I did not speak English as I was growing up. My parents came here from Mexico and while my father quickly learned English by going to night school, my mom had not been here very long when I was born and she was just learning English herself. I recall that she took ESL classes from a group of nuns at a local church.
My parents knew that English proficiency was key to surviving in this country. So while my parents spoke to me in Spanish most of the time, my mom made me watch Sesame Street and the Electric Company on TV. Other TV programs I recall watching were Captain Kangaroo and something called “Hobo Kelly.”
But TV can only do so much. My mom started taking me to public libraries when I entered Kindergarten. And something clicked. At the time we were attending Seventh Day Adventist churches. That particular religion is very much focused on reading the Bible. By the 2nd grade I had read the entire King James Bible, cover to cover. I then got bored and moved on to other religions. By the 4th grade I had read most of the adult books at my local library in the Greek, Roman and Norse mythology sections. And my teachers began to give me negative grades for writing in archaic English! And I was banned from my school’s annual spelling bee after the 4th grade when I kept beating everyone, including the 8th graders. I still mispronounced a lot of words, but I knew how to spell them and I knew what they meant.
I eventually began to write in modern English but by then I was absolutely hooked on reading. I could not read enough. I would read everything I could get my hands on. When we visited my dad’s mother I would read all the National Geographic magazines in her house. And all the Reader’s Digest magazines too.
I started reading the newspaper too. My dad loved sports – at the time I followed the Dodgers but that was about it. But I devoured the rest of the newspaper on a daily basis. And I still kept up my Spanish. My parents used to buy me little comic books in Spanish – and I realized that if you can speak Spanish you can read it with ease.
By the time I got to high school I was reading science fiction. A friend of mine used to bring me a different sci-fi book every two or three days. I read the entire Dune series in one week (at the time there were three very thick volumes in that series).
My experience with libraries is why I am such a huge library advocate. Today in the City of Los Angeles there are over 70 public libraries. In Santa Ana we have one public library and one learning center. That’s it for a city with over 400,000 residents. Is it just me or is that CRAZY?
Our city has a largely Latino population – and we have a lot of Asian immigrants too. We are vastly underserving our community – and this is a population that really needs libraries.
The answer you hear from City Council members and Mayor Miguel Pulido is that we just don’t have the money to open more public libraries. Duh! We can’t afford to open more traditional libraries, so why even try do to so?
The answer, in my estimate, is to open “Micro-Libraries.” Here’s how I envision this plan working:
- The Micro-Libraries would make use of the empty storefronts in our city. We could negotiate cheap rent from the landlords as these Micro-Libraries would bring badly needed foot traffic to their shopping centers.
- We can open Micro-Libraries strategically all over the city, so that folks can walk to them.
- A Micro-Library would not try to be a regular library. It would feature a selection of modern reading material for all ages, but primarily for schoolchildren. And there would be 5 to 10 computer stations in each Micro-Library as well as free wireless Internet service.
- One way to keep the budget low would be to NOT hire librarians to staff these Micro-Libraries. Instead the plan would be to hire one or two adults who would not need advanced education and then staff out the library with high school and junior college students. And volunteers. Anyone can learn to sort books – you don’t need a library degree to run a Micro-Library. And our local high school and junior college students need meaningful part time jobs.
- When librarians would be needed, they could be accessed from a computer workstation via Instant Mail. The librarians at the Main Library could easily fill this role.
- The Micro-Libraries would NOT need much in the way of reference books. Not when you can go online and get whatever you need. For free.
- But let’s say that a student needed a book not offered in the Micro-Library. No problem. The book would be ordered from the Main Library. A daily courier would bring the books from the Main Library to the Micro-Libraries on a daily basis.
- You could easily staff the Micro-Libraries with one or two people. The computers would be highly secured. The city could install video cameras, for cheap, and monitor the Micro-Libraries from the Main Library via online security programs.
We CAN solve the library crisis in Santa Ana – we could open a dozen of these Micro-Libraries next year. It would not cost much. We could prevail on our business community to sponsor the Micro-Libraries. I bet we could get most of the computers donated. Would the Micro-Libraries make a difference? You bet.
How many little kids out there in our big city are waiting for “something to click” and not getting the opportunity? Pulido has been in office for over 20 years and almost NOTHING has been done to improve our library system. Why? Not because we can’t but because we lack the political will to make this happen.
If you are waiting for our current City Council members and Mayor to get creative, don’t hold your breath. But throughout the next week I am going to offer suggestions on how to solve other problems in our city. I have a plan that WILL solve our shopping cart problem -at NO public expense. I have a plan to increase our police presence in our city by 50% for MUCH less than you would think. And I have a plan to attack our graffiti problem too.
My critics say I am just a blogger. But the reality is I am not a career politician. I am a creative thinker and thinking creatively is what we need in this city. We CAN get out of the hole we are in. But not by doing the same things that have not been working for the last 20 years. Doing the same thing, that does not work, and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. It is time to stop the insanity in Santa Ana!
I agree with you Art,if these kids had a place to read and dream. A place to learn and volunteer a place to be safe.
I love this story, libraries are among my favorite memories as a kid, and from Thomas’ past posts I know it’s an important thing for both you and Michele to tackle – to win, and for literacy!
Your story of reading reminds me so much of mine – except ha! there’s a little flaw in it. Sesame Street didn’t come out till you and I were ten or so. I remember watching my little sisters watch it, and being pissed off that I didn’t have anything that good when I was a kid – I did watch Captain Kangaroo (which had Mr. Green Jeans, and a puppet caterpillar that sang the Minute Waltz) and Hobo Kelly (who could see you in your living room!) Also, Sherrif John had a good song in “Put Another Candle on my Birthday Cake.”
And I also moved from the Bible to Greek mythology in first grade, with everyone else thinking I was weird… Let’s get the word out in SA about micro-libraries, ese.
Hey Lisann, Art says we know each other?
All Santa Ana schools have libraries and computer labs, unfortunately most of them will be understaffed this school year due to “budget cuts.” Many books will remain on shelves and not in the hands of the students where they should be. Many students will not have access to these resources during the school day much less after school. The resources are there, they just need to be staffed and made available to the residents of Santa Ana. Some “creative thinking” between the city and SAUSD could make this happen!
#3,
True. In fact I suggested that last year. But one big problem – perhaps two. One, the school libraries are not open to the general public. Our young adults and adults need help too!
Two, the SAUSD just fired most of their instructional aides and librarians as I understand it.
And a third problem – we have the worst school board in Orange County and perhaps the most crooked and inept school administration.
So the City is going to have to fix this problem. I think my idea will work. Why not try it?
Vern,
According to Wikipedia, Sesame Street debuted on Nov. 10, 1969. I debuted on August 12, 1967. So it is quite possible that I did watch it while growing up.
But I also grew up with a younger brother and a much younger sister. So perhaps my memories of Sesame Street date back to when they used to watch it.
I do distinctly recall watching the other programs, and Mister Rogers too.
Yes, we can solve Santa Ana’s library shortage and the first step is to elect Art Pedroza to the city council and vote OUT Miguel Pulido.
Today’s Times had a lovely story about a small and historic neighborhood tucked alongside the city’s Civic Center. The writer captured the charm of this area and the pride and dedication of its residents. Unfortunately, the article ended by citing the academic performance of the schools that serve this community. Any responsible parent would shy away from “investing” in this neighborhood because the schools suck.
Some will claim it’s the caliber of the students that attend these schools. And while some of the schools failure can be attributed to its students, the major failure falls on the Board of Education and SAUSD’s administration. SAUSD’s steady decline is nearing two decades and that leaves many wondering – why hasn’t there been a fervent commitment to turn the tide?
I have come to the conclusion that there are certain individuals that want to perpetuate the educational slide of this community. I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that Miguel Pulido’s
reign on the council parallels the school districts decay. Pulido continues to ravage this community because he has found the perfect scapegoats – the Hispanic community – and the ideal supporters – the remaining white residents.
Everyone needs to ask this question — who benefits the most from the decline of Santa Ana?
Vote Pedroza Nov. 4
#3 George,
All schools in Santa Ana do not have computer labs, but the kids in the injunction areas (Santa Anita) are not in the SAUSD. We are in the Garden Grove School District. We are not allowed to access the computers at Spurgeon School because they are funded through a grant by the Gates Foundation for Santa Ana not Garden Grove School District. If we were considered in the decision by The Gates Foundation to help out these kids in the Santa Anita Area when they put these computers at Spurgeon School, then that is a fraud because we do not get to access these computers. We are not allowed to use them because they are funded by the School District. The only way these kids can share in Santa Ana’s prosperity is by giving some of the grants to the Park’s and Recreations Department so that all kids have access to city funded programs and will not be cut out of the equation. Instead the Police Agencies, get the grants for more probation officers, police enforcement, gang enhancements, and citations for injunctions. These things have to change. I feel that after school programs and schools close to home with pocket libraries and parks, would be a good start. You Go Art! I am also a dreamer to Good things to come in Santa Ana. We also have to have people in the specific wards become involved to sit on these committees. How can someone in Ward 3, sit on a committee to represent Ward 5?
Vern, we probably do know each other from somewhere.
Ah, you’re younger than I thought! I didn’t know Cap’n Kangaroo and Hobo Kelly lasted into the 70s though.
Vern, I’m 52 years old and I used to watch these program when I was little. during the 60’s lol.
I sent my child to the Tustin Parks and Rec Summer Camp this summer (of course, Santa Ana didn’t have one available for preschoolers). They sent him home with an application for a County Library Card. I filled it out, sent it back with him the next day and he received his card in the mail one week later. The card came with information about all of the libraries and events and activities available for children. Why doesn’t the Santa Ana library work more like this? Our city chooses not to be a part of the County Library system, so shouldn’t they be providing as much, if not more, than the county?
#10
Pulido is NOT interested in serving the community he represents. Pulido is interested in courting dandy developers who blaze into town with the hopes of making him rich/er.
Pulido has served too long on the city council. During that time one library has closed, the bookmobile program was shelved and no libraries have been built to serve the county’s largest and youngest city. But, Pulido wants to move forward with plans to transform Santa Ana into a premier chess center.
When a leader’s priorities are out of whack, like Pulido’s, it’s time to remove him from office. All voters should heed the call and remove Miguel “Miguelito” Pulido from office on Nov. 4.
Art. are you running for city council to represent Ward 3 ? Doesn’t Ward 3 include FLORAL PARK? Don’t you despise and deride all things FLORAL PARK? How CAN you represent a Ward and not want the best for it’s residents? As a Floral Park resident [and one who supports neither Pulido or Bustamante ] I cannot see why YOU should [or for that matter, would want to ] represent Ward 3. Just curious. I do agree on the need for more libraries but one good issue is not enough to balance out all your other paranoid and crazy rantings.
Pocket parks and liabraries sound real good to me.
Who is going to estimate the costs and figure the amount of bonding needed and which properties need to be taken to provide for these items?
a 1/4 percent melo-ruse tax would cost the avg homeowner about 1200 a year. Big projects like OBP would pay 800 thousand per year at 1/4 percent.
#12-floral park resident,
Have you seen all the graffiti in your neighbor lately?
Does your current Councilmember represent you?
Are you tired of all the traffic, crime, falling property values?
None of us despise Floral Park, we just think that if Pulido and Bustamante and the rest spent as much time and money on the rest of the city as they did in Floral Park, maybe we might have a lot better neighborhoods citywide.
Floral Park is an asset to Santa Ana that we are all proud of.
Bustamante also represents parts of Santa Anita, where there is a gang injunction in place, nightly gunfire, graffiti glore. What’s he done over there?
It’s just time for change.
Cook,
What if instead of making the homeowners pay more taxes, we shift our priorities around?
What if we made developers contribute the millions we make them spend on public art to a fund to be used for parks and libraries?
Does our community get more benefit from public art or a park or library?
Maybe it’s time to re-evaluate our needs vs our wants?
#12,
I think Thomas explained the issue fairly well. I have nothing against Floral Park – but it is NOT fair that because of Pulido that neighborhood gets favorable treatment. ALL our neighborhoods should be treated fairly.
And I live in Park Santiago, which IS a big part of Ward 3 too, in case you did not know.
The fact is, our city is falling apart and we need Council members who have new ideas. When was the last time you heard a new idea from any of the Council incumbents that was worth pursuing?
Cook,
We do not need to buy any storefronts. We can lease them – and do so for cheap. Landlords would be happy to fill their empty slots with Micro-Libraries that will bring families to their shopping centers.
Equal access to a free and equal education should include libraries and enough people to staff them at the level that attracts and educates our children in every community. While on vacation I heard that in Oregon they improved all of their libraries then shuttered them for lack of money to operate them, a brilliant example of our current leader’s priorities, yet we can literally throw money into the streets in Bagdhad and reduce taxes for the wealthiest of our citizens (who are concentrating the wealth of our country into fewer and fewer hands every year) without consequence. We’ve gotten a long way from our foundations I think. The role of our government has always been to level the playing field by guaranteeing equal access, big business has done a great job changing that but I think its shortsighted.
Lisann querida, you did not watch Sesame Street in the 60s.
Art, your mention of the TV show “The Electric Company” brought back great memories! My best friend at that time was actor/writer Paul Dooley who has since become a well-known TV/Film star (google him!) Paul, along with two produers, created the original pilot, and he went on to be head writer. I was with him as he created the characters, such as Easy Reader–the word junkie– (played by Morgan Freeman) and Julia Grownup, Child Chef.
He wrote the first 100 episodes of the soap opera parody, “Love of Chair.” I still remember it!
(Organ music)
Love of Chair.
Can a boy on a small chair in a big room
Find happiness as a short stop in the long run?
As our story begins …
(Printed on screen for reading)
The boy is sitting.
See the boy sitting.
Boy, is he sitting!
(end print)
Will the boy keep sitting?
Will the boy get up?
How do you like my get up?
And…
What about Naomi?
(Naomi Foner was the associate producer of the show and had the office next to Paul’s. She is also known as Jake Gyllenhaal’s mom.)
Art,
The excuse given “the city does not have money for libraries” is an embarrassing excuse and more importantly a clear example of mismanagement.
Other cities have money for libraries. Santa Ana not havign the funds is mismanagement plain and simple.
The Hispanic community is the direction the mismanagement is set to.
The city’s residents should not be concerned with finding and suggesting ways to fund them. The residents should undersatnd the mismanagement and replace those responsible.
Art L. –
We have a broader plan to bring more education to Santa Ana’s families. Adding libraries is only part of it.
For our next proposal, we’ll be announcing a completely new and totally unique concept to bring information to the people instead of vice-versa.
We should be posting more information about it here on OJ within the next 2 weeks.
SMS