followed those rules. I was taught that sex is only between one man and one woman within the confines of marriage and I believed that with all of my heart. I wore a purity ring on my finger until I was married. Do you know what this upbringing gave me? Trauma and an astronomical therapy bill. In the name of protection my parents tried to control every aspect of my understanding of sex. Instead I grew to an understanding of sex as a forbidden thing in all but the perfect circumstances and that could lead to lifelong punishment if I engaged with it in the wrong way. It was dangerous. My body was something to be feared and controlled.

You may think this is my parents fault. They didn't raise me correctly ‐ you (on the city council) will do better. The way you are raising your children will be different. You have more support. You have the correct reading of the bible. You have the list of rules to follow that will churn out the perfect Christian child. Or maybe you think it's my fault. I didn't listen to them. I didn't keep the faith. But my parents were considered experts on parenting and "sexual sin" in our community. They run a ministry (still) that helps others in their community overcome sexual "sin" and living in "the light of Jesus." They are the folks that you all model and follow. They followed Focus on the Family and James Dobson and all the other folks the city council is likely influenced by in the creation of their policies. And they still "failed." If their parenting led to my undoing maybe the problem was the upbringing that censored content and created an environment of fear. Censorship and control of this type damages children. Period. Study after study has found that there is no way of knowing the impact consuming challenging content will have on a person and refusing to protect the rights of children to explore, ask questions, and make up their own mind leads to adults who are stunted, sheltered, fearful, and unprepared (as I was). If you don't respect my own story, you can also read Pulitzer Prize author Viet Nguyen's own thoughts about reading controversial material as a child here. https://vietnguyen.info/2022/my‐young‐mind‐was‐disturbed‐by‐a‐book‐it‐changed‐my‐life.

2 I know the majority of city council have written off all folks that don't look and talk like them. I am not delusional. I do not think this email will change your mind because you are not willing to consider any opinion that does not match yours. But as someone who has direct experience with how damaging censorship was to her life ‐ to her understanding of herself, her marriage, her sexuality, and her happiness ‐ I beg you not to put other children through this mess. Do not move forward with this resolution.

Thank you,
‐Hannah Cole

1 Moore, Tania
From: Barbara Van Dine <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:28 AM
To: [email protected]; Strickland, Tony; Van Der Mark, Gracey; Burns, Pat; McKeon, Casey; Kalmick, Dan; Moser, Natalie; Bolton, Rhonda
Subject: Opposition to City Council control of the PUBLIC library Council Members,

It is with great concern that the City Council has become a group of four individuals determined to force through their own agendas with no interest in collaboration with the other members of the Council or the citizens of Huntington Beach.

The Resolution on the agenda for Tuesday night is just one more example of the crisis we are in. The idea of a council‐ appointed group of citizens with no further qualifications to tell me what can be in our public library is not only ridiculous but is a dangerous practice very much aligned with fascism. The definition of fascism is a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.

And why vote.....the dictatorial nature of our current City Council has no interest in the needs of this city but rather their own personal power.

Leave the library to be run by the qualified staff and get back to the business of getting this city out of debt and united again.
1 Moore, Tania
From: D Kelly <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:30 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
This email is to express my opposiƟon to ResoluƟon 2023‐41, which is essenƟally censorship. It is not our City Council’s job to determine what me or my children choose to read and amounts to a signiﬁcant over reach of power and poliƟcal show‐boaƟng.

As a 22‐year resident of this city, I would truly appreciate you focusing your Ɵme and energy on issues that are more urgent, such as public safety and infrastructure. Those are the real issues that we residents are concerned about on a daily basis. And please let parents, parent their children.

Thank you.

Denine Kelly

Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: Carol Abercrombie <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:36 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
I formaƟon is power. If you deny contextual portrayal of sexual, social, cultural content. You deny individuals the ability to make informed decisions that aﬀect their life and well being and the ability to judge right from wrong. Denying any form of sexual, social and cultural content distorts personal percepƟon of social reality which creates ignorance driven by weaponized religious shame.

Carol Abercrombie, HunƟngton Beach.

Sent from my iPad

1 Moore, Tania
From: Carol Abercrombie <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:46 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
Banning books removes information and its connection to individual decision-making and well-being.

Understanding and being informed about sexual, social, and cultural content is indeed crucial for making informed decisions and navigating one's life in a responsible and informed manner. It's important to promote open dialogue and provide accurate, unbiased information to empower individuals to make choices that align with their values and beliefs.

Carol Abercrombie
Huntington Beach
Sent from my iPad
1 Moore, Tania
From: Robin Podway <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:52 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Please Don't Ban Books!
I am deeply opposed to Agenda Item 20 – Resolution 2023-41.

Robin S. Podway, M.A., M.Ed.

Head of School
657-200-2300

Schedule a meeting with me!
Click here for 2023-2024 HB Parent Resources

www.fusionacademy.com

Click here for 2023-2024 HB Parent Resources

1 Moore, Tania
From: Vivian Berberet <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:58 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
PLEASE do not ban books! Leave parenƟng up to the parents, and allow individuals to make such decisions on their own!

Thank you!

Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: Roger Ford <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 11:11 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
As a 30 year HB resident, I request the City Council not pass this ridiculous overreaching resolution.

Please return to managing the city and stop the nonsensical culture war virtue signaling. These City Council antics are an embarrassment.

1 Moore, Tania
From: Pam Taylor <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 11:19 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
I have lived and voted in HunƟngton Beach since 1976 and have been a regular patron of the library system ever since. I strongly oppose Item 20.

If you dislike a book don’t read it. If you do not want your child to read it oversee what they check out. The city should not decide what I can read. That is censorship and does not support freedom of speech. The educated librarians should have the ﬁnal say in what the library buys and puts on the shelves.

Pamela Taylor

Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: Linda Pohl <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 11:38 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Amendments to Huntington Beach City Charter

Sent from my iPad

> On Oct 16, 2023, at 9:38 AM, Linda Pohl <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> Please reconsider your eﬀorts to get the amendments placed on the March ballot. The council was voted in to make our City run more eﬃciently, not to see how much
money you can spend on pet projects wasƟng tax payers money. At least if you wait unƟl the November elecƟon you will not only save the City money, but have a larger turnout which will be to your beneﬁt. Don’t forget you were elected with this “ﬂawed” system. When voters actually see how you’re wasƟng their tax dollars they may see you in a diﬀerent light. Voters quickly forget your exciƟng promises when it aﬀects their wallets.
>
> As far as the library restricƟons are concerned you are solving a problem that isn’t there. It may make you look very self righteous sparing our young children the possibility of ﬁnding out about their sexuality, however there is something called the INTERNET which you may not be aware of and everyone but a toddler has access to either themselves or a Friend. You may try to live like we’re in the 1950’s but unfortunately you’re deluding yourselves >
> Linda and Walter Pohl
>
> Sent from my iPad

1 Moore, Tania
From: Lyn Scott <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 11:44 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Resolution 2023-41
To City Council,

I respectfully oppose the changes to the current proposed policies for the H.B. Library. Choosing reading materials should be left to patrons, parents, and other card holders. The selection of reading materials should be up to the librarians who have been trained to select such materials. The training of librarians is a masters degree. I have a child
who is a librarian and have some knowledge of what was studied.

We, in America, should not be subjected to someone else’s opinion of our reading materials nor should someone tell me what my child should read. No one knows
what my child may need to read for whatever he/she is dealing with. There are forms in place if a book needs to be placed in another area of the library. I have found the staff in the library very helpful.

Many banned books are assigned by teachers to read for
learning purposes. I thought we lived in a free society.

Thank you for listening to me,

Lyn Scott

Sent from Mail for Windows

1 Moore, Tania
From: Matt Thomson <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 11:56 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
I always thought that conservatives and Republicans were opposed to big government and the government intruding on individual rights. Yet every time I read another article in the paper, the conservative majority on this city council is trying to impose their beliefs and their opinions onto the community of Huntington Beach. The last time it was banning the requirement of masks and now it is setting up a panel to censor our library.

By the way, Florida was big on opposing mask requirements during the height of covid and they had one of the highest per capita death rates from covid in the United States. So, maybe you all aren’t really medical personnel and shouldn’t be making these kind of decisions.

The staff of the Huntington Beach Public Library have been purchasing books for decades and to the best of my knowledge there have been no issues with books causing problems for young children. The majority’s refusal to understand that there is more than one way to live one’s life is detrimental to the public at large and also to young people trying to understand themselves. The only people complaining about books in the library seem to be the members of the council, not the general population who actually use the library.

It is up to parents to decide what their children can read and do, not the city council. Banning books is something authoritarian regimes do, not democratic republics. That the council is even considering such a thing shows that they

are only interested in pandering to the latest MAGA conspiracy and not trying to do what is best for the city of Huntington Beach.

I heartily oppose the creation of a panel to review the books the library is buying. Let’s leave that decision of which books to purchase to
the people who are actually educated in library science, and not to the type of people who would even volunteer to be on a book banning committee. Just volunteering for such a panel shows that they are not interested in free speech, but in telling others that they have to match whatever single minded doctrine they possess.

Matt Thomson
1 Moore, Tania
From: Cathy Thomson <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 12:05 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
I have been volunteering at the library for over 40 years. First as a member of the Friends of the Childrens' Library and currently as a Literacy Volunteer teaching English to Spanish speakers at the Oak View library branch.

I and my fellow volunteers have worked Ɵrelessly to put on and support Library Programs at the HunƟngton Beach Public
Library. All of the staﬀ at the Library are well educated and well‐trained. They are the most helpful and empatheƟc employees. Able to help a variety of people in the community with a variety of tasks.

There is no
need for a group overseeing these professionals. In fact it is an insulƟng proposiƟon. The Library is the best thing about HunƟngton Beach and it is staﬀed by people who only want the best for our ciƟzens and our children.

Perhaps if you spent more Ɵme visiƟng and volunteering at the library you would see how your Ɵme could be spent helping people instead of tearing them down.

I strongly oppose your narrow minded aƩempts to try control the best and most professional library west of the Mississippi.

Catherine Bell Thomson

Sent from
my iPad

1 Moore, Tania
From: Douglas Hart <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 12:14 PM
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: Comments on Book Ban and Proposed City Charter Amendments I am writing concerning the proposed Book Ban and Charter Amendments once again.

Fascists ban books. Communists ban books. Religious Theocracies ban books. Democracies don’t ban books. Yet the City Council majority seems willing to take the City down those un-American paths with their proposed ban on certain library books. It seems that whatever the four in the majority (and whatever political appointees that they might choose for their review board) deem “offensive” in their political and religious views will override the informed judgements of the City librarians and the parents of Huntington Beach. That is wrong and it is leading the City down a dangerous path. This book ban proposal needs to END NOW!
Fascists suppress the vote of the citizens. Communists suppress the vote of the citizens. Religious Theocracies suppress the vote of the citizens. Democracies don’t suppress the vote of the citizens. Yet the City Council majority seems willing to take the City down those un-American paths with the proposed Charter amendment on voting. The unneeded and illegal attempt to set up a “Voter ID” system for city voters and a ballot box “monitoring” system is, pure and simple, an attempt to suppress voters that might disagree with the current majority. Since “voter fraud” is a proven fiction in this city, this county, this state, and this country, the majority wants to waste our tax-payer money on unnecessary changes to city elections just to make a political play to the far-right voters who believe the voter fraud lies. This proposal needs to END NOW!
VOTE NO ON THE BOOK BAN AND ON THE CHARTER AMENDMENTS!! Douglas Hart
5221 Chadwick Drive
Huntington Beach, CA 92649

1 Moore, Tania
From: Sally Adams <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 12:18 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
I OPPOSE
Item 20!

Retired Educator, and
HB resident over 30 yrs‐

Please vote correctly on this
Important issue to protect our
Rights as citizens!

Thank you all,
Sally K. Adams, M.A.
1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 12:25 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Opposition to Resolution No. 2023-41
Count me as OPPOSED to Resolution No. 2023‐41 TO ESTABLISH A POLICY FOR THE REVIEW AND RECATALOGING OF LIBRARY MATERIALS CONTAINING SEXUAL CONTENT. It is an ill advised action brought by a malinformed individual draped in ‘protect the children’ rhetoric.

60‐year resident, library user and voter,
Mark Obert

PS‐why are all of this Council Member’s agenda items not applicable to any of The City’s Strategic Goals? 1 Moore, Tania
From: Diana Brinkley <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 12:30 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Policy for Childrens Books in Library
Hello City Council Members,

I’m wring to you in my support of Gracie Van Der Mark’s addressing the problem of explicit sexual contents in our library books. This is NOT A BOOK BAN as other have spread around, but an imparƟal review of appropriate books in our library.

I would
think our librarian would protect our children and put sexual content in the adult secƟon. What parent feels this is appropriate for their children? Would you feel comfortable checking out the book and read it with them?

Thank you Mayor Pro Tem Van Der Mark for addressing this problem and I support your resoluƟons.

1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 12:37 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Agenda Item 9 Review of Councilmember Item 23-532 Thank you to Huntington Beach City Staff for the thorough review pertaining to the Selection, Display, and Circulation of Library Books and Other Materials within Huntington Beach Public Libraries. Our city’s Community & Library Services Department continues its excellent job of administering our libraries. I doubt that book-banning is in any librarian's DNA, just careful curation and customer service.

Mark Obert, 60 year resident, library patron and voter. 1 Moore, Tania
From: RALPH KAJDASZ <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 12:45 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Library Book Review Board
The HunƟngton Beach Public Library has a strong book review process. The decisions to purchase books are based on objecƟve professional analysis and reviews in professional journals. The goal is to provide informaƟon and entertainment to a broad populaƟon of the city. CreaƟng a non professional and subjecƟve ciƟzen review board with their individual agendas is unnecessary and dangerous. This is a soluƟon in search of a problem where none exists. The library already has a system where ciƟzens can raise objecƟons to speciﬁc Ɵtles (5 in 5 Years?). A ciƟzen review board is not needed and infringes on the rights of adults and children to freely make their own decisions. Let parents conƟnue to choose what their children read, but please reconsider this very harmful undemocraƟc idea.

Ann Kajdasz American AssociaƟon of University Women.

Sent from my iPad

1 Moore, Tania
From: Jeanne Whitesell <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 12:52 PM
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: Agenda Item 20 Adoption of Resolutions No. 2023-41 Dear HB Council Members,

Please oppose Resolution No. 2023-41.

Book Banning is defined as prohibiting or restricting books available to the public. This Resolution does just that.

I am strongly opposed to having my access to books restricted by the government.

Sincerely,

Jeanne Whitesell
17922 Shoreham Lane
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
714-846-8978
1 Moore, Tania
From: Ruth <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 12:59 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
Who has given you the right to band books? This is the wrong thing to do. We Americans have the right to choose what we read. You do not have the authority to take this away from us. In the future you will not get my vote. I will campaign against you. How dare you!!! Ruth Casillan, a resident of Huntington Beach and a retired educator. 1 Moore, Tania
From: Brad Bergeland <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 1:02 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: 17 October 2023 Agenda Item 23-879 - New HB Library Policy City Council members,

This is to document my opposition to any more time or money being wasted on the subject agenda item. The Library already has a process to address the book concerns identified in the subject agenda item. In fact, according to yesterday's (10/15/23) OC Register article, council member Van Der Mark used the existing process to challenge a book
for review back in 2020. In that same article, it was also mentioned that ,so far in 2023, no books have been challenged for review under the current process.

There is no need to have a 21 person community/parent review board to meet, review, and vote on whether or not to grant approval for the libraries to obtain materials for children. Let the librarians do the jobs they have been trained to do, based on the processes that already exist. The city council has already disbanded some committees that were addressing the more pressing issues facing this community. They don't need to form a 21 person council to address something that already has a process.

In the OC Register article, it was also mentioned that "All of this is really to empower the parent". Actually, parents are already fully empowered ‐ it's called being engaged with your kids and monitoring what they are reading and checking out of the library. I'm pretty sure that is already happening for the most part.

I know that the City Staff was put through what seems to be a lengthy effort to review this issue and come up with recommendations. It could be that a few of their recommendations may be beneficial, but it should be restated here that there is no need for a 21 person community/parent review board. I appreciate all of the hard work that the city staff was directed to do, but it was a waste of their time and our taxpayer money for an effort to fix something that really isn't broken. The citizens and city council should trust the Library professionals to continue doing the fine job that has given the HB library system such a good reputation.

Brad Bergeland
37 year resident of Huntington Beach

1 Moore, Tania
From: Robert Nigro <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 1:10 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Agenda Item 20 Adoption of Resolution No. 2023-41 I am totally against the adoption of the above resolution. Our library has trained professional librarians to maintain and catalog the materials available. They know what is age‐appropriate and what is not. A council‐appointed committee is not needed to do this job.

If the council should adopt this resolution, it should not be enacted without a vote of the community. We all need to have our opinions count.

Sincerely

Maryann Nigro
Huntington Beach
1 Moore, Tania
From: Nancy Bigda <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 1:13 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
I am totally opposed to Agenda item 20 Adoption of resolution #2023-41. We DO NOT need any policy for reviewing and cataloging books in our public libraries. NO BOOK BANNING. Our librarians do an EXCELLENT job of managing materials at our public library. NO one has the right to decide what I or any family member has the right to read. NO on agenda item 20.

Nancy Bigda
Huntington Beach
1 Moore, Tania
From: Carol Berk <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 1:13 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF)
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: NO ON ITEMS #19 & 20!
Respectfully... HB City Council members and especially the majority members, I strongly urge you to vote NO on Items 19 and 20.

I believe that all individuals should have the right to choose the books they themselves will read and the ones they'll make available for their families. We do not need a 21 person panel to make those decisions and mandate them for the general population. You, as individuals, have those rights too, just not to force your decisions on the rest of us!

Regarding the charter amendment proposals...once again you are attempting to make completely unnecessary changes that will
cost our city a lot of money as well as destroying multiple statements and protocols that have been well stated and working effectively. This is especially true of the election related changes you have proposed. Our elections have been handled efficiently for years by Orange County. There is no indication that there are problems of any kind and certainly suggesting that our city should be taking on any responsibility for election oversight is reckless, costly and short sighted. Clearly this is, once again, a power play on your part and will harm our city on many levels.

Again, I hope you will vote NO on both items #19 and 20.

Thank you,
Carol Berk
(A Huntington Beach home owner, resident, and voter for 42 years)

1 Moore, Tania
From: Val Parker <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 1:16 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Library censorship
Please keep out of the library's book selecƟon. That is what we have librarians for, and I totally trust our librarians' choices.

And if a parent is not happy with a book that is available, the parent does not need to let their children check that book out! When my kids were children, I monitored all the books they checked out. It wasn't diﬃcult to do. That's what parents do!

Also, there is a system in place to issue a concern about a book, and have it pulled from the shelf. Why does the City have to create another layer of bureaucracy? Maybe the answer is to publicize the process already in place.

I do not think it is correct for a small vocal number of power‐hungry residents to assume to speak for all of us. I do not think it is right that poliƟcians feel they have the right to tell me how to raise my children.

Thank you,

Val Parker

1 Moore, Tania
From: Jeanne Paris <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 1:18 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Support of Resolution #2023-41 - Support Israel Resolution To the City Council,

I strongly support the Resolution establishing a policy to review library materials containing sexual content for minors.

I also support the Resolution to support Israel and its attacks from Hamas.

Thank you.

Jeanne Paris
27 Year Resident
1 Moore, Tania
From: Sue Welfringer <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 1:32 PM
To: [email protected]
Cc: Sue Welfringer
Subject: Oppose Item #20 Resolution & Oppose Charter Amendments My name is Sue Welfringer, a 26‐year resident of HunƟngton Beach. I oppose ResoluƟon No. 2023‐41, brought forth by Mayor Pro‐Tem Vandermark. I also oppose the charter reforms as unnecessary and costly.

My leƩer today is speciﬁcally about the resoluƟon designed to ulƟmately restrict what books can be included in our library.

I am passionate about the well‐being of kids, and equally passionate about the books they read. As a 20+ year member of the Society of the Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, I am constantly learning about incredible literature where kids can navigate the complexiƟes of growing up in the safe environment of a good story. I currently teach English Language Arts to 6th‐12th graders at a private school in HunƟngton Beach. So, yes, kids – and books – are great sources of inspiraƟon for me. Daily. Is that also true for you? If you read kid‐lit stories as oŌen as the librarians and I do, you would have a beƩer understanding of the posiƟve and meaningful impact these books have. Since you are not in a space of reading and being inspired by these stories, I understand how it is easy for you to form rash opinions about the material, especially when taken out of context. But do you want to live in a world where books are restricted? I have volunteered on the board of the Friends of the Children’s Library for over 20 years. Did you know? Not every book is purchased with city funds. In the nineteen years that the FOTCL operated the Taste of HunƟngton Beach, we giŌed over $700,000 to the children’s department to help them buy books. We dedicate countless volunteer hours behind the scenes to ﬁll our shelves. Never did we ever have cause to quesƟon our professional library staﬀ about their choices. Hopefully, you have learned more about their 2 processes and can trust our librarians to do their jobs. The steps outlined in this resoluƟon are unnecessary.

More than unnecessary. They are dangerous to our ﬁrst amendment rights.

Sadly, I expect this resoluƟon will pass, regardless of sensible and signiﬁcant opposiƟon. I am curious, though? How does a council eliminate several long‐standing community boards and then so quicky add a commiƩee we clearly do not need? This is an insult to our professional staﬀ who live and breathe children’s literature. Frankly, the idea of a poliƟcally appointed commiƩee deciding what books are acceptable for our collecƟon is scary and wrong. Please respecƞully decline your support of this resoluƟon. Pull this from the agenda! I cannot imagine living in a world where books are restricted.

Like you, I care about kids. I care a lot: I’ve been Classroom Mom, Soccer Mom, and Girl Scout Cookie Mom. I subbed at K‐8 schools and taught creaƟve wriƟng to kids in aŌer‐school programs and through SANDS.

I gave hundreds of volunteer hours with PTAs all the way through HS, and aŌer my daughters graduated, I joined the board for Every 15 Minutes, focusing on keeping our kids safe from drinking and driving. All the while, I was working full Ɵme in Sales Management at the Waterfront Hilton, Costa Mesa CVB, and as the Manager of the HunƟngton Beach Downtown Business Improvement District.

Maybe you have also volunteered for causes related to kids while managing a family and working full Ɵme and, if so, thank you. I know, it’s a lot.

Please make your own decision based on the signiﬁcant informaƟon you have learned about our book acquisiƟon process. Do not support this resoluƟon. Request that it be pulled.

With best regards,
Sue Welfringer

1 Moore, Tania
From: Jaime Kauffman Palumbo <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 1:33 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Comment for City Council Meeting Oct. 17, 2023 To Whom It May,

We vehemently disagree with the proposed changes to our charter. In relaƟon to the changes to our elecƟon process, we see no reason why we need to change anything. Our city is currently part of the OC Registrar of Voters and we have been extremely
happy with the ballot and voƟng process they employ. We are sent our ballots with a secure barcode that is then tracked from the moment our ballot is mailed or submiƩed. Why would we change anything that could potenƟally interfere with our city being part of that process? This is a soluƟon in search of a problem to saƟsfy an agenda of fearmongering and power grabbing. We do not support that in any way. We are also concerned with the proposed changes to our library system. This is a book ban plain and simple and we are frustrated and disappointed that our city would even consider such a fascist move. Our library is already monitored by an organizaƟon that uses librarians with master degrees to evaluate and label the material that is in our libraries. How is any system this city council produces going to be a beƩer safeguard than the qualiﬁed and educated individuals we already have? The answer is, it’s not. We do not want random and unqualiﬁed people with who knows what agenda to have control over what our community has access to read. Do not pass these proposals. The community is not with you on these changes. The majority campaigned on no changes to the city charter. Stand by your words or prove yourselves liars.

John and Jaime Palumbo
1 Moore, Tania
From: Caroline Brandenburger <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 1:34 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Opposing Agenda Item 20 Adoption of Resolution No. 2023-41

Opposing Agenda Item 20 Adoption of Resolution No. 2023‐41

To City Council of Huntington Beach,

My name is Caroline Brandenburger and I’m a third generation Huntington Beach, CA resident for over 44 years.

I’m writing this email to express my concern and opinions regarding Agenda Item 20 Adoption of Resolution No. 2023‐

41. I believe that no individual or government appointed committee or council has a right to decide what you and your own family are allowed to read or check out from the library.

The Huntington Beach Public Library has been providing library services to Huntington Beach since 1909. The Central
Library is one of my favorite places in Huntington Beach. I am in full support of our library staff in their ability to manage, procure and maintain the books and materials located within the library. They do a phenomenal job and we have one of the best libraries in Orange County. No intervention is needed from the HB City Council. The efforts to ban books and restrict minors’ access to certain books should not be your worry or concern.

HB City Council I urge you to put your efforts and time into the critical issues and problems in this city. Please stop trying to fix what isn’t broken. Seems like you aren’t trying to ban books to protect minors, but rather the majority of the council seem to have motives consistent with fascism. Please stop the nonsense and this unnecessary noise you are creating.

Sincerely,

Caroline Brandenburger
Huntington Beach resident

1 Moore, Tania
From: Lisa Swanson <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 1:36 PM
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: 10/17/2023 mtg comments
Dear City Council,
Thank you for your service to our community and I hope you will consider my comments on the 10/17/2023 agenda items below.

Item 20 23-879
I strongly urge you to vote NO on this resolution! There are already sufficient controls in place to prevent obscene material from being available to children, and it is a parent's right and responsibility to monitor the materials that a child reads. The staff report from Item 9 23-878 highlights this. I have been a library patron for over 50 years and since my retirement 4 years ago, I have become very familiar with HBPL and joined the Friends of the Huntington Beach Library. Our library system and staff are stellar, and we should be recognizing that not attempting to control or second-guess them. It is not necessary to appoint a 21-person advisory board to review books. It also makes one wonder why the advocates of this resolution think that such a community advisory is needed while many other important community advisory boards were recently discontinued.

When my children were young, we visited our local library regularly. My son was an especially avid and gifted reader and could read at an adult level by the time he was 8 years old. He was interested in science and perused anatomy books which would fall under the "sexual content" definition. I'll never forget when he came to me complaining that his pancreas hurt, and I had no idea what a pancreas was (it turned out he had misdiagnosed his symptoms but he did have a hernia). I am proud to say that he is now a successful medical doctor, and I have no doubt that those early visits to our public library played a part.

Item 19 23-871
I would like to commend you for holding the series of Special Meetings to provide the public with the opportunity to comment on the charter amendments. It appears that some important changes have resulted. I still object to the need for the charter amendments but respect that some council representatives, the city attorney, and some members of the public view them as a high priority. However I strongly feel that it is fiscally irresponsible to adopt resolutions to put these items on the primary election ballot when it would cost the City far less to put them on the November ballot.

Thank for your consideration!
Sincerely,
Lisa Swanson
Southeast Huntington Beach homeowner
1 Moore, Tania
From: Elizabeth Steele Basile <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 1:56 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: No Book Bans at HBPL, No Charter Amendments
I am contacting the Huntington Beach City Council in opposition to Agenda Item 20, a misguided resolution disregarding the many voices that have come before me to express outrage over the proposed book ban in our public library, and to OPPOSE ALL charter amendment proposals. This council has lost my trust.

For the record, I am a resident of Huntington Beach and a parent in the Huntington Beach Union High School District. I am a library patron. I vote in every election by mail. (BTW, it is great, highly recommend it.) I am also outraged by the actions of this majority council, orchestrated in concert with the city attorney.

Aside from the pointed hypocrisy in dismantling existing citizen advisory councils (so eloquently recognized and advocated for — again — by the brave citizens that chose to speak up before me, many of them women and mothers like myself) only to follow it with a proposal the insert a group of handpicked censors into our public library, it is completely unnecessary.

As outlined in the LA Times, OC Register and so many other news outlets covering this travesty, our skilled librarians have safeguards in place, a clearly defined review process, and decades of experience serving our community. More importantly, there is no problem with pornography in our library.

This is a made up controversy. You are elected officials tasked with public improvements and governance based on the will of the people. Instead we have piles of lawsuits, secret payouts, more lawsuits, a growing housing crisis, real
homelessness, inadequate bicycle safety, an adversarial relationship with state government, and so much more (lawsuits, job security anyone?) to worry about than a handful of books one person on council and her pastor don't like.

The way a right works is that they have the option
to NOT check out those books without fear of retribution. They have the right to stay as ignorant as they please. I am sure, were they to visit one of our public libraries, our talented librarians would be able to direct them to something more appropriate to their tastes. We literally have tens of thousands of books to chose from in the Central Library alone. And two affiliated foundations annually raising funds to purchase new materials, ensuring we always have access to the power of reading in HB.

This temporary council majority of zealots presumes to know more than our paid city staff, our dedicated community service workers, the state, health and education experts, and even me as a parent. They are wrong. I am not part of your church and do not share the value of censorship as a means to conformity. I will not support any measure put forward by this city council that marginalizes our most vulnerable community members.

I am, however, raising an outstanding human being in Huntington Beach with help from dozens of incredible teachers, librarians and coaches. I contribute to my community, and pay my taxes. We read books. My family does not need nor want your morality to be successful citizens. We believe the proposed book ban is government overreach, that knowledge is power and censorship is un‐American.

I expect my city council members to work together to move us forward as a united community. To my disappointment, the current majority seems intent on undoing the good work done by past councils (while tearing them down in the process, as if their service is somehow less than what this coalition offers), lining their pockets with a pay raise and increased campaign donations, and cramming anti‐LGBTQ+ hate down our throats. And let us not forget the DC trip to 2 meet with a failed house speaker (why not our congressional representative?) and a recent presidential campaign event during the — now controversial — airshow.

Sadly, I fear my email and the many voices it joins in chorus to stop the MAGA playbook will be ignored by this council majority + city attorney intent on enacting an extreme agenda in our community. An agenda that benefits their political careers. Did y'all catch the shout out our mayor received in Anaheim?

I urge my neighbors to get involved and stay involved to make it known that hate is not acceptable as public policy.

Many of us have been quietly waiting and watching as one contentious council meeting after another adjourns in the middle of the night, as the minority council members are ignored, censored and rudely dismissed, as citizen after citizen is disregarded despite bravely speaking truth to power ‐ enduring threats and jeers in the process. It is uncivilized and an
embarrassment to the City of Huntington Beach. Do better.

Elizabeth Steele
Mother, HB Resident,
Library Patron, Concerned Citizen

“If there’s one American belief I hold above all others, it’s that those who would set themselves up in judgment on matters of
what is ‘right’ and what is ‘best’ should be given no rest; that they should have to defend their behavior most stringently. As a nation, we’ve been through too many fights to preserve our rights of free thought to let them go just because some prude with a highlighter doesn’t approve of them.”

— Stephen King, in his blog

1 Moore, Tania
From: Elizabeth Judge <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 2:12 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Agenda Item 20, Resolution 2023-41
Dear members of the Huntington Beach City Council,

Our family strongly opposes the proposed Agenda Item 20, Adoption of Resolution 2023‐41. We trust the highly educated librarians who specialize in library and information science to know which books to stock and in what sections of the library they belong. It
would be a violation of our constitutional rights as parents to be able to access these books should the committee decide not to carry a book they may find personally offensive. Did Mayor pro‐tem Gracey Van der Mark not protest government overreach when she wore a t‐shirt proclaiming that she does not co‐parent with the government? Should this resolution be adopted, the government would be overstepping its boundaries in taking over and deciding which books will be restricted and/or prohibited and which books will be available to the public.

Sincerely,
Elizabeth Judge.
1 Moore, Tania
From: MEG ROBINSON <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 2:14 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Item 20
While I prefer the City Council to keep its hands oﬀ the library and allow the trained professionals run it, I think an acceptable compromise has been suggested. The creaƟon of a parent control card allows parents, not 21 unknown strangers, to decide which books their children have access to.

Allowing a group of 21 poliƟcally appointed, untrained individuals to interpret Miller is ridiculous, considering the courts barely agree on pornography and obscenity.

Allow the parents to take responsibility for their children’s reading selecƟons. Please take the poliƟcs out of our cherished library.

Meg Robinson
HB resident

1 Moore, Tania
From: Susan Stephan <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 2:20 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Agenda Item 2–Adoption of Resolution No. 2023-41 Dear City Council:

I am writing in opposition to the Agenda Item 2–Adoption of Resolution No. 2023-41. I firmly believe in the importance of intellectual freedom and the autonomy of our university educated and trained public librarians in selecting books for children and adolescents. As a parent, I am strongly opposed to having politicians limiting access to books for my children. I do not feel that politicians and arbitrarily appointed citizens should have the ability to limit the intellectual pursuits of my children.

Librarians are trained professionals who curate collections to provide a diverse range of materials which cater to a wide variety of interests, reading levels, and backgrounds. Throughout my children’s lives, the librarians in the Huntington Beach public libraries have played a significant role in my children’s reading journey. From attending story times to recommending books, the librarians have assisted me in helping to foster a love of literacy in my children in both Spanish and English.

The proposal to have a citizen’s oversight committee to review books is not only impractical, but infringes upon the principles of freedom of speech and my right to parent. It is vital that my children have access to a diverse collection of books to explore different perspectives, cultures, and experiences so as to promote empathy and tolerance in our society. I am confident that our educated and trained librarians are more than capable of fulfilling this role.

I understand that concerns about certain books being age-appropriate are valid, and this is why we have dedicated and well-trained librarians who are capable of evaluating and categorizing materials based on age, maturity, and content. Their expertise ensures that children and adolescents can access books suitable for their individual development. These professionals are best equipped to make informed decisions that benefit our youth without imposing arbitrary restrictions.

I urge you to vote against Agenda Item 20-Adoption of Resolution No. 2023-41.. Our public libraries and librarians are fundamental to the democratic values upon which our country is built. By allowing them to make informed decisions about book selections, we protect the rights of all citizens to access a broad range of ideas and encourage the intellectual growth of our youth.

Sincerely,
Susan O’Malley Stephan
Citizen of Huntington Beach

1 Moore, Tania
From: Celia Jaffe <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 2:23 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Please don’t bring politics into the library
To the Members of HB City Council:

I am writing regarding the proposal to change the process for adding materials to the children’s section at the library. I oppose the idea of councilmembers creating a committee to examine incoming library materials for these reasons:

1. Trained professional librarians are the
best people to run the city’s libraries, and they have been doing that for decades.

2. An appointed citizen committee is unnecessary. The library uses the industry standard processes for adding books to the collection, and there is already a process to challenge an item in the collection.

3. Adding political appointees to Huntington Beach’s library procedures would politicize our city libraries. That would be a tragedy. For centuries public libraries have played a crucial role in our democracy by providing the public access to knowledge and a wide range of points of view. Having political appointees making any decisions regarding library material is unacceptable.

4. Any families who have an even stricter judgement on which library books or other material they want their children to read can accompany their kids to the library.

I urge the city council to leave the excellent Huntington Beach Public Library and its branches alone and apart from
partisan conflict and political posturing.

Sincerely,
Celia Jaffe

2004‐2014 Trustee of Huntington Beach City School District 2019‐2021 President of California State PTA
These opinions are my own.

Sent from my iPhone
1 Moore, Tania
From: Katie Estes <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 2:27 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Book banning and voter suppression
To whom it may concern,

I am very concerned with the proposed voter suppression amendment. I am concerned that it is going on the March ballot at great cost to the city. I’m concerned that these laws will suppress votes from certain marginalized groups within the city and cause potenƟ
ally another lawsuit from the state. How many Ɵmes do you have to spend MY taxpayer dollars on lawsuits because you can’t follow the laws of this amazing state?

I’m also VERY concerned about the proposed review board for library books. We employ, as a city, trained librarians, they need to
be doing their job. Not some random panel that can decide with liƩle to no guidance what is accessible to people at the PUBLIC library. This isn’t Nazi Germany. I’m ashamed of our current city council and will be working hard to vote o it all conservaƟve members who are ﬁghƟng to change our city into a mini Nazi Germany. Stop banning books. It’s not for you to decide what’s appropriate for someone else.

Concerned ciƟzen,
Dr Kathleen Estes, PhD

1 Moore, Tania
From: Lynne Deakers <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 2:44 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: Study session Oct 17 item #20 OPPOSED
I am aghast that certain city council members want HB to return to 20th century and before with regard to city government appointing an oversight board to review public library books and whether or not they are appropriate for my children!! I have a masters degree in Library Science and Information Technology (UCLA 2001.) I never thought I would see the day when my own community would resort to such archaic ideas about books. Let the professionals do their job. If you the parents do not want to let your children read certain books that is your right but do not ruin it for the majority who want freedom to read up held. We know how to talk to our children about what they are reading and believe it is our fundamental right to have full access to the books our library professional select.

Freedom to read is a fundamental right! How dare you propose a panel of community volunteers be the judge of what my family can and cannot read.

Lynne Deakers
Huntington Beach

1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 2:46 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41
Dear Supplemental Communications,
As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023‐41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you, Sincerely,
Mrs. amanda gessell
[email protected]
10241 Wesley circle huntington beach, CA 92646
Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected] 1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 2:56 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41
Dear Supplemental Communications,
As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023‐41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials, and forces outside out family controllers of what our family should read. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you,
Sincerely,
Dr. Kelly Janousek
[email protected]
18527 Edgebrook Huntington Beach, CA 92648 Constituent
Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected] 1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 2:56 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41
Dear Supplemental Communications,
As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023‐41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you, Sincerely,
Lauren West
[email protected]
18171 Lisa Lane Huntington Beach, CA 92646 Constituent
Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected] 1 Moore, Tania
From: Magda Saborio-Saldana <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 2:56 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Regarding Agenda Item 23-878 and 23-532
To Huntington Beach City Council

My name is Magda Saborio-Saldana and have been a resident of Huntington Beach for 37 years.

I am very concerned about the proposed action to establish a committee, "parent board", that would identify and remove books from our public library. The goal stated is to "prevent minor access to age- inappropriate, obscene, pornographic and/or sexually explicit materials in City libraries." California and Federal laws already define the meaning of "pornographic" and "obscene" and any books that fall under those definitions are already not in circulation in our libraries.

The "age-appropriate" characteristic of any book is subjective and relies completely on the perspective and values of the person reviewing the book. The parents of an individual child are the best judges of whether a book is appropriate for that child. For that reason, our libraries already have a system of safeguards in place that is functioning quite well. It would be an impingement on parental rights to impose a perspective that does not align with the parent's values. The right to monitor what a child reads belongs to the parents of that child.

There is no need for a "parent board" to tell me what books my grandchildren and my grandnieces and grandnephews can and cannot read. I respect your right to make decisions for your families. I expect in return that you respect my right to decide what is good for my family in accordance with my family's values.

Respectfully,
Magda Saborio-Saldana
8252 Snowbird Dr.

HB 92646
1 Moore, Tania
From: Tish Johnson <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 2:57 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: In Opposition to Resolution No. 2023-41
Importance: High
To Huntington Beach City Council Members:

I am opposed to Resolution No. 2023-41 which will harm the Huntington Beach Public Library in a number of ways.

A politician-appointed "parent/guardian" review committee, consisting of members who are not trained and lack credentials, should not replace librarians who have the education required to make decisions about which books should be acquired and maintained for a diverse community of 200,000+ people. It brings up many questions, such as how will this committee review the 9,000 books that are acquired each year? If it's a politically motivated group, it appears that the minority would be unable to make recommendations that would be acceptable to the majority. Our community is too divided for this type of structure.

I am particularly opposed to removing books from the children's/young adult section that have any reference to sex. What about health/sex education books that help young people navigate puberty, what about classics like To Kill a Mockingbird or The Great Gatsby? What about the Bible? Requiring parental consent for check-outs from youths under 18 is absolutely absurd. Many teens need to read these books starting in middle school.

Teachers would be against this, as well as parents.

The entire resolution is misguided. The Huntington Beach Library is fine the way it is: there's a review process in place for challenging books and trained librarians should be used for the jobs that they're trained to do, not parents who have a political or moral agenda.

I would also like to add that my mom was a librarian for the city of Chicago. During her extensive career, nothing of this sort had EVER been proposed for that great city. Let the librarians do their job!

Thank you,

Letitia Johnson
HBPL Patron
1 Moore, Tania
From: Sharon Hathaway <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 3:42 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
As a Huntington Beach Resident for 25 years, I am a moderate. While I am registered as a Republican, the extreme overreach of current politics (national, state and local) has turned me off to both sides. I consider myself now an Independant. As a volunteer and member of the Board of the Friends of the Huntington Beach Public Library, I urge you to oppose and remove item 20 from the agenda on October 17, 2023.

In volunteering at the library for the same amount of years, I know that the Librarians, staff, leaders in the Children's Library and all the volunteers that make up and support this city service are the utmost professionals and care about the public at large, especially the children. We are all mindful of the role the library plays in a child's learning and growth. To imply or suggest otherwise is condescending and disrespectful to these professionals.

This resolution is trying to fix a problem that isn't there. As mentioned many times, and is also supported in the Study Group materials, there is an extensive process in place for not only selecting books and materials, but national resources are used to assist in determining the age appropriateness of children's books. This is consistent and leads into the review and adjustments that is done by our own librarians and staff prior to the purchase and inclusion into the library offerings. Safeguards are in place after the books hit the shelves, and a review process is in place for any book that a citizen has a question about.

The possible creation of a new bureaucratic review committee made up of parents/guardians, up to 21 people, is ill‐ conceived and makes no sense. With the hundreds of books selected each year, by what metric will these committee members be deemed qualified
to review this material. Each parent and guardian can do that now, with the programs already in place. Each parent will have their own guideline for their children. It should not be up to a group of other parents to make those decisions for them. And where in the world will they have the time to review these hundreds of books in between story time, work, dance lessons, little league, etc. There is a process in place....why is the City Council not supporting their own library staff with assistance on funding and anything else they need to maintain the high standards already in place?

Respect is earned, not entitled. With respect to the position, Mayor Pro Tem Van Der Mark just seems so angry at the Library system and staff, because she believes a handful of books (there is still no list of books identified) were inappropriate. This new resolution seems to
expand the scope of the review to any book containing sexual content, which gets away from the original argument in June, and crosses over into adult books....I interpret this as the next step. She is absolutely entitled to her opinion, however, she should be working to strengthen the process in place, which she has successfully used, in partnership with the Librarians and staff responsible for the policies and processes at the Library. She should also be an advocate of our city services (as all council members should be) instead of bashing them and claiming to be the only voice of parental controls.

I implore you all to take a breath and stop this action.

Sharon Hathaway
714.960.9750

2 1
Moore, Tania
From: kate healy <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 3:47 PM
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: City Council Meeting 10/17/2023
Council Members, I am a resident of Huntington Beach and I would like to go on record that I am against tonight’s move towards:
 Voter ID requirement‐ this is against California State requirements.  Restrictive Flag Law‐ the city council should have the ability at the majority approval to allow non‐specified flags to fly‐ for when the Little League wins a championship, or when our Sister City sends ambassadors‐ the way in which this was brought up and amended so many times, it shows that it isn’t about “equalizing”; it’s about the LGBTQ flag as the hypocrisy was shown at the Airshow last month with both the English and Canadian flags being flown
 Charter Clean‐up (effectively Measure L from 2022 that the Council majority ran against‐ this is such an overreach and bait and switch of what they were elected to do)  The restriction of books in the library‐ call it whatever you want… it is essentially banning books and I am against it

...

Kate
she/her/hers
[email protected]
1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 3:51 PM
To: [email protected]
Cc: 'Carol Daus'
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
Council Members, While I admire your purpose in preserving the innocence of youth you should be aware that book banning and burning went out in the 1930’s. Young people don’t read to learn about sex, that is taken care of in our school system. They don’t need books to teach them how to experience sex they have the internet and cell phones. And if you are naive enough to believe that Parental Control is a hazard, just ask any 15‐year‐old how to get around it. If they don’t know, they know several friends that can explain it to you. If young people need ƟƟllaƟon, they can aƩend a concert or listen to the latest hip‐hop number for direcƟon not only of sexual deviaƟons but how to treat the police and any other adult. But don’t worry about books most young people only read when forced to and cannot generate the eﬀort to imagine anything when the rest of media does everything for them. 1 Moore, Tania
From: Judith Lewis <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 3:58 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected]; Van Der Mark, Gracey Subject: Book Banning

I have just discovered the Huntington Beach City Council, led by Mayor Pro Tem Gracey Van Der Mark, plans to establish a citizen committee to ban books at the Huntington Beach Libraries. Not only are you doing this, but you plan to have a so‐called “study committee” immediately followed by a Council vote. To jam through such a resolution does not allow time for the citizens of Huntington Beach to react.

This is a harmful move to push through a far‐right Christian Nationalist Agenda on our libraries. I am appalled. I say Christian Nationalism because this sect denies systemic racism and the rights of LGBTQ+ people and has a twisted take on science issues. It opposes the basic Constitutional premise of separation of church and state.

So far, I have not seen one scrap of evidence about what Van Der Mark considers sexually offensive. Thus, the Council is again solving a non‐existent problem. Show us in a presentation, exactly what books and what words or pictures you are referring to.

Under the wording of the resolution, you could ban teaching basic anatomy to high school students. This is ludicrous and a return to the Dark Ages. Who selects the committee members? How do their decisions get appealed and overturn?

This new Council majority has become a tyranny that needs to be stopped.

Judith Lewis, Retired Captain, LA County Sheriffs
4057 Warner Avenue, HB 92649
36 year Huntington Beach Resident

‐‐
To help protect your privacy,
Micros of t Office prevented auto matic downlo ad o f this picture from the Internet.

Judy Lewis, Iconoclastic Opinionater & Contrarian
"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning how to dance in the rain." 1 Moore, Tania
From: stephanie stichka <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:10 PM
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: HB Public LIbrary
Hello,

I've written to this council before about this issue; I'm appalled that I need to address it once again. I am a life‐long HB resident and have been going to the library since before I can remember. I have checked out countless books to read for pleasure and for
school, I have taken my two children to many storytimes. Never once have I come across any books that I felt were inappropriate nor have my children looked at any books that I felt were inappropriate. I continue to be baffled as to why money and resources are being spent on this ridiculous topic. It's called censorship and we will not stand for it. It starts with "moving books around" but then what are you going to do? I don't trust that you will stop there.

For a group that cries, "Don't Tread on Me!" you are certainly treading. If you care so much about the kids, start by
fixing the drug problems around the city. Continue by helping the homeless get off of the streets. Provide after‐school programs so that kids aren't bored and getting into trouble. Fix the potholes, clean up the parks. Those are solutions that are helpful. It's quite ironic that Ms. Van der Mark has no problem wearing a tee shirt that says "This mama does not coparent with the government" yet wants the government to govern every other child. NOPE!

You realize the internet is a billion times worse than any book one can check out from the library, yes? And that the internet is readily available to just about everyone, including children? Stop wasting our taxpayer money and resources on this ridiculous non‐issue and do something productive. 2 ‐Stephanie Stichka
1 Moore, Tania
From: Buffie Channel <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:17 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: Agenda Items for 10/17/23 meeting
Attention Tony Strickland, Gracey Van der Mark, Casey McKeon and Pat Bruns,

This message is directed at YOU.

You continue to ignore your constituents.You continue to put your political agenda and political aspirations above the people of this fine city.

Agenda Item 19 ‐ OPPOSED
I am against Agenda Item 19 ‐ We have NO IDEA what the cost will be to manage and oversee our own elections, which will be the very likely outcome as the OC Registrar will not legally be able to comply with Voter ID requirements, and other voting mandates that will be attempted by this Council majority.

Just placing these 3 items on the ballot has costs estimated between $450,000 and $1,000,000 ‐ all paid by the HB tax payers. The City Council FAILED to present any legitimate studies of total costs, logistical plans, legal studies, or proof of any reason to do
so by presenting ANY case of voter fraud. You have not presented any estimated fiscal impact to manage the taking over elections locally from the OC Registrar. This will likely cost millions and millions of dollars that is a waste of money considering there iare ZERO election problems. This is just something Tony Strickland wants for his resume to move on from HB to higher office. We are being used.

There is also no reason to place these ballot measures on the primary ballot instead of the general election ballot as it will increase the cost by and estimated $400,000. This is not fiscal responsibility and this is government overreach. 90% of the speakers at the Charter Amendment meetings were against this, yet this City Council majority continues to IGNORE the wishes of the majority of the people.

Agenda Item 20 ‐ OPPOSE
I am vehemently against the banning of books in the Huntington Beach Library system. Creating a committee of people that have no training in library science is ludicrous. We already have a system in place of contacting the library about concerns about books or their placements. Fun fact: there have been ZERO inquiries at this library in 2023. What will be the credentials needed to be on this committee? Friends with Gracey? Member of the Calvary Chapel of the Harbour? No literary background?
And will this be ANY mention of SEX? Does this include kissing? And no concerns then about books with violence? Just SEX? You realize this is ridiculous, right?

Gracey oranized a BOOK BURNING event in 2017 so don't pretend that this is "not a BAN' when she actually wanted to BURN BOOKS. Will this commitee get a copy of the names of the parents/kids asking to check out the books that will be the questionable list? What kind of privacy will be due to the library patrons? We don't trust you or your commitee "appointees". Will young people be harassed that request to check out these books??.

Absolutely NOT!

Keep your government hands off the censoring, banning and burning of our books.YOU or your minions don't get to
decide what books my kid can read. That is my job. I don't need a committee that is untrained to screen books for me and my family. That is not your job. That is not your right. That is not your mandate. 2 If you REALLY believe in the 1st Amendment, censoring and banning books is the antithesis of being an American.

If you do this, we will relentlessly remind you of this and this will be all of your legacies (minus Kalmick, Bolton and Moser of course).

Again, you all seem to
be inventing a problem to find a soluton so you can go on Newsmax to further your political careers amidst your crazy rabid base.

NO on Items 19 & 20 !!!!!
NO on your radical blank check spending.

No on your ridiiculous book censhorship and banning commitee.

No on your government overreach.

Sincerely,
Buffie Channel
34 year resident
Homeowner
Business Owner

1 Moore, Tania
From: Kevin Green <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:19 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
City Council,

I am extremely disappointed in the City Council's proposed Resolution No. 2023‐41. Your own research has shown there is already process in place, used for years, using professional librarians and community standards, to review and approve of books and other materials before placing them in the city's libraries. This includes a process to remove materials that community members might find objectionable. One council member's opinion of what they thought was "obscene" and "pornographic" should not be the standard by which the city implements book banning. Other community members, adults and children, may find the supposedly objectionable materials quite reasonable and helpful! Let community members decide for themselves if they or their children should view materials.

A knee‐jerk reaction to establish additional bureaucracy and governmental overreach ‐ and at additional cost to the taxpayers! ‐ is a ridiculous solution to a non‐existent problem that is imagined by a single citizen/council member of our city.

Please, do NOT approve Resolution No. 2023‐41.

Kevin Green
Huntington Beach, CA

1 Moore, Tania
From: Michelle Marciniec <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:20 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Agenda items 20 and 21
Dear Mayor Strickland & council members,

I am writing in support of a yes vote on items 20 and 21 for the 10/17/23 meeting.

For item 20, it is absolute common sense to examine sexually graphic novels and re‐categorize them to the adult section; rather than the children's or
teen department. Parents allow their children to browse for books independently, and we'd like to verify that age‐appropriate materials are in these sections. Parents who wish to read sexually graphic stories to their children can still go to the adult section and check them out‐‐this is not a ban or a first amendment right violation.

For item 21, please vote "Yes" as well. We want the world to know that the citizens of HB support Israel, and condemn hatred and violence towards our Jewish friends. You may want to amend item 21 calling for an "immediate end to the war" to mean after Hamas is destroyed. Or perhaps decide this last bit is not the purview of a city council and remove the phrase entirely.

Thank‐you for reading,

Michelle Marciniec (Steve & Justin also)
327 18th St.

Huntington Beach, CA 92648

1 Moore, Tania
From: MEG ROBINSON <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:22 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Fwd: Item 20

Begin forwarded message:

I might have messed up the first one
From: MEG ROBINSON <[email protected]>
Date: October 16, 2023 at 2:14:06 PM PDT
To: supplementalcomm@surfcity‐hb.org
Subject: Item 20
While I prefer the City Council to keep its hands off the library and allow the trained professionals run it, I
think an acceptable compromise has been suggested. The creation of a parent control card allows parents, not 21 unknown strangers, to decide which books their children have access to.

Allowing a group of 21 politically appointed, untrained individuals to interpret Miller is ridiculous, considering the courts barely agree on pornography and
obscenity.

Allow the parents to take responsibility for their children’s reading selections. Please take the politics out of our cherished library.

Meg Robinson
HB resident
1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 9:35 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Process to choose books for our library and voter suppression

From: Patti Akers <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2023 5:32 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Process to choose books for our library and voter suppression

I am against this process that you are creating which is in effect banning books. What gives a 21 person committee the decision‐making power to decide what books are available to HB residents?

I am against your expensive and illegal voter ID and suppression.

The March election is a misuse of our city funds.

I will be working to make sure as many HB voters are registered and ready to vote what they believe.

You are not listening to your constituents

Patti H. Akers

Sent from Mail for Windows

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 9:35 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Book Banning and Voter ID at Tuesday's Council Meeting!

From: Maneck Bhujwala <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2023 5:36 PM
To: Dan Kalmick <[email protected]>
Cc: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Re: Book Banning and Voter ID at Tuesday's Council Meeting!

I also agree with you on your concern about willy nilly rushing new laws to ban books in libraries.by a limited group of review boards instead of a public vote through the initiative process.

I urge the City Council members to reconsider hasty action that will end up hurting City residents in one way or another.

Regards,
Maneck Bhujwala
Resident of Huntington Beach since January 2004.

On Fri, Oct 13, 2023 at 4:03 PM Dan Kalmick <[email protected]> wrote:

Come voice your concerns about book banning policy and charter amendments

View this email in your browser

2 I want to thank all of you who have been participating in this flawed Charter Amendment process. After our final special meeting last week, three charter amendments are being proposed for a nearly half million dollar special election in March of 2024. Most of these amendments would go into effect in 2026, so why are we rushing for a primary ballot at massive cost. If they're that important, put them on in November at 10% of the cost. The final vote on these charter amendments will be at our meeting this Tuesday (10/17) at 6pm. This will include: likely illegal VoterID (suppression) and voter intimidation - which will likely cause HB to run its own municipal elections (at what cost - who knows?), a restrictive flag policy, and some language clean up and appointment of vacant council positions (effectively Measure L from 2022 that this Council majority ran against.)

3 But then later on the agenda, MPT Van Der Mark and the "city attorney" have apparently jumped the gun (shark?) and brought forward a resolution that effectively creates a process to ban books. Read the revised resolution here (the title has been updated from what originally posted with the agenda.)

Mayor Pro Tempore Van Der Mark and the Council Majority lied. They said this wasn't about banning books. Well in my opinion, rejecting books from entering the library collection is, by definition, banning them.

As always you can send emails to [email protected] and [email protected] and let the City Council know how you feel about these policies and charter amendments.

If you'd like to come in person, the meeting is October 17th. Arrive early (maybe 3:30pm or 4:00pm) for the study session on library policy. There will be a public comment period on staff's recommended changes, and there will be a public comment period during the 6pm meeting. This will be a long meeting, but it is critical that you make your voices heard. Come prepared for a late night, or late morning as it may turn out - get coffee, bring food, cancel your Wednesday morning (I have).
4 Thank you all for your support and for coming out to meetings and sending emails. Your voices may fall on deaf ears of the new Council Majority, but your in-person turn out is being watched by hundreds of people online and at home.

Dan Kalmick,
Huntington Beach City Council

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

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Re-Elect Dan Kalmick to HB City Council - FPPC ID#1458520 249 E. Ocean Blvd, #670
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1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 9:35 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Voter ID/Book Banning items

From: James Rodriguez <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2023 5:36 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Voter ID/Book Banning items

Hi CC,

As 25 years resident of Huntington Beach, I have not seen such an act of political soapboxing. The items to admend the city's charter are frivolous and CC should be sanctioned. 1. Voter ID is suppression, many case judgements since the 1960s agree ID for voting is suppression. Similar to requirement of IQ tests and literary tests to vote. 2. Banning books is censorship. This is communist at its finest. Let me remind CC of the famous cases against Larry flint, that Mr. Flint publications were never censored in the U.S. by reglious institutions and 1st admendment rights of the constitution were upheld. Furthermore, Larry Flint said "freedom of the press is not the freedom for your ideas, but the ideas you hate the most".

We are wasting resources, time and money, for the political grandstanding of the current CC majority. 1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 9:36 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Library Books

From: Donna Skinner <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2023 5:59 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Library Books

Leave the library alone. Librarians decide what books to include on our library's shelves. They are educated and experienced. The city council has no business in library management.

If individuals don't want their kids to see some books, they should monitor their children's choices.

__________________
Donna Skinner
DonnaSkinner.com
1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 9:36 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Banning library books

‐‐‐‐‐Original Message‐‐‐‐‐
From: Karen Jackle <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2023 9:18 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Banning library books

We have school boards and public library has professionals trained to assess books. City Council duƟes are to supervise, not replace librarian duƟ
es. There is no evidence city council needs to review library books for children and/or adults.

Show evidence our ciƟzens see issues regarding book choice. Produce for public review what books on library shelves should not be there. Let ciƟzens & librarians handle book choices & show why this is not being handled in library.

Gracie, please focus on infrastructure and public safety. You are not on a district school board now.

Karen Jackle
A concerned ciƟzen in Oceanview school district area.

Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 9:37 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Banned books

‐‐‐‐‐Original Message‐‐‐‐‐
From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, October 14, 2023 6:11 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Banned books

STOP over governing!!

Our Librarian should oversee your job if you oversee hers~ you are our employees. We did not vote for you to take away our freedoms of choice.

Respect our parenƟng ~ stay in your lane! And stay out of our libraries!!

Cindy Hayden
HB home owner

Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 9:37 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Modification of library policy, procurement of books for the library and changes to city charter

From: Che Chereskin <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, October 14, 2023 11:54 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Modification of library policy, procurement of books for the library and changes to city charter

Modification of library policy
I have reviewed the PowerPoint prepared by city government staff (I believe) and have no serious objections to it although I think that it is unnecessary. At a time when resources are limited, it seems like a waste of time and money to have two groups doing the same job: the city librarians and the city government staff. In my opinion, the Huntington Beach Library staff already do a great job. I am very proud of our city library system and what it offers.

Procurement of books for the library
I have also reviewed 2023-41 and strongly object to the proposals therein. Although not stated, I assume that "child" is defined as someone under the age of 12 based upon the PowerPoint discussed above. However, young girls start to menstruate at around age 9 (or even younger) and thus, perhaps more than any other group, have a need for information on sexual matters. Likewise boys also have a need for factual material on aspects of sexuality. The proposed restrictions would deprive young people of a reliable source of information on sexuality just when they need it most! They will likely be able to get information from the internet, but anyone can put something on the internet so information from that source is potentially less accurate.

Although it would still be possible to access material through an adult, some young people may not want to involve parents or other adults while they are figuring things out.

Changes to City Charter
Finally, I believe putting the proposed changes to the city charter to a vote should be postponed until it can be done economically. There is nothing urgent proposed. Furthermore, the legality of requiring specific identification for voting seems to be in question. It seems that this issue should be resolved before putting it before our citizens for a vote.

Sincerely,

Che Chereskin
1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 9:47 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: City Council Mtg./10-17-2023

From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, October 14, 2023 4:15 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: City Council Mtg./10‐17‐2023

Re Agenda Items 19, 20, & 21
From Cheryl Elliott, Resident of Huntington Beach since 1980 It would be far more reflective of public sentiment to pass a resolution condemning the unrelenting attacks on voter confidence, city librarians, budget strategy, rainbow flags, and the Policy on Human Dignity leveled by the Council majority. I trust that Israel will prevail. I hope that the same won't need to be said about the Council majority and City Attorney who shall be up for re-election in 2026 and may be counting on personal benefit from the voter suppression law they've foisted onto the March primary ballot. Count on the City being sued.

The unwarranted restrictions aimed at existing library policies are an insult to the professionalism of our City Librarian and her staff as well as all true Friends of the Library. It is disingenuous to suggest that this resolution is anything short of book banning and will result in anything less than an onslaught of protests and lawsuits. It is also arrogant and demoralizing to insinuate that Huntington Beach parents are incapable of monitoring and protecting their own children during library visits without intervention by the Mayor Pro Tem. Will the term "sexual grooming" pass muster with the new censors? If not, the newly revised City Policy on Human Dignity had better be kept in a vault lest any minor visiting City Hall be inadvertently exposed to such suggestive sexual language.

The choice of flags to be flown over City Hall should be handled by resolution, not enshrined in the City Charter. This proposed amendment was clearly designed to eliminate the Rainbow Flag and reject the population it represents. What a queer way to advance the City's new Policy on Human Dignity that claims to encourage an environment free of hostility?! At least the ballot proposal requires a unanimous vote to add a flag to those already listed. This is of some comfort to me since I'll no longer worry that a 4-to-3 Council vote might allow an "Anti-Woke" banner to wave even temporarily.

As for the proposed Charter Amendments to the budget cycle and related administrative issues, my vote is "no" until the city's litigation costs and accruing penalties are under control and until the Council majority can conduct city business without sham public hearings, video clip stunts, and the Mayor's hyper-partisan bully tactics. At least five former Huntington Beach mayors have approached the Council chamber podium in astonishment to offer advice, constructive criticism, guidance, and warnings of legal peril and fiscal disaster.

They have been repeatedly rebuffed by this Council's majority voting bloc. They deserve better and so do the citizens of Huntington Beach.
1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 9:55 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Comments regarding Agenda Item #20

From: Tim Geddes <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 12:24 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org>; [email protected] Subject: Comments regarding Agenda Item #20

Dear Mayor Strickland and City Council Members,

I am writing in total opposition to Item #20 on the October 17, 2023 on the October 17, 2023 City Council Agenda. Once again, factions of the Council majority have proposed a vague but substantial impediment on our local government and its library system with no organizing plan, no cost analysis on its installation, and precious few details about how it would operate. Item #20 (23- 879) calls for the creation of a 21 member community parent/guardian review board which, due to each Council member making three appointments, would leave this board as a creature of the Council majority who would maintain the majority of its appointments and presumably its recommendations or decisions. It would ignore the highly qualified library science professionals who staff and advise the City in favor of biased and untrained opinion which only represents the clamoring of a few (else why would there have been no mass protest of current practices in the past). I have three main areas of opposition which must be addressed satisfactorily before any decision is made to move this item forward.

First, how would this review board be set up? Would Council appointees be vetted or otherwise investigated for their fitness to serve? Would it take a majority vote (presumably 4-3) to approve appointments, and, if so, would not this constitute a virtual veto by the Council majority on the selections of Council minority members? Whether seven members or seven hundred members, the Council majority would retain dominance with this format regardless of the wishes of the citizenry. If the Council majority, through its control of the review board, chooses to ignore or misrepresent the wishes expressed by the community on library services operation and the purpose of this board, what recourse would community members have to appeal the recommendations or decisions of this body? The so-called "research" done in cooking up this sham does NOT support the inevitable direction of Council majority conclusions.

Second, how would this review board be paid for? Would it come from the general fund or it come under a presumably enlarged library budget? Who would staff this review board and who would preside over it? There are dozens of operational details regarding this review board that this resolution does not address. It is important that the public is not sold "a pig in a poke", yet that is exactly what is being proposed.

Third, where is the conclusive evidence that such a review board is needed? Random or thin anecdotal speculation is not convincing when compared to the solid opposition of those with long 2 experience in education, library science, and civic affairs. Most of the opposition to this outrage comes from those who, like myself, have children who were born and raised in Huntington Beach and who have attended public schools in our districts. My daughter, for instance, attended Eader Elementary School, Sowers Middle School, and Edison High School. She graduated with honors from Chapman University and now works for the King County library system (KCLS) in Washington state. She is appalled at what is being proposed in her hometown. I might add that KCLS (50 branches) was the busiest library system in the United States as of 2010. Do the City Council majority members pretend to have more wisdom and insight than most of the library systems in the country, let alone California? Do they have more wisdom and insight than library patrons and supporters [especially the Friends of the Library (FOTL) in Huntington Beach]? The City Council (majority) needs to both present compelling evidence to support its contentions, and to address the very real concerns posed by these areas of objection.

Sincerely,

Tim Geddes
40 year H.B. Resident, Parent, Homeowner, and Concerned Citizen

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:34 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: City Charter Amendments; Flags; Public Libraries

From: Julie Hampel <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:22 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: City Charter Amendments; Flags; Public Libraries

October 16, 2023

Dear Huntington Beach City Council:
(Addressed specifically to Strickland, Van Der Mark, Burns, and McKeon)

I am painfully writing again (4th time) to oppose your proposed City Charter Amendments, the Restrictive Flag proposal, and Interference with Public Library Policies.

Formally, I oppose:

Finally: All these changes are to sow chaos and confusion which creates fear and hate. It is the opposite of what a City Council is meant to do. Stop trying to control people’s choices. It is a total waste of taxpayer dollars. Instead, start doing your jobs and improving our City instead of getting involved in everyone’s private 2 business. It is very unbecoming behavior for anyone but especially an elected Huntington Beach City Council member.

Huntington Beach Citizen,
Julie Hampel
1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:51 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Books

From: letters‐clumpy‐[email protected] <letters‐clumpy‐[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 10:28 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Books

To the City Council,

As a 50+ resident of Huntington Beach, I’m in total agreement with the content of this email. I know the writer and she has the expertise to opine on this topic.

Please vote NO on resolution 2023-41

"As a lifelong member of this community, I am yet again saddened and dismayed by this council's attempts at government overreach and bigotry. This latest move titled "Children's Library Materials Containing Sexual Content" is filled with the worst type of government censorship. Though it seems like this would be a good thing to remove explicit sexual content from the Children's collection, it neglects to tell you that those things don't exist in the Children's collection! There is no smut, no pornography, no obscenity in the entirety of the library's collection!

But the vague language of this resolution using "sexual references" and "sexual content" has no standard. Those two pieces are only in the eye of the user.

So if we are to apply the broadest possible interpretation, children or teens would not be allowed to access any of the following, and adults would have to go to a restricted section to access:

The Bible: sexual references are made in Genesis, Ezekiel, Corinthians, Exodus, Leviticus, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, Samuel, and more
New Testament includes sexual references made in regards to prostitution, virginity, etc.

Any book that includes romantic kisses (as kissing is a sexual act in and of itself) including all stories related to Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, the Princess and the Frog, many Babysitter's Club, Froggy's First Kiss, etc
2 Any teen books that discuss romance and sexual desire such as Twilight or The Fault in Our Stars The entire works of Shakespeare, notably Romeo and Juliet Required reading for school including, but not limited to, Of Mice and Men, A Tale of Two Cities, Pride and Prejudice, Catch-22, Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, The Outsiders, Wuthering Heights, The Odyssey, The Scarlet Letter, and more.

I urge you to vote no on this resolution and leave the libraries alone.”

Mary

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:54 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Comment on Councilmember item 20.

From: Dan Jamieson <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 12:03 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Comment on Councilmember item 20.

Dear HB council members:

Please vote NO on Councilmember item 20 at the Oct. 17, 2023 council meeting.

The proposed item from councilmember Van Der Mark would create an illegal and unworkable book-banning process for our public library system that the majority of residents oppose.

The resolution would require that books and other materials be placed in the adult section of HB libraries if they contain "any content of [a] sexual nature," and would require parental approval of "any book ... that contains any sexual writing [or] content. ... "
The result would be that the young-adult books designed to inform young people about often-sensitive and private issues of sexuality would now be flagged and subject to parental review at the library. Many young people who are coming of age do not, or cannot, discuss sexuality with their parents. The library provides a safe and responsible information resource for them. The proposed resolution would reverse that.

Further, "any content of a sexual nature" is overly broad language. It could cover just about any non-fiction or fictional work. Many histories and biographies contain sexual content. Many (if not most) fictional works contain sexual references. Potentially, a vast swath of books in our libraries could be subject to parental review before young people could check them out. How would the parental-approval process work? How long would it take? Might it even discourage young adults from using the library? The proposed parent/guardian review board would be completely unworkable. The board would have up to 21 members, attempting to figure out what new children's books to approve or ban (yes, a ban, as unapproved books would not be available in our libraries). The board could reject new children's books by majority vote using undefined "community standards." It could then turn its attention to reviewing all children's and young- adult books currently in the library and potentially subject them to parental approval.

The board would be a lawsuit waiting to happen. It would be a source of controversy as its members engage in public fights over which children's books should be banned or restricted. Imagine the ridicule our city will experience as contentious book-banning board meetings go viral. 2 Finally, the resolution jumps the gun. On September 4, 2023, the council directed staff to come up with policy options regarding library materials. In a study session prior to the regular council meeting of Oct. 17, 2023, city staff will respond to that request and present what might be a more workable library-material review process.

But in proposing the resolution, councilmember Van Der Mark (and the council majority?) indicate that they really have no interest in hearing staff's opinions. That would not be surprising as, so far, the majority seem to have no interest in listening to HB residents on this issue either.

For these reasons, councilmember item 20 should be rejected Sincerely,
Dan Jamieson
Roxanne McMillen
Huntington Beach

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:55 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Resolution: 2023-41

From: Marilyn Palomino <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 2:14 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Resolution: 2023‐41

City Council Members,

You should be focusing your council efforts on the safety of our community. The infrastructure needs attention as does the budget. Your actions on the book restrictions are causing a wave of discontent and anger in our community. Please do not go forward with the proposed plan. We are watching your misuse of public trust, funds and time! 2 On another note, you have silenced my public voice by not allowing public comment on Zoom. I had surgery and don’t have the stamina to attend a meeting yet. This is not aligned with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:55 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Westwell SUPPORTS Agenda Item 11 - Obscene & Inappropriate Books

From: Norm Westwell <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 2:31 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Westwell SUPPORTS Agenda Item 11 ‐ Obscene & Inappropriate Books

Dear Council.

Thank you for your dedicated service.

I SUPPORT the removal of obscene and Inappropriate books from the HB Children's Library & agenda item 20.

Thank you for standing up for the protection of children, our country’s future.

Norm Westwell

(13 year Trustee, Ocean View School District)

Disclosure: This is my personal position, which sadly may not be the same as the Ocean View School District.
1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:55 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Opposing Agenda Item 20 Adoption of Resolution No. 2023-41

‐‐‐‐‐Original Message‐‐‐‐‐
From: Caroline Brandenburger <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 4:10 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Opposing Agenda Item 20 AdopƟon of ResoluƟon No. 2023‐41

Opposing Agenda Item 20 AdopƟon of ResoluƟon No. 2023‐41

To City Council
of HunƟngton Beach,

My name is Caroline Brandenburger and I’m a third generaƟon HunƟngton Beach, CA resident for over 44 years.

I’m wriƟng this email to express my concern and opinions regarding Agenda Item 20 AdopƟon of ResoluƟon No. 2023‐41.

I believe that
no individual or government appointed commiƩee or council has a right to decide what you and your own family are allowed to read or check out from the library.

The HunƟngton Beach Public Library has been providing library services to HunƟngton Beach since 1909. The Central Library
is one of my favorite places in HunƟngton Beach. I am in full support of our library staﬀ in their ability to manage, procure and maintain the books and materials located within the library. They do a phenomenal job and we have one of the best libraries in Orange County. No intervenƟon is needed from the HB City Council. The eﬀorts to ban books and restrict minors’ access to certain books should not be your worry or concern.

HB City Council I urge you to put your eﬀorts and Ɵme into the criƟcal issues and problems in this city. Please stop trying to ﬁx what isn’t broken. Seems like you aren’t trying to ban books to protect minors, but rather the majority of the council seem to have moƟves consistent with fascism. Please stop the nonsense and this unnecessary noise you are creaƟng.

Sincerely,

Caroline Brandenburger
HunƟngton Beach resident

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:56 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW:

From: Jennifer Tan <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 4:18 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject:

To “ban” according to Webster’s Dictionary means to restrict access or distribution.

Limiting readers’ access to books is banning books. Censorship is illegal. This will welcome lawsuits and be a costly fight for Huntington Beach. Restricting readers from library materials is wrong. Respect parent rights and allow parents to decide what is correct for their children.

Dr. Jennifer Tan

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:56 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: no book ban

From: Nicki Head <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 4:25 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: no book ban

Hello City Council,

Huntington Beach doesn't need a book banning committee. Nobody in our free country needs a book banning committee. Parents and guardians are capable of deciding which library books are appropriate for their own children.

Sincerely,

Nicki Head
1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:56 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Very upset with proposals

‐‐‐‐‐Original Message‐‐‐‐‐
From: Cynthia LaMoƩe <drclamoƩ[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 4:48 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Very upset with proposals

To Whom This May Concern:

In my 41 years of living in HunƟngton Beach, this is my ﬁrst email to the HB City Council.

I am highly disturbed by the members of council who are proposing to dissolve the Human RelaƟons CommiƩee and see this as a shiŌ in prioriƟes by a few members on the council. Dissolving this commiƩee makes absolutely no sense whatsoever .

Given the climate of our world at this Ɵme, are we no longer concerned about prejudice and bigotry? There is no raƟonale to support dissolving this commiƩee that I can understand and/or support.

AddiƟonally, the HB City council is proposing that we appoint a ciƟzen panel to review materials in the children’s secƟon
of our library. It appears that some members’ poliƟcal posiƟons are interfering in a parent’s or caretaker’s ability to make decisions that are best for their family. We have trained professionals doing a great job working at the library we suddenly think we need to second guess their decisions. If people don’t want their children to be exposed to certain materials than they need not check them out of the library. The commiƩee appoinƟng a panel will prevent free choice and again seems poliƟcal and without intelligent, sensible raƟonal.

I am quesƟoning the need for either of these proposals and now have liƩle conﬁdence in the council members who support these ideas.

Please do not allow your personal poliƟcal ideology to inﬂuence your acƟons on the council and impose your ideas on so
many others who do not agree.

Very truly yours,

Cindy LaMoƩe
HB resident
Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:57 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Agenda Item 20

From: Athena Jaharis <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 5:27 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Agenda Item 20

To Whom It May Concern:

I firmly disagree with any attempt to ban books and other materials within the Huntington Beach Public Library system. A politically appointed committee does not have the right to determine what media I consume. Each individual should make the personal decision to view or read what they deem appropriate.

Thank you,
Athena Dryden
1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:57 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: STOP

‐‐‐‐‐Original Message‐‐‐‐‐
From: karen samuelson <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 5:38 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: STOP

You do not have the right to ban books. SToP being a bunch of Trump wannabes!

Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:57 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Vote no on resolution 2023-41

From: Jennifer Wilson <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 6:00 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Vote no on resolution 2023‐41

Dear Councilmember Van Der Mark and the other three who blindly trust her without doing their own research or fact-checking,

Resolution 2023-41 is a disaster and a lawsuit waiting to happen. It's clearly censorship and I am shocked your attorney didn't tell you so. Not only are you restricting access for minors, who have rights, this committee of yours will for sure step across those legal boundaries because they are lay people without training, education, or understanding of what they would be allowed to do.

I know you think if you repeat the lie often enough people will believe you but there are many smart people in this community who see right through this lie. Clearly there are no obscene or pornographic books in the library. If there were, the parents would have complained, the police would have been called, it would have made the news - employees of the city distributing pornography to minors.

Please. Just because you personally would like to play morality police and are ashamed or embarassed doesn't mean there is anything wrong with books on sex education. As is common sense and contained in the study session presentation - pornographic books aren't published by mainstream publishers, aren't sold, aren't purchased for libraries. All libraries would have been sued by now and if you do just a cursory (that means basic) review of cases, you can see how many of those are lost because the books aren't pornographic. A sex education book written for 12 year old shouldn't be in the adult section. It's written for that age group for a reason. Your misunderstanding of so many things is causing the issue here, not the content of books.

What you are doing is walking on the rights of youth, making parents' lives harder, and is clear government overreach. Coming from someone who doesn't want the government to tell you to wear a mask this is unbelievably hypocritical. Let parents parent. I want my teens to have unfettered access.

They are smart and critical thinkers and can think for themselves and I trust them and I trust the librarians.

We all know where this is leading. You start here, with what you think is an easy win. But what will you censor next? It's obvious your taste for power won't stop here.

I pray the rest of the Council pay better attention, concern themselves with the fact that the city will be sued, that parents will come out in droves to complain, that they will be incredibly unpopular in their next political steps. If this passes, you might as well slap an adults only sign on the front of the library.

I'm sure the community will love that and you all won't hear any complaints at all. That's sarcasm.

2 Vote no on this overreaching, poorly crafted censorship resolution. 1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 11:02 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Books for review

From: Dorothy Boesch <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 7:53 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Books for review

To City Council,

Re agenda item 20.

I would vote to adopt item number 20.

Thank you,
Dorothy Boesch
1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 11:02 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Library

‐‐‐‐‐Original Message‐‐‐‐‐
From: Brent Nichols <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 8:13 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Library

Hello. As a lifelong HB resident with two kids in jr high, I strongly oppose the proposed plan to create a commiƩee to review books
available at the library. My wife and I are fully capable of veƫng books for our kids. We have taken our kids to the library since they were born and have never had a problem with the books they can access. We have never seen porn or any other disturbing material. This sƟnks of big government overreach. History teaches us that book banning is never the work of good government. Please do not get involved and allow the professionals to conƟnue their good work.

Thank you Brent Nichols Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 11:03 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: In Opposition to Resolution No. 2023-41

From: Carol Daus <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 8:50 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: In Opposition to Resolution No. 2023‐41

Dear Huntington Beach City Council Members:

Why would a library of this stature require a remake?

Gracey is suggesting that any book with a reference of sexual content would be removed to the adult section—this wo uld decimate the teen/young adult section! She’s also suggesting that readers under 18 would require parental consent to check out books and that a politician-appointed “parent/guardian” review board would be involved in selecting books, which dangerously diminishes the role of trained librarians. This is an extreme form of government overreach and will need to be litigated in court, which is costly for HB taxpayers.

Finally, let’s make it clear. This is a book banning plan. It doesn’t matter if books aren’t removed physically from a library—if they’re made inaccessible to those who want to read them, it’s a ban. The First Amendment protects not just the right to speak but the right to receive information. Democracy is undermined when a minority--in this case 4 politicians-- force their own preferences and judgments on the rest of us (a community of roughly 2 200,000) by relocating books off library shelves and preventing new books from being acquired that they find objectionable.

Thank you,

Carol Daus
Huntington Beach resident of 28 years

ReplyForward

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 11:03 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Public Comment Items 18 & 19, Tuesday, October 17, 2023

From: qw <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 10:11 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Public Comment Items 18 & 19, Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Dear City Council,

I support Item 18. Please, following visibility requirements & riding on the correct side of the road must be better enforced.

I oppose Item 19.

No. 1 - If there were forged signatures at a voting booth, investigators & counter-identity theft analysis should be at hand to the registrar of voters. Voter ID & monitors would much more easily be compromised at any time & drastically increase the possibility of large-scale voter fraud. According to the Heritage Foundation there were only 6 cases of voter fraud in California in 2022.

No. 2. - This item doesn't allow International Maritime Signal Flags to be flown on city hall.

No. 3 - This item allows the city charter to be summoned as an agreement to cancel meetings regardless of a city council vote. This increases the likelihood of mishandling core functions & states of emergency.

Non-agendized.

Please refill the empty Boston Market & surrounding commerce at Golden-Warner Centers accordingly, this is a content area. Not attending to basic commercial duties is a recurring question I have.

I oppose Items 9 & 20 - Please let the librarians do their jobs according to the law.

I oppose Item 21 - There's no executive order from the president for city councils to take positions on Israel vs Hamas. There could also be false information. Out of respect for our military operations, please stick to city matters.

Please don't limit prayers, education & ideas. Once again, I urge for a major increase in archaeological dig sites for undiscovered technology.

I hope for consensus to continue being established.

- Ben P.
1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 11:04 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Library citizen panel

From: Shereen Walter <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 7:20 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Library citizen panel

As a long time citizen of Huntington Beach (since 1993), I am writing to express my outrage that politicians, particularly our City Council members, feel it is important to set up an appointed citizen panel to review materials in the children's section of the library.

The atrocities that happened in Europe before and during the 2nd world war were started with the banning of books to its citizens.

Stop what you are doing. You do not have a right to tell me what my children can and can not read by limiting access in our public library to books that you or your political appointees feel are appropriate.

We may not agree on what is appropriate for my children to read...but certainly, in a democracy, I should have a right to make that decision, not you or your political appointee!

This is an overreach of your duties as an elected member of our city council.

I am VERY opposed to the setting up of such a citizen review committee. It is an overreach in the name of parent rights. Just more craziness that I was hoping did not exist in my city!

Sincerely,

Shereen Walter
1511 Lakeside Ln, Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Cell phone 714 504-3537
1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 11:04 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: WE SUPPORT AGENDA ITEM 20

From: terryagriffin <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 4:49 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: RE: WE SUPPORT AGENDA ITEM 20

It is NOT A BAN ON BOOKS. Rather common sense in favor of AGE APPROPRIATE ACCESS TO SEXIALLY EXPLICIT MATERIALS. Read the text.

I am disappointed in librarians who would encourage access to porn by young children.

Thank you.

Terry Griffin- HB RESIDENT

Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 11:05 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Book ban

‐‐‐‐‐Original Message‐‐‐‐‐
From: ROSE SAYLIN <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 8:11 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Book ban

PLEASE let parents choose their children’s books—not the city council.

Rose Saylin
HunƟngton Beach

Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 11:05 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Library Books -- Book selection works well at HBPL now

From: Maria Sugranes <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 8:25 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Library Books ‐‐ Book selection works well at HBPL now

Do not embark in this superfluous policy. The present system works well. Huntington Beach parents and HBPL librarians have been doing their job well or there would be multiple book challenges. The city council is creating a problem where none exists.

--
Maria Sugrane, HB resident since 1972 and retired librarian 1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 11:05 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Resolution 2023-41

From: shakes‐09‐[email protected] <shakes‐09‐[email protected]> Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 9:06 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Resolution 2023‐41

To the City Council,

Here is the email that I have taken the liberty of copying!

I am yet again saddened and dismayed by this council's attempts at government overreach and bigotry. This latest move titled "Children's Library Materials Containing Sexual Content" is filled with the worst type of government censorship. Thou gh it seems
like this would be a good thing to remove explicit sexual content from the Children's collection, it neglects to tell you that those things don't exist in the Children's collection! There is no smut, no pornography, no obscenity in the entirety of the library's collection!

But the va
gue language of this resolution using "sexual references" and "sexual content" has no standard. Those two pieces are only in the eye of the user.

2 So if we are to apply the broadest possible interpretation, children or teens would not be allowed to access any of the following, and adults would have to go to a restricted section to access:

The Bible: sexual references are made in Genesis, Ezekiel, Corinthians, Exodus, Leviticus, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, Samuel, and more
New Testament includes sexual references made in regards to prostitution, virginity, etc.

Any book that includes romantic kisses (as kissing is a sexual act in and of itself) including all stories related to Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, the Princess and the Frog, many Babysitter's Club, Froggy's First Kiss, etc
Any teen books that discuss romance and sexual desire such as Twilight or The Fault in Our Stars
The entire works of Shakespeare, notably Romeo and Juliet Required reading for school including, but not limited to, Of Mice and Men, A Tale of Two Cities, Pride and Prejudice, Catch-22, Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, The Outsiders, Wuthering Heights, The Odyssey, The Scarlet Letter, and more.

There are so many more that would be affected by this vague language that it is impossible to know the true effect. Thousands of books would fall into this va gue "sexual
content" category, making a mockery of our library system. This type of vague censorship will be immediately challenged in court and lose, if any of the 100s of cases of precedent are anything to go by.

I urge you to vote no on this resolution and leave the libraries alone.

Sincerely,
HB Resident for 43 years
1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 11:06 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Amendments to Huntington Beach City Charter

‐‐‐‐‐Original Message‐‐‐‐‐
From: Linda Pohl <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 9:39 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Amendments to HunƟngton Beach City Charter

Please reconsider your eﬀorts to get the amendments placed on the March ballot. The council was voted in to make our
City run more eﬃciently, not to see how much money you can spend on pet projects wasƟng tax payers money. At least if you wait unƟl the November elecƟon you will not only save the City money, but have a larger turnout which will be to your beneﬁt. Don’t forget you were elected with this “ﬂawed” system. When voters actually see how you’re wasƟng their tax dollars they may see you in a diﬀerent light. Voters quickly forget your exciƟng promises when it aﬀects their wallets.

As far as
the library restricƟons are concerned you are solving a problem that isn’t there. It may make you look very self righteous sparing our young children the possibility of ﬁnding out about their sexuality, however there is something called the INTERNET which you may not be aware of and everyone but a toddler has access to either themselves or a Friend. You may try to live like we’re in the 1950’s but unfortunately you’re deluding yourselves

Linda and Walter Pohl

Sent from my iPad

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 11:07 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Library

From: The Silversteins <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:18 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Library

We are 44 yr HB residents, and licensed psychologist and social worker.

Our children and grandchildren had been active children's library users.

NO ONE HAS EVER BEEN HARMED BY READING WHATEVER IN THE CHILDREN'S LIBRARY

21 non-librarians passing judgment on what is available in the library is absurd interference.

DELETE THIS PROPOSAL IMMEDIATELY!

Stanley Silverstein, PhD
Deborah Silverstein, LCSW
1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 11:09 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: No on book banning and No on ballot initiativess

From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:46 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: No on book banning and No on ballot initiativess

Next, and most importantly WE ARE AGAINST the effort to Ban, Censor, or Restrict Books in our award winning library, the veritable pride of our community!

Ron and Jean Nagy
30+ years residents of HB

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 11:09 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Proposed changes to library

From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:52 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Proposed changes to library

To the Members of HB City Council:

I am wriƟng regarding the proposal to change the process for adding materials to the children’s secƟon at the library. I oppose the idea of councilmembers creaƟng a commiƩee to examine incoming library materials for these reasons:

1. Trained professional librarians are the best people to run the city’s libraries, and they have been doing that for decades.

2. An appointed ciƟzen commiƩee is unnecessary. The library uses the industry standard processes for adding books to the collecƟon, and there is already a process to challenge an item in the collecƟon.

3. Adding poliƟcal appointees to HunƟngton Beach’s library procedures would poliƟcize our city libraries. That would be a tragedy. For centuries public libraries have played a crucial role in our democracy by providing the public access to knowledge and a wide range of points of view. Having poliƟcal appointees making any decisions regarding library material is unacceptable.

4. Any families who have an even stricter judgement on which library books or other material they want their children to read can accompany their kids to the library.

I urge the city council to leave the excellent HunƟngton Beach Public Library and its branches alone and apart from parƟsan conﬂict and poliƟcal posturing.

Sincerely,
Celia Jaﬀe

2004‐2014
Trustee of HunƟngton Beach City School District
2019‐2021 President of California State PTA
These opinions are my own.

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 11:09 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Agenda Item 20

From: Irma Loper <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:52 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Agenda Item 20

I am a 46‐year resident of Huntington Beach. We have raised three children and invested in this community with a business. One of my sons is also raising two young children in Huntington Beach.

As a long‐time volunteer at the Children’s Library of the Huntington Beach Public Library, I strongly ask that you do not vote in favor of Agenda Item 20 Adoption of Resolution 2023‐41. Parents should be the final arbiter of what their children read. I put my trust in our highly‐educated and trained librarians to procure and maintain the best book catalog for our community. Huntington Beach should not be known for book banning or any kind of restriction to book access.

I hope that the support of our fine library staff and denouncement of your proposed book banning does not fall on deaf ears.

Irma Loper
1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 1:12 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Opposition to Resolution 2023-41

From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 12:13 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Opposition to Resolution 2023‐41

Dear Huntington Beach City Council,

The purpose of this email is to express OPPOSITION to Resolution 2023‐41.

Name a great American author ‐ Hemingway, Hawthorne, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Harper Lee, Walt Whitman, Faulkner, Vonnegut, Edgar Allen Poe, Arthur Miller, Joseph Heller, John Steinbeck.......

Name a great American book ‐ The Scarlet
Letter, Of Mice and Men, The Great Gatsby, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Raven, The Crucible, Leaves of Grass, The Sound and the Fury, Catch 22, Slaughterhouse 5, For Whom the Bell Tolls.........

What do all these authors and books have in common? Sexual content. Shakespeare, Greek mythology, and of
course the Bible all contain sexual content.

Censorship is as old as time. The Puritans came to the new world in part to escape censorship and be able to have Bibles written in English, not Latin. The founding fathers knew how important keeping censorship in check was. Hence, the First Amendment to the Constitution protects Freedom of Expression. The First Amendment. Numero Uno.

My wife and I are raising two kids in Huntington Beach. We have been to the HB Libraries more times than I can count. It shouldn't be a surprise to you, but young children are accompanied by their parents to the
library. In fact, they are pretty much accompanied until they are well into their teen years. The families of Huntington Beach are perfectly capable of supervising our children. We don't need the City Council creating a censorship nanny state to protect our children from sexual content in the library.

I appreciate all you do for Huntington Beach. Please vote against this Resolution.

Best regards,

Brian Cleugh
1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 1:12 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Comments on Book Ban and Proposed City Charter Amendments

From: Douglas Hart <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 12:14 PM
To: supplementalcomm@surfcity‐hb.org; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Comments on Book Ban and Proposed City Charter Amendments

I am writing concerning the proposed Book Ban and Charter Amendments once again.

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 1:13 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Stop banning books, you fascists.

From: Adam Kelly <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 12:33 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Stop banning books, you fascists.

Dear Christo-Fascist-Anti-American pig swine, sorry I mean Gracey Van Der Mark(I don't know why my delete button isn't wokring),

Stop trying to ban books from the library. Stop pretending books that discuss human sexuality, gender identity, and sexual preferences will hurt children. You constantly say "children" but you want to censor even young adult's access to knowledge. These are the very people who are probably the most conflicted and uneducated about their bodies and sexual preferences. Yet in your sinister Christo-fascist plan you are exluding teenagers from books that you deem obscene. As a member of this community, I do not find those books obscene and I do not think children and young adults learning about themselves to be obscene.

I'll give you a hint what book in the library I do find obscene, and I bet you won't ban that one despite the murder, hate and sexual acts described within its pages. I'd argue the deranged world view presented in the Bible has warped more minds than any other book in the library, it has clearly warped the minds of the Republican members of this city council. Though let's be honest, I doubt most of you are actual believers, rather it's a convient means to get support from an evangelical base. I wonder where you got that idea from...

So anyways, I saw your pilgrimage to that traitor Ronald Reagan's library. What is it about Republicans and getting all soggy over fascist traitors to America? The way you all stared longingly at the statues of that traitor was pretty unsettling. While we're banning books can we also ban Grizzy-Girl from eye fucking dead Presidential statues? ≕≖≗≘≙≚≛ #graceynotforhb

Those not wanting to ban books, commit general acts of government overreach or fascism, give out Airshow settlements for kick backs and favors, or pander to a religious base you dont really believ in, please ignore. I'm sorry your colleagues are terrible people. Some of the people I work with are also terrible people, and my heart goes out to you.

Sincerely,

Adam

P.S.

Did we nail down the Fascist-Four roles yet? Everyone good with their spot?

2 1
Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 1:13 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: I oppose changing the city charter and Adoption of Resolution No. 2023-41

From: Ann Schoeff <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 12:38 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: I oppose changing the city charter and Adoption of Resolution No. 2023‐41

Good afternoon -

I am opposed to the three proposed amendments to the City of Huntington Beach Charter and believe they are unnecessary.

I am also opposed to the adoption of resolution No. 2023-41. One of the many things I love about our city is the amazing library system we have. I almost always have a library book on my nightstand and when my kids were little, we frequently enjoyed our trips to the library and participated in the summer reading program every year. Librarians and their staff are trained to choose the books for the library and they've done an outstanding job so far; I do not think this should change. I do not want a council appointed committee of 21 to decide what books should be housed on my library's shelves. Please leave book selection to the librarians - thank you.

It appears that the majority of the council is responding to and creating problems that don't exist within our city; it feels like overreach and book banning to me. Unfortunately, I feel that I am literally wasting my time with sending this email as you've already made up your minds on what you are going to do and how you are going to vote no matter how many emails you receive or how many people show up at the city council meeting to oppose these two items.

Respectfully,
Ann Schoeff

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 1:13 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: HB Council Mtg, 10/17/23 ~ Resolution No, 2023-41 (BOOK BANNING)

From: Lee Marie Sanchez <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 12:51 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: HB Council Mtg, 10/17/23 ~ Resolution No, 2023‐41 (BOOK BANNING)

Dear Members of the Huntington Beach City Council ~

I am very concerned about the Council's rapid move to the right, regarding LGBTQ+ rights, voter suppression and
book banning, among many other issues.

I write now to strongly oppose:

*20. 23-879 Submitted by Mayor Pro Tem Van Der Mark -
Consider Adoption of Resolution No. 2023-41 establishing a policy for the review and
recataloging of library materials containing sexual content "Recommended Action:

I request the City Council consider adopting Resolution No. 2023-41 to establish a policy for the review and
recataloging of library materials containing sexual content"

Furthermore, I have just learned that this will be part of the study session of the Oct 17th meeting and, without
adequate time for this resolution to be discussed or to 2 receive wider feedback, it may be voted on at the regular Council session!!

This is book banning, clear and simple as defined as
prohibiting or restricting books available to the
public. I have confidence in our well-educated and trained professional librarians, not an individual or a
government appointed committee to decide what members
of our community may read. This must stop now.

The proposed details of this book banning have come to
my attention only today and they are all highly
questionable if not ridiculous! Frankly, I am appalled.

I strongly urge the Council to give our community a much deeper and longer opportunity to review the details of the resolution before it comes to a vote by the Council. If you are truly interested in the democratic process you will do so.

You are all urged as elected officials of all our citizens to give these details plenty of time to be more widely
available to the public, for more comments from us and
well-considered responses to us, regarding everything in these proposals.

~ Rev. Lee Marie Sanchez (Minister, retired, voting,
encouraging others to vote)

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 1:13 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Proposal regarding HB Library

From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 1:10 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Proposal regarding HB Library

Dear Council Members,

I am wriƟng today to voice my disapproval of the proposal resoluƟon to have a community/parent‐guardian review board. We have outstanding public libraries in
HunƟngton Beach and I have every faith in our librarians to do the job that they are trained to do. There is no reason to bring in yet another group of people to meddle with the guidelines that the public libraries already follow. Libraries are about providing access to everyone, and what you think is appropriate, I might not think is appropriate and vice versa. If parents are so worried about what their children might come across in the library, then they should go with them to the library, as well as discussing their own family thoughts and rules about the library. Parents cannot just abandon their responsibiliƟes to their children by not being involved in the process of their educaƟon and their use of public libraries.

Thank you,
ChrisƟna Kawahara
I am a 39‐year‐resident of HunƟngton Beach whose children have gone from Kindergarten through 12th grade in the HunƟngton Beach public school system and used the HunƟngton Beach public libraries.

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 1:13 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Book Banning at our Libraries

From: Charles Goldblum <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 1:12 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Book Banning at our Libraries

Dear Council Members.

I sadly learned that tomorrow's meeting will include a new resolution establishing a 21 member review board for new books being added in our library. It also appears that the results of the study to ban books will be discussed.

These attempts to ban books is disturbing. If you do not want your child to read a book, then parent them.

Please do not force your religious beliefs onto my family. I expect my children to have access to a wide array of books at our libraries, and forcing your religion onto my family is beyond offensive.

Best regards,

Chuck

Charles Goldblum
1508 Pacific Coast Highway
Huntington Beach, CA 92648

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 2:06 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Adoption of Resolution No.2023-41

From: Linda Ford <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 1:45 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Adoption of Resolution No.2023‐41

Dear Huntington Beach City Council Members,

We are asking for your full support in adopting Resolution No. 2023-41.

Unlike the opposition who claims that this will ban books from our City Library, we recognize that this is limiting access to the questionable books and material until a person is 18 years old. This subject matter is not appropriate for minors, and unless a parent chooses to share this literature with their own minor children, it is not appropriate to have unsupervised access.

We have three beautiful Granddaughters who are all under the age of ten, and the thought that they could have access or see this vulgar material is beyond comprehension. We know our daughter does not take them to the HB Library for this reason, and we would not want them there at this time. A library should be a safe place to learn for children of all ages, not a place for dirty dark secrets. Let our children be children... time enough when they are adults to be exposed to this literature.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

Respectfully yours,,

Frank and Linda Ford
Huntington Beach residences since 1978

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 2:06 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Restriction of my reading rights; AKA book bannng

‐‐‐‐‐Original Message‐‐‐‐‐
From: Suzanne Hart <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 1:56 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: RestricƟon of my reading rights; AKA book bannng

I am wriƟng to you in opposiƟon of Council Agenda item # 20; AdopƟon of ResoluƟon 2023‐41. While I feel that this is a
waste of my Ɵme due to your obvious disregard of your consƟtuents’ desires, please put aside your fascist, government over reach ideas and allow the public to make their own decisions regarding reading choices. Please keep in mind the newest mantra I’m hearing at CC meeƟngs: “We the People.”

Suzanne Hart

Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 2:07 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Agenda Item 20; Resolution 2023-41

‐‐‐‐‐Original Message‐‐‐‐‐
From: Chris Hart <[email protected] .com>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 2:03 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Agenda Item 20; ResoluƟon 2023‐41

I am wriƟng in OPPOSITION to Agenda Item 20; AdopƟon of ResoluƟon 2023‐41. While it has been stated, “We are not
banning books,” any form of restricƟng access is, in fact, a form of book banning. One could argue semanƟcs all day long, but it’s sƟll BOOK BANNING!

Chris Hart
25 Yr Resident of HB

Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 2:47 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Agenda Item 20-Adoption of Resolution No. 2023-41

From: Susan Stephan <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 2:23 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Agenda Item 20‐Adoption of Resolution No. 2023‐41

Dear City Council:

I urge you to vote against Agenda Item 20-Adoption of Resolution No. 2023-41. Our public libraries and librarians are fundamental to the democratic values upon which our country is built. By allowing them to make informed decisions about book selections, we protect the rights of all citizens to access a broad range of ideas and encourage the intellectual growth of our youth.

Sincerely,
Susan O’Malley Stephan
2 Citizen of Huntington Beach
1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 2:48 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Voter suppression and book ban

‐‐‐‐‐Original Message‐‐‐‐‐
From: KaƟe Estes <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 2:26 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Voter suppression and book ban

To whom it may concern,

I am very concerned with the proposed voter suppression amendment. I am concerned that it is going on the March
ballot at great cost to the city. I’m concerned that these laws will suppress votes from certain marginalized groups within the city and cause potenƟally another lawsuit from the state. How many Ɵmes do you have to spend MY taxpayer dollars on lawsuits because you can’t follow the laws of this amazing state?

I’m also VERY concerned about the proposed review board for library books. We employ, as a city, trained librarians, they need to be doing their job. Not some random panel that can decide with liƩle to no guidance what is accessible to people at the PUBLIC library. This isn’t Nazi Germany. I’m ashamed of our current city council and will be working hard to vote o it all conservaƟve members who are ﬁghƟng to change our city into a mini Nazi Germany. Stop banning books. It’s not for you to decide what’s appropriate for someone else.

Concerned ciƟzen,
Dr Kathleen Estes, PhD

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 2:48 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Do Not Interfere with Current Library Standards!

‐‐‐‐‐Original Message‐‐‐‐‐
From: Margaret Sloan <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 2:30 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Do Not Interfere with Current Library Standards!

Do not interfere with current library standards! They are working because they are put into place by qualiﬁed creden
Ɵaled librarians.

If the Council truly believes children are at risk of reading inappropriate material at our libraries, a beƩer soluƟon would be to extend parental library control through age eighteen.

ANYTHING ELSE IS POLITICAL GRANDSTANDING!

Best,
Peggy Sloan

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 2:48 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 2:46 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41

Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Dear City Council,
As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023-41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you,
Sincerely,
Mrs. amanda gessell
[email protected]
10241 Wesley circle huntington beach, CA 92646
Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected]
1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 3:07 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 2:56 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41

Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Dear City Council,
As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023-41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you,
Sincerely,
Lauren West
[email protected]
18171 Lisa Lane Huntington Beach, CA 92646 Constituent
Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected]
1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 3:08 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41

Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Dear City Council,
As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023-41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials, and forces outside out family controllers of what our family should read. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you, Sincerely,
Dr. Kelly Janousek
[email protected]
18527 Edgebrook Huntington Beach, CA 92648 Constituent
Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected]
1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 3:08 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Children's Book Review Committee

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 3:04 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Children's Book Review Committee

As a resident of our ﬁne city, I am deeply concerned about the potenƟal appointment of a commiƩee to evaluate children’s books in our libraries. I was a librarian before I went to law school and I believe that our librarians are fully capable of determining the appropriateness of books for kids.

Many quality books have been banned in other regions of this country, and that is a disservice to young people. Children and their parents should be
allowed to freely select books that are of interest to them. If a parent does not like a book their child wishes to read, the parent can choose not to allow the child to check it out.

Libraries encourage freedom of thought through the giŌ of reading. The choice of books our children read should not
become a poliƟcal issue. Leave the decisions about books to librarians, children, and their families.

Please do not vote to establish this oversight group. Let our qualiﬁed librarians do their jobs. Thank you for your aƩenƟon to this important issue.

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 3:09 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Book Banning

‐‐‐‐‐Original Message‐‐‐‐‐
From: Connie Tomsick <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 3:07 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Book Banning

As a ciƟzen of HunƟngton Beach for over 45 years, and a long Ɵme volunteer for the Friends of the Children’s Library, I feel very strongly about members of our city council banning books. I imagine your member was using published lists of books that some extremely right wing, controlling, and, I truly believe, ignorant, people have been puƫng online. Our librarians are extremely dedicated to providing books that the public wishes to read. I understand your member speciﬁcally referred to a Young Adult book she claimed was in the Children’s Library. It wasn’t. I truly believe that the extremely intolerant members of the council are out of touch with the ciƟzens of HunƟngton Beach, those of us who believe in freedom, progress, and acceptance.

Sincerely, Constance Tomsick

1 Moore, Tania
From: Estanislau, Robin
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 3:18 PM
To: Jerry Smith
Cc: Moore, Tania
Subject: RE: Agenda Item #20
Received.

Robin Estanislau, CMC, City Clerk

City of Huntington Beach
714‐536‐5405

Please consider the HB City Clerk's office for your passport needs!

From: Jerry Smith <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 3:00 PM
To: Estanislau, Robin <Robin.Estanislau@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Agenda Item #20

I am in support of Agenda #20 and wish this to be noted for this Tuesdays meeting.

Jerry Smith
[email protected]
714 887‐6655

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 3:58 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Item 20 Board Meeting 10/17/2023

‐‐‐‐‐Original Message‐‐‐‐‐
From: Alice Roberts <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 3:22 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Item 20 Board MeeƟng 10/17/2023

I do not support the HunƟngton Beach City Council creaƟng a review board for children or any books at our city library. I
do not support the city aƩorney reviewing any books at our city library. Our city library is not broken or needs to be ﬁxed by thebcity counsel.

Alice Roberts
8777 Tulare Drive 411C
HunƟngton Beach, Ca 92646
714 381 8775

Sent from my iPad

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 3:58 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Input to City Council Members re: 10/17/2023 Meeting

From: Patricia Larkin <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 3:40 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Input to City Council Members re: 10/17/2023 Meeting

Greetings Huntington Beach City Council Members,
My name is Patricia (Pat) Larkin; and I am a 50+ year resident of Huntington Beach. I have so enjoyed this wonderful city and have appreciated its history of sound government practices. Today I'd like to offer input re:

Agenda Items #19, 20 & 21 relative to tomorrow's afternoon and evening Council meetings.

Agenda Item # 19
The OC Registrar of Voters has a long-established solid record of safely overseeing our elections and they should continue to do so. The prospect of Huntington Beach running its own elections would not only entail tremendous effort and needless expense to the city but could potentially undermine our safe and reliable current election process.

There has been no issue with the flags that are flown at City Hall; they generally find wide approval.

Agenda Item # 20
This item seeks to establish a policy for the review and recataloging of library materials with sexual content.

The Miller Case actually established specific procedures for public libraries to follow to address this issue. Such decisions need to remain with our librarians; the city's trained professionals in Library Science. Given their training, they are best able to make judicious choices.

Agenda Item # 21
While I agree with this item's condemnation of the Hamas 10/7/2023 attack on Israel, the resolution should go further. It should also include support for Palestine, whose citizens have largely coexisted with Israel for eight decades. It needs to condemn violence and advocate for the safe passage of those living in contested border towns. The Council's majority would do well to engage with the Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council and to reinstate the Human Relations Committee; as these two organizations have given moral authority, support and direction to our City Councils historically regarding issues related to hate crimes, intolerance and violence.

Finally, since these three Charter amendments would not go into effect until 2026 there is no rational reason to create a special March 2024 election which would come at great cost to our taxpayers.These three Charter amendments are not necessary in my opinion; however if the Council does go ahead with them, they would still be much better placed on the November General Election Ballot, saving our taxpayers 90% of the cost.

Thank You each for both serving on our City Council and for reflecting on the above input.

Sincerely,
2 Patricia Larkin
1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:29 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: City Council action to ban books and restrict our right to vote

From: Brian G. Saylin <brian@saylin‐law.com>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:21 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Cc: Rose Saylin ([email protected]) <[email protected]>
Subject: City Council action to ban books and restrict our right to vote

I used to wonder what it must have been like to live in Nazi Germany when Hitler rose to power. He began by burning books. We all know how it ended. I also wonder what it must be like to have the Taliban relegate a class of its citizens to a lower class with few rights. Unfortunately, in our past, we have done some things which are somewhat similar, when there was segregation in the South and legislation to prevent Black Citizens from Voting. We have also send Japanese to concentration camps. All these events started with those in power starting, bit by bit, to take away rights from the citizens. That's exactly what the City Councill is poised to do on Tuesday. It is shameful and must be stopped. Hopefully, the city council members will stop and realize the damage to democracy they are planning to impose.

Please don't go down this path. We are better than this!!!

Get Outlook for iOS
1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:29 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Book censoring and voter I’d

‐‐‐‐‐Original Message‐‐‐‐‐
From: Anne Tillman <anneƟ[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:23 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Book censoring and voter I’d

Both are bad moves. We are not a police state

Anne Tillman
Anne@anneƟllman.com
562‐858‐0572

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:29 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: NO on Agenda Item # 20 - Resolution No. 2023-41

From: Paula Schaefer <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:24 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: NO on Agenda Item # 20 ‐ Resolution No. 2023‐41

Mayor and City Council Members:

Vote NO on this ridiculous resolution for these reasons:

1. This is completely unnecessary. There is no evidence that "obscene" or "pornographic" material is accessible by children as evidenced by the Staff report provided by the Library personnel that is the subject of the study session.

2. The proposed rule is unenforceable because the use of the phrase "sexual content" would encompass books and material containing all types of scientific writings, or artistic drawings, or literary writings.

3. You assume that parents need your assistance in making decisions for their children but you are not qualified to do so since you are not educated in library science. Leave this business to the qualified professionals.

4. Finally, it is a complete affront to the efforts of the City of Huntington Beach's professional library personnel. The newly elected majority has failed to work with the appropriate city personnel to learn the existing procedures before trying to change the procedures.

Once again, the new majority has attempted to fix a problem of its own making. You've created a firestorm only to pretend that you're solving some problem. It is getting to be very tiresome that you continue to spend your time on these "culture war" issues, when you should be working on the issues that are actually facing the City.

Paula A. Schaefer, HB resident

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:30 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: The 25 million the city of supposed to get

From: Ron Miller <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:27 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: The 25 million the city of supposed to get

Nobody’s been talking about the 25 million where is that book banning that’s a joke you have parents librarians very educated let them make the decision not the fab 4
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:56 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Upcoming vote on 10/17

From: Chris Damaro <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:39 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Upcoming vote on 10/17

To Whom it may concern,

I truly hope that under no circumstances, any materials will be banned from being included in the catalog at a public library, no matter how “sexual” the content may seem to fear mongering idiots.

The people trying to censor our public libraries need to be stopped.

Never give in!!
Sincerely written from a concerned citizen who plans to educate his two children on right and wrong without depressing the realities and truths about the world around them.

Thank you,
C.D.

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:56 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Fwd: resolution 2023-41

From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:39 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Fw: Fwd: resolution 2023‐41

Leave the library alone!!!
Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS

Begin forwarded message:

On Monday, October 16, 2023, 9:07 AM, Sumi Yata <[email protected]

---------- Forwarded message --

To the City Council,

As a lifelong member of this community, I am yet again saddened and dismayed by this council's attempts at government overreach and bigotry. This latest move titled "Children's Library Materials Containing Sexual Content" is filled with the worst type of government censorship. Though it seems like this would be a good thing to remove explicit sexual content from the Children's collection, it neglects to tell you that those things don't exist in the Children's collection! There is no smut, no pornography, no obscenity in the entirety of the library's collection!

But the vague language of this resolution using "sexual references" and "sexual content" has no standard. Those two pieces are only in the eye of the user.

So if we are to apply the broadest possible interpretation, children or teens would not be allowed to access any of the following, and adults would have to go to a restricted section to access:

The Bible: sexual references are made in Genesis, Ezekiel, Corinthians, Exodus, Leviticus, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, Samuel, and more
2 New Testament includes sexual references made in regards to prostitution, virginity, etc.

Any book that includes romantic kisses (as kissing is a sexual act in and of itself) including all stories related to Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, the Princess and the Frog, many Babysitter's Club, Froggy's First Kiss, etc
Any teen books that discuss romance and sexual desire such as Twilight or The Fault in Our Stars
The entire works of Shakespeare, notably Romeo and Juliet Required reading for school including, but not limited to, Of Mice and Men, A Tale of Two Cities, Pride and Prejudice, Catch-22, Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, The Outsiders, Wuthering Heights, The Odyssey, The Scarlet Letter, and more.

I urge you to vote no on this resolution and leave the libraries alone.

sincerely,
Erin Spivey
HB Resident of over 30 years.

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:57 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Library resolution

‐‐‐‐‐Original Message‐‐‐‐‐
From: Flossie Horgan <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:48 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Library resoluƟon

Please oppose ResoluƟon 2023‐41.

Any aƩempts to ban books from our Public library system must be opposed.

The Librarians who run
our libraries are professional and I have total conﬁdence in their supervision of our HB library system.

Please vote no on ResoluƟon 2023‐41
On agenda for City Council meeƟng on Tuesday.

Sincerely
Flossie Horgan

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:57 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: City Council Overreach

From: Regina Mastroyannis Blankenhorn <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:54 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: City Council Overreach

Dear HB City Council:

I am becoming overly concerned with the overreach of the current City Council. For a group of Council Members that cautioned about being “big brothered” by the government, I find that there is a majority of you that are doing a lot of “big brothering” yourself.

I feel the majority is overstepping their authority in local government, and it needs to stop.

You have no right to ban books. Period. The right of freedom of expression is violated whenever a government limits the freedom of individuals to hold opinions or to seek, receive, or impart information.

And these opinions and facts are
researched through books. Whether that book be in a public library or a public school library, it is there for the education of a person to form their own opinions and come to their own conclusions.

As far as the City charter is concerned, my
main concern is with the office of the City Attorney. That office should not be an elected position; it should be a position that is appointed by the City Council. In fact, it would be a cost savings to the City if it were to appoint a City Attorney through a law firm where the law firm’s various experts in various legal fields would be of assistance to the City. By having this as an elected position, the City Attorney becomes a political figure within the City where they really should be apolitical and objectively advising the City Council what is best for the City rather than what might be a better political advantage for the next election year.

I also believe the City Clerk and City Treasurer should be appointed positions so that people with the correct credentials and experience are in those positions. Voters do not pay attention to who is better qualified to do the job for the City
because they do not understand what these positions do.

As a resident of this City, I needed to make my opinion known.

Respectfully,
Regina M. Blankenhorn
1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:57 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Public Library

‐‐‐‐‐Original Message‐‐‐‐‐
From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:54 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Public Library

Hello,

I’m not in agreement with the proposed acƟons to our library and access to books.

We need new people running the City of HunƟ
ngton Beach. White supremacy is so ugly for HunƟngton Beach.

Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:58 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Resolution no. 2023-41

From: Jill Thrasher <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:57 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Resolution no. 2023‐41

Dear Mayor Strickland and Council Members,

The new resolution no. 2023-41 asks for major oversight to any books that contain any form of human sexuality. It specifically focuses on minors’ access to any books or materials containing any reference to human sexuality. This is a mute resolution because the Huntington Beach Public Library already has a clear collection policy. FYI this is a legal policy that provides guidance with budget, space, and evaluation of materials to meet the needs of the community. Within this policy is a “material evaluation” form that any resident can fill out for a book to be reviewed if a resident has concerns about any book. I know one of the city council members used this form and the book in question was moved and added to the adult section. The collection policy works fine and does the job without a committee of 21.

Why add more bureaucracy to the library when it already has a system in place. If citizens are concerned, then they can fill out the form. I know books get moved often when there is concern for children. A child cannot get a library card without an adult present, and I also know that an adult must be present when children are checking out books, thus we do not need this resolution. It is silly.

This idea of non-librarian professionals micromanaging Huntington Beach public librarians is preposterous. Storytime, illiteracy programs, veteran outreach, homeless services, employment assistance, senior services, technological support, homework assistance, and so many more services are provided freely to our community. Huntington Beach public librarians have plenty of work to do without having to defend their collection policy and listen to a committee of 21 tell them how to do their job. Please stay in your lane and focus on the much bigger issues our city faces.

Finally, as I have said before, it is the year 2023, not 1953. Book banning is not necessary, and neither is a committee of 21. The taxpayers already pay for librarians to do their job and they need no oversight!

2 Mayor Strickland and Council Members do the right thing and squash 2023-41 immediately.

Sincerely,

Jill Thrasher
Library Director, Sherman Library
Huntington Beach Resident
1 Moore, Tania
From: Tony Chavez <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:46 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Resolution 2023-41
Importance: High
To Whom it May Concern:

I’m wriƟng to voice my opinion on ResoluƟon 2023‐41 in strong opposiƟon. I feel strongly about the tremendous show of accountability and diligence our librarians exhibit with respect to their review and disseminaƟon of materials in our HunƟngton Beach Libraries. AcƟng on behalf of our community, these stewards of educaƟon’s most prized establishment have conƟnually displayed excellence in their professional careers and furnish a safe working environment for all patrons. I relish every opportunity to visit the HB Library system with regard to my unimpeded research and feel those of all ages are aﬀorded the same opportunity. I strongly support conƟnued operaƟon of the HB Library system under the same deﬁniƟons of control and administraƟon that have persisted since its founding.

Thank you,

Tony Chavez
Technology Resource Center, Inc.

Office –
(714) 542‐1004
Cell – (714) 414‐8711
www.trcinc.net

1 Moore, Tania
From: Michael Gioan <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:56 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: Re: Item 20 (23-879) for 10/17/2023 CC Council Meeting: Let's talk about "small government" and "freedom of expression"!
Importance: High
I urge the City Council to reject "Item 20 (23‐879) ‐ Reviewing and cataloging of library material containing sexual content" for the reasons below.

So that we are clear:

I certainly do not condone sensitive content be made available to children without adult consent or supervision.

This is precisely the role
and responsibility of professionals duly trained and entrusted to run the public libraries, under a legal framework already established and validated by our courts and both the state and federal constitutions.

Item 21 is "big government", not to mention government overreach! The proposed resolution states:
" ... a 21‐member
“community parent/guardian review board will review all proposed or new children’s books and other materials procured by the City Libraries or City Librarians that may contain sexual content before the books or materials are placed in the City Libraries or facilities.” This board will be empowered to “reject[] [books and materials].”  What are the qualifications required from the "Council of the 21 Holy Imams"? Is breathing enough or would actual knowledge of the library business and ethical and legal framework be required?  How can 21 unelected people be given power to manage a library system for 220K HB residents with zero oversight from the public? This is sure to end up in court and waste more taxpayer money.  In any case, the fix is already built‐in! Seven CC members appoint 3 commission members each and the evaluation works on majority rule, therefore insuring a 12/9 sycophantic majority for every decision, any 2nd grader can compute this equation!
 Quick question: will the "Holy 21" meet once a month and have a bone fire on the beach with the books removed from the library? I can't believe you forgot to add that! The proposition is poorly written:

Despite the official‐looking "WHEREAS" recitation and pompous pseudo‐legal language, the proposition is just chaff designed to hide a central politico‐religious obsession. Furthermore, it does not define essential elements of its own subject, such as:
 Definition of "child": are we talking about a 4‐year old, a 9‐year old, a 17‐year old? These are all "children", but light‐years apart in terms of mental and emotional development. The proposition uses a blanket "child" concept which is meaningless. Are there special dispositions based on age range or couldn't the author think that far?  Definition of "sexual content": Gray's anatomy (and/or any medical book or publication) is replete with "sexual content", so are some Shakespeare works and lines, Emily Dickinson's poems, pretty much any psychology book, not to mention sex‐ed material. Are we banning Sigmund Freud? Friedrich Nietzsche? Wilhelm Reich? Carl Jung, Alfred Adler, Andre Malraux, Søren Kierkegaard? Simone de Beauvoir? Jean‐Paul Sartre? Walter Kaufman? Albert Camus (Nobel Prize)? Anne Rice? Mad Magazine? Good thing 12 of the projected "Holy 21" likely never have heard of these authors, so they are safe for now! In case you forgot High School, all these authors are in one way or another part of the curriculum and could be read by "children" under your vague definition. 2  Definition of "obscene" or "obscenity": I personally find Ms. Van Der Mark's beliefs and ideas obscene, but this is my opinion and mine only, I encourage everyone to form their own. Who would I be to impose this opinion upon others?
The people of HB deserve A‐Grade propositions, this half‐baked pile of dough wouldn't even qualify for D‐Grade in Public Law 101. Go back to the drawing board! Or, better yet start drafting stuff that really matters to us, citizens, how about:
 A 21‐member Commission on Homelessness?
 A 21‐member Commission on Structural Deficit?
 A 21‐member Commission on Crime Prevention?
 A 21‐member Commission on High Density Control?
 A 21‐member Commission on Zoning Fraud?
 A 21‐member Commission on Finding Revenue Sources?
Item 20 is pure political theater and the play was written for an audience of one! What have you done to actually benefit HB in the last 10 months you've been in office? The question is really worth asking, because the answer is a big fat "nada"!

‐‐
Michael Gioan ‐ HB resident since 1991 ‐ Homeowner
1 Moore, Tania
From: Jill Thrasher <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:56 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Resolution No. 2023-41

Dear Mayor Strickland and Council Members,

Mayor Strickland and Council Members do the right thing and squash 2023-41 immediately.

Sincerely,

Jill Thrasher
2 Library Director, Sherman Library
Huntington Beach Resident

1 Moore, Tania
From: Elaine Parker <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:58 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Agenda Item 20 - Adoption of Resolution 2023-14 However, it is difficult to defend this resolution when the City Council refuses to name the books they think are inappropriate for children and teens. Why not yet they are determined to pass a resolution regarding books they deem unsuitable for children and teens.

No matter how the Council wants to paint this picture ‐ it would result in a “book ban”. The Council believes that parents are obviously not capable of monitoring or controlling what books their children or teens are reading. But a committee can decide which books children and teens can read. Heck, half of the committee will be made up of parents the Council is saying are not capable of monitoring what their children and teens are reading. How would this committee work? Will they ignore the librarian's suggestions? This makes absolutely no sense at all.

All published books are reviewed by the publishers' legal team to determine whether or not the books contain
pornography or obscene material that is not suitable for children or teens. This they must do in accordance with the law.

The Council cannot use the word LBGTQ+ in any books they want to ban from children and teens. The city of Huntington Beach will be sued if LBGTQ+ is used in describing books the Council deems unworthy to be in our library. So they came up with “sexual content”. How does one define sexual content ‐ it can be from a kiss to physical intercourse? Attempting to define sexual content is a slippery slope that I don’t believe the city wants to take on.

If the council decides on passing this resolution, how will they prevent teens from looking up these books if the teens are by themselves in the library?. Would all these books be in a separate place in the library behind locked cabinets? Where would the money come from to modify the library and all its branches to make sure teens do not get to see said books? The Central Library needs a major makeover anyway and it has been put on the “back burner” because of money. Adding a locked section would add to the costs tremendously. Would there be monitors to check to see that the teen is not entering the restricted zone? Does this mean teens can only check out children’s books?

The council wants to “protect the children” but what they will do is to destroy the library for the teens of our
community. Our teens should be able to come to the library, where it is a safe place, to read and do research on subjects that are of interest to them. Certain subjects are important to teens who are experiencing growing up and the pains that go with it. Perhaps the council would prefer to have them get all the information from the Internet where there is no restraint on what they can see and no checking to see if any of it is correct.

This resolution is tragic but most tragic for our children and teens.

I adamantly oppose this resolution.

Elaine MacLeod Parker
1 Moore, Tania
From: Kirk Crawford <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:58 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: I support YES votes on Agenda Items 20 and 21 at the 10/17/23 city council meeting Item 20 is just common sense. Young children should not be exposed to sexually explicit materials in our public or school libraries. Confine these materials to adult areas.

Item 21 is appropriate and shows our support for Israel fighting against an terrorist enemy that has absolutely no regard for human life.

Kirk Crawford
50 year H.B. resident

To help protect you r priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this pictu re from the Internet.

Virus-free.www.avast.com

1 Moore, Tania
From: Shirlee Krause <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 5:09 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: City Council Meeting, Tuesday, 10/17/2023 at 6:00 p.m.

Please Vote "NO" on Agenda Item 20 ‐ Resolution 2020‐41‐A:

How scary has our Huntington Beach City Council become due to the "Fab4 W annabes" (hereinafter, "F4W ")? I'll give you a hint!

Remember the famous 1953 dystopian novel by Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451? That's precisely what can happen "right here in River City" oops, I mean Huntington Beach if this group gets away with being the sole decision-makers of what does and does not belong in our library--or any library for that matter!

Come on, get serious! Is the F4W going to make us drink the "Kool Aid" next?! I strongly suggest having a special election to impeach these idiots! Shame on them and shame on anyone who supports their grotesque reasons for even suggesting such utter and absolute nonsense!

Remember, we're Americans with certain rights not too common or allowed in the world. Remember the wars we fought to preserve these rights? The men and women who died defending these rights? Now a miniscule group of know-nothings is attempting to dictate what everybody will be able to read! REALLY!!!

Don't give these nincompoops the power! They've proven their incompetence just by suggesting they be given the power to decide what everybody will be able to read!

I, for one, will gladly face them and drill them on our United States Constitution. They may be currently "big fish in a small pond" backed by wealthy property owners, but that situation can change on a dime...

Yes, once again, this is the very same 80-year-old handicapped female homeowner here in Huntington Beach who is so very saddened and disappointed with what has happened and what worse may come about in our future.◶◷◸◹◺

Respectfully,

Shirlee Krause

1 Moore, Tania
From: Shayla Wilson <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 5:10 PM
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: Opposition to Resolution Nos. 2023-41, 2023-42, 2023- 43, 2023-44, and 2023-45 Good Evening,

My name is Shayla Wilson. I am a resident of Huntington Beach and am writing in response to tomorrow's agenda.

I stand in staunch opposition to Resolution No. 2023‐41 which is, in all but name, a book ban. No one should not dictate what books other people's
children or for that matter what ANYONE else is allowed to read. Additionally, removing and banning books from public libraries is a slippery slope to government censorship and the erosion of our country's commitment to freedom of expression.

Furthermore, I am vehemently opposed to the wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars on a special election that will ultimately attempt to oppress the voting rights of US citizens.

1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 5:18 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41
Dear Supplemental Communications,
As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023‐41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Huntington Beach requirements for a entry level librarian is a MASTERS degree from an accredited college or university. How many people from the ad‐hoc commitee that is appointed by the mayor; 1. use the HBPL 2. have a MASTERS degree in libray science Thank you, lynn smith Sincerely,
Mrs. lynn smith
[email protected]
15251 cascade lane huntington beach, CA 92647
Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected] 1 Moore, Tania
From: onewildart <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 5:21 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Book Banning

Quoteth G. Vandermark…”I started ﬁghƟng this seven years ago," she said. "But once again, the state of California unfortunately doesn't listen to parents a whole lot and now that I'm in a posiƟon where I can do something to protect children, I ﬁgure this is the Ɵme to step up."

So she is stepping up by trying to ban books! I would like to know how she plans to carry this out….who has the ﬁnal say on what is obscene, racist, and homophobic. Her or a librarian? What are they looking for in inclusion vs exclusion? I’d like to see it.

Censorship denies our freedom as individuals to choose and think for ourselves. For children, decisions about what books to read should be made by the people who know them best—their parent, not a city council whose role this isn’t!

First you want to require ID’s to
vote! I suggest you require IQ’s to be on the City Council!

Sent from my iPad

1 Moore, Tania
From: Catherine Schwartz <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 5:22 PM
To: [email protected]
Cc: Steve Schwartz
Subject: 10-17-23 item #20
HB City Council,

As HB residents and tax‐payers, we are in objecƟon to establishing a policy for review and recataloging of books containing sexual content. A special group/commiƩee is creaƟng censorship and puƫng your personal bias onto city residents.

We have Librarians and parents of children
‐ they are enough to manage the books.

Catherine and Steve Schwartz
722 Sandglass Dr .

HunƟngton Beach, CA. 92648
714.317.7832

Sent from my iPad

1 Moore, Tania
From: laura sire <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 5:23 PM
To: [email protected]
Cc: Laura Sire
Subject: Agenda Items #19 and #20 for Agenda dated Oct 17, 2023

Hello,

This is Laura Sire. I’m a 60 year resident of Huntington Beach, a retired elementary school teacher, and an active member of the community. I’m writing today in extreme distress as to what is happening to the democracy in our city of Huntington Beach as shown in these current agenda items.

Agenda item #19, proposing charter amendment ballot measures be placed on the March 2024 ballot, must be voted NO due to the cost of $459,628. Also, the items, including voter ID and a restrictive flag policy are unnecessary and unwanted by a majority of Huntington Beach residents.

If they must be on a ballot, it makes sense to put them on the November ballot in the general election. It would save taxpayers a large amount of money. Additionally most changes proposed would not go into effect until 2026. This rushed process does not make sense any more than the measures themselves. (The “voter ID” measure violates state law and will almost certainly result in adding more lawsuits to what the City already has).

Agenda item #20 submitted by Mayor Pro Tem VanDerMark who requests "adopting No 2023‐41 to establish a policy of review and recataloging of library materials containing sexual content” This item, thinly disguised, is clearly a book ban. It violates freedom of speech, is unnecessary, and is a waste of time as there is already a process in place.

It is insulting to librarians with Masters Degrees in Library Science. The attachment #2 removes access to books and states that “any sexual writings, sexual references, explicit sexual images, and any other sexual content shall not be placed in, or be present in, ANY section of any City Library other than adult sections.” Parents are also insulted as it is required that there is "parental or guardian” consent required before accessing books.

I stand with librarians, parents and teachers in the process of book access and selection. They are qualified, caring and competent. And the idea of having a 21 member citizen committee to take over this process is impractical and unfair. Since members are selected by councilmembers, the majority of the committee would have control as they will be representing the 4‐3 majority on the Council.

Furthermore, this item is in actuality about controlling information and censorship. Another smoke screen is evident as the true target here is the LGBQT+ Community as well as POC. The 2 conservative council majority wants us to believe they are protecting children, when in fact their proposed policy is one that harms children and their families. It is a tool to exclude children from acceptance by their peers as well as instigating division and hate. It is cruel as it stigmatizes those who have different gender identities or sexual preferences. The lack of empathy for those who are already stigmatized and feeling isolated is very sad. Don’t we want all children to feel accepted worthy, and included.

Do what is right please, and Vote NO on Agenda items #19 and #20.

Sincerely,
Laura Sire

1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 5:27 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41
Dear Supplemental Communications,
As a resident of California, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023‐41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. We trust our trained library staffs. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you,
Sincerely,
Ms. Stephanie Stickley
[email protected]
2440 S Barrington Ave #108 Los Angeles, CA 90064
Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected] 1 Moore, Tania
From: Mary Spafford <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 5:27 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Resolution No. 2023-41

As a taxpayer living in HunƟngton Beach, I am in opposiƟon to the ResoluƟon No. 2023‐41. I am a proud supporter of the Library and the work the well trained staﬀ undertakes.

Mary Spaﬀord
Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 5:39 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Item 2023-41
Importance: High
Terry Rose, Huntington Beach resident since November 1983, homeowner.

I am opposed to item 2023‐41.

To begin with, the 4 members of the city council, who are in favor of this item, needlessly spent our city’s money on a study that never needed to be conducted. The findings, themselves, indicate that this item should not be passed.

In the last 5 years, there has only been 5 challenges. In 2023, there has not been any to date. There is no valid reason to spend money setting up a review board, making children prove they were over the age of 12, and requiring parental permission for anyone under 18 to access any materials with “sexual” content. What is the fiscal impact to the citizens if this item passes? Who will monitor the ages of the children? How will someone under the age of 18 prove they have parental permission? And who will decide what books are allowed? Perhaps if Ms. Van Der Mark had some sexual education, she would not have been a teen mom. And not to mention the 21 political appointees…would the voters of HB get to choose them, or would they just be your buddies, Mayor Strickland? For a foursome who ran on less government intervention and no changes to our city charter, you definitely haven’t been true to your words…nor, in my opinion are you working for the good of the whole. It’s obvious from all of the council meetings I have attended and spoken at that you four certainly don’t “play nice in the sandbox.”

The fact that this item would allow the Review Board Members to simply remove books they don’t like is taking away our rights and bringing us back in history to when book burnings were conducted. The fact that “sexual content” is not defined, is also concerning to me. Who will define it? My definition of “sexual content” may be different from yours Mayor Strickland or yours Mayor Pro Tem , VanderMark….so, can I be on the committee?

And, oh by the way, kids can get books on Amazon – are you going to go after Amazon, too?

Why are you determined to bankrupt our city?

1 Moore, Tania
From: winchellg <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 5:55 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Agenda items19 & 20
Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers,

AGENDA ITEM 19: Please do not conƟnue with the proposed charter amendments. They are unnecessary, do not promote the public good, some endorse voter suppression, and the special elecƟon will cost taxpayers a huge sum of money as proposed. PLEASE VOTE NO ON AGENDA
ITEM 19.

AGENDA ITEM 20: Please do not make the City the arbiters of of which books will be banned from our libraries. An excellent process already exists for library book acquisiƟon. CreaƟng a HunƟngton Beach ciƟzen’s commiƩee will just be costly and is unnecessary.

PLEASE VOTE NO ON AGENDA ITEM 20.

Thank you for your consideraƟon.

Grace Winchell, Former Council Person and Mayor

1 Moore, Tania
From: Deb Janus <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 5:58 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: Councilmember Item *20. 23-879
I am in support of

*20. 23-879 Review of Councilmember VanderMark's
Resolution No. 2023-41 - Selection, Display, and
Circulation of Library Books and Other Materials within Huntington Beach Public Libraries

This item Resolution No. 2023-41 details a true common
sense approach that any sane parent would support in
providing a guideline to have books that are deemed age- appropriate for young children only available in the Adult section of the Library where parents who so desire to have their children view them can make that decision for their child while allowing parents who do not want their children exposed to this media can also make sure their child is not inadvertently exposed because it happens to be in the
Children's section of the library.

And for all the people summoned by Moser, Kalmick, and
Carr to show up in protest, the word BAN is never used in this proposal or discussion.... Please give it a rest already.

Oh, and I am curious as to why #20 is the only item listed with an asterisk before it.

Thank you,
Deb Janus
2 resident 44 years in Huntington Beach

1 Moore, Tania
From: judy gaglione <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 6:06 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Resolution 2023-41
I strongly oppose ANY Book BANNING!!! This is America not Natzi Germany.Any council members who vote to Ban books will be strongly opposed in the next election.
1 Moore, Tania
From: JANIS LISS <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 6:10 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Book bans

I’m a reƟred teacher, having spent the last 31 years of my 35 1/5 teaching career in the HunƟngton Beach City School District. I love our public library system and oppose book bans! Janis Liss
Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: Ameelia Ghareeb <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 6:13 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Absolutely NO to library censorship (Resolution No. 2023-41) Dear members of our City Council,

I am wriƟng in regards to ResoluƟon No. 2023‐41, included in the October 17 agenda. I am absolutely against any move to censor, limit, or ban books from our Public Library. I am a middle school English teacher, a credenƟaled Librarian, and
someone who votes in each and every single elecƟon. This plan to give a community oversight commiƩee the power to block library purchases is just a diﬀerent ﬂavor of book banning.

I do not want another person deciding what my kids can and cannot read.

That’s my job.

We visit the public library weekly, and I am conﬁdent the claim that library materials are sexualizing children is false.

Books simply don’t funcƟon that way. Please sƟck to an agenda of small government and leave our library system alone.

Sincerely,
Ameelia Ghareeb, resident
in 92649

1 Moore, Tania
From: Jean Rowley <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 6:12 PM
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Resolution 2023-41
GreeƟngs, I am wriƟng to let you know I don’t support the above resoluƟon. I believe it is an extreme reacƟon that could lead to other controlling government measures. I am a parent, and it is my responsibility to oversee what my child has access to at the public library. The reality is that kids have access to more explicit content online on smartphones and the internet. Parents should and do control their child’s access to that.

I have been very pleased with the librarians in our city. They should be allowed to do their jobs. I wish the city council would get more involved with issues like sober living homes and increased violence in our city.

Regards,

Jean Rowley

1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 6:21 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41
Dear Supplemental Communications,
As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023‐41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you, Sincerely,
Dina S Chavez
[email protected]
16612 Cooper Lane Huntington Beach, CA, CA 92647
Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected] 1 Moore, Tania
From: Dick and Tina Palmer <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 6:32 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: We oppose Resolution 2023-41
We have lived in Huntington Beach since 1972 and have enjoyed using the wonderful Huntington Beach Public Library. Our two daughters always checked out books and now our 3 grandchildren do also. We have never had any issues with book selection at the Library. We oppose Resolution 2023- 41 and we oppose book bans.

Christine and Richard Palmer
17131 Friml Lane,
Huntington Beach
1 Moore, Tania
From: Floyd Phillips <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 6:36 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: City Council Resolution 2023-41
My name is Floyd Phillips. I have lived in HB for ﬁŌy three years.

The Friends of the Library News leƩer has indicated the above supplement will ban certain books that the City Council chooses to ban Floyd Sent from my iPad

1 Moore, Tania
From: Nancy Phillips <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 6:37 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
To the Huntington Beach City Council

Although I would not let my children (if I still had minor children) read the books mentioned, I feel it is equally bad to let a small group of people decide what should be banned. It is every parent’s right to make those decisions. I would hope
that no books if this nature be on a required reading list, but to ban them is so wrong.

Please vote against Agenda Item 2O.

Thank you.

Nancy Phillips
1 Moore, Tania
From: Floyd Phillips <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 6:46 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: City Council Resolution 2023-41
My name is Floyd Phillips. I have lived in HB for ﬁŌy three years.

The Friends of the Library News leƩer has indicated the above supplement will ban certain books that the City Council chooses to ban. I am against this resoluƟon.

Please vote against this resoluƟon.
ps, please ignore my previous email as it was sent before I sent the last two sentences.

Floyd
Sent from my iPad

1 Moore, Tania
From: Cynthia <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 6:55 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Urgent Concern: Opposing Resolution No. 2023-41 Dear Huntington Beach City Council Members,

I am writing to express my deep concern and opposition to any form of book censorship within our community. As a resident of Huntington Beach, I believe in the fundamental principles of freedom of speech and the right to access a diverse range of literary
materials without any form of government interference. It is not the role of the city council to dictate what the residents of our community can or cannot read.

The freedom to read is a cornerstone of our democratic society, enshrined in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Censoring
books goes against the values of intellectual freedom and the free exchange of ideas. By limiting access to certain books, we undermine the diversity of thought and perspectives that make our society rich and vibrant.

It is essential to remember that each individual has the right to choose what they read and what they expose themselves
to. It is the responsibility of parents and guardians to determine what materials are appropriate for their children, and it should not be the city council's task to make these decisions on behalf of every resident.

Furthermore, book censorship can have a chilling effect on authors, publishers, and the creative community as a whole.

When writers feel that their work may be subject to censorship, it can stifle their ability to express themselves freely, limiting the creation of thought‐provoking and innovative literary works.

I urge the Huntington Beach City Council to stand firmly in support of our constitutional rights and to reject any attempts at book censorship. Instead, I encourage you to promote the availability of a wide variety of books in our community, allowing individuals to make their own informed choices about what they read. Encourage open dialogue, education, and discussion on controversial topics rather than suppressing them.

Our city council should be focused on addressing important issues that affect our community, such as infrastructure, public safety, and economic development, rather than involving itself in matters of personal choice and intellectual freedom. Let us be a community that upholds the principles of liberty, diversity, and tolerance.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I hope you do the right thing and stand with us in support of intellectual freedom and oppose any form of book censorship.

Sincerely,
Cynthia Haritatos
20941 Cabrillo Ln
1 Moore, Tania
From: Chris Wacaster <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 7:03 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: Stop the HB City Council--Charter Amendments & Book Bans please hear my voice
 Voter ID requirement > AGAINST
o If passed, it will lead to immediate lawsuits (don’t know how much that will cost) o If passed, it will likely cause HB to run its own city elections (don’t know how much that will cost)
 HB must purchase voting machines
 HB must securely store voting machines between elections  HB must rent polling locations
 HB must train staff
 And, many more requirements for running a secure election  Restrictive Flag Law > AGAINST
o Excludes many flags that have flown on city polls in the past, including the Pride flag
o Requires a unanimous vote of council to add a new allowed flag (the city has never required a unanimous vote for anything, ever!)
 Charter Clean‐up (effectively Measure L from 2022 that the Council majority ran against) > AGAINST

thanks, Chris
1 Moore, Tania
From: john wacaster <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 7:03 PM
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: Stop the HB City Council--Charter Amendments & Book Bans please hear my voice
 Voter ID requirement > AGAINST
o If passed, it will lead to immediate lawsuits (don’t know how much that will cost) o If passed, it will likely cause HB to run its own city elections (don’t know how much that will cost)
 HB must purchase voting machines
 HB must securely store voting machines between elections  HB must rent polling locations
 HB must train staff
 And, many more requirements for running a secure election  Restrictive Flag Law > AGAINST
o Excludes many flags that have flown on city polls in the past, including the Pride flag
o Requires a unanimous vote of council to add a new allowed flag (the city has never required a unanimous vote for anything, ever!)
 Charter Clean‐up (effectively Measure L from 2022 that the Council majority ran against) > AGAINST

‐‐

john
1 Moore, Tania
From: Charlene Vejr <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 7:08 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Book Banning
Dear Council,

It's so discouraging to see the Mayor Pro Tem, Gracey, continue to pursue the banning of books at our highly regarded and awarded public library. Gracie and her cohorts: Tony, Pat & Casey, are creating Huntington Beach to be a city of hate and discrimination. I've lived in two very racists cities, Chicago and Houston, and I never thought I would see the day that such racism would infect our city through our elected officials.

People are watching and you will not be re-elected and that includes our city attorney, Michael Gates, who has cost taxpayers several millions of dollars to date with false lawsuits.

I shudder to think how much more damage this group may impose on our beautiful city.

Have a Blessed Day!
When we take our eyes off ourselves and our broken stories to minister to others, we get to see what we are created to do. Laura Story
Char
1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 7:12 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41
Dear Supplemental Communications,
As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023‐41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you, Sincerely,
Ms. Alison Mae Schulman
[email protected]
808 11th Street Huntington Beach, CA 92648 Constituent
Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected] 1 Moore, Tania
From: Melanie Bergeland <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 7:13 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: October 17th Agenda 23-879 - New Library Policy Dear City Council members,
I will just jump into the frustration that has become the norm in living in HB at this moment. The City Council continues to address non‐issues.

I am opposed to the Book Ban, and yes, by limiting any book in the Public Library is by definition a Book ban.

Based on the PDF presentation Item 23‐532 – Selection, Display, and Circulation of Library Books and Other Materials within Huntington Beach Public Libraries October 17, 2023.

Library Cards issued in HB:

Adult cards: 82,813 • Teen cards: 2,434 • Minor cards: 17,976 • Materials Checked Out :

Adult: 285,427 (FY 22/23) • Young Adult: 36,203 (FY 22/23) • Children's: 459,779 (FY 22/23) • Library Collection:

Total items: 290,189 • Books: 134,620 • Materials Procured Annually: Approximately 20,000 Data Analysis • Book Challenges: 5 Challenges in last 5 years and 0 Challenges in 2023

 Where is the factual data that there are sexually offensive books in the HB Library collection? Seems to me,if the public thought there are offensive materials, there would be more book challenges?  A City Council member challenged a book at the library and the book was moved to the Adult section?   The existing process worked.  Why invent the wheel?
 I attended health class in 6th grade, 7th grade and 10th grade.  I learned about menstruation, sexual organs, sexual intercourse, hormonal feelings and births of babies.  This is very natural and needed information shared with humans nearing the menstruation age and their counterparts. There were pictures of sex organs and descriptions. Dare I say sex information / education?  Would this be considered offensive by the City Council?  Why is the City council asking the HB citizens to put extra layers to reviewing books that are currently being reviewed by trained and educated Librarians?
 Why does the City Council believe this is an appropriate use of resources, time and taxpayer money?  What are the standards and processes to review books by this 21 person panel?  Will this process be reviewed by any educational and librarian professionals?  Will this process be timely? Personally I find this overreach that the City Council of Huntington Beach has decided to  make decisions of what is offered at a Public Library.
.

I have reviewed books with my children and helped them choose age appropriate books throughout their educational years. Why would I think 21 random people have a better understanding of my personal moral judgements? Why should they be trusted to make decisions of what my access to information will be? As a Citizen of the United States where access to information is supposed to be unfettered. Again, I find this proposal an overreach of the City Council.

Stop the process of pre‐screening books that I clearly can do myself and get back to infrastructure, crime, and housing.

Warm Regards,
2 Melanie Bergeland

1 Moore, Tania
From: Eric Shields <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 7:16 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Resolution 2023-41
My name is Eric Shields, I live at 7112 Starlight Cir. in HB. I am unable to attend the 10-17-23 meeting so I and sending this email. I am in support of establishing a policy for review and recatloging of library materials containing sexually explicit content. Books and materials of this nature need to be in adult only sections which are not available to children. The review process should include representatives of the parents within the community.

Thank you for your time.

Eric
1 Moore, Tania
From: Laura Janssen <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 7:24 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Councilmember Agenda Item 20 / 23-879 (October 17, 2023) Dear Council Members,

I strongly oppose this council item.

As a resident of Huntington Beach, and as the daughter of a mother who was an avid supporter of our local library and who helped organize a library in my elementary school in the 1960s, I know the important role public libraries play in our community. They must remain a place free from political overreach. It is not the government's role to decide what books are relevant or irrelevant, appropriate or inappropriate for children, or for that matter adults. Libraries are there to provide the books and not put up barriers or discriminate.

We live in a free society, and with that freedom comes responsibility. We are responsible for our own decisions, good or bad. Parents must remain the decision makers for what their children are exposed to, NOT the government, or council appointed committee in this case. As a child, I went to the library with my mother to choose books she felt were appropriate for me to read. This is the role of a parent.

Has our society degraded so much that parents are unable to help their children make those decisions? I fear this council item will take over the role parents must play in their children's lives, and really, nobody wants that, right?

This council item is a knee-jerk reaction to a problem that doesn't really exist. It has been manufactured out of fear. Let parents be parents and libraries continue to open our minds to the greater world outside our community. Knowledge is power.

Sincerely,

Laura Janssen

1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 7:28 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Opposition to Agenda Item 20
Dear City Council Members,

I urgently ask you to vote NO on Agenda Item 20. Citizens of Huntington Beach don't want our government or a committee appointed by government officials telling us what books we and our children can and cannot read. This is a violation of our freedom and is
inconsistent with the conservative principles espoused by the majority of the council. If you don't want people telling us whether or not we should wear masks or get vaccinated, why would you want people telling us what books should be available in our library?

Our Huntington Beach librarians are well trained and trustworthy. Let them do their jobs. I have been a Friend of the Library for more than a decade. FOTL is a large and robust group that loves our city and our library. We are watching this issue carefully and will not forget how each of you vote on this important matter.

Please vote NO.

Christine A. Padesky
5267 Warner Ave Ste 401
Huntington Beach CA 92649 USA

1 Moore, Tania
From: Steven C Shepherd Architect <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 7:27 PM
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: NO ON AGENDA ITEM #20! NO BOOK BANS OR CONTENT REVIEWS FOR HUNTINGTON BEACH

PUBLIC LIBRARIES
HB City Council -
Just like when I emailed waaaayyyy back on June 19th, I remain staunchly opposed to all aspects of anything resembling a book ban, a content review by craven elected officials, and/or a committee of amateurs deputized to be members of a newly formed "HB Book Posse."

FYI: We already have highly educated and trained professionals doing this work. They're called Librarians.

After more than 35 years of parenting and mentoring children in this community, I can confidently say to any HB parent that there is absolutely nothing to fear at our Huntington Beach Public Libraries (HBPL). Over decades as a patron, both with and without children, I've never seen any inappropriate or objectionable materials. So when I learned there hadn't been a single complaint file with the HBPL this year, it was hardly a surprise.

We must never allow the insecurities of incompetent adults to limit the learning, exploration & discovery of our children and young adults. As parents, we should welcome the opportunity to answer their questions (especially the tough ones) and explain our values. Book bans, limitations on curriculum & measures aimed at concealing facts are never the answer. Be honest. Be engaged. Be truthful. Your child will thank you for it.

Steve Shepherd
Huntington Beach 92646
1 Moore, Tania
From: Vicky Shuttleworth <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 7:33 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Citizen Opinion
Dear City Council,
I wonder why you are so involved in other people's jobs? Have you decided to change our lifeguard uniforms so they meet your expectations? Do you advise the Chief of Police to implement new patrol routes? I sincerely doubt it because we have professionals in those departments. That leads me to wonder why you would think that you or an appointed citizen has anymore skill at choosing books than a professional Librarian with a college degree in Library Science?
This city has needs that you have not addressed such as roadway infrastructure, disaster preparedness and rising sea levels, as well as poverty and people living on the street as there are not enough affordable housing units.

Please do the heavy lifting of those projects and let the librarians do what they are educated to do.

Please vote NO on Agenda Item 20 Adoption of Resolution 2023‐41 and listen to the citizens of Huntington Beach.

Sincerely,
Victoria Shuttleworth,
Retired teacher,
Retired PTA President,
Huntington Beach resident, 37 years
1 Moore, Tania
From: Elizabeth SanFilippo <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 7:32 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: Library Proposed Policy on Selection, Display, and Circulation -- Opposed I am a Huntington Beach resident and homeowner for over thirty years as well as a member of the Friends of the Library and am opposed to the proposed policy for the review and re-cataloging of library materials. This could constitute book banning. Book banning is defined as prohibiting or restricting books available to the public, which would include not purchasing legitimate materials for our library.

Individuals should have the right to decide what to read for themselves and their families. I believe in parental oversight of books for their children, Huntington Beach’s professional and trained librarians are responsible for the selection and management of materials. A Committee of 21 people who are not trained as librarians should not determine which materials should be included in the library.

The library has a system to receive complaints about materials. It is my understanding that they have not receive any complaints regarding library materials in 2023.

The proposed policy could have cost implications. Since the City Council recently contemplated budget cuts to services provided to residents and there are projected future deficits, I am concerned about the costs of this unnecessary policy.

Thank you for your consideration.

Elizabeth San Filippo
1 Moore, Tania
From: k s <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 7:34 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Resolution 2023-41
Please pull this repugnant resolution from the agenda.

We have a study session only a couple of hours before the broader council meeting to consider this resolution.

Is the study session merely a sham?

Why would our council vote on a politically predetermined resolution the same night as the study session if it
was not the result of outside meetings to which the public was not privy to?

Not the look our council should have.

Please pull this offensive item!

Kathie Schey

1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 7:39 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: City Council Agenda Item 20 - Resolution 2023-41 - A Resolution of the city council of the City of Huntington Beach

I am writing to express my strong opposition to City Council Agenda Item 20 ‐ Resolution 2023‐41 ‐ a resolution of the city council of the City of Huntington Beach establishing a policy for the review and recataloging of library materials containing sexual content or book banning within our community. As a concerned resident and advocate for freedom
of expression, I firmly believe that restricting access to certain books stifles intellectual growth and undermines the principles of democracy. Book banning is a common tool to establish an authoritarian take over of government and infringes on the rights of all citizens.

Books are a vital source of knowledge, diverse perspectives, and critical thinking. They provide valuable insights into various cultures, historical events, and societal issues. By banning books, we risk inhibiting the open exchange of ideas and inhibiting our community's ability to foster empathy, tolerance, and understanding to different points of view. This is an effort to restrict choice and limit citizens rights.

It is essential to trust individuals to make informed choices about what they read and engage with. Parents who are concerned about their children’s reading can EASILY accompany them to the library. Public libraries, schools, and individuals have the right to curate their own reading material based on their values and beliefs. Banning books deprives citizens of their right to access diverse literature and make their own informed decisions.

Instead of banning books, I encourage our community to promote dialogue, understanding, and education. We should foster an environment where individuals can openly discuss differing viewpoints and learn from one another. This approach aligns with the values of a democratic society and strengthens our community's fabric.

I respectfully urge the City Council to stand against book banning and support a rich, inclusive literary environment where ideas and knowledge can flourish freely.

Please don’t let the beliefs of a few restrict the rights and freedom of all.

J. Roether

Sent from my iPhone
1 Moore, Tania
From: Patricia King <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 7:43 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: City Council should not censor public library books. Do NOT pass resolution proposed by Gracey Van Der Mark
Dear City Council,
You were elected by the citizens of Huntington Beach. You work for the good of all Huntington Beach citizens.

You need to listen to your constituents and not just your friends. The citizens of Huntington Beach do not want your proposed resolution.

You and your appointed review board (friends) are in no way qualified to make these decisons. You are getting a committee to ban books for you.

Make no mistake, you want to ban books. This should not be about you. Please take a moment and consider your obligation to support all the people who live in our city.

Let the Library do its job. You do yours.

Patricia King
8642 Lowmead Drive
Huntington Beach, CA 92646
1 Moore, Tania
From: Susan Turner <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 7:45 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: I strongly oppose Resolution No. 2023-41
Dear Council members,

I am a sixty year resident of Huntington Beach. I have been a frequent library visitor since I discovered the bookmobile when I was young. I grew up in the HB fields on a horse stables. My mother worked non-stop building that business. My father worked at an outside job and then at the stables after work and on weekends. My parents didn't have time to teach us about anything besides how to care for horses, breeding and training, and teaching people to ride.

Books were my teachers on everything else. As an adult, the parenting bookings became my teachers and as my kids grew, they learned about different cultures, puberty, the difficulties of drug addiction, alcoholism, racism and relationships. I saw the meeting that showed the books that someone deemed obscene and pornographic. Some of the pictures were either the same or similar to the the pages in books I shared with my kids as they were learning about puberty. The statement in Resolution no. 2023-41 that states that books of sexual content are readily available to children appears inaccurate since a friend and I looked through the Children's library and were unable to find any books with sexual content.

Requesting parental or guardian consent for teens less than 18 y/o to check out books is a terrible idea. Not all teens are given accurate information, or sometimes any information from their parents. They need books to help them learn and navigate through teenage life. They need stories demonstrating weakness and strength of characters responding to the myriad of issues that occur in teen life. Many teens are having sex or are being pressured to have sex. They need accurate information. Teens may feel shame or embarrassment, and be unable to speak to their parents. The reality is, not everyone has a perfect life and kind, compassionate parents.

Not everyone has parents that know how to help teens negotiate all that they encounter. Yes, when information is taught by parents and the school at an appropriate age, which is long before 18 y/o, outcomes will be much better for these young people. When parents are not available, books with accurate information are better than the older kid next door.

The librarians are trained, have the experience and do the research to choose appropriate books for the diverse group of people who use our library. They can make well educated decisions. I oppose city council making decision about which books should be available in our libraries. As we saw at the original meeting regarding books, the number who opposed city council censorship, far outnumbered those who supported censorship, and yet, the city council is moving forward by proposing this resolution.

2 There is so much to learn from books that we are not directly exposed to growing up. Books help us see that our experiences are not completely unique. They can offer tools to cope, to understand people who seem to live in different worlds, from people with great wealth to those in extreme poverty, those who have suffered great physical and emotional trauma, persons of color, persons of different sexual orientation than ourselves and those with mental illness or physical disabilities. We can learn that they are all people, just like us living in different circumstances. Books help us to understand rather than fear humanity.

There is a line in this resolution that talks about taxpayer fund the libraries. Again, the number of taxpayers who have spoken in opposition and written emails is greater than those in support.

I urge you to respect the majority of Huntington Beach taxpayers and drop this oppressive resolution. We already have a very competent group of people making library book decisions.

They are our librarians.

Thank you,

Susan Turner

1 Moore, Tania
From: Ali Hanafi <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 7:44 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Communication regarding Agenda items for tomorrow's Council Meeting Attachments: Resolution_2023-41_City_of_HB_16Oct_2023.pdf Hello,

I would like to submit a letter regarding Agenda items for tomorrow's Council Meeting (October 17, 2023).

Please find the letter attached as a PDF file.

Thank you.

M. A. Hanafi

M. A. Hanafi
E: [email protected]
C: +1-617-669-5395 (Pacific time zone)
M. A. Hanaﬁ
17441 Alta Vista Cir
Huntington Beach, CA 92647

Date: October 16, 2023

City Council
City of Huntington Beach
2000 Main Street
Huntington Beach, CA 92648

Re: Proposed Resolution No. 2023-41

Dear Members of the City Council,

I am reaching out as a concerned resident of Huntington Beach regarding the proposed resolution no. 2023-41 concerning the review and recataloging of library materials containing sexual content. Our democratic principles, rooted in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, emphasize the freedom of expression and access to information. It is within this context that I present the following considerations:

READING is more than an educational foundation; it is a critical tool for shaping future learning and actively participating in our democratic freedoms.

As patriotic Americans who believe in personal responsibility, we must acknowledge that WE CAN TRUST individuals to make their own informed decisions about what they read and believe.

PARENTS HAVE THE RIGHT to guide their children's reading. However, it is crucial to remember that this right should not extend to dictating the reading choices for other parents' children. Allowing twenty-one political appointees to unilaterally determine what materials should be restricted is an invitation for abuse. It is neither fair nor democratic for a small group of parents to determine what other people’s children can access.

BOOKS ARE TOOLS designed to help us navigate and understand the complexities of life.

Shielding our youth from these tools only deprives them of valuable insights, rather than protecting them.

YOUNG PEOPLE should have the opportunity to see themselves represented in the books they read. Such representation fosters understanding, acceptance, and self-worth.

Taking steps towards REMOVING AND BANNING BOOKS from public libraries threatens to put us on a perilous path toward governmental censorship. It is essential to remember and respect our country’s commitment to freedom of expression.

In light of the above considerations, I earnestly implore the City Council to PLEASE REJECT any endeavors that may infringe upon our cherished freedoms. We must allow individuals and parents to retain their right to choose what they and their children read and believe.

By upholding these principles, we reinforce our collective commitment to the ideals enshrined in our Constitution. I strongly urge you to consider these points and make a decision that honors both our community and the foundational values of our great nation.

Thank you for considering my letter. I am conﬁdent that you will keep the best interests of ALL THE RESIDENTS of Huntington Beach at heart when deciding on this misguided proposal.

Our libraries provide a vital service to all members of our community, especially those without resources. They should remain welcoming forums for people of all ages to access information freely.

Sincerely,

M. A. Hanaﬁ
1 Moore, Tania
From: marcia spieler <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 7:48 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Not a ban
I have been a member of friends of LIBRARY and have been involved for many many years. I resent that this is being presented a ban books. It is not; it is to limit the exposure to our children to material that is not appropriate.

Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: Chris Oconnell <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 7:59 PM
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]; Kalmick, Dan; Bolton, Rhonda
Subject: Don’t Ban Books
Dear HB City Council Members,

It is important that you know and understand that my family completely opposes the move afoot to arrest the power of professional librarians to ably select and maintain the books and other media appropriate for us, the citizens, property owners and taxpayers of HB. We oppose
governmental book bans and political usurpation of our public libraries. We support the HB Public Library and their freedom to conduct their business on our behalf as they have been so well for decades and decades. Leave them free to continue doing a fantastic job for us.

We have good memories and we vote. Thx.

Chris O’Connell
HB homeowner, Gill School, Stacey Jr. HS, Marina HS & Golden West grad

you support the Huntington Beach Public Library and oppose book bans 1 Moore, Tania
From: Barbara Richardson <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 8:03 PM
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: No to Agenda Item 20 Adoption of Resolution 2023-41 No to Agenda Item 20 Adoption of Resolution 2023-41

I find it ironic that the council majority believes it is government overreach to order people to wear masks and be vaccinated during a deadly pandemic, and voted to make HB a mask free, vaccine free city.

They said it was a person's right to choose. However, the council majority does not believe it is city overreach to restrict access to library books they personally do not like or find appropriate. Apparently, they believe that parents are unable to monitor or control what their children or teens read. Therefore, the council will decide for the parents what is appropriate and what is not. So much for personal choice.

1.1 million people died from covid in the US. I haven't read any scientific data showing that a child has died or been harmed by looking at a library book.

Despite being told by Penguin Random House Publishers that their manual scripts and illustrations are reviewed by their own lawyers and that they are not legally allowed to publish or market pornography or obscene materials to minors as are all other major publishers, the council keeps insisting that the books they don't like or agree with are obscene and pornographic. The council majority wants these books restricted. Because the council does not want to get sued for discrimination, they have changed the word LGBTQ+ to “any book with sexual content. " This term is so broad and vague it can apply to almost anything. The resolution keeps using the word "children" when it really means "minors." Anyone under the age of 18. Most high school students are under the age of 18.

Restricting access to all books and materials with sexual contact will keep the majority of high school students from accessing much of the teen and adult book collection; including most all the classics required for high school readings if their parent isn't with them. It will decimate the teen book section How do you plan to keep high school students from looking at these titles if they are by themselves? The resolution says "parental or guardian consent will be required". Permission slips can be forged. Phone calls can be faked. To reduce liability to staff should a high school student get access to the restricted area under false pretenses, it would be easier to insist that a parent must be with them. Still, how do you plan to keep high school students from looking at restricted books?

To recatalog and reclassify all the restricted books is going to cost thousands of dollars. Building special books cases or moving all the restricted books to another location will also cost thousands of dollars. The cheapest way to do this would be to change teen library cards to children's library cards. Teens, (those under 18) could only check out children's books. To make sure they do not look at the restricted books in the adult book stacks, the council could recruit volunteers to become morality police. One could be on each floor of the library to make sure no one under 18 who comes without their parent could enter the adult book stacks.

What sort of message will this send to our teens, and why would any of them want to come to the library now to do homework? Their parents work. They won't be able to access the materials they need, since almost all of it will be in the restricted adult book stacks.

How are you going to enforce this at the branches since they are so small? 2 Lastly, how does a parent/guardian committee have more knowledge and expertise in selecting books for the library than the actual librarians who have been trained in this area? The resolution states that this committee will make sure the books they select will follow the city guidelines. The librarians are already following the city's book collection policy. Are these guidelines different from what the librarians are required to follow? 21 members, 12 vs 9. How will this work? What if one side doesn't agree with the other? Do they vote? Will they have to get copies of the books and read through them to make sure the books are "safe"? Who pays for this? .Can this committee just ignore the librarians' suggestions and instead, order books the committee majority believes the library should own? While the resolution doesn't say they can, it also doesn't say they cannot. And surely, this committee will have to meet more than twice a year, or NOTHING will get ordered.

This entire resolution would be laughable if it weren't so tragic. The council majority says it wants to "protect the children" but what they are really doing is destroying the library for high school students. I thought we wanted our teens to study, and go to the library to find the materials they need instead of turning to the Internet. Many high school students drive themselves or come with friends. Their parents actually trust them to choose their books themselves. Instead of encouraging library use, this resolution will turn teens away. What a sorry legacy for our city.

Barbara Richardson
50 year Huntington Beach Resident

If you really believed in this resolution you would let the residents vote on this. But you won't, as you know the majority of people in the city do not want this, and have never wanted this. I would worry when it comes time for your re-elections. People will remember who voted to pass this resolution and they won't be happy.

1 Moore, Tania
From: Stephen MacDowell <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 8:10 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: No On Library Advisory Com/ Censorship
A democracy thrives on the free exchange of knowledge and ideas. The HB City Council should not censor/ interfere with this freedom. Let the professional library personnel do their jobs and the HB City Council address the concerns the real issues that da e our city.

Stephen Mac Dowell
5601 Middlecoﬀ
HB, CA 92649

Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 8:13 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41
Dear Supplemental Communications,
As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023‐41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you, Sincerely,
Ms. Christina Guerin
[email protected]
20822 Spindrift Ln HUNTINGTN BCH, CA 92646
Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected] 1 Moore, Tania
From: Mench <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 8:17 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Public Comment re: 23-878/23-532
I am wriƟng to express my vehement objecƟon to the subjecƟve classiﬁcaƟon and placement of books within our libraries. History has taught us (well I should say most educated people) that this course of acƟon is misguided and just plain wrong. This acƟon does nothing to protect the residents of HB and serves to limit educaƟonal opportuniƟes.

Alan Mencher, resident of the City of HunƟngton Beach.

1 Moore, Tania
From: Brynn Noble <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 8:18 PM
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: Supplemental Communication Submitted in Opposition to Resolution No. 2023-41 Members of the Huntington Beach City Council,
I am submitting this Supplemental Communication in response to Resolution No. 2023‐41 on the Agenda for the October 17, 2023 Huntington Beach City Council meeting. I want to state in the clearest possible terms that I do NOT support the adoption of Resolution No. 2023‐41. While I object to the resolution on its face, I find the proposed establishment of a Collection Development Review Committee particularly egregious.

I was raised in Huntington Beach and have many wonderful memories of the Huntington Beach Library system from my own childhood. I am now raising a child here myself and I typically bring my child (age 11) to one of the HB Library branches at least once per week, having done so since he was a young toddler. We are so grateful for our library and for the dedicated staff that make it the safe, welcoming place that it is.

In our multitude of visits to the library, never once has my child seen any materials that are in any way inappropriate.

My experience appears to be in keeping with the experience of my fellow library patrons, given that there have been only five book challenges in the last five years, and none thus far in 2023. More importantly, if we ever did come across materials that concerned me, I know that the library has a process already in place by which I can make my concerns known. As a frequent library patron, I do not see any evidence to suggest that the existing library policies and procedures are inadequate, and this proposed adoption of additional oversight over library processes is beyond unnecessary.

I have read statements from Councilwoman Van Der Mark such as, “…a lot of parents don’t know this material is in these books.” Well, why don’t they know? Why aren’t these parents in the library with their child, paying attention to what their child is reading? If parents do not know what their child is reading it is because they have chosen not to know – as is their right as parents. A parent has the right to screen and/or limit what their child is reading and if they choose not to do so, we do not need to waste our valuable community resources ensuring that someone else will do it for them.

Our libraries are staffed by educated, committed professionals who are trained to curate a collection that is in keeping with legal standards pertaining to obscenity as well as the laws regarding minors’ access to materials. The existing procedures are more than adequate. The adoption of this proposed “review committee” seeks to take decision‐making away from trained professionals and put it in the hands of unelected lay people with presumably no expertise in library sciences or child development. This proposal further opens the door for unelected citizens to impose their own personal beliefs and biases on the management of the library collection. I do not seek to impose my own personal values on the content of our library – and I do not approve of anyone else being given license to do so.

What I find so infuriating about this whole enterprise is that it does not actually have anything to do with our vibrant community or our beautiful library. Again, the minimal number of book challenges over the past five years points to the fact that library patrons on the whole are not taking issue with the library collection. A quick Google search shows that this entire endeavor ‐ from the list of books held up as evidence of a problem (only one of which is even kept in the Children’s Library) to the proposed “remedies” ‐ comes from playbooks provided by right‐wing conservative groups enacting this same agenda in communities nationwide. Our library is nothing more than a pawn, being targeted in service to culture wars that serve only to distract from the true needs of our city.

How much time and money will this effort divert from the REAL challenges that need our City Council’s attention? How much has already been wasted on this? Between this and the unnecessary changes to the HB Charter that this council 2 insists on pursuing – how is any of this in keeping with promises of fiscal responsibility that were made to voters? Whatever the cost, I implore the Council to stop wasting time and money on performative “solving” of non‐issues such as this.

Thank you,
L. Brynn Noble
1 Moore, Tania
From: Kelly palfreyman troutman <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 8:26 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Resolution 2023-41
I have been a HBPL patron for more than 14 years now, and have 4 children ranging in ages from 3 to 13. I regularly attend the library with my children and am always impressed with the quantity and diversity of the books available there. I also volunteer with the FOTCL organization and the Teen Internship Program at the Central Library.

I do not understand why this matter is being discussed, and am very disappointed with the resources that have been wasted because of it (including my own time writing this and attending city council meetings).

There have been 5 book
challenges in 5 years and zero this year. There is no need for the intervention being suggested. If parents do not want their children checking out certain books, they shouldn't let them. In the case where a child does access a book a parent wishes they had not, that is something the parent and child should have a conversation about. Honestly, it’s a great opportunity for connection between a parent and child if it is approached with love and curiosity. If people do not want to read certain books, no one at the library is going to make them. It really is as simple as that.

There is no need for a committee of parents appointed by the City Council to review books. The librarians literally are paid to do this and have been doing a wonderful job for the last 14 years I have been going to the HBPL.

The fact that so much time has already been dedicated to a non‐issue in our community is absurd. Please stop this nonsense and get back to work.

I urge you to vote NOT to adopt Resolution 2023‐41.

Thank you!
1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 8:32 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
Dear Huntington Beach City Council:

I strongly oppose Agenda Item 20. This proposal is in opposition to the First Amendment which exists to "protect individuals and society from government attempts to suppress ideas and information."

No individual and especially no government appointed committee has the right to decide what me and my
family are allowed to read. I am in full support of our professional librarians to select, manage, and maintain books for our HB public library.

Public Libraries are not political entities and neither should they be political targets. I would never approve of 21 people, appointed by politicians, to decide what is safe and acceptable for other people's children. We the public are totally capable of making these decisions for ourselves.

Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen A. Mooney, PhD
Warner Avenue, Huntington Beach
1 Moore, Tania
From: marykay pink <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 8:33 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: library
I am writing to oppose the Resolution for a Committee to review library books for objectionable sexual content. Librarians are trained to select books by age-appropriate criteria. To create a citizen's committee who have no expertise and only personal biases and opinions is not a wise or practical thing to do.

Please vote no and reject this objectionable Resolution.

Mary Kay Pinkston retired Library Employee
3941 Aladdin Drive
Huntington Beach resident for 58 years

1 Moore, Tania
From: Jessamyn Garner <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 8:32 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: Oppose city council agenda items 19 & 20
Hello, city council members and Mayor Strickland.

I'm writing to oppose items 19 and 20 on the agenda for the city council meeting on 10/17. See my comments below.

Agenda item 19: These proposals would cost residents and taxpayers over $500,000 to put them up for a vote in March.

In addition to the initial cost of getting these Charter amendments on the ballot, it will cost us hundreds of thousands of dollars more if they’re passed. And I don’t just mean implementation costs (which have yet to be defined). You see, California Attorney General Rob Bonta already warned y’all that voter ID laws and ballot box monitoring go against existing voting laws. And he has already demonstrated that he’s willing to sue when this city violates the law. Not only will that lawsuit cost us hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees and Mr.

Gate’s salary, but when we lose the lawsuit because this Charter amendment is clearly illegal, we will be on the hook for the legal fees of the state as well. So there go another several hundred thousand of our tax dollars down the drain.

While this is all going down, keep in mind that voting rates will go down even further than they were when less than 35% of HB voters put Mayor Strickland, Mayor Pro Tem Van Der Mark, and city council members McKeon and Burns into office.

Voter ID laws and other voter suppression tactics including ballot box monitoring disproportionately affect voters with marginalized identities, especially Black Americans. In fact, these policies can be traced directly back to Jim Crow laws, when suppressing the Black vote was more explicit than is legal to express today. Voters with other marginalized identities are also disproportionately impacted by these policies, including Indigenous people, low-income residents, and elderly voters. College students are also affected.

Voter ID laws and ballot box monitoring are solutions in search of a problem. Voter fraud is extremely rare and these tactics have not proven to deter the few times it has occurred.

This proposal is unnecessary and expensive. And it’s not what Huntington Beach residents want. We’ve told you over and over again during the last several weeks at the special meetings you’ve held. We’ve told you over and over again via email. It’s time for you to listen.

We want responsible government. We want a city council that keeps our city running, that makes sound financial decisions, and that takes our tax dollars seriously. Don’t throw our money away just because four of you are afraid of democracy.

Agenda item 20: I’ve already expressed my opposition to book access restrictions (aka book bans). And so did several hundred residents, librarians, educators, parents, and students. But here we are again. Because you didn’t listen to your constituents when we told you hundreds of times that we don’t want you to be involved in choosing which books belong in our libraries.

In Huntington Beach, we trust parents. Parents often make wildly different decisions for their families than their peers. Informed by values, experience, faith, and other factors, parents are full‐grown adults who have offspring that
they have the authority to raise in a way of their choosing. These full‐grown adults make decisions every day about how 2 to raise their kids, including what kind of media they’re comfortable with their kids being exposed to. It’s super weird that you want to get in the middle of those personal decisions. And it’s super weird that you don’t trust your fellow parents to make decisions about their own families without y’all getting in the middle.

In Huntington Beach, we trust librarians. Librarians go through rigorous coursework and must complete a master’s degree in Library and Information Science or Library Science. In addition to coursework, they must complete a research project and/or a practicum or internship to understand the applications of what they learn in class. Once in their
positions in our local libraries, they apply strong selection criteria to make informed decisions about which books to source for their community.

There are already robust processes in place to determine which books our libraries carry and which sections they should be placed in. There
is also a review process that anyone from the community can engage in if they are concerned about a particular book in a particular section of the library. Our very own Mayor Pro Tem engaged in this process, and it worked. She had a concern about one of the books in our library. She raised her concern, it was addressed by librarians and administrators, and the book was moved to a more appropriate section. This process is sufficient and does not need to be revised or augmented.

Why do we need a new commission to make decisions for individuals and families across this diverse city of over 200,000 people? Who would those people be? How would they be chosen? Who would choose them?

Your constituents do not want elected officials involved in deciding which books belong in our libraries. We do not want you to make decisions about what materials we
and our children have access to. And we certainly don’t need a commission of random people to make those decisions for us.

Get your nose out of our business and let us make our own decisions about what books we read.

Thank you and I'll see you at the meeting.

‐‐
Jessamyn Garner
1 Moore, Tania
From: Bob Mccann <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 8:33 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Resolution:2023-41
City Council Members,

I am a 25-year resident of Huntington Beach. I am in total disagreement with the proposed changes in Resolution: 2023-41! It is unnecessary and poorly structured. Your attempts to micromanage the library system will be costly to implement and frankly are a disservice to the community. The library system is functional and serves the community well. Please do not impose your own personal values and beliefs on the public library system.

I’m very concerned that a few of you believe you know what is best for all children. Your attempt to “restrict” access to classic works of literature is an attempt to narrow the education of children. You appear to want to keep them in a bubble but there is always the Internet and reality!

1 Moore, Tania
From: Michael Turner <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 8:35 PM
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: Opposition to Resolution 2023-41, aka Book Ban

City Council Members,

I have been a Huntington Beach resident for 49 years. I am writing in opposition to the city council interfering in the business of the library. City Council has no business deciding which books belong in the library and which don't or where in the library certain books belong. Those decisions are for the people who are educated and we hired for the job, the librarians.

I oppose Resolution No.20231-41.

Mike Turner
1 Moore, Tania
From: Sue Jervik <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 8:37 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Suport for Agenda Item #20 Resolution No 2023-41 - Establishing a Policy for Children's Library Materials Containing Sexual Content

Dear Members of the Huntington Beach City Council,

I support Agenda Item #20 that makes it so that books and other materials with content of a sexual nature cannot be accessible to children under the age of 18 without parent or guardian consent.

As a parent, when I took my two boys to the Huntington Beach Central Library, I allowed them to wander through the children's section and select books that they found interesting. I would be watching over the two of them but allowed them to make their own selections. I would not want to have to be looking right over their shoulder as they selected a book to make sure it did not include sexual content or pictures before they started looking through it. It is so important to allow children to choose books they find interesting to instill the love of books and reading. They are often not as interested when the book is chosen for them.

The library needs to be a safe place for children to browse without by chance picking up a book that contains sexual or pornographic content (pictures, words, descriptions). We need to allow children to maintain their innocence as long as possible. Once you read something or see a picture, it cannot be unseen.

These books are not being banned; they just will not be available to children under 18 without parent or guardian approval.

I support the creation of a parent/guardian review board to review books to be placed in the children's section of the library.

Thank you for you bringing this item forward to protect our children.

Regards,
Susan Jervik
Resident of Huntington Beach
1 Moore, Tania
From: marcia spieler <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 8:38 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Not a ban
I have been a fan/friend/patron of the library for many many years. I do not consider this a ban on books. I consider it an eﬀort to prevent inappropriate materials being available without supervision.

Please don’t let this become a tug‐of‐war of ideology

Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 8:42 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41
Dear Supplemental Communications,
As a resident of Long Beach, a libertarian and a librarian, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023‐41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. Libraries do not act “in loco parentis.” We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you, Leslie Andersen
Sincerely,
Leslie Andersen
[email protected]
3728 Gondar avenue Long Beach, CA 90808
Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected] 1 Moore, Tania
From: Sue Welfringer <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 8:48 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Correspondence regarding the Study Session
I applaud and appreciate our library staﬀ for all the work they have conducted to accommodate this request from city council. I believe their soluƟon of creaƟng a new Parental Control Library Card is a simple and fair soluƟon. That gives parents the safeguards Mayor ProTem Vandermark has requested. CreaƟng a Parental Control Library card puts the responsibility back on the parent, where it should be and does not challenge the experƟse and professionalism of our library staﬀ. This soluƟon also protects books from being arbitrarily banned from the collecƟon.

With this soluƟ
on in mind, clearly it makes sense to pull Item #20 – ResoluƟon 2023‐41 from the agenda.

With best regards,

Sue Welfringer
1 Moore, Tania
From: Kellie Lewis <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 8:50 PM
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Hands Off The Library
My name is Kellie L. I’ve lived in HB for over 16 years. I’m a Mom to an 8 year old daughter that attends school here locally. She is at a 5.0 AR level in the 3rd grade. If you don’t know what that means, you should stop here and educate yourselves before you provide any more input on this matter.

Your proposed book ban is an absolute over reach of power and suggestion ‐ that perhaps you know more about what the fundamentals of educating my daughter are, more so than I do. What has happened to the freedom of self expression, self conscience, exploration and the freedom to turn to a book or bury yourself in the pages of a novel when you feel lost, alone or confused?

I have to ask ‐ why are you trying to control literacy and resources? Isn’t your time spent more wisely addressing other issues in our community? While I do agree that inappropriate and suggestive behavior in public by OFFICIALS among others, should absolutely be banned and frowned upon, allow me to do my job and get out of my way when it comes to MY CHILD.

First and foremost, beyond dedicating myself to my career, is the dedication to the family and community that I love and that I will work tirelessly to support. I ask you ‐ did you take an oath to serve your community as a public officer for what is in the community’s best interests? I did ‐ and I serve every day.

We will not stand idly by while you continue to waste our time and our resources. Our freedom to choose matters. Our freedom to parent and educate our children matters, in the way WE see fit.

1 Moore, Tania
From: Carol Gillette <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 8:56 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Agenda item #20
I am in support of establishing a policy for childrens library material containing sexual content.

Our children are the future. May we protect their innocence. What the eyes see goes into their memory, never to be forgoƩen. Support their innocense, allow them to be children. It would be beƩer for a millstone to be Ɵed around the neck of a man and throw him into the sea than to lead a liƩle one astray. Such a powerful warning. At all cost we must listen to the Word of the Lord and ﬁght this sinful agenda.

Thank you for hearing me.

Thank you for your consideraƟon.

Sincerely, Carol GilleƩe
I will be there the 26th

Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: Marty Smith <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 9:04 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Book oversight
Our HunƟngton Beach professional educated and trained in library science staﬀ does a very good job managing their collecƟons. They are very aware of making sure books are in age appropriate areas.

The city council needs to stay in their own lane and let our professional library staﬀ conƟnue to do their outstanding job managing their area of experƟse.

There are many challenges facing our city and our elected oﬃcials need to pay aƩenƟon to what they were elected to do.

Marty Smith

Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: Deborah Addy <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 9:09 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Charter Amendments and Book Banning Resolution Dear Huntington Beach City Council,
I am a long time resident and property owner in Huntington Beach. I would like to state my opposition to the rush to get the three Charter Amendments on the ballot March of 2024. There is no reason to spend additional money to push these amendments forward when they can be put on the November 2024 ballot. The only reason I can see that anyone wants this pushed ahead is that there is a measure that creates voter intimidation, and this is a way to disrupt the 2024 November election. The Voter ID Requirement measure is not only voter intimidation, it will also impact Huntington Beach financially in lawsuits that will inevitably occur when legality of the measure is contested, plus it would force Huntington Beach to have to run its own elections when California has a perfectly good, clean, and effective system in place for the whole state.

I’m also appalled at the attempt to turn Huntington Beach into a book banning city. No matter how this resolution is worded, it is a clear attempt to ban books. Our librarians have to have a Masters degree in Library Science to be able to hold the job. They do not need supervision to keep our libraries safe for our children. If a particular book is considered by a parent (or anyone in fact) to be inappropriate there is a system in which that book will be reviewed. To have a small group of people make decisions to control what books end up in our libraries is ludicrous and insulting to the professionals that now run the libraries. To even consider that sexually explicit material is widely available to children is a lie. Per Resolution No. 2023-41: “The City Council has observed that there are some children's books and other materials in the City's libraries that contain sexual writings, explicit sexual references, explicit sexual images, and other sexual content”. Please post a list of these offensive titles and where and when these books were found. I grew up in Huntington Beach libraries and never did I find pornographic books in the children’s section.

Stop trying to turn Huntington Beach into a restrictive city. We are a city of freedom and inclusivity.

Let’s keep it that way.

Thank you for your time,
Deborah Addy
1 Moore, Tania
From: Pam Carrie <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 9:13 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
Dear City Council Members,

I am a reƟred elementary school librarian, and I want to register my deep opposiƟon to Agenda Item 20.

When we hire our library professionals, it is because we trust their judgment on what items to procure for the HunƟngton Beach City libraries.

Our city librarians are well respected.

We do not tell the City AƩorney how to make legal decisions, and we should not tell our librarians how to make library decisions. We trust their experƟse, because they are well educated in their ﬁeld and because they have experience in serving a wide variety of clients. Our city librarians serve many people with diﬀerent needs. HunƟngton Beach libraries are highly valued in our community and are well used.

A children’s science book on anatomy and body funcƟons might be seen as inappropriate and sexual by some, but for a
parent seeking guidance on such a subject, the library collecƟon would be essenƟal. Not every parent can aﬀord to go out and buy the books they need or want due to budget concerns. Libraries are one of our community’s greatest assets.

Please do not ban books
and relegate them to unused shelves when the public deserves more diversity in content. I trust our librarians on the content of their purchases as well as where to ﬁle the books that they do purchase.

Book banning has had a negaƟve connotaƟon in past generaƟons, and it is not something that HunƟngton Beach wants to be well known for today.

Thank you.

Mrs. Pamela Carrie

1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 9:20 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Book Bans

Let the people who are educated and trained make book content decisions for our city and library. Random city council members with experƟse in whatever should not usurp trained professionals to make poliƟcal points. Why has this suddenly been an issue??The internet is more dangerous and available than many of the books people are deeming unacceptable. I’m willing to bet that the people who are creaƟng problems don’t even use the library or read!! Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: Paula Schaefer <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 9:22 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: 10/17/2023 Study Session - Item # 23-878 and Agenda #20 (23-879) Mayor and City Council Members:

Why is the Study Session material NOT only presented at the Study Session and not also agendized for the City Council meeting? It would seem that the Study Session material should accompany Agenda Item 20 (23‐879) which asks
the City Council to vote on the
proposed "policy"?

I urge you to also have City Staff present the Study Session materials at the regularly scheduled City Council Meeting since Agenda Item # 20 (23‐879) addresses this issue. OR, postpone action on Agenda Item # 20 (23‐879) and reschedule it for a later City Council
meeting. Ideally, you are urged to forget this book banning nonsense altogether.

It is unacceptable to have a Study Session on this important topic and not have the same material presented at the City Council meeting at which the Council members are asked to vote on this significant topic.

This
is yet another example of the haphazard manner in which the City Council's agendas are prepared.

Paula A. Schaefer, HB resident

‐‐
Paula Schaefer
1 Moore, Tania
From: Sandy de la Fuente <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 9:30 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Resolution 2023-41
Dear City Council Members,

The City of Huntington Beach has been my home since February, 1978 and it has been a wonderful place to live, until now. The Resolution 2023‐41 is a terrible idea. One of the City Council members has created and manufactured a problem where a problem did
not exist. The lack of information and knowledge of the HBPL shows. I could go on but I want to cut to the chase. Show your constituents that you are listening to them and working for them and vote NO on this resolution tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Sandra de la Fuente
1 Moore, Tania
From: Judith Wolfe <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 9:37 PM
To: [email protected]
Cc: Judith Wolfe
Subject: I OPPOSE Book Bans.

City Hall,

I have been a resident of Huntington Beach for over 50 years.

I support the Huntington Beach Public Library and oppose book bans! A handful of people who want to ban books (and possibly have not even read the books they wish to ban),
should not dictate what others can read. It has always been a right to read what one wants to read.

This is the USA in 2023, not Nazi Germany in the forties.

I coach young children to read. What they can and cannot read should not be dictated by fearmongering, paranoid adults.

To read all kinds of books is to learn about the world, make good choices, and learn to be empathetic to others.

Some of the book choices other cities have banned are ridiculous. Let's not be one of those cities.

As a member of City Hall, focus on something that is really important, not getting rid of books that may not appeal to you or your lifestyle.

Do NOT vote to ban any books. I OPPOSE Book Bans.

Thank you,
Judith Wolfe
Huntington Beach CA
714-846-3700

P.S. I cannot attend the meeting on Oct 17 because I will be representing my alma mater at a college fair..

What kind of students would we have if we banned books?

1 Moore, Tania
From: Anthony Daus <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 9:38 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF)
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Opposition to Resolution 2023-41
I am in opposition to this resolution. It is government overreach and unnecessary. Our libraries are excellent and run by professionals. Politicians or their appointees should not be in the position to screen books.

Tony Daus
28 year resident

Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S10, an AT&T 5G Evolution capable smartphone

1 Moore, Tania
From: Melanie Tioleco-Cheng <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 8:44 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: NO BOOK BANS IN HB
To the HB City Council:

I’m a pediatrician, writer, mother, and a reader of books.

I just read a book with a Filipino teen main character with a close connection to her Lola (grandma) and recommended it to both my kids. What I loved about this book was that, yes, it was about potions and Halloween, but at its core was this Filipino family. I grew up a bookworm reading many books at the library, but as a child, I never read a book with an Asian or Asian-American main character.

My children are lucky—they are growing up in a mo re diverse Orange County than I did. But they are also growing up at a time when a select few DO NOT value the FREEDOM of choice when it comes to what is available to our children to read. They don’t value the fact that REPRESENTATION in books, in movies, in city councils MATTER.

Please stop saying that this isn’t a book ban. It’s a book ban when you are removing books and telling MY kids what they can and cannot have access to in a PUBLIC library. The fact is that the majority of the books being banned here in the US either feature LGBTQ plus or racial or ethnic minority characters.

Please stop wasting our time and money on a committee and process that is NOT needed. There is already a system in place. Please also consider dropping the very pricey special election because those items can wait until the November 2024 election. Please start governing our city and start working on the things that matter.

Now, part of me feels like what I’m saying doesn’t matter because I know that the 4 majority are going to smile politely and then VOTE WHICHEVER WAY THEY WANT because they get more attention in the media that way. But let me tell you, I live in HB, I work in HB, I stay here because I want to make a difference. And while I was worried about backlash because I’m pediatrician in this community, I actually had several families reach out to me and thank me for speaking out.

I may still get backlash, but I’m still standing here because if we don’t continue to speak up, there will be no more books left. There will be no more people left to speak out.

Sincerely,
Melanie Tioleco-Cheng

PS I read banned books.

Books I've read that have been banned:

Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
The Bluest Eye and Beloved by Toni Morrison
The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins
2 To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
The Bible
Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
1984 by George Orwell
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Skippyjon Jones (series) by Judith Schachner
Bridge To Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Blubber by Judy Blume
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor
Junie B. Jones (series) by Barbara Park
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer
Front Desk by Kelly Yang
and more.

What have you read lately?

1 Moore, Tania
From: Isabella Ford <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 9:44 PM
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: Reject Resolution 2023-41
This resolution to establish a policy for the review and re-cataloging of library materials containing sexual content at HB Public libraries is not necessary and downright scary.

I want it to be on public record that this is un-American and the gall of council member VAn Der Mark to even bring this up for discussion is not for the good of our city of Huntington Beach. We have trained librarians that Van Der Mark wants to overrule because she says she found a few books she felt were inappropriate for her child. If she doesn't like them for her children, then she needs to be the parent of her children not mine. I love the variety our librarians have chosen and I love that they are responsive when we have questions or concerns. I do not want our selection to be limited by a group of Van Der Marks that don't know how to have civil conversations and help curious kids learn when they are ready. Not just when she is ready.

REJECT Resolution 2023-41 and focus on funding our HBPD, our HBFD, our Lifeguards, our Be Well Program, fixing our streets, updating our parks, fixing the plumbing in city hall, give residents a break on the beach pass, and focus on how to make all of Huntington Beach inviting for everyone.

Isabella Ford
714‐308‐0660
1 Moore, Tania
From: Sean Stowell <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 9:55 PM
To: [email protected]
Cc: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF)
Subject: Agenda Item 20
City Council Members,

I am wriƟng in regards to agenda item 20. This is such a ridiculous waste of Ɵme for you, our librarians, and the ciƟzens of this city to have to consider . The four members who will no doubt vote in favor of this nonsense are the same ones
who vowed to end the homeless issue in this city. How has that gone? Instead the four make secret deals with the air show promoter, and want to set up more bureaucracy by creaƟng a 21 member review board? So much for the small government, the people know what’s best candidates you pretended to be. You’ve made our city a joke and this agenda item further proves that you care only about your own bizarre poliƟcal interests and not what the residents of this city want. I’ve talked with several of your supporters who are quickly becoming your former supporters because of your ridiculous anƟcs. So, while I write this asking you to oppose agenda item 20, the four will vote in favor no maƩer what the overwhelming majority of residents feel. I guess when they come up for reelecƟon they’ll ﬁnally get it. Thank you councilmbers Bolton, Kalmick and Moser for doing what is right, and to the other four, well good luck to you, and shame on you for wasƟng our Ɵme with this item instead of taking care of things that maƩer in this city.

Sean Stowell

1 Moore, Tania
From: Tim Channel <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:03 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: Citizen Comments on Agenda for City Council Meeting for 10/17/2023 Huntington Beach Council Members,

I am a 35 year resident and homeowner in Huntington Beach with grave concerns about the future of our fine city due to the despicable behavior of our city council members Strickland, Van de Mark, McKeon, and Burns.

The pretense of PRETENDING TO LISTEN to in-session public comments is reprehensible. The disdain for the citizens of Huntington Beach is proven over and over again at every City Council meeting. If your intent is to draw attention to our city you have succeeded as YOU are turning our great city into the laughing stock of the entire country.

I do want to THANK YOU for your ineptitude and obvious self-serving agenda as it has motivated myself and many others to become more participatory in city politics.

That being said, I am STRONGLY OPPOSED to the following:

1. 23-871 Consider the submission of three Charter amendment ballot measures for voter approval at the March 5, 2024 Statewide Primary Election and the adoption of Resolution Nos. 2023-42, 2023-43, 2023-44, and 2023-45

Reasons:

(a) This appears to be an attempt to sneak these charter amendments past the voters in an election you are hoping is poorly participated in. Do you believe in Democracy? Do you respect the voters of this city (or only some of them)? Wasting my tax dollars on an unnecessary city election. Why? Especially when it doesn't go into effect until 2026? What is the rush?

(b) What problems are you trying to solve? It appears to be a pretend solution to a made up problem. What is the rush? There no evidence of any kind of voter fraud in elections administered by the Orange County Registrar.

I am also STRONGLY OPPOSED to the following:

2. 23-871 Review of Councilmember Item 25-532 - Selection, Display, and Circulation of Library Books and Other Material within Huntington Beach Public Libraries

Reasons:

2 (a) I have been a patron of HPBL since I moved here. I took my children to HBPL Story Time almost every Saturday morning where they were allowed to peruse the Children’s Section under my supervision. PORNOGRAPHY in the Childrens Section at HBPL DOES NOT EXIST! You made this up!
(b) It appears as if you are trying to lead the bandwagon by “leading the charge” on this ridiculously untrue made-up problem. I am quite sure it is to further your own personal agenda of appearing to be a Protector of Children. What is next? Banning Harry Potter else the children become real sorcerers and creating magic spells? (c) The HBPL staff doesn’t want or need this added work load and expense to accommodate your aspirational goals of becoming leaders of some cult endeavor to “police morality”.

I also want to express my appreciation for distinguished City Council Members Kalmick, Moser, and Bolton for their strength and fortitude in enduring the persistent attacks and dis-respect from the other council members.

In closing, I do hope you will VOTE AGAINST these items as they have no benefit to our city and are a complete waste of time and money. Also, please do not tell me I am mis-informed as I have been in the past in boiler plate response emails. Nothing could be further from the truth. You insult yourselves more than me in doing so.

Thank you for your time and consideration of these comments,

Sincerely,
Timothy Channel
Huntington Beach
e
1 Moore, Tania
From: MJ Baretich <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:05 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: OPPOSITION TO ITEM 20 ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION No. 2023-41 Honorable Mayor Strickland and City Council Members,

I am opposed to Item 20 Submitted by Mayor Pro Tem Van Der Mark - Consider Adoption of Resolution No. 2023-41 establishing a policy for the review and recataloging of library materials containing sexual content.

The proposed Resolution No. 2023-41 effectively creates a process to ban books. It calls for a 21- person community parent/guardian review board, meeting twice a year, with each council person appointing 3 people to review ALL proposed (future purchases) of children’s books and other materials which could mean reviewing up to 9000 books a year, and then agree on the segregation or rejection of the books. I doubt if anyone has the time to read that many books in a year. Does the term "and other materials" mean adult books as well? DVD’s, music, magazines? It also states they ‘may’ review books currently in circulation.

It also requires parental or guardian consent to check out any book or other material containing any sexual writing, sexual reference, sexual images, and/or other sexual content by anyone under 18.

This is very vague and will ensnare hundreds of titles including classics and other publications such as National Geographic and Smithsonian that do show paintings and statues of nude men and women. Biology books could also be banned, according to the Resolution guidelines.

"If recommended books or materials do not meet the City's community standards of acceptance, they may be rejected by a vote of the community parent/guardian review board." What are the qualifications to be on this review board? Would Council appointees be vetted or otherwise investigated for their fitness to serve? Why are the highly qualified library science professionals being ignored and replaced with this review board? Will this review board have the ability to “reject” all books or just “children’s” books.

There does not appear to be any organizing plan, no cost analysis on its installation, and precious few details about how it would operate.

Would it come from the general fund or under a presumably enlarged library budget? Who would staff this review board and who would preside over it?
This appears to be unnecessary "big government" overreach. Please vote NO on Resolution No. 2023-41.

Thank you,
2 Mary Jo Baretich

1 Moore, Tania
From: Stephanie Turner <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:09 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: Reject Resolution NO. 2023-41!!
Resending this (with updates) as the message is still (unfortunately) necessary!

Dear HB City Council Members,

My name is Stephanie Turner, and I grew up in awe of the HB's library system. Our main branch was and is my favorite place in our town. As I moved from the appropriately
partitioned children's section to the YA's section and then to the adult's section, I relished in a spectrum of perspectives that helped form the person I am today. And that person is extremely appalled and horrified by Resolution No. 2023‐41: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach Establishing a Policy for Children's LIbrary Materials Containing Sexual Content. You must reject this resolution!

Libraries should forever be an inclusive place of learning; a place where one can travel through pages and experience things no one person could travel to or experience alone. Book banning has absolutely no place in Huntington Beach.

What right does the city have to determine what is obscene? What does the city consider "explicit sexual references" in the children's section – a story written about two gay moms?? (as I can't seem to think what other situation would be considered "pornography" that they feel is currently lurking in HB's children section as it stands today... For the record, I am pro stories about two gay moms, two gay dads, or two non‐binary parents raising happy, self aware children!

Where will the book restrictions end? Young adults should be encouraged to learn about their ever evolving selves, not
condemned to shame with sex‐shaming labels and parental consent.

When I was in middle school at Mesa View, we read Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. Even as a 12 year old, it was shocking to think of folks censoring books. That little girl had no idea that in 20 years time, she would be faced with the same totalitarian ideals in real life. It is extremely horrific and utterly embarrassing that Huntington Beach has fallen so low as to mirror a science fiction dystopia. Please right this atrocious wrong; stop resolution No. 2023‐41.

The Huntington
Beach library system has always done a great job of separating out books into age‐appropriate sections.

Our beloved librarians are trained professionals, they do not need a community parent/guardian board telling them how to do their jobs. I can only think of a few more wasteful ways that HB City Council can use our time and our money (for the record a special election to further voter suppression would be one of those ways)!

I hope you all will do what is just and right. Everyone deserves to flourish in a community where they can read the books they want
to read (and if they are minors ‐ that conversation is between them and their parents!), worship the way that is best for them, and love who they choose to love. At the very least, folks should feel safe in their community, and not ostracized for their book selections. Folks should be able to grow, learn, and evolve into the best and truest versions of themselves in a compassionate town.

I am abhorred that this email is necessary. I hope Huntington Beach will continue to be better, to do better by everyone in our community.

Thank you for your time,
Stephanie Turner

1 Moore, Tania
From: Sandra West <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:11 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Agenda Item #20
Hello. My name is Sandra West and I write in support of agenda item #20.

NO child should be subjected to vile and obscene
pornographic material in library books. It’s a disgrace that this is even being disputed!

We need to protect the innocence of God’s children. They are not emotionally and mentally prepared to process such images and doing so can actually cause them trauma going forward. There are studies you can research stating so.

Those who feel differently really need to do some soul
searching as to why they feel it’s a child’s right to view x- rated material.

Thank you Gracey for addressing this crucial issue.

1 Moore, Tania
From: Nikki Reidt <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:29 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: NO BOOK BANS IN SURF CITY
Once again our city council is wasting our time and money on agenda items that are not solving real issues in our community. As a parent and resident of Huntington Beach who utilizes our libraries weekly and speaks to our very knowledgeable and helpful librarians regularly, I am appalled. Librarians are trained in curating libraries with a diverse selection of books. There is already a process to have books reviewed if concerns arise (which apparently has only happened a handful of times because this is NOT a real issue). We do not need another group to review books. Let our librarians do their jobs and keep your bans off our books.

NO BOOK BANS IN HUNTINGTON BEACH. STOP YOUR GOVERNMENT OVERREACH.

Nichole Reidt
Parent and HB Resident

1 Moore, Tania
From: Reginald Chun <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:37 PM
To: [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: I am a HB voter and i am opposed to any committee circumventing parental guidance I oppose resolution 2023:41;
I am a HB voter and a 25 yr city resident & I am opposed to any committee circumventing parental guidance on what library books my children or minor child can read in a city public library.

I trust our trained library staff to select & buy books and to place them in the appropriate areas of the library.

Kids have access to the internet so banning books is silly & ineffective; with an appropriate book, a child can get the proper perspective & context to sensitive subjects.

I believe libraries should provide learning which serve all facets of our community .

I don’t believe parents or government should be wasting time in a commitee deciding what librarians should be doing, as most parents & govt staff are not educated in library science.

Thank you
Reginald Chun
Lexington Ln
HB
1 Moore, Tania
From: Lindsay K <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:48 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Resolution No. 2023-41
After reading the proposed Resolution No. 2023‐41 "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach Establishing a Policy for Children's Library Materials Containing Sexual Content" I came to two main conclusions. The first is that Mayor Pro Tem Van Der Mark has a completely different definition of "community" than myself. The second is that City Attorney Gates has either a very limited understanding of the First Amendment or simply does not mind another lawsuit at the expense of our city's taxpayers.

The resolution is broad, vague and designed to restrict library users from accessing materials that are currently
popular with many children, teens and their families. What in the world are "sexual writings"?

The resolution states that the City Council has decided there are materials it considers to be "obscene" or "pornographic." There are no legally "obscene" or "pornographic" materials at the HB Public Library. After defining those terms the resolution claims there are in fact "obscene" materials in the library based on the "Miller Test" because HB community standards say so. Who is this supposed "community"?

In 2021‐2022 HBPL had nearly 120,000 cardholders. The city of HB has a population of just over 200,000. Last

year there were ZERO challenges to library materials made by the community. Do those 120,000 people count as part of our community? Where is this phantom "community" clamoring for the removal and restriction of materials? If it exists at all beyond Facebook, it is not the community of HB residents who currently use our beloved library.

We can all agree that "obscene" and "pornographic" materials do not belong in the public library. The wonderful news is that THERE AREN'T ANY THERE!

Parents who want to strictly control what their children read can already do that. They may accompany their child
or teen to the library and monitor what they check out or check their account online. They can talk to their kids about what they are reading and set their own limits on what types of books they can bring home.

The library's current policies support this approach to parenting a reader.

Parents who want to let their children read anything in the library can do that now. If their children are 10 or under, the parent can take a seat in the children's room and chill while their kids explore the shelves. They can drop their teen off at the
library to find their own books for school assignments or pleasure and pick them up later. The library's current policies also support this approach to parenting a reader.

If passed, Resolution No. 2023‐41 will unfairly force the first type of parenting on the second. It will take decisions about what
their children and teens read OUT of the hands of parents, hand it over to a government‐appointed committee designed to favor the most conservative members of our community and turn the library staff into the reading police. Free people read freely. Let parents parent, librarians select materials they know their community want and the City Council can get back to doing the city's business.

Lindsay Klick
2 Mother, HB Resident, Librarian
1 Moore, Tania
From: Diane <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:50 PM
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: Oppose Item #20
I strongly oppose agenda item #20. In addition to opposing its content, it is simply out of order. The last time the children's library book censoring item was on the agenda, it called for a study session, which was postponed to October 17. Since the study session will happen only a few hours before the city council meeting, there is no way that a resolution crafted before the study session even occurred could adequately incorporate what you may learn at the study session. At the very least, this item should be postponed so that the resolution can properly include whatever may be gleaned from the study session.

As to the content of this item, since I don't trust this council to abide by rules of normal order, I fully expect it will be considered and voted on at the October 17 council meeting. The people who claim to want small government and have eliminated almost all of the HB citizen committees, commissions, and boards are now advocating for a new board to control what books our children can see. They are fixated on books that contain anything of a "sexual nature", but there are no actual definitions included in the resolution. Does a book include "content of a sexual nature" if two people are holding hands? What if the two people are holding hands, but they are the same gender? If the characters are fully clothed, would there be a difference between those two scenes? If they are so concerned about the sexualization of children, why are they only concerned about books? What about TV? What about images and videos they can see on their phones? This plan is the epitome of a slippery slope. What will be next? Dress codes at the city beach? Some of the bikinis I've seen at the city beach could be defined as "explicit sexual images". What about the bikini stores on Main Street that display those bikinis in the windows where children can walk by? Should we require pregnant women to stay home, lest a child ask an uncomfortable question about procreation? Maybe we should allow pregnant women to venture out of their homes, but only if they are covered with a burka‐like garment. What about women with enlarged breasts in skintight dresses? Should we ban public displays of affection? Where would it end?

Beyond the absurdity of this resolution calling for 21 untrained, political appointees being entrusted to determine what books are appropriate for all the children in a relatively large city, it is simply unnecessary. The HB Library procures about 9000 books per year for the children's library. How would this new review board find the time to read and review all of those books? Would they rely on some list created by idealogues they follow or would they actually read the books and form their own opinions? As has been stated repeatedly, there is already a process in place at the HB Library in which anyone can question the legitimacy of a book's placement in the library. The process has not been needed even once so far this year and has 2 been used only 5 times in the past 5 years. The low rate of use of the procedure indicates that the librarians have done a good job in vetting and placing books into the proper places in the library.

Please stop the culture wars and stick to basic governing of the city‐‐keep the roads paved, the trees trimmed, and the parks clean.

Sincerely,
Diane James
1 Moore, Tania
From: Galassi, Cecelia <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:56 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Library Restrictions

To the HB city council, concerned citizens who oppose their plans, and undecided citizens,

None of the council members are qualified to make judgments that restrict any citizen's access to written materials.

They can put "whereas" in front of their reasons and define the word obscenity, but neither of these empty
technicalities justify them or their political appointees deciding what materials families allow their children to read. The council obviously does not care about education, reading, or free access to information, and they should be kept farther away from children than any sex education book.

In addition, if they implement these stupid rules against the recommendations of actual experts‐‐ librarians, parents, teachers, and readers‐‐the library will will lose patronage, it's life blood.The support and donations of money and time will go to other local libraries, weakening a central library that has been a gem of the city for generations.

The members' terms as council people will be known as regressive, repressive, and fiscally irresponsible. We who live in the city are spreading word about how they feel free to overspend OUR money on their attempts to limit our rights and futures.

I still have hope that they will pull this dictatorial, backwards resolution. They can still decide that their plans for our library are ill conceived and unwanted. They need to‐‐and can‐‐ back away from book banning and restriction to information. No group that has done it historically has endured or been well regarded by later generations. Huntington Beach's reputations has already been darkened by the council's actions and reputation.

Like conspiracy theorists, the council is making up problems that simply aren't problems. They posture as protectors of youth but clearly don't care about professionals who have dedicated their entire careers to educating and helping children.

Know that citizens do not want restrictions to our library.

From Cecelia Galassi, property owner and resident of Huntington Beach Get Outlook for iOS
1 Moore, Tania
From: Martha Duran <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 10:57 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Agenda Item #20
I whole heartedly support the resoluƟon to establish a policy for children’s library materials containing sexual content as put forth by Mayor Pro Tem Van Der Mark. I have 3 young grandchildren living in HunƟngton Beach and feel this resoluƟon will help prolong their exposure to explicit books having to do with sex. In my opinion this is not considered book banning or book burning it is only an eﬀort to protect the innocence of our children by monitoring what books are placed in the children’s library. I’d like to tell Kalmick and his liberal cronies to go to hell for being against this resoluƟon and for being against the voter ID issue. Unfortunately I leave for Boston on the 17th and will be unable to aƩend the city council meeƟng. by Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: Scott Malabarba <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 11:12 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: in opposition to charter amendments and library book bans

Dear HB City Council,
Council members Kalmick, Bolton, and Moser, thank you as always for your efforts.

For the others, I have a few words.

Regarding 23‐894
I neither oppose nor support this item. If the council wants to condemn a horrific terrorist attack, okay then.

But are you going to condemn the antisemitic hatred that continues to plague Huntington Beach, such as that spoken at the June council meeting by supporters of Mayor Pro Tem Van Der Mark? And did you not just dismantle the statement of human dignity that was created to oppose such hate?
This resolution is obviously insincere and capitalizes on the deaths of thousands of people to drive your weird culture war.

In opposition to 23‐871
Much has been said about these proposed amendments, and after four rounds of special meetings I have little to add.

But let's review:

Inflammatory culture war triggers deceptively bundled with innocuous‐looking procedural changes that enable nepotism and corruption.

Ridiculous rhetoric about non‐existent voter fraud, expensive and illegal election procedures, and blatant voter suppression.

Flag restrictions clearly driven by hatred of queer people.

A mysterious and expensive push to get these items on the special election instead of just waiting for November.

Frequent, abrupt text changes and council meeting procedure irregularities.

Sweeping charter changes proposed by a group that campaigned against charter changes.

The re‐introduction of the very changes this group campaigned against.

Charter changes that take away from future councils the choices that this one made the moment you were elected. 2 What's the takeaway? Again, insincerity. Even the people who voted for you can't trust you, because you're manipulating them to give yourselves more power.

In opposition to 23‐878 and 23‐879
The attacks on the library and its staff were always gross, reckless, and in bad faith.

Deliberately exposing children to pornography ‐‐ or "infecting" them with it, in your words, is a serious crime. If there were any real suspicion of this, the police would be involved. So you don't really think that is going on at the library. If you did, the proposed measures would be completely inadequate.

You continue to insist that you aren't banning or censoring books, while simultaneously proposing to do exactly that.

Now you've proposed an entire board of censors, appointed by yourselves with no qualifications for the role. In fact you'll be challenged to find anyone knowledgeable about libraries or children's books for your censor board, because we all think it's an abomination and want no part of it.

You talk about "sexual content" and "obscenity" when it's clear that what you mean is "queer people". Even your supporters get that much ‐‐ they made their hatred clear at the nightmarish June meeting.

We all know who's next on your hit list. Once you're done erasing queer people from the library and making it harder for young people to learn how their own bodies work, you'll go after books by or about people of color, books that touch on racism or misogyny, books that attempt to tell an honest history of the United States. Because "CRT".

You talk about parental choice. Yet all you propose to do is take away choice. Parents who want to follow their children around the library and choose books for them can do that right now. Parents who want to monitor every book their child checks out can do that right now. Parents who want to sit next to the aquarium with their preschooler while letting their eleven‐year‐old browse the middle school section will not be able to, because you don't think they should have that choice.

Across town, Barnes and Noble has the same books on display, with no age restrictions. If you were at all sincere, you'd make an ordinance restricting how commercial bookstores stock and display their wares, because that would be necessary to "protect" children from the "pornography" sold there. But you won't, because a) Barnes and Noble would sue you into oblivion and b) you're not sincere.

Children are in fact threatened by exposure to pornography (the real kind, not books with gay people in them), to sexual predators (real ones, not people who disagree with you), to violent and extremist content, to peer bullying and other harmful influences ‐‐ on social media. We know that you know how vile and how readily available this content is (since one of your number, infamously, kept a collection of it for "research"). Yet you pretend that the internet doesn't exist, and instead of supporting the educators who teach children how to keep themselves safe online, you terrorize them.

The four of you are undoubtedly going to vote for the charter amendments and library nonsense no matter what your constituents have to say. Tomorrow's council meeting is going to be a trench war. And it won't end there ‐‐ you have a long
and bitter road to walk before these horrible ideas are made real. I can't imagine why you put yourselves or the city through this.

Sincerely,
Scott Malabarba
HB resident
3 1
Moore, Tania
From: MARILYN Boehm <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 11:23 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Opposed to Resolution Item #2023-41
I am AGAINST this "book ban" of library items as determined by the City Council and their proxies to be sexual in content. There is already a protocol in our PUBLIC libraries to screen library books for appropriateness to be placed in the Children's Section. I believe Mayor Pro Tem Van Der Mark has an agenda that supersedes that of protecting the children of HB. It is clearly a call to arms of MAGA supporters and perhaps a hopeful stepping stone to higher office.

I don't want our City Council, or ANY governmental body, to be in charge of the books our children and grandchildren have access to. I trust the library staff who have degrees and experience in selection and placement of items based on many established criteria. They have done an outstanding job in our HB libraries for decades without objection from the community.

One man's pornography is another man's art. I say to the City Council "Stay in your OWN lane" and get out of the book selection aisle!
I suspect you'll disregard my preferences and opinions, just as your already have to those other members of our community who have expressed their opinions in opposition to yours.

We will remember this at the election in 2026.

Marilyn Boehm, HB resident
1 Moore, Tania
From: Dennis Pappas <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 11:23 PM
To: [email protected]
Cc: Dennis Pappas
Subject: Support for Resolution No 2023-41 Patricia Pappas I support the resoluƟon and policies that protect children and teens from obscene and pornographic media. I have invesƟgated and the books are in our tax payer funded HB libraries.

Thank you for protecƟon our ciƟes children.

The preamble in our charter states: “It is incumbent upon those who govern and make decisions for and on behalf of the City of HunƟngton Beach to legally, as well as morally, abide by the provisions of this Charter, in its strictness sense, to ensure the conƟnued success and well‐being of our fair city”

Thank you,
Patricia Pappas

1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 11:34 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Library Materials Resolution is Flawed and Should Be Rejected I oppose any City Council involvement in overseeing materials in our public libraries. This should never have been a topic for Council consideraƟon.

But ‐ because four council members have pressed this to the point of wriƟng a ResoluƟon, having it “approved as to form” by the city aƩorney, and scheduling it for a vote at the 10/17/2023 Council meeƟng, these comments refer primarily to it.

Title: The ResoluƟon’s Ɵtle “..[E]stablishing a policy for children’s library materials containing sexual content” improperly conﬂates “sexual content” with obscenity and pornography. The legal authoriƟes referenced in the document refer only to standards for evaluaƟng obscenity and pornography. If the Council majority insists upon going forward, the Ɵtle’s wording should subsƟtute “obscenity or pornography” for “sexual content.” Whereas clauses:
 A majority of the “Whereas…” clauses improperly set forth unproven asserƟons or personal opinions as if they were factual; or they imply that HB council members are experts in judging whether sexual images and material are obscene, pornographic, or harmful to children. UnsubstanƟated ﬁndings and statements should be stricken.  Another “Whereas…” statement misrepresents the holding in the obscenity case Miller v. California by ciƟng it as authority for claiming that “the content of books and other materials are generally judged by ‘community standards.’” No. Incomplete and misleading. The full citaƟon refers to applying community standards as part of a three‐step process when judging whether material is prurient, it does not endorse judging via community standards in general. The three‐part Miller test for obscenity includes: Whether the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would ﬁnd that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest; whether the work depicts or describes, in a patently oﬀensive way, sexual conduct speciﬁcally deﬁned by the applicable state law; and whether the work, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, arƟsƟc, poliƟcal, or scienƟﬁc value. Miller v. California, 413 US 15, pp 24‐25 (1973).

SuggesƟons for Council consideraƟon of the ResoluƟon: Do not conﬂate “sexual… content” with obscene or pornographic material. Focus instead upon whether and why it may be worthwhile to adopt a city posiƟon and regulatory framework re: children’s access to obscene and pornographic materials. Rely only upon established legal deﬁniƟons, case law, and consƟtuƟonal principles in your deliberaƟons. Set personal, poliƟcal, and religious agendas aside. Carefully consider the libraries’ present book selecƟon procedures, and evaluate whether your ideas strengthen, weaken, or ineﬃciently overlap with them. In the meanƟme, this ﬂawed resoluƟon deserves a NO vote.

Shirley Nixon
Huntington Beach, CA 92646

2 1
Moore, Tania
From: Martha Elliott <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 11:36 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Selection, Display and Circulation of Library Books and Other Materials Members of the City Council,

As a HunƟngton Beach resident, home owner, tax payer and library patron, I strongly oppose this proposal from Gracey Van Der Mark.

It is not needed because there are processes to protect library users under 18 and if a parent wants to restrict their child’s access they are free to do so without any of these measures.

No commiƩee is enƟtled or qualiﬁed to choose what the library purchases or has in its collecƟon. Librarians are educated, trained and have the experience to provide a balanced collecƟon of library materials.

This is such a blatant violaƟon of 1st Amendment Rights that it is obvious the writer has no understanding of the Miller Test or the legal meaning of community standards. These words are pulled out of context and misused just as the images in Ms. Van Der Mark’s 1st
presentaƟon.

You were elected to solve real problems not create fake ones. Please do your job and stop the grandstanding.

Martha EllioƩ
HunƟngton Beach Resident

Sent from my iPad
1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 11:38 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Do not ban books!

To the HB City Council Members,

Please do not decide for me and my family what books YOU feel we should be allowed to read or not read! I would prefer the freedom to make that decision for myself as would my family. Please let the libraries continue to provide the books, and let the intelligent and responsible citizens of our community continue to decide for themselves what is appropriate to read. The take over of our libraries (and schools) by a small political and religious faction who would like to dictate to the rest of us how we should live our lives is the antithesis of freedom and what this country is suppose to stand for. Please vote NO on Resolution 2023-41!

Thank you!
Karen O’Connell
1 Moore, Tania
From: J C <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 11:46 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF)
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: 10-17-23 City Council Meeting, 6pm
Agenda Item 20

Adoption of Resolution No. 2023‐41

I COMPLETELY SUPPORT moving any/all sex/porn related books/etc. from the Children’s Department to the Adult Department.

I welcome the oversight since the Library seems to have a problem.

Gosh Dan, you, Moser and Bolton each get to pick out 3
Representatives for the “Committee of 21”,
thereby more than fairly representing your sexual deviant leanings.

The Resolution does not mention banning books, it merely directs sex/porn material to the Adult Department.

Jean Cloyd
resident of Huntington Beach
1 Moore, Tania
From: Celeste Rybicki <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 11:47 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: So many no’s for Tuesday’s meeting (items 19, 20, 21) Dear City Council Members,

I pray that this does not fall on deaf ears, but can you just DELAY THE AMENDMENTS VOTE to the general election??? If it saves us something like 90% of the cost to put it on the ballot and doesn’t actually delay the implementation of anything, this
seems like a no‐brainer. Regardless of how I (and so many HB residents, seemingly a VAST majority) feel about the amendments themselves, (ie: the moves to combat “voter fraud” will more likely serve to impede or prevent legally registered and qualified citizens from voting. “Monitored” ballot boxes reeks of voter intimidation. Most of the proposed amendment No. 1 are likely to bring more lawsuits to our city as well. Amendment no. 2 regarding the flag policy has already had to be amended to include the Olympic flag and already seemingly ignored by flying multiple flags at the pier during the airshow. There’s no need for this to be in the charter other than to take a dig at the pride flag and all the marginalized groups it stands for.) but regardless of how the public will vote … there is clear and blatant practical reasoning to save these for the general election.

Item 20 is just another slap in the face of Huntington Beach citizens. I don’t understand why you’ve argued time and time again over what you think you should let the voters decide and then completely disregard the public opinion on what you’re doing to OUR library. If it looks like a ban and it quacks like a ban, it’s a book ban! You’re looking to restrict access to books already in our libraries and to prevent the librarians from acquiring new books to the collection. It’s a book ban. Gracey and Gates pretended to take 5 months to discuss and research and then ignored all staff’s recommendations to bulldoze through their book ban. And just to make a point: the most prevalent argument in favor on Twitter is that adults are forcing porn on children. Obviously that is not what is actually happening at any of our branches, there have been no such complaints (no books appropriateness have even been questioned this year.) Even if you were trying to prevent that “grooming” this book ban wouldn’t stop it. Adults (the alleged pedophiles) can access any books they like and then present them to children off library grounds. Only now, we’ll have a generation of children who may have no knowledge of human anatomy or healthy relationships and little language to be able to alert to a safe trusted adult what is happening.

But these books aren’t sexualizing children and this ban isn’t protecting anyone. What it will do is remove windows and mirrors for our kids. The kid with two moms or a gay grandpa won’t get to read stories about other kids like them. A city of kids who will grow up thinking anything outside their family (or that one church everyone in the majority goes to) views is not normal and should be othered, feared, hated. A city with a censored library system is not a city I want to raise my children in. Leave our books alone.

And lastly, Mrs. VanDerMark’s resolution to pledge our support to Israel may have had the best of intentions last week but in light of all that has happened since, it may now be construed as support for the genocide of Palestinians. And for someone who needed to research a list of YouTube videos to verify that the Holocaust actually happened, I’m surprised she wants to jump so quickly to a blanket statement about such a complicated and controversial geopolitical conflict.

While she is vague in what she supports the Israeli government doing, she’s specific when mentioning unconfirmed (and in fact disputed) details of what she condemns. At the very least this resolution needs to be factchecked. The city should condemn the terrorist attack of the Hamas. We should show our support for the innocent Israeli civilians. We should also condemn the war crimes now being allegedly committed by the Israeli government and show our support for innocent civilians of Palestine, most of whom are children. We should call for a ceasefire, desescalation, advocate for restraint, advocate for the children ALL the children affected by these attacks. This is a horrible, heartbreaking, historically complex war. I’m just not at all comfortable with her summation of events or with the feeling that she’s using this tragedy in realtime for her own political gain or attention. 2 Celeste
1 Moore, Tania
From: Anais Lee <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 11:55 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Huntington Beach Library Review Committee
Hello,

My name is Anais Lee and I am a 16‐year‐old actress, model, and high school student in Los Angeles, California. I'm writing to you today to express my opinion regarding the review committee that the City of Huntington Beach intends to establish to remove literature that is considered
"sexual in nature" from access to children. This committee not only hinders children and students on their access to a diverse education, but it's insulting to librarians to question their professionalism.

Books have been an identifying aspect of my life and the lives of many around me. Growing up, I had access to a wide range of literature and it opened my mind and expanded my knowledge in ways I am forever grateful for. I will always be thankful that I have parents who could afford to buy me any book I desired but not all kids have this luxury. Public libraries, for some, are their only outlet for a wide selection of literature and they too should have the freedom to read any book they desire. I believe we can all agree that our common goal is to protect the children, but removing books from the shelves isn't the answer. The books being removed aren't being forced into the hands of children, they are there for voluntary reading purposes only. This isn't to say that all books are appropriate for children to read because this is certainly not the case. But, we should trust our librarians who are trained to judge the appropriateness of books following the age demographic. Additionally, the books commonly deemed "sexual in nature" disproportionally attack LGBTQ+ characters and themes. These books are not only important from a representation aspect, they are educational as well and teach readers about the real people in our world. Regardless of one's personal beliefs, we all can agree that every individual deserves to be treated with respect. Allowing the topic of gender identity and sexuality amongst children allows them to learn about these topics and ensures that they treat any of their LGBTQ+ classmates with respect and will help relieve efforts of hate and bullying to these classmates. According to the Trevor Project, 32% of transgender or nonbinary students who were bullied have attempted suicide.

I can say with great certainty that my experiences with literature have been instrumental in allowing me to develop not only a deeper understanding of myself, but also of the world around me. But unfortunately, many of the books I call life‐ changing will sadly be removed from shelves. Librarians have a job, and we must trust that they know how to do their job. Their education has given them the skills needed to judge what books are age‐appropriate or not. The creation of this committee disregards the recommendations of professionals and denies young students access to potentially beneficial and "life‐changing" pieces of literature.

I hope that council members consider these points before making their final decision.

Thank you,

Anais Lee
1 Moore, Tania
From: Richard Kelly <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 12:07 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: 23-879 - Resolution 2023-41 - Statement in Opposition Dear Voters of Huntington Beach,

The City Council again wants to tell our kids what they can and cannot read. Here's why we should all be concerned about Resolution No. 2023-41 "establishing a policy for the review and recataloging (sp) of library materials containing sexual content".

"Obscene" & "Pornographic": The Council claims some children's books in our library have content that's "obscene" or "pornographic." While the resolution makes an attempt to define them, they are essentially subjective and can be used to target a wide range of materials.

Limiting Accessibility: The resolution wants to move any book with "sexual content" to an "adult section".

This isn't just about explicit images; it's about any "sexual writing" or "sexual references." Classic literature and educational materials could be restricted.

Parental Consent: Kids would need parental or guardian consent to access these books. This sounds protective, but what it really does is create barriers to information and education.

Community Review Board: The Council wants to establish a 21-member "parent/guardian review board" to decide which books our library can get. Do we want a small group of people controlling what all our kids can read? What are these people's qualifications? If they're so interested in books, why aren't they already volunteering at our libraries?

"Community Standards": The Council mentions "community standards," but Huntington Beach is diverse.

Whose standards are we talking about?

Taxpayer Dollars: Our libraries are funded by us, the taxpayers. Shouldn't we have a say in ensuring that our libraries remain open, inclusive, and free from censorship? Should we ask our library staff and volunteers to waste their time enforcing access restrictions like these?

Bottom Line: This isn't just about "protecting" kids. It's about limiting their access to knowledge, while offering nothing positive in return. Resolution No. 2023-41 could restrict classic literature, health education materials, and more. Let's ensure our kids have the full resources of our library at their fingertips.

Speak up. Let's protect the right to read and the integrity of our library. Watch carefully to see who supports this resolution, and make sure to vote them out as soon as possible.

In the short term, please support your local library. Tell the volunteers you appreciate their efforts, especially in light of extreme times such as these. Donate to the Friends of the Library. And please enjoy a good book.

For a diverse, informed Huntington Beach,

Richard Kelly
Huntington Beach

2 Examples of Books at Risk

Remember when the Scholastic Book Fair came around? We grew up with access to these beloved books all our lives. Why deny our youth access to the same information?

Where Did I Come From?" by Peter Mayle (1973)
A humorous children's book explaining conception, pregnancy, and childbirth.

"What's Happening to Me?" by Peter Mayle (1975)
An informative guide for children about the changes the human body undergoes during puberty.

"It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health" by Robie H. Harris (1994) A comprehensive guide to puberty, anatomy, relationships, and reproduction for young readers.

"Annie's Baby: The Diary of Anonymous, a Pregnant Teenager" by Beatrice Sparks (1998) A poignant account based on a real diary detailing the challenges of a pregnant teenager.

"Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret." by Judy Blume (1970) A coming-of-age story about a girl named Margaret grappling with puberty, religion, and her identity.

"Then Again, Maybe I Won't" by Judy Blume (1971)
A novel centered on Tony Miglione, a boy navigating the challenges of adolescence, puberty, and adapting to a new, wealthier lifestyle.

1 Moore, Tania
From: Joclyn Rabbitt-Sire <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 12:16 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Agenda Items #19 and #20 for Agenda dated Oct 17, 2023 Dear Mayor and City Council Members,

I would like to voice my opposition to two items for tomorrow's meeting: #19 and #20, and ask you to vote NO on both of them.

Concerning #19, the changes being proposed to our city charter do nothing to improve life for Huntington Beach residents nor give them more rights as members of a democracy. Rather, they do the opposite. Why expend our taxpayer dollars to the tune of almost half a million dollars to place such needless measures on a ballot that only a minority of HB voters will vote on in a primary election? Please vote NO!

Concerning #20, this poorly constructed policy may look to some folks to be driven by concern for children's well‐being, but in practice will only strip both children and adults of their democratic rights, and could actually be detrimental to the mental health of many children.

It seems that some of you are using your power to insert Huntington Beach into the culture wars currently plaguing our nation. Please step back from this move by voting NO!

Both of these agenda items are cut from the cloth of autocracy and are dangerous to our democracy. Our city is a
microcosm of the nation in its current polarized state, and the more you assert measures that lean toward autocracy, the more polarized we become as a community. Huntington Beach is being noticed by other communities, not for our beautiful parks and beaches, but because of the strife being needlessly created. Is that how you would like our city to be known?

Thank you for your consideration, and PLEASE vote NO on #19 and #20.

Sincerely,

Joclyn Rabbitt‐Sire
Resident of SE Huntington Beach

1 Moore, Tania
From: StarsStripes <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 12:36 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF)
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: 10-17-23 City Council Meeting, 6pm
Agenda Item 20
Adoption of Resolution # 2023‐41

I do support moving any and all Sexual related books & material from the Children's area to the adult area of the Library. Library's need oversight since they have shown to have problems. Librarians may have Masters degrees but they don’t have common sense. And they do not control our kids.

When the largest library association in America is headed by a self admitted Communist that publicly tells her colleagues that libraries are ‘sites of socialist organizing’. ….That tells me that libraries definitely need oversight. Again, I support moving the material and having an oversight committee over the library.

What
is frustrating is the Radical Lefties calling this a book ban, it is not a book ban.

Calling it a book ban is a lie.

It is propaganda that the radical left uses to try and get people to side with them.

Robert Cloyd
Huntington Beach Resident
1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 12:43 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41
Dear Supplemental Communications,
As a long time resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023‐41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content.. Librarians are the only people who should decide on content in our libraries, and they have done a great job! I took my children to the HB main for years as they grew up , staring as toddlers for story time, summers for reading programs , for school projects, and just to pick books for my kids.

This library saved me hundreds & hundreds of dollars over the years in books I did not need to buy , as my daughter was an avid readers and could read chapter books in a day . As a parent , I believe it is parents who are the best judge of what their child should be able to read & check out from the library. Parents can supervise their own children reading selections. I don’t want another parent , lawyer or city council member pre selecting what is available. As I parent I know that there are far worse things on the internet available on kids phones & computers than in any book in the one our libraries. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you
Sincerely,
Mrs. Natasha Elisha
[email protected]
18738 Ashford lane Huntington Beach, CA 92648 Constituent Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected] 1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 12:47 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41
Dear Supplemental Communications,
As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023‐41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you, Sincerely,
Mr. Mark Alvarado
[email protected]
16812 STONEHAVEN CIR HUNTINGTN BCH, CA 92649‐4028
Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected] 1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 2:34 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41
Dear Supplemental Communications,
As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023‐41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you, Sincerely,
Ms. Shawna Chau
[email protected]
16642 Wanderer Ln Huntington Beach, CA 92649 Constituent Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected] 1 Moore, Tania
From: Elizabeth G <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 3:33 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Huntington Beach Public Library Review Committee To Whom it May Concern,
My name is Elizabeth Goldman, I am an undergrad student at UC Berkeley, and I’m writing to express my opinion regarding the review committee that the City of Huntington Beach intends to establish with the goal to remove literature that is considered “sexual in nature” from access to children.

While I understand wanting to protect children from mature content beyond what their age should developmentally and psychologically be exposed to, I strongly believe this is not the way to achieve this end goal; instead, I wholly believe this committee will only serve as a detriment to the community and to students while simultaneously perpetuating harmful biases against the LGBTQ+ community.

To begin, using the term “sexual in nature” as the primary guideline for the restriction of books is highly concerning to me as it is vague language like this that allows for personal biases and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ communities to surface. We have seen this type of language used time and time again to target literature that simply features LGBTQ+ protagonists or storylines even if they contain little to no sexually explicit content. Sexuality cannot and should not be directly equated to sexual content; an attraction to someone of the same sex is not inherently sexual and should not be grouped into content that is “sexual in nature”; yet, it so often is. Accordingly, the vague language being used as the guide for this proposed committee is highly concerning to the LGBTQ+ community and will almost inevitably be used to perpetuate individuals’ own biases, even if that is not the direct intention.

Moreover, under these extremely vague guidelines, I would assume there are many titles being challenged. I question whether a committee of 21 or less parents are able to properly evaluate each book. With book banning being such a potent and delicate act, I would sure hope they would be reading each title in its entirety. Additionally, if only one member of the committee reads each novel, far too much power is put in the hands of an individual– especially an individual with no substantial background or expertise beyond, in theory, having sense and knowing children. Subsequently, I would hope a final decision would be reached through the thorough deliberation involving many members– a time consuming, yet necessary, part of this process. If all of these steps were followed, the process would be far too slow to have any real effect or, in contrast, would result in many books being unfairly restricted while pending evaluation. All in all, I find it entirely unreasonable to assume all of the correct steps would be followed to eliminate all personal biases as well as ensure the proper, impartial and timely consideration of each book.

Finally, a public library is just that: public. It is not a library that children have unrestricted access to like a school library. If a small child is at the library unbeknownst to their parent or guardian, there is another issue there. If a child is allowed by their parent to go to the library alone, it is between the parent and the child to determine what content the child is allowed to consume. If the parent does not choose to monitor their child’s reading habits, I see no reason for the city to step in; frankly, I find this insulting to the parents of Huntington Beach. Instead of restricting access to titles in a public setting– 2 a decision made by a few parents on behalf of all parents– why not leave it up to each individual parent to sufficiently supervise and parent their own child? Making it harder to obtain the books children want to read will only lead to children reading less and utilizing the internet more, a reality I think we can all agree is far from ideal. If children’s internet access is left to individual parents to control, why shouldn’t books– a far less dangerous entity– be held to the same standard?
I wholeheartedly understand where parents are coming from with wanting to protect children’s innocence– the world is a scary place and mature content is being exposed to progressively younger children in all kinds of ways. I do not dispute the fact that this is an issue. However, this proposed solution is grossly missing the mark. Whether it is being proposed out of corruption or genuine good intentions is unclear and irrelevant; regardless, it leaves too much room for biases to drive an individual's choices and is, ultimately, completely impractical.

I hope that council members take these points into consideration before making their final decision.

Elizabeth Goldman
1 Moore, Tania
From: Elizabeth Burke <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 4:52 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
I oppose adoption of Item 20-proposed adoption of Resolution #2023-41.

Book selection should be a free choice and dealt with by trained library staff.

No individual or government committee should have any right to determine what books are available to us.

And it is certainly not the position of our City Council.

Elizabeth Burke
Resident and home owner of Huntington Beach
1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 5:25 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41
Dear Supplemental Communications,
As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023‐41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you, Sincerely,
Ms. Cherie Smith
[email protected]
917 Alabama st 3 Huntington Beach, CA 92648 Constituent Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected] 1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 5:28 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41
Dear Supplemental Communications,
As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023‐41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. Librarians are trained and vetted professionals with Master’s Degrees to perform this job of vetting and procuring books for the library. I’ve witnessed first‐hand this complicated vetting process from my Mother. The detail, scouring of the reading, and prioritizing comes from educational training that Librarians processed through while obtaining their degree. Secondly, then a parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded.

Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it, and support the professionalism of Librarians. Thank you,
Sincerely,
Debbi Fort
[email protected]
7311 Coho Drive Unit 104 Huntington Beach, CA 92648 Constituent Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected] 1 Moore, Tania
From: Jacob Lems <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 5:34 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
I am very much opposed to banning books in our library. Please do not pledge a vote against Democracy.

Sent from my iPad JJL

1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 6:15 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Support for Agenda Item 20
Given the problems that have been reported to have occurred in school libraries, I believe another level of review is a reasonable program. It would seem that the protections are for younger children, and these appear to be important.

I support Agenda Item 20. Eunice Larson, a Huntington Beach homeowner. 1 Moore, Tania
From: Ann Palmer <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 6:24 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: Support Agenda item #20 for 10.17.23

This is in support of agenda item #20, 23‐879.

I believe that it is imperative that Huntington Beach pursue a reasonable and common sense plan to establish a review process for certain library books. This can ensure that materials are relegated to age‐appropriate sections within the library to
protect the wellbeing of our youth population.

It is with great disappointment that we have needed to come to such a process as one would assume that protections are fully in place. We have seen and experienced that that is not the case.

We have a beautiful library with a wealth
of offerings and some knowledgeable administrators. Again, it is unclear how such age‐inappropriate and vile materials made it through screening for YA and Children’s categories. . .but they did.

Safeguards are sorely needed.

Thank you.

Ann Palmer
30+ yr resident
Huntington Beach 92648
1 Moore, Tania
From: GERALD MONIZ <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 6:28 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Book bans
The council should spend their Ɵme on the business for which they were elected, not being library police. My husband and myself (I am a former teacher) oppose Agenda Item 20 on AdopƟon of ResoluƟon No. 2023‐41.

Items like this are a ﬁrst step down the slippery slope of book banning and censorship and have no place in the business of the city council. We are astounded that this item was even proposed. Kindly do not vote to adopt, as a vote to do so will be our vote against those who do on the next elecƟon.

Sincerely, Gerald and Diana Moniz (HunƟngton Beach Residents and voters since 1973)

1 Moore, Tania
From: A E <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 6:40 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Banning library books
Hello,

As a lifelong Southern California resident I am concerned about your plans to ban certain library books.

Like so many parents, mine were too embarrassed to fully explain physical development and reproducƟon to me. As a voracious reader, I simply sought out the knowledge I craved. When I was about 10‐11 years old I read a puberty book
very much like It’s Perfectly Normal.

I was amazed and shocked at all the things the human body does. I was so relieved I ﬁnally understood. The book discussed all kinds of people and bodies. Much did not involve me, and it made me understand what wasn’t right for me.

Because I fully understood male and female bodies I was never tricked or confused by a male growing up. I will not elaborate on all the confusion that can happen with youngsters who don’t understand their own bodies. When I had children it was a very planned and conscious choice. There were no accidents or mistakes. And that is primarily because of the book I read in 5th grade.

Puberty books need to be available for the children whose parents want to keep them in the dark eternally. Not understand
what is happening to your own body is dangerous in many ways.

Please consider marking tricky books with a noƟceable label or something, move them to a new locaƟon or something but kids need to be able to access a puberty book without their parent’s consent, and long before age 18.

Please read such books from cover to cover and consider what happens if adolescents never know any of this informaƟon. Ignorance does not obliterate lust.

I appreciate that you care so deeply about your community and our children. However, ignorance is never the soluƟon.

Thank you for taking the Ɵme to consider my thoughts.

Best wishes to you all as you navigate our troubling Ɵmes,

Aimée Kennedy Morgan Estrada

PS My 10 year old son has had Its Perfectly Normal for 2 years now. He reads it someƟmes and talks to me about it. All is
well.

Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 6:40 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41
Dear Supplemental Communications,
I voted for you. As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023‐41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded.

Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you, Sincerely,
Adam Bock
[email protected]
19058 Delaware Street Huntington Beach, CA 92648 Constituent Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected] 1 Moore, Tania
From: Mirabelle Lee <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 11:15 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Huntington Beach Public Library Review Committee Hello,

My name is Mirabelle Lee and I am a high school student from Palm Desert, California. I’m writing to express my concerns about the review committee the City of Huntington Beach intends to establish at the public library.

As a student, this plan generates much concern for me. I believe that by establishing a committee of parents to review books that are deemed “sexual in nature” is harmful to the well being of students seeing as though topics such as LGBTQ+ identities and mental health topics are specifically targeted.

Firstly, allowing students the freedom to read what piques their interest is important to allow young generations to cultivate their own thoughts and opinions. When I was growing up, books aided my growth, fostering conversations that I had always wondered but never knew how to act on. As much as I wish children were able to openly discuss their feelings with their parents, this isn’t the case for all kids. In an ideal world, parents would know their children inside and out. But in a changing generation with differing thoughts from the previous, that isn’t the case. Books can act has fillers, giving access to information — no matter the subject — to allow children to learn and grow. While it is scary to think that kids may be approached with what parents deem as “harmful topics”, it’s these topics that are most important for kids to have access to as they educate kids on the world around them. By removing books from the shelves, the problem will not be eliminated; it will simply only allow information and knowledge to be denied from eager students or to found out in other more harmful ways.

Secondly, we need to continue to normalize conversations about LGBTQ identities. As much as some may want to ignore
them, they shall remain to exist and live in our communities. If access to knowledge about these identities are removed from the shelves, harm towards LGBTQ identities will only ensue as it allows more room for hate speech to spread.

Representation in literature is important whether people want to regard it or not. As a black teenager living in a predominantly white neighborhood, I’ve undergone experiences that none of my fellow classmates have experienced, feeling alone in my identity and questioning my self worth. Books have allowed me to see my experiences lived through pages, showing me that I was not alone in my experience. Books have also allowed me to become more educated on topics that I did not know much about, allowing me to empathize with my fellow neighbors more than before as I’ve now seen these topics humanized through books.

Librarians have a role to review and put
extreme thought and consideration into every book that is placed on the shelves. Guided by education and experience, we must trust that librarians know how to do their jobs. By installing a review committee, we are demeaning the work and experience of librarians while also removing potentially valuable and educational information from students.

I hope you take my points into consideration before you come to a final decision.

Thank you.

1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 6:42 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41
Dear Supplemental Communications,
As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023‐41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you, Sincerely,
Mrs. Renee Pelkey
[email protected]
15812 Tullow Lane Huntington Beach, CA 92647 Constituent Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected] 1 Moore, Tania
From: Sam Ray <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 6:43 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Support Agenda Item 20
I support the eﬀort to keep materials with sexual content away from the children’s library area. Keep up the good work on this subject. Library staﬀ that are ﬁghƟng this eﬀort may not be the best employees for our libraries.

An alternaƟve to your approach, instead of reviewing every new book purchased, would be to convene the commiƩee monthly (or as needed) to review books idenƟﬁed by anyone who believes the content to be sexually inappropriate for children. (The staﬀ members responsible for purchasing a book that the commiƩee deems inappropriate would be counseled.)

1 Moore, Tania
From: Kevin Preus <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 6:44 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Agenda Item 23-879
Huntington Beach City Council,

I will be unable to attend the session of your next meeting to air these concerns in person so I am writing them instead. Unfortunately, it has already been made apparent in past sessions that the new majority of the Council cares not to listen to the majority of their constituents who they are supposed to represent, so I fully expect this proposed resolution to pass. As we have seen, this is a Council representing the minority. However, it is my duty as a parent and a resident of this city to continue to make it known that we, the residents of Huntington Beach would appreciate if you all actually spent time and our taxpayer money, on things that you all campaigned on – instead of further pushing your divisive culture war on to all of us and claiming to solve problems that don’t even exist.

The new Council cares more about spending our taxpayer dollars on issues that don’t exist than they do actually tackling the difficult issues facing our city. I am referring to the resolution regarding public library books. To start off, there is no problem with how our public libraries are managing content circulation.

There are already plenty of checks and balances in place to ensure our residents have access to a diverse range of content that can meet the needs of everyone. We have:

1. Trained professionals making content selections

2. Requirements for parent oversight for a child to get a library card

3. Requirements for children to have an adult present with them in the library

4. Designated sections for content based on age

5. Transparency of online content, and the ability for a parent to view a history of this content that their child views

6. An already existing formal review process for residents who find certain material inappropriate – which has been used in the past by sitting Councilmembers

So you can see, if a parent is concerned about a child getting ahold of content they find unacceptable, they have more than enough opportunities to prevent their child from access to that content.

What does not exist, and should never exist, is the ability for some other parent or elected official to be able to make the decision for everyone else as to what is acceptable. That is what this is in a nutshell, under the false guise that there is some form of democratic process involved because of a “parent board”. I have ZERO interest in some other group of residents making decisions about what they think is acceptable for my child to read. 100% this is government overreach and a waste of taxpayer money.
2 This resolution draft is extreme and full of inflated descriptions of reality. It gives definitions of “pornography” and “obscenity” that are 100% subjective and up to the untrained and inexperienced members of this committee, enabling them to do whatever they want. It also goes so far as to say that this “bad” material is readily available currently, which is a lie. It states that this content is available to children with no adult supervision, which is also a lie. Not surprising given who proposed this resolution. If that individual was so concerned with the content, why not just follow the process for reviewing and removing the material, like she has done in the past?

Given one of the examples of a book with “pornography” and “obscenities”, it is not a leap to conclude that this is more about protecting parents who are too sensitive and uncomfortable to have a conversation with their children about LGBTQ+ people and issues and would rather not even acknowledge that these people exist, so instead, they want to get rid of the books that make reference to them. I am not saying you have to support LGBTQ+ people, but trying to ban it from existence is pathetic. It is unfortunate that this group of people get so easily offended and triggered by people they disagree with that they feel the need to infringe on everyone else’s rights.

Let’s be clear, this is not about protecting children. This is about protecting the fragile adults who are unwilling to be involved in their children’s content selection at a library, and they want to impose their sense of moral superiority over the rest of us, even though they are supposed to be representing all of us.

Kevin Preus - resident for 11 years and parent to two children in Huntington Beach

1 Moore, Tania
From: Kathy McGuire <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 6:46 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Agenda item #20
I oppose Agenda item #20. There is no problem with inappropriate sexual materials being supplied to children by our libraries. This is a book banning proposal by people who claim to represent freedom but who take away the freedom from parents to choose what their children read.

The librarians are professionals who care deeply about the welfare of children and who use professional criteria to evaluate books for their appropriateness for children and young adults. There is no need for a review board of political appointees with an agenda that the majority of citizens disagree with.

Vote no on Agenda item #20.

Thank you,
Kathy McGuire
1 Moore, Tania
From: Lorna Wilfert <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:00 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: The library
The library should be operated by the professionals who are well trained and proven. Do not interfere with a well funcƟoning operaƟon do not try to control and deﬁnitely do not cut their funding. Listen to the people who elected you.

Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: Eileen Miller <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:03 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: HUNTINGTON BEACH LIBRARY CENSOR OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS How dare you! As a long Ɵme resident of HB, keep your opinions of what children are able to read to your own families. That is not your job! How about you sƟck to governing and let those of us who bring children to the HB Library, decide what should or should not be allowed on the shelves.

Shame on you! Mind your own business!

Eileen Miller

1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:06 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41
Dear Supplemental Communications,
As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023‐41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you, Sincerely,
Mrs. Nicole Mahar
[email protected]
9331 Cloudhaven Dr. Huntington Beach, CA 92646 Constituent Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected] 1 Moore, Tania
From: Gianna Goodman-Bhyat <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:07 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Huntington Beach Public Library Review Committee Hello,

My name is Gianna Goodman-Bhyat, I am a high school student in Los Angeles, and I’m writing to express my opinion regarding the review committee that the City of Huntington Beach intends to establish in order to remove literature that is considered “sexual in nature” from access to children.

As a student, I am incredibly weary of this plan. I believe that it acts as an insult to the librarians who have already devoted considerable time and energy towards curating appropriate selections of books, and that it enables parents to attack literature which features LGBTQ+ characters and themes.

The term, “sexual in nature” is an incredibly vague categorization that has been used by various states and school boards to mobilize attacks on literature that simply features LGBTQ+ protagonists or storylines, even if they contain no graphic or sexually explicit content. I fear that this plan will put too much power in the hands of parents and community members who wish to remove access to literature that contains these narratives. It seems entirely unfeasible for a committee of 21 parents --who are likely already committed to other occupations-- to accurately review such a vast selection of childrens’ books. It seems more likely that these parents would have greater interest in simply targeting literature that represents the aforementioned subject matter.

I think that this will be extremely harmful for a number of reasons:

First, I believe that it is necessary to normalize discussions of gender identity and sexuality among children from a young age --which includes allowing open access to literature that portrays these topics. Regardless of the personal views that individual families might hold about such discussions, the reality is that there are queer and transgender students who will be going to school with their children, and it is important to ensure that these students are treated with dignity and respect by their peers. When their identities are normalized, it creates an environment where students with non-normative identities are less likely to experience instances of hate and bullying that could potentially have long lasting impacts on their mental well-being and development.

Second, as much as I wish that every child would be able to openly communicate with their parents about what they are reading, the unfortunate truth is that parents don’t always know exactly what is best for their children. Many parents hold bigoted worldviews, and the only way that a large number of young kids are able to see themselves represented in media, is within books that are free for them to access at the library.

Not only that, but oftentimes working parents are simply unable to accompany their children to the library, or don’t have the ability to control their kids’ access to library books. This may apply more specifically to parents who aren’t fluent in English, or have a limited understanding of the internet and digital technology.

I can say with great certainty that my experiences with literature --and specifically library books-- have been instrumental in allowing me to develop a deeper understanding of self and to become the person I am today. Moreover, I can imagine that many of the books which I regard as life-changing would likely be removed from student access after review from this committee.

Librarians have a job, and we must trust that they know how to do their job. They have education and experience in assessing what content and subject matter is most appropriate for various age groups. There are no librarians placing pornographic material in childrens’ sections. The creation of this committee disregards the recommendations of professionals, in turn undermining the work of librarians, and denying young students access to potentially extremely beneficial and educational material.

I hope that council members take these points into consideration before making their final decision. 2 Gianna Goodman-Bhyat

1 Moore, Tania
From: Pamela McEwen <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:08 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
Hello and thank you for considering my position. I’m a conservative that lives here in Huntington Beach. I have four children who range in ages from middle school to kindergarten.

Any form of book censoring is a bad idea. There are certainly books and topics that I don’t want my children to have
access to. But that is my job as a parent. It should not be the job of a committee to decide what books are available at a public library.

I despise “cancel culture” and the trend of liberals calling for the shunning of anyone who says something that opposes
their views. This plan to give a committee the power to shun books that do not meet with the committee’s views is just as bad.

Please do not approve this plan.

Thank you,
The McEwen Family
1 Moore, Tania
From: M Furuike <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:09 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Banning books.

Dear City Council ,
It is important to keep all books available. !
We learn from our history.

Please do not ban books in HunƟngton Beach.

Sincerely,
Monique Furuike.

HunƟngton Beach resident.

Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:17 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: 2023-41 Resolution
Please do not pass this disgusƟng book banning resoluƟon! I will be opposing you 4 newly elected inexperienced council members for as long as you aƩempt to remain in public oﬃce. LEAVE OUR BOOKs ALONE!!!!

Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: Joe & Cerise <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:30 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
I am a long time user of the central library and wish to make it known that I strongly oppose agenda item 20 requiring a committee to review the purchase of books. This oversight is squarely conflicting with basic rights of choice for all citizens. While under the pretense to still allow parents to determine what their child reads is not true when the types of books are banned before a parent can even consider them.

Please reconsider your pursuit of this item.

Regards,
A concerned library patron
1 Moore, Tania
From: Mary K Dana <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:31 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
NO ON BOOK BANN!!!!

Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: Lisa Watts <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:36 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: 2023
I strongly oppose resolution 2023. Keep politics out of the library and use your trained, professional librarians.

Lisa Burns Watts
1 Moore, Tania
From: Sarah Rivera <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:37 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Book Ban
Banning Books is the ﬁrst step toward a dictatorship but then again you already know that. This is absurd I guess the idea is to keep your voƟng populaƟon ignorant. Let’s erase history that way you can make up what ever reality you want it seems to be working for the current leader of your cult.

A concerned resident (46 years) of HunƟngton Beach.

1 Moore, Tania
From: Vicki Callahan <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:37 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Huntington Beach Library
Hello:

I am strongly opposed to the city council interfering with the Huntington Beach library collection. The selection and organization of books should not be politicized and should be handled by professional librarians.

I am a long time Huntington Beach resident and voter.

Sincerely,
Vicki Callahan

1 Moore, Tania
From: Cathey Ryder <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:40 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Sexua References in Books
I not only live here in Huntington Beach but I spent 38 years as an educator teaching English. The cornerstone of my classroom was reading short stories, poetry, plays and novels.

What is considered a sexual reference?
Is it kissing?
Is if hand holding?
Is it hugging?
Is it the word “petting”?
Is it the phrase,” he makes me feel all warm inside”?
Is it  “go all the way”?
Is it he wanted to “do it”?
Is it “he touched me in my private parts”?
Is it “I saw him kiss her and touch her breast”?
Is it the words :
boob, breast, tits,ta tas, titties , vagina, pussy, unit, penis, pecker, cock, dick , boner, hard, erection, rape, queer,  suck and ….?
Is it “ I felt his hardness when he hugged me”?
Is it references to masturbation or  ejaculation ?
Is it  the phrase “making love”?
Is it “I like other boys instead of girls”?
Is it “Sex is something I just don’t understand.” said by the main character in the novel, “ Catcher in the Rye”? Is it the phrase “ my parents are trying to make a baby”?

As you can see, the list of possibilities is
endless. Materials purchased for a public library have already been screened for pornography and obscenity.We have a robust policy in place if a parent or community member objects to an item in our public libraries.

We absolutely DO NOT need another layer of bureaucracy at who knows at what expense to the tax payers.

CJ Ryder

1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:44 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41
Dear Supplemental Communications,
As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023‐41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you, Sincerely,
Ms. Faith Vogel
[email protected]
16113 Saint Croix Circle Huntington Beach, CA 92649 Constituent Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected] 1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:45 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41
Dear Supplemental Communications,
As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023‐41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you, Jane Lemonds Sincerely,
Mrs. Jane Lemonds
[email protected]
20821 Crestview Lane Huntington Beach, CA 92646 Constituent Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected] 1 Moore, Tania
From: Maureen Bekins <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:47 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
City Council Members and City AƩorney,

I strongly oppose the council majority’s new rules for the library — a terrible resolu Ɵon/soluƟon to a problem that the City didn’t have. A 21‐person review board? Please! We have always had extremely capable and conscienƟous librarians.

Leave them to do their work.

Why not focus your Ɵme and aƩenƟon on areas where the public IS concerned?

As a 45‐year ciƟzen, it’s very disheartening to see our kind, well‐funcƟoning, responsive City turn into the mess this City Council and City AƩorney is making.

Please vote to oppose Agenda Item 20.

Maureen Bekins
5752 Woodboro Drive
HunƟngton Beach, CA 92649

1 Moore, Tania
From: Dana Lee <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:48 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Reject Items 19 and 20
Councilmembers,

Reject Item 19. It’s a waste of taxpayer money, that will reduce voter participation.

Reject Item 20. It’s blatant, disgusting censorship.

To those councilmembers voting in favor of the above, I look forward to voting you out at the earliest opportunity, and sharing your voting record with friends and family in the community.

Thank you to Councilmembers Bolton, Moser, and Kalmick for your dedication to doing what’s best for this city.

Dana
1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:47 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Library Oversight Nonsense
Libraries are meant to be uncensored, open to the public they serve ‐ THE ENTIRE PUBLIC ‐ and to provide equal access to information. Not everyone can afford to purchase books. And why should a City Council member be encouraging people to give money to Amazon when my taxes have already paid for a book so residents can access it?

If y’all start questioning trained library staff on what belongs in the library, a building I am certain NONE of you in favor of this oversight nonsense have purposefully set foot in as adults, then I don’t see the point in paying taxes anymore.

You’re already ruining schools… now you’re going after EVERY educational institution? Why? What do you have against access to information? Are you afraid people may experience life differently from how you demand it be experienced and think as individuals? Oh no! How awful… Diversity of thought! So scary! (That last part is sarcasm, for those unfamiliar with literary devices.)

For people who seemed to enjoy screeching about the First Amendment all the way to the seats you now hold, you’re holding on to censorship pretty tightly there.

And just because Ms. Van der Mark has never had an orgasm in her life and very obviously just doesn’t want anyone else discussing what she is so clearly missing out on, doesn’t mean the City needs to waste time or money on her literary witch hunt. Gracey’s sexual repression explains her being so far up her own behind she’s this out of touch with the ACTUAL Huntington Beach community. Stop weaponizing the City Council for personal vendettas against everyone who isn’t an ignorant bigot like yourself, girl.

City Council is on a quick road toward fascism and it’s absolutely disgusting that Huntington Beach is making national headlines ‐ yet again ‐ for such embarrassing
entities representing the City. Did you learn nothing from Jacob’s failed tenure? C’mon. Do your jobs and stop kicking hornet nests for fun.

Parents can monitor their own children’s reading activities. They don’t need City Council’s input or help. You want to help the kids if Huntington Beach? How about spending time and money on ACTUAL programs which teach children money management skills, cybersecurity information, self defense, healthy eating habits and cooking skills, environmental stewardship, job training and placement assistance… amongst many other useful topics? Maybe even promote mentorships for youth and more programs to encourage civic responsibility through volunteering?

Do your actual jobs and stop trying to beg for attention from the media through these ridiculous shenanigans. Stop bringing shame to Huntington Beach.

1 Moore, Tania
From: ira schey <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:49 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20

Sent from Mail for Windows
I am a Huntington Beach resident and I strongly oppose Agenda Item 20 (Resolution 2023‐41). It is malicious government overreach.
1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:52 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41
Dear Supplemental Communications,
As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023‐41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you, Sincerely,
Mrs. Misty Bauers
[email protected]
16362 Fairway Lane Huntington Beach, CA 92649 Constituent Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected] 1 Moore, Tania
From: Lev MacD <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:52 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Agenda Item 20 Adoption of Resolution No. 2023-41.

To the Huntington Beach City Council,

As one of your constituents, I request that you quit messing up our functioning public library system.

RESOLUTION 2023-41 IS A BAD IDEA. It is government censorship and will definitely backfire to the city council members who support it. Furthermore, this resolution at its draft form is already driving a wedge to our community and adding to the negative vibes of our city.

I have full confidence in our professional librarians to do their job just like the many supporters who continue to donate their time and money (FOTL volunteered approximately 60,000 hours per year and recently donated $250,000 to HBPL). Please let our library continue its mission to provide services that inspire and encourage transformation and growth by not adopting this BAD IDEA.

Respectfully,

Luvina Mac Dowell

1 Moore, Tania
From: Jon Pubble <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:50 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: No on #20
Dear Mayor & City Councilmembers,
I oppose any local government efforts to restrict materials at our Huntington Beach Public Libraries. Book bans and restrictions on reading content just government overreach and stifle my rights and individual freedoms as a Huntington Beach resident.

The last thing my family needs is for a bunch of elected zealots to stick their noses into my family's business. It is my responsibility as a parent to decide what our children should or should not read, not yours. This is just an effort to limit my rights as a parent to determine what's best for my children.

I'll protect my own children. Why aren't you working on solving homelessness like you promised!

Jon Q.

Pine Street, Huntington Beach, CA 92648

1 Moore, Tania
From: Susan Janis <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:54 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Do not ban books
I have lived in HB for over 44 years and raised three sons here. They all aƩended and graduated school from Eader, Sowers and Edison. They were also involved with the G.A.T.E. program. All three of my sons aƩended college and graduated with high honors plus one even went on to receive two Masters from MIT. They are all successful in their careers and raising their own families now.

I am disappointed that the City Council is even considering banning books at the HunƟngton Beach Library. What has happened to this town that now thinks it needs to control what can and cannot be provided in the library? What is next? What color your surĩoard needs to be?

If you do not want your kids to read certain books then don’t let them. Stay involved with what your children are reading but also listening to and the company they keep.

That is called parenƟng.

You set the standards for your own children in your own home but are NOT obliged to dictate to other families the same.

I fear that a move to ban books is the beginning of moves towards a fascist society. That is not what this country is has been about. We are smarter and beƩer than this.

History shows us how other countries, facƟons, regimes and theocracies have banned books in the past to the present day. This never ends well for society and should be abolished immediately.

Please vote NO on banning books at the library. It is a right of choice that needs to be honored and this freedom needs to conƟnue for generaƟons to come.

Thank you,
Susan Janis

1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:57 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41
Dear Supplemental Communications,
As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023‐41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you, Sincerely,
Ms. Barbara Richardson
[email protected]
16812 Stonehaven Circle HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA 92649
Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected] 1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:58 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Objection to all book ban activities
Hi

I am a Huntington Beach resident of 30 years, and raised two children who were avid library users.

The current activities regarding book bans and voters are a collossal waste of time. City leadership has no business venturing into areas that do not benefit anyone in the city.

All civic leadership efforts should be focused on city operations- safety, fire, police, parks and other activities that are meaningful.

The efforts and energy focused on these bizarre activities are an embarrasment. Please stop.

Thank you

John

John King
[email protected]
714 262 0826
linkedin.com/in/johnfkingpmpcls
1 Moore, Tania
From: Carol <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:59 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
Hello,

I am a longtime resident of HB, and I’m
sending this email to document that I am in opposition of agenda item 20. I support the library staff and FOTL.

Thank you,
~Carol Shi, 6482 Doral Drive
1 Moore, Tania
From: Christina Gallup <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:59 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF)
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Proposed Book Review Process Concern
Hello HB City Council,

As a constituent of Huntington Beach I'm writing to express my concern and opposition to the proposed book review process.

This is an infringement on our freedom of speech and access of information. Residents of Huntington Beach should be able to select what books they want to read without restriction from the decisions of a random group of 21 parents.

This proposed process is a huge waste of time, resources and funds!

It is a big governmental overreach for the city to be stepping in and trying to control our access to books. It is the responsibility and role of the parent to have a conversation with their children about books (and other media forms in this digital era) they are reading, not the government. Additionally young minors already have to be accompanied by a parent at the library.

Thank you,
Christina Gallup
1 Moore, Tania
From: Marilyn Lugaro <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:00 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: I Oppose Agenda Item 20
I oppose Agenda Item 20—Adoption of Resolution No. 2023‐41 establishing a policy for the review and recataloging of library materials containing sexual
content at the Huntington Beach Public Library by a City Council appointed committee.

Book banning cannot and must not be considered in a Democratic country! Every citizen and every family has a right to choose what they will read. Parents have a right to monitor the reading choices of their children, but a city does not have the right to dictate that choice by banning books.

Do not pass Item 20—Adoption of Resolution No. 2023‐41 establishing a policy for the review and recataloging of library materials containing sexual
content at the Huntington Beach Public Library by a City Council appointed committee.

With deep concern,
Dr. Marilyn Bouchard Lugaro

_________________________________________
Marilyn Bouchard Lugaro, Ph.D.
[email protected]
Mobil: 714‐296‐7890

1 Moore, Tania
From: judy gaglione <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:00 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: STOP 🛑 BANNING BOOKS
I strongly oppose ANY Book BANNING. Do not or you will be banned ᓝᓞᓟ at the next election!!!! 1 Moore, Tania
From: Sydney Cook <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:07 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Study Session and Item 20
Dear Council Members:

I am writing in regards to Study Session (23‐878) and Agendized Item 20 (23‐879).

I have lived in Huntington Beach for a little over two years now. My family and I are happy to be a part of this community and I feel fortunate to
get to raise my children here. I am a mom to two young children and we visit the children's library on average twice per week. We have visited 4 out of the 5 branches and are beyond satisfied with the knowledgeable library staff, the diverse selection, and the amazing programming (that I know takes so much time and dedication). During my visits ‐ books are properly placed and organized. I do not fear my child will come across anything inappropriate. Granted, I am there to monitor and if there is something I do not want my child to read I will respectfully put it back. Even as my children grow I will continue to take responsibility for their access but I want them and myself to have the choice to make the decision about what we read.

After reviewing the research findings from the study session presentation regarding the rigorous publishing process and the Collection Development Policy/Request for Removal process on the city website I believe that there are existing safeguards in place. I trust our librarians, with their training and expertise, to make informed decisions regarding selection. And most importantly, I believe it is my responsibility (along with other parents/guardians) to monitor and take responsibility for the appropriateness of our children's choices.

Thank you,
Sydney Cook

1 Moore, Tania
From: Nancy Messineo <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:12 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
I strongly oppose your Agenda Item 20:

1. Collection development does not happen in a vacuum.

2. Professional staff are already in place to build library collections. These staff have college degrees that included collection development in the curriculum.

3. They are working at public desks where library patrons ask questions, where library patrons share their likes and dislikes, and where they (library staff) get to know library patrons and their information needs. Library staff interact and serve library patrons of all ages.

4. The goal of collection development is to continually build a collection of materials that meets the needs of the community the library serves. Who better than the staff who interact with library users, our community members, to build these collections?

5. Library staff who are involved in collection development are acquiring information to use in purchasing library materials all the time. They are paying attention to local, state, Federal, world news, questions from students that are related to school curriculum from elementary to college level, requests from patrons off all ages for books and specific information, current movies, current events, authors and books being featured in various places, what books are being displayed at stores, what is being displayed next to the cash register, what materials are being reviewed in a variety of on‐line and print media‐‐these are just a few of the places where staff are collecting information that assists them in doing their job.

6. The library already has a materials reconsideration process in place.

What expertise will the members of the committee have? Will the committee be made up of representatives of our community who represent all‐points of view? What criteria will you use to determine who is on the committee? What criteria will you use to review materials?

Why does Huntington Beach need a Collection Development Review Committee when we already have library staff in place with specialized knowledge?
1 Moore, Tania
From: Connie Quader <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:15 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Voter ID, Charter Amendments, Flag & Library
WHY NOW???

These are NOT pressing issues for HB!!

We need you to address & try to solve these problems, just to name a few. Homelessness, camping on our streets.

Infrastructure & repairing our roads. We need a larger police force.

You’ve created unnecessary problems that already have answers in place! The answers you propose will cost the city
millions of dollars! It’s OUR MONEY you’re wasting on frivolous ideas that already have answers in place.

It truly seems as though the majority of the city council are completely ignoring the majority of Huntington Beach citizens!

It’s very frustrating, being
a 44 year resident of Huntington Beach when a small minority of people are pushing their own personal agendas on the majority of residents!

Connie Quader

1 Moore, Tania
From: Andrissa Dominguez <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:16 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Everything
First... since the meetings have been unlawfully moved to Tuesdays it prevents many from going ( conflicts with surf city nights) but I feel that was the plan from our last council.

Second.... book banning or whatever it is being called... hmmmm limiting sexualized content in the children's library accessible by
minors. Is it still available? ..yes just like playboy or other sexualized magazine or reading materials BUT are covered / behind the counter. Why Dan Kalmick, Natalie Moser, Rhonda Bolton do you have a problem with this protection of children consistent with other rules we as a society deal with.

Third... voter ID... how is that suppressing the vote... please tell us who has ever suffered from Voter suppression because of lack of ID.??? DO you actually know any person who has been prevented from voting because they have to show ID. You have to show ID to buy cigarettes and alcohol. You must present an ID for travel. You must present an ID for a job. Think about it.... Dan kalmick , Natalie Moser, Rhonda Bolton WE ALL KNOW you have taken partisan positions that do not make sense in Huntington Beach. Also let me remind you ... city council is a non partisan position. STOP following the narrative that is ruining our country.

Time to protect Huntington Beach and our Residents.

Vote YES to ban perverted materials from children's reach without parents permission

Vote YES on Voter ID

MOVE the meetings BACK to MONDAYS like it SHOULD BE.

Thank you...

Andrissa Dominguez
714 369 3107
1 Moore, Tania
From: ann inman <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:21 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: HB City Council meeting
I object to a special election and feel these ballot issues can wait until the November 2024's general election.

I object to the voter ID voter requirement.

I object to banning books in the library. Far worse is at our children's fingertips on the internet

I object to restricting flags flown in the city.

Ann Gaylord
HB Resident

1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:23 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Agenda Item 20 Adoption of Resolution No. 2023-41 Dear Huntington Beach City Council,

I do not support Resolution 2023-41 and implore you to reject this resolution. Book banning is government censorship that will stifle growth and progress in our city. Our current public library system has been in place for over a century works and has the financial and moral support of your constituents.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. I see no benefit on muddling with our public library. It is risky and will surely backfire not only to the council members who will vote for its adoption but also to the degradation of our city. There are more good you could bring to this community by leaving the operations of the public library alone to the library professionals.

Get rid of Resolution 2023-41!

Sincerely,

Patrick Sarreal

1 Moore, Tania
From: Jessica B. <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:22 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: Regarding agenda items for October 17 meeting
Attachments: Oct 17 council letter.pdf
Please review for public comments at October 17, 2023, meeting.

If it is possible for my letter to be read at the meeting, I would deeply appreciate that since I am unable to attend.

Thank you,
Jessica Budica
Jessica Budica
Huntington Beach Resident since 2008

October 17, 2023

Re: Resolution 2023-41

Dear City Council,

As a mother of two young children, I take them to the library regularly. It is one of my children’s favorite activities. They explore the stacks, grab books greedily off the shelves. They are then even more excited to scan their library card, scan their books, and walk out eager to read every title the minute we get home. They are so proud of their library cards!

As a Professor of English, instilling a love of learning and words in my children has always been something I have strived for. Books are where we better understand love, democracy, fear, and history, among other things. As they get older, I hope my kids always feel safe coming to me with those uncomfortable questions about their bodies, about their sexuality. But what about those kids who do not come from those same supportive homes? Should we just hope they find out everything they need to know on the internet? I’d hope they pick up a book instead.

You can try to deem this not a book ban, but as a wife of a lawyer, I do not gloss over some of the tricks of language used in this Resolution. It is the very thing I teach my students to look for.

Tricks to divert. Glittering Generalities. Strawman. Logical Fallacies.

It starts here with a government that thinks it gets to decide what is obscene or sexually explicit. From some of the other decisions this council majority has taken it upon itself to make, I wonder if Disney’s movie, Strange World, is “obscene” because two male characters are dating and in love. (Yup, guess you better go block that on your Disney+.)

This council, nor any other government or feigned “Parent/Guardian Review Board” you conveniently hand pick, gets to decide obscene or sexually explicit for me, for my children, for my library. It’s funny how when the government requires masks or vaccines to keep people safe, you label it government overreach. Yet, when it suits your personal desires, you label it to keep kids safe. This is how it starts. This is how dictators begin. They label themselves “saviors” of the citizens when no one is asking to be saved from books.

You ban some books. You silence information. You make it a bit harder to vote. You silence those who challenge your authority. You intimidate at polling places and voter boxes with “regulations” and “requirements.” You silence those you quietly fear. This is what those who crave to be leaders do. This is not what you do when you Represent the people.

Stay out of our libraries. Unless you want to pick up a book and read a little history. 1 Moore, Tania
From: Carol Rohr <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:25 AM
To: [email protected]; Shirlee Krause
Subject: Re: City Council Meeting, Tuesday, 10/17/2023 at 6:00 p.m.

Agreed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On Monday, October 16, 2023 at 05:09:16 PM PDT, Shirlee Krause <[email protected]> wrote:

Please Vote "NO" on Agenda Item 20 - Resolution 2020-41-A:

How scary has our Huntington Beach City Council become due to the "Fab4 W annabes" (hereinafter, "F4W ")? I'll give you a hint!

Don't give these nincompoops the power! They've proven their incompetence just by suggesting they be given the power to decide what everybody will be able to read!

Respectfully,

Shirlee Krause

1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:26 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: HB City Council meeting

From: ann inman <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:24 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: HB City Council meeting

I object to a special election and feel these ballot issues can wait until the November 2024's general election.

I object to the voter ID voter requirement.

I object to banning books in the library. Far worse is at our children's fingertips on the internet

I object to restricting flags flown in the city.

Ann Gaylord
HB Resident

1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:26 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Voter ID, Charter Amendments, Flag & Library

From: Connie Quader <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:18 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Voter ID, Charter Amendments, Flag & Library

WHY NOW???

These are NOT pressing issues for HB!!

We need you to address & try to solve these problems, just to name a few. Homelessness, camping on our streets. Infrastructure & repairing our roads. We need a larger police force.

You’ve created unnecessary problems that already have answers in place! The answers you propose will cost the city millions of dollars! It’s OUR MONEY you’re wasting on frivolous ideas that already have answers in place.

It truly seems as though the majority of the city council are completely ignoring the majority of Huntington Beach citizens!

It’s very frustrating, being a 44 year resident of Huntington Beach when a small minority of people are pushing their own personal agendas on the majority of residents!

Connie Quader
1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:31 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Agenda items 19 and 20

From: Jean Bogen <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:12 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Agenda items 19 and 20

Dear council members:

I have been a tax-paying citizen of Huntington Beach since 1965. This is the first council that has had more citizen input on how we spend our taxes and on how we treat our fellow citizens, AND turns a deaf ear every time!
Will tonight be any different?

With a yes vote on 19 we will be embroiled in law suits, and we may end up running our own elections which will waste our taxpayer dollars.

Why do you need unanimous vote to fly a different flag? There has never been a unanimous rule on anything!

Regarding agenda item 20: we have a library
staff that is and always has been quite capable of choosing books for us. We don’t need a review board made up of our city council’s friends.

Please vote a resounding NO on these agenda items.

Thank you,
Jean E. Bogen
1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:31 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Resolution 2023-41 Opposition

From: Brian Cleugh <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:59 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Resolution 2023‐41 Opposition

Dear City Council,

It is un‐American to censor books. The United States was founded on Freedom of Expression principles.

Huntington Beach is a Patriotic City. This type of regulation is unacceptable.

Vote against censorship.

Brian

Sent from Mail for Windows

1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:31 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:57 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41

Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Dear City Council,
As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023-41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you,
Sincerely,
Ms. Barbara Richardson
[email protected]
16812 Stonehaven Circle HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA 92649
Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected]
1 Moore, Tania
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:31 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 20
Please do not implement proposal to further limit our reading resources at the public library. It is the responsibility of parents, not some overwhelming restrictive government to decide what their children will read.

Kay Chlds
Huntington Beach
1 Moore, Tania
From: Amanda Daus <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:31 AM
To: [email protected]
Cc: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF)
Subject: In Opposition to Resolution No. 2023-41
Dear City Council Members,

I attended Edison High School from 2002 ‐ 2006 and often visited the Huntington Beach Public Library not only as a place to study but as a place to find books to read. As a teen, who craved more freedom but was also still a kid, being able to
go to the library to check out books (with my own card!) whether it was musician biographies, classics for school, or the newest teen release where I maybe saw glimmers of myself reflected in the characters, was revolutionary.

It is also crazy to me that a City Council who
so heavily supported people's freedom to not wear masks during a pandemic is taking freedom away from teenagers who just want to read; one of most harmless activities a teenager could engage with.

All of this is to say, I strongly oppose this resolution because it would significantly weaken Huntington Beach Public
Library, which has a strong reputation in the community for providing a diverse range of books and materials.

This resolution would:

1. Politicize the selection and management of library materials by politicians and their appointees.

2. Would absurdly and dangerously move materials out of the Young Adult section.

3. Restrict teens from being able to check out books that they've been able to check since the library was founded. (Classics and LGBTQ books should not be restricted from readers!).

Sincerely,

Amanda Daus
Resident and patron
1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:32 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:52 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41

Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Dear City Council,
As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023-41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you,
Sincerely,
Mrs. Misty Bauers
[email protected]
16362 Fairway Lane Huntington Beach, CA 92649 Constituent Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected]
1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:32 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Let Librarians do their job!
Attachments: Screenshot 2023-10-17 at 7.41.12 AM.png

From: Jan Patton <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:49 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Let Librarians do their job!

Hello,

As an experienced Cataloger for the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division and retired High School Librarian with over 20 plus years of experience, it is the job of trained, experienced colleagues to do the job of Collection Development.

Over the years I watched students struggle with reading challenges and personal development. Often reading is a doorway to help kids experience challenges without the risk of first-hand experience. Through Book Clubs and one-on-one discussions, books that generated discussion offered those precious "teachable moments."

Why not spend a day with a Librarian and understand the collection development process further? Ask them who their "User Group" is and what is meant by "every reader his book." What are the sources for reviews? What other libraries offer the same materials? What are the usage statistics for that work?

In addition, as National Library Month I often observed "Banned Books Week" as an illustration that no one should take for granted the free flow of information in our democratic society. Until Carnegie created Free Libraries in the1920s one had to pay to borrow books from a library.

Stop meddling in the library. Stop the grandstanding. Address the real problems of this community and stop the insanity of making problems where none exist. Let parents do their job, the Council govern meaningful points and leave the libraries to serve the community.

Respectfully,

Jan Patton, MLIS

1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:32 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Resolution 2023-41

From: Karen Vogel <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:48 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Resolution 2023‐41

City Council

My name is Faith Vogel, a longtime resident of Huntington Beach. I am writing concerning the proposed Resolution 2023‐41 to be presented at the October 17, 2023, meeting. One of the most popular programs in the city is the library. This action will have a profound impact on library
services to Huntington Beach citizens.

The proposed resolution to establish a citizen’s children’s book review board will take responsibility for selecting their children’s books away from parents to an outside body. This at a time when parents are demanding more responsibility in their children’s up brining.

In view of the major impact on library users proposed by the resolution lit is incumbent upon the City Council to let the citizens have a voice. Speakers and emails are helpful, however in something so major, impacting so many, the citizens should be more involved. Allowing a city‐ wide vote would be a wise and popular choice.

I have been on the Library Board and the Community and Library Services from 2007 to 2023. If there is one thing, I learned in my years of service is that the citizens of Huntington Beach love and support their library, and making drastic changes without their involvement is not the best way to serve our wonderful city.

1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:32 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Oppose Agenda # 20 Resolution establishing a policy for the review and recataloging of library materials that contain sexual content

From: Pat Goodman <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:46 AM
To: Strickland, Tony <Tony.Strickland@surfcity‐hb.org>; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Oppose Agenda # 20 Resolution establishing a policy for the review and recataloging of library materials that contain sexual content

Dear Mayor Strickland and City Council Members,

Please oppose agenda Item #20 . This item, if approved, adds an additional and costly bureaucracy to the library system, and is unnecessary given the current procedures already in place that respond to residences concerns about library materials.

I am so very sorry that our city is at this place in its history.

Pat Goodman
Huntington Beach, CA
1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:32 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:45 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41

Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Dear City Council,
As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023-41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you, Jane Lemonds Sincerely,
Mrs. Jane Lemonds
[email protected]
20821 Crestview Lane Huntington Beach, CA 92646 Constituent Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected]
1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:32 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:44 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41

Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Dear City Council,
As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023-41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you,
Sincerely,
Ms. Faith Vogel
[email protected]
16113 Saint Croix Circle Huntington Beach, CA 92649 Constituent Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected]
1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:32 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Meeting

From: Brandi Desso <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:37 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Meeting

Good morning,

My name is Brandi Desso Wertheimer and I am a citizen of Huntington Beach and proud parent of my two children. I am writing to show my support for amendments 19, 20 and 21. Anything to do with protecting our children is our duty. My full support.

Thank you,

Brandi Desso Wertheimer

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:33 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: HB Public Library - Porn Pushers

From: Melissa Hill <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 5:12 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: HB Public Library ‐ Porn Pushers

Please stop the HB Public Library from peddling porn to our children! Whoever condones this (even down to the librarian) are pedophiles!

Vote to give parents back their rights!

Thank you!

Melissa Hill

Mother of two pre-teens
1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:33 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW:

From: Rosie & Patrick Higuera <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 8:17 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject:

People in power should stand up for the most vulnerable, especially children. This aggressive pornographic lewdness has no place anywhere near innocent children!! Our world is going to hell in a hand basket and fast!! What will you do? Evil progresses just like the Nazi Final Solution because good, decent people (especially pastors and elected officials)stand by and do nothing. Not taking a stand against evil is standing WITH evil.

Complacency is to be complicit.

Please take a STAND!! The children are looking for heroes, will you be their hero?

Rosie the Rebel
1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:33 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW:

From: Peggy Donati <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 8:13 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject:

There books should be only in a porn store of better yet burned, this is discussing!! They should not be in any school

Get Outlook for Android
1 Moore, Tania
From: Nancy Garafalo <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:36 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: 2023-41 Children’s Books
I am a resident of HunƟngton Beach. I am opposed to establishing a commiƩee to review children’s books prior to their purchase for “sexual content”. Children are constantly exposed to various levels “sexual content” in our society, for example, on the internet. I think that having books that can be checked out at the library that explain real facts to children are healthy and should conƟnue to be purchased for children as they are now.

Having a commiƩee of 21 to review books could slow down the purchase of any new books as there are no speciﬁc guidelines for the commiƩee. Parents will lose their ability to choose the books at the library that they want their children to read.

Sent from my iPhone

1 Moore, Tania
From: CheryleJohnston <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:37 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Council Resolution 2023-41
I am a citizen of Huntington Beach and a member of the HB Public Library. I am also an attorney. I oppose Res. No. 2023‐41. I endorse the opposition by the Library. I do not want anyone, esp, a member of the government, deciding what I can read.

Sent from Mail for Windows

1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:38 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: H.b

From: DV8 Shoes <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 5:54 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: H.b

H.B city officials need to stop acting like nazzis or bend to nazzi mentality groups who like burning or banning books. and now these conservative groups hide behind religions to impose their views on other people we do not live in the Islamic Republic of Iran or North Korea where small groups of people force others to accept their beliefs or lifestyle.

If they don't like the books in public libraries, no problem just have them open their own liberty and have their kids go there

Sender notified by
Mailtrack
10/16/23, 05:41:08 PM

1 Moore, Tania
From: Kristy List <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:38 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: City library book censoring

Good Morning Mayor Strickland and City Councilmembers,

My name is Kristy List and I am an HB resident and voter for over 20 years, as well as a regular city library patron. My daughters are students in OVSD and avid young readers. While I understand the concern of Councilmember VanDermark that not all books in the library are appropriate for children, or even young adults, I feel strongly that it is not appropriate for the City Attorney, or any city councilmember for that matter, to determine which books are appropriate. I value that choice as a parent and as an American citizen.

While looking into this matter, I have discovered that there is already a process in place at our library for book review of any material that is concerning.

Furthermore, withdrawing from the American Library Association is an extreme and unnecessary step, especially when the council could be addressing many more relevant matters pertaining to the city.

Thank you for your consideration,

Kristy List
1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:38 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 7:06 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41

Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Dear City Council,
As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023-41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you,
Sincerely,
Mrs. Nicole Mahar
[email protected]
9331 Cloudhaven Dr. Huntington Beach, CA 92646 Constituent Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected]
1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:39 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Upcoming City Council Vote

‐‐‐‐‐Original Message‐‐‐‐‐
From: Richard Rudolph <rrudolph@rcaƩorneys.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 6:50 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Upcoming City Council Vote

1. Stop your book ban. Stop acƟng like the Nazis.

2. Stop trying to put up barriers to people voƟng.

HB does not have a problem with its elecƟons, so stop creaƟng a ﬁcƟƟous problem to cure by making it harder for people to exercise their consƟtuƟonal rights.

3. Stop bringing us your culture wars. We don’t want them here you MAGA fascists.

Richard Rudolph
30+ yr HB resident

Sent from my mobile device.
1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:39 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Agenda item #20

From: Kathy McGuire <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 6:47 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Agenda item #20

I oppose Agenda item #20. There is no problem with inappropriate sexual materials being supplied to children by our libraries. This is a book banning proposal by people who claim to represent freedom but who take away the freedom from parents to choose what their children read.

Vote no on Agenda item #20.

Thank you,
Kathy McGuire
1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:39 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Tonight’s meeting

‐‐‐‐‐Original Message‐‐‐‐‐
From: Linda Rose <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 6:46 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Tonight’s meeƟng

Dear council members,

1. Why are you overriding parents with a commiƩee to decide what children can read? You object to the state telling us
to proceed with a housing element yet you are telling parents how to monitor their own children? Did you do a poor job raising your own children so you must intercede parents? How many of you have a masters degree in library science? I trust librarians and parents, why don’t you?

2. Where is your regard for educaƟon? The city clerk has major and important responsibiliƟes. Why reduce the qualiﬁcaƟons to fulﬁll this posiƟon?

3. A special elecƟon in March to change the voƟng rules ? Why? Has there been fraud in our city in the past? This will this inƟmidate voters and cost taxpayers about $500,000. That money could be spent more wisely on a housing element! Please Listen to the ciƟzens in HB!
Linda Rose (40 year homeowner in HB).

Sent from my iPad

1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:39 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 6:42 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41

Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Dear City Council,
As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023-41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you,
Sincerely,
Mrs. Renee Pelkey
[email protected]
15812 Tullow Lane Huntington Beach, CA 92647 Constituent Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected]
1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:39 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 6:40 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41

Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Dear City Council,
I voted for you. As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023-41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you,
Sincerely,
Adam Bock
[email protected]
19058 Delaware Street Huntington Beach, CA 92648 Constituent Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected]
1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:41 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 5:28 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41

Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Dear City Council,
As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023-41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. Librarians are trained and vetted professionals with Master’s Degrees to perform this job of vetting and procuring books for the library. I’ve witnessed first- hand this complicated vetting process from my Mother. The detail, scouring of the reading, and prioritizing comes from educational training that Librarians processed through while obtaining their degree. Secondly, then a parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials.

We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it, and support the professionalism of Librarians. Thank you,
Sincerely,
Debbi Fort
[email protected]
7311 Coho Drive Unit 104 Huntington Beach, CA 92648 Constituent Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected]
1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:41 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 5:25 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <city.council@surfcity‐hb.org> Subject: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023‐41

Re: Reject Censorship, Reject Resolution 2023-41
Dear City Council,
As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am writing to ask you to vote against Resolution 2023-41, which would establish a policy to review library materials for sexual content. A parent is the person best suited to make decisions about what their child does or does not read, but the proposed ordinance would take that right away from many parents in our community by limiting what is available in the public library. It would also make the city, not parents, the ultimate arbiter on library materials. We trust our trained library staff. The library does not carry obscene materials or make them available to young readers. The policies in the ordinance are poorly defined and overly burdensome and expensive; the city will need to hire extra staff to implement and enforce them. The city may also open itself up to a costly lawsuit if the policy goes into effect and members of the community sue because they don’t think their children have been protected or that their rights have been violated. The policy is both unwanted and unneeded. Please support the rights of parents and children in our community by voting against it. Thank you,
Sincerely,
Ms. Cherie Smith
[email protected]
917 Alabama st 3 Huntington Beach, CA 92648 Constituent Prepared by OneClickPolitics (tm) at www.oneclickpolitics.com. OneClickPolitics provides online communications tools for supporters of a cause, issue, organization or association to contact their elected officials. For more information regarding our policies and services, please contact [email protected]
1 Moore, Tania
From: Levin, Shannon
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:41 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Item #20

City Council/Public Financing AuthorityOctober 17, 2023

City Council/Public Financing Authority
October 17, 2023