Measure L Passes
Among the several measures Los Angeles voters saw on the March 8th election ballot was the option to vote for or against Measure L. The measure proposed an amendment to the Charter to increase the General Fund to the Library Department from 0.0175 percent to 0.03 percent.
By Sarah Coe-Odess | March 15, 2011
Advocates of Measure L argued that this extra funding would help the Los Angeles public libraries reinstate more service hours, as well as buy more books and support more programs within the Los Angeles public library system.
The Los Angeles public libraries’ hours were previously cut significantly this past summer due to the city’s overall funding cuts. This angered many citizens, as well as making it harder for some people, especially students, to find time to get work done efficiently at the library, given the hour constraints.
Opponents to the measure claimed it would cause budget cuts in such departments as public safety as well as deeming the measure another "budgeting by ballot" measure.
The measure passed with over 63 percent of the vote. This charter amendment will allow the 72-branch public library system to have enough money to bring back its services to 2008 and 2009 levels. The Library Department estimates that this passed measure will generate 130 million dollars four years from now, in comparison with the 75.9 million dollars allotted to public libraries this year.
