From: Carol Daus
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: Agenda Item #7, 26-403
Date: Monday, May 4, 2026 9:08:11 AM
Dear Mayor McKeon and City Council Members,
In regards to your discussion related
to Agenda Item #7, Closed Session, 26-403, many of us
Huntington beach residents question your rationale of possibly appealing the legal fee payment to the ACLU, First Amendment Coalition and associated attorneys (about $1 million) when you won't accept the generous $825,000 grant from the Friends of the Huntington Beach Public Library. The vast majority of the public views the 50+-year Friends of the Library as a pillar of our community, and yet you unfortunately view them as an adversary. This grant money would be spent on much-needed books for the library, which benefits the community at large. It doesn't make sense to fret over the space they occupy at the
library (gift shop/used
books), since it's those two entities that not only raise significant funds for our city, they are beloved by residents.
Plus FOTL is willing to pay rent, so why don't you work out an acceptable MOU?
If you're so concerned about
paying expensive legal fees, why do you keep pursuing litigation that can't win in the city's favor, whether it involves the library, housing, sanctuary city, etc?
You keep proposing ways to make money for the city, such as ending fluoridation of drinking water, merchandising/branding HB, selling liquor at the Sports Complex, Festival of Flowers, etc but you refuse to take a generous donation from a group that has supported the city for decades? You drag out costly lawsuits that can't be won?
I urge you to be more fiscally
responsible when making decisions that impact Huntington Beach citizens. You are not a political organization, nor is the Friends of the HB Library.
Thanks,
Carol Daus
Huntington Beach resident
SUPPLEMENTAL COMMUNICATION - Meeting Date: 5/5/2026 Item No. 7 (26-403)