Brentwood, CA – Carol McInerny, a thirty-year Brentwood resident, spoke to the Brentwood City Council about lack of progress in library construction at their meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 2015.
“I am a library patron who spends at least three days a week at the current library, and I have friends from Pleasant Hill and Concord who are absolutely dumbfounded when they see the $55 million, beautiful, civic center here, and right across the street in an old, outmoded, repurposed building, our library, with very little facilities when compared to cities around the county,” McInerny said.
“Our students need that (new) library, and I see the staff in the library struggling to accommodate the students, with very limited facilities. This is a ridiculous situation. I don’t want to use the word criminal, but our kids only grow up once, and years have gone by now. This is a languishing situation,” she said.
McInerny referred to a Guest Commentary published in the Brentwood News section of the East County Times on March 6, 2015, saying “I felt it was such a cogent and educational letter that I cut it out and sent it to the Brentwood Press.”
She described how the Guest Commentary parallels Brentwood’s population growth with the library history, and compares and contrasts our library accommodations with those of other Contra Costa County cities. The piece also suggests ways to fund the library, ways which seem to McInerny as very good ideas.
The Library Relocation-Phase II project is rated a “1E” priority level in the city’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) document, released earlier this month. 1E priority projects are described as being identified by the city council as “mandatory” and a “consensus priority.” The project is presently unfunded.
The City Council sets aside time at the early part of their meetings for comments from members of the public on subjects that are not associated with an agenda item. Because of California State law members of the Council and the Mayor are not allowed to address or respond to public comments. The meetings are at 7 pm on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month.
“I really hope that the council and mayor will consider the proposals” she said, referring again to the Guest Commentary, written by a member of the Brentwood Library Foundation, a 501c3 corporation formed in 2014.
“So I really hope that you’ll read his letter. It really built a fire under me when I read it. I’m aware, and I think most residents are aware, that things have stalled,” McInerny said.
“There’s just not anything happening. So please, don’t let it be stalled any longer,” she said.
About the Brentwood Library Foundation
The Brentwood Library Foundation is a non-profit IRS 501c3 public benefit corporation formed in 2014. Its mission is to support the Brentwood Library’s programs and services through advocacy, fundraising, and by building relationships with others who share a passion for the Library’s work, as well as to conduct a capital campaign to support the construction of a new library building.
If you would like to contribute financially to the BLF to energize the effort to build a new library in Brentwood, send your check to Dr. Shirley S. Peck, President and Fundraising Committee Chair, BLF, care of the Brentwood Library, 104 Oak Street, Brentwood, CA 94513.
The information was submitted via press release by the Brentwood Library Foundation
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Carol McInerny is right on!!! It is embarrassing Brentwood does not have a library equal to the grandeur of the civic center or that monstrosity of a parking garage.
It has been years since the library was promised. However, I think the lack of a quality library has much to do with how Brentwood, in general, values sports versus knowledge.