FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Contact: Rachel Johnson, 305.771.2167
Email: [email protected]

Libraries Win Hard Victory at County Budget Meeting

Thanks to weeks of hard work by public library advocates and allies, Miami-Dade county commissioners voted last night — at the end of an eight-hour-long meeting during which they heard from hundreds of community members — on a compromise that will use budgetary reserves to fully fund our library system this year.

This week, library advocates took on County Hall — and won.

After a long, hard fight for public libraries, the county commissioners finally heard us: 251 jobs, 22 libraries, two bookmobiles, and the core of the Miami-Dade public library system were saved in a late-night vote at the county budget meeting.

Hundreds of people took to the podium — during a meeting that lasted more than 8 hours — to speak powerfully and eloquently about the need to invest in our public libraries. Students, teachers, seniors, librarians, library staff, advocates, local mayors, and our own chair Annette Taddeo-Goldstein and executive director Juan Cuba all stressed the vital role of libraries in the life of the community.

Join one of our upcoming trainings on voter registration or our voter database (the VAN). Find dates and times and RSVP below.

Senator Dwight Bullard needs our help asking these Florida Representatives to call a hearing on the Stand Your Ground law during the first committee week (the week of September 23) or immediately after.

Starting Tuesday, September 10th, please call these two representatives:

Representative Matt Gaetz (850) 833-9328

Representative Dennis Baxley (352) 732-1313

We are delighted that Representative Sharon Pritchett was honored with the 2013 Service Award from Women Elected to Municipal Government (WEMG) in Florida.

At the award ceremony (August 16 in Orlando), Rep. Pritchett stressed the importance of supporting, uplifting and encouraging women of all walks of life and expressed her eagerness to make a significant and positive contribution to the constituents she represents in Florida House District 102.

Have you connected with the Miami Democratic Club in your area? 

Check out upcoming club meetings and get involved.

This week, the Miami-Dade Democratic Party steering committee unanimously passed a resolution urging Mayor Gimenez and our county commissioners to fully fund our public libraries by restoring the original proposed funding that would maintain services and operating hours.

The Mayor's new plan would lay off more than a third of all library staff and a fourth of operating hours — a move that would cripple the library system countywide.

RSVP here to attend the upcoming county commissioner meeting Tuesday, September 10th at 5 pm to express your support for Miami's public libraries.