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August 4, 2010· scvtalk.com · WordPress (SCVTalk 3.0) · Wayback capture

Library Censorship – is it a real concern?

By Jeff — Jeff Wilson

In the ongoing debate over whether the City of Santa Clarita should takeover the three County libraries in town, there has been a subdued but consistent undercurrent of concern about the City possibly censoring books in its collection.

Normally, I’d laugh such concerns off. Come on, does anyone really believe that if the City succeeded in taking over our libraries that they might start a banned book list? Really?

I know we’re not New York City here, but we’re also not Paintlick, Kentucky; we’re way more sophisticated and cosmopolitan than that!

But then I thought of the last year in SCV news and politics. Consider:

  • The City Council’s support for a set of hard-right immigration policies to appease the mob prior to the council election in the wake of Kellargate. Their action foreshadowed by months the latest Congressional GOP fad: questioning the 14th Amendment and the “Birthright” clause
  • Bob Kellar, sponsor of “In God We Trust” on the wall in the Council Chambers, hasn’t exactly been shy about using his office to promote moral causes
  • Last fall, Hart District parents protested the District’s literature list because some  books had “vulgar language and sexual accounts”
  • We’re not that far from Lancaster where the Mayor declared the City of Lancaster a “Christian kingdom.” I’ve often said we could swing either way- North County Crazy or LA Cosmopolitan
  • Elements of the local Tea Party movement have been very forward about their belief that the separation of church and state is a mistake, that God belongs in the classroom and in the governing halls of power. You know the line, you’ve heard it a million times, but some in the local Tea Party movement are very open about it
  • There is a long history of banning books in the otherwise freedom-loving USA
  • While at Hart high school, I had a friend whose parents were very religious; I’ll never forget that when I borrowed a Clancy-esque techno-thriller book from that friend, his mom had already read it and blanked out curse words and tore out an entire chapter of the book that talked about the protagonist having sex. True story.
  • Let’s just say I’m not sure about Laurie Ender’s commitment to freedom of information

Considering all that, I’m upgrading the threat of censorship of library books by the City from “laughable” to “possible, but not probable.” Why? It’s not hard to imagine some Facebook-powered group of parents in the future (Perhaps calling themselves something suitably 20th Century and creepy, like the SCV League for the Prevention of Vice, or SCVLPV for short) spontaneously forming and appearing at a Council meeting to ask the City to remove certain books from its collection.

And it’s not hard to imagine the City Council buckling under the pressure, as they have so many times in the past.

Like I said, possible, but not probable.

On the other hand, I’m encouraged by the reaction of Santa Claritans to an April Fools prank a few years ago. TimBen Boydston’s Canyon Theater Guild ran an ad in The Signal on April 1, inviting residents to come to Old Town Newhall to burn objectionable books. The ad was meant to excite people about Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451 and a city reading event, but it resulted in “dozens of mystified, angry calls” flooding city hall and the Canyon Theater Guild, protesting the book burning.

Comments (44)

  1. navigatorAugust 4, 2010 at 8:42 am
    Catch 22 was banned in America?
  2. Tim MyersAugust 4, 2010 at 8:56 am
    I would put this risk as low for the following reasons. Cranks luckily always try to ban books that are extremely popular because they crave a reaction (witness the perennial efforts to ban Harry Potter and The Wizard of Oz), otherwise people just scratch their heads and stare if they go against less well known works. I can’t see a scenario where a majority of City Council members would want to take the personal risk of being painted as dimwits and yahoos by voting for a ban. HOWEVER, because the City Council is accessible and close one can be sure the cranks will periodically show up to raise their objections, for great entertainment value. Maybe Chris Lim can set up appointments for financial consulting in the back of the Chambers?
  3. WalkerAugust 4, 2010 at 9:03 am
    I’m as big a conspiracy theorist as the next guy, but I can’t see this being a legitimate concern.
  4. cashAugust 4, 2010 at 9:37 am
    Het Alan F. I’ll pay 3 months rent on the room if you will take an even stronger approach to challenging the City Staff and Council. Cash
  5. Alan FerdmanAugust 4, 2010 at 10:12 am
    Cash Let’s talk. Give me a call. 713-9344
  6. cashAugust 4, 2010 at 11:14 am
    Done!
  7. Berta González-HarperAugust 4, 2010 at 11:15 am
    Cash, it is not about challenging City Council or Staff. Al is free to challenge anyone about anything as an individual. So am I. Al is not free to usurp the credibility the CCAC once had, my right to have MY opinion voiced and formally recognized via the voting process as established by CCAC rules before stating any official position, and a fair and balanced discussion of the issue (s) before a vote of eligible members determines any position. He does not have the right to present his personal position as MINE, ignore meeting rules and norms, or ratified policies. HE and other members have no authority to hand pick any sub-committee in an effort to exclude dissenting opinion. He has no authority to hold CCAC meetings by invitation only in undisclosed locations and exclude ANY Canyon Country resident from a discussion on any topic pertaining to Canyon Country. He does not represent ALL of Canyon Country and has NO authority to infer he does. The City and Canyon Country residents, including me, founded the CCAC in partnership. Our founding guiding principle was as a community group to facilitate a BETTER working relationship with the City and other stakeholders. Our Vision was to PROMOTE COLLABORATION and work TOGETHER to make Canyon Country a better place. Our Mission is to provide a forum for ALL INTERESTED CANYON COUNTRY RESIDENTS to provide input on issues important to US and advise the City on what WE collectively AGREE is important to US as a community not Newhall, Saugus, Valencia, and parts beyond. The City as the governing body decides what action is taken or denied, not Al or even the entire CCAC.
  8. Berta González-HarperAugust 4, 2010 at 11:16 am
    Oh and Cash, all I can say is you had better have deep pockets baby. You need rent money, at least a couple million dollars worth of insurance to indemnify the City against losses, and a buff Deputy or two to keep order and ensure public safety at CCAC meetings. Then of course there also is me…The gloves are off. My life has been threatened and my rights denied by Ferdman and friends. In my opinion, the City is being very prudent in breaking ties with the CCAC and protecting taxpayer dollars. You should be thanking city leaders on this issue instead of criticizing.
  9. GrantAugust 4, 2010 at 12:04 pm
    I think the City made the right decision to sever CCAC ties. Making back-room deals like giving funds in exchange for positions is unethical and morally wrong.
  10. cashAugust 4, 2010 at 12:21 pm
    Backroom deals! How about you take a look at the multimillion dollar 21 point plan and how that came to be. Or the 200K of taxpayer money Bill Kennedy, CEO, (also a planning commissioner) talked the city out of to fund the new SCV business development agency. Take a look at who is benefiting from the enterprise zone give away. The links on all involved is clear, you only need do the research. There is more if you pay attention.
  11. GrantAugust 4, 2010 at 12:40 pm
    If that is how you explain your rationale to do unethical things.
  12. cashAugust 4, 2010 at 12:42 pm
    ????. the point is that the city is corrupt not the ccac.
  13. cashAugust 4, 2010 at 1:58 pm
    I did not want my tax dollars going to the programs indicated above, but the good ole boys prevailed. I do what to support the ccac but Kenny did not. Kenny P. did not ask me in either case, hence my offer to support the ccac directly. It’s my money, not Kenny P’s.
  14. cashAugust 4, 2010 at 6:33 pm
    Make that Kenny the Scamp!
  15. Alan FerdmanAugust 4, 2010 at 1:03 pm
    Grant I will give you, or anyone else, the same information I offered to Cash. At present the CCAC does not have the mechanisms in place to take donations. In order to do so, the CCAC will have to file as 501c3 non-profit corporation. At such time as that action has taken place. Cash, you or anyone else will be free to donate the amount they feel is appropriate. Feel free to call me any time if you want to discuss the matter further.
  16. cashAugust 4, 2010 at 12:13 pm
    BGH, we all know that you are acting like a scorned woman. This city is corrupt and it good to know that Alan speaks for the taxpayers and not the special interests. I doubt you will ever see this as long as Weste strokes your hair for you! I thought you were smarter than that! Now that Ken has broken the ties (he is all about control, after all), perhaps Alan can speak even more freely. I do
  17. Berta González-HarperAugust 4, 2010 at 1:04 pm
    Cash, you are free to believe and express whatever you want. I am free to believe you are wrong. Your instinct to blame the City for everything YOU perceive as wrong and your personal feelings regarding me, are clouding your judgment on this issue. If you think that I am a “scorned woman”, then why do you not also consider that Al and friends are “sore losers” whose political platform of storming the citadel and raging against the City to benefit THEIR causes without concern for how any decision affects other residents, did not resonate with the majority of Santa Clarita voters? Alternatively, sore losers because Al and friends operating as a rogue committee lost whatever credibility they had as “spokesperson” for Canyon Country. I do not feel the need to manipulate perceptions and “causes” or insult and yell at Council Members. I do disagree with Council on certain issues and voice my opinion when I feel the need. Something you have criticized me for in the past. I like to maintain a cordial working relationship with all of my “partners” in any area of mutual interest such as municipal governance, even Al. So far I have enjoyed respectful dialogue with all City representatives whether we agree or not. I cannot say the same about Al and friends. As I said, you are going to need deep pockets Cash…
  18. cashAugust 4, 2010 at 1:27 pm
    BG-H, my position and opinion on the city is founded on personal, first hand, observation and research. “I like to maintain a cordial working relationship with all of my “partners” in any area of mutual interest such as municipal governance”… This is only true if they agree with you, without agreement your rough edge begins to show. Watch for the next stroking of your hair BG-H, Weste is very sly.
  19. Berta González-HarperAugust 4, 2010 at 2:26 pm
    Cash at the risk of repeating myself yet again, Laurene Weste, whether Al and I get along, my hair, etc are not the issue here. The issue is whether a rogue committee that has oversight by NO ONE, operates outside the bounds of ANY normal democratic meeting process, without allowing others the right to opine, while attempting to influence City policies and actions without the AUTHORITY to represent the area should be permitted to continue to do so AND be subsidized by taxpayer funds. In any other community or City, the answer is a resounding NO. If Mr. Ferdman were to attempt the same shenanigans as a member of Council, Planning, etc or as a City Staff member, you would be first in line to call for his ouster so be careful what you wish for. Sorry Cash, but you and others are being hypocritical. You do not appear to hold your “community leaders” to the same standards you hold City Council and staff.
  20. cashAugust 4, 2010 at 3:08 pm
    That is not the issue BG-H. The issue is that the city council and staff does not like to recieve opposing points of view or any challege that points up their shortcomings. So Kenny P., to bring Alan into line, ordered a hit on Alan. You should be outraged BH-G “NO ONE, operates outside the bounds of ANY normal democratic meeting process, without allowing others the right to opine, while attempting to influence City policies and actions………..” Oh really! BH_G you are really in the dark here. I suppose you think the standing meeting with the chamber of commerce and city staff just days before the scheduled council meeting, to review the agenda, is just fine. Other examples are endless! The city is corrupt and its ties to business/developers is way out of balance. Alan and a few other good citizens try to bring balance to the discussion. No need to repeat yourself, I know your MO. Your still pissed about the Community preservation issue! And you do not like to be told know!
  21. Berta González-HarperAugust 4, 2010 at 4:13 pm
    Again, Cash you can think what you like. You keep throwing out accusations about everyone at City Hall. I keep an open mind. Where is your proof? If actions you cite are illegal, why haven’t you brought in an attorney, judges to clean house? Right… If I am pissed off about anything, it is that some old cranky guy just like you usurped our committee. The Canyon Country Advisory Committee was founded to facilitate COOPERATION between Canyon Country residents, the City and other stakeholders. The collaborative partnership worked very well for years. That is until Al and friends decided they knew better and wanted to do their own thing without concern for founding principles, ratified rules, Mission or Vision Statements, or any vote to change those things. I understand why you and Al are so cozy. You both figure we are all so stupid we need you to tell us what our opinion is and what we should do. Al and friends can form another group and call it something else because Canyon Country and Advisory do not fit within his committee model. Is that showing my sharper edge?
  22. cashAugust 4, 2010 at 4:32 pm
    Changes is good BG-H. I am not a cranky guy, I just don’t like kool aid! Your certainly not stupid, you are just misinformed and too forgiving.
  23. cashAugust 4, 2010 at 4:17 pm
    “In any other community or City, the answer is a resounding NO”. You are one of the best scribes on this board, but your research fails to make the mark! The facts do not support your statement.
  24. Berta González-HarperAugust 4, 2010 at 7:03 pm
    Cash thanks for the compliment, I think. My facts do support my statements and I have hard copies to prove what I say. Look up Neighborhood Council’s on the internet and you will find I am correct. They are required to enumerate and adhere to a host of items including but not limited to: Consent to oversight by government agency officially recognizing, reporting requirements, adherence to government codes relating to Ethics, their actual Code of Conduct and Ethics Policy, By-Laws, meeting and membership rules, Grievance procedures, inclusive policy statement, area boundaries, term limits for officers, officer duties, and ability to deny committee recognition and/or withdraw charter/support by governing agency. There are many examples both nearby and in other areas. In fact, an officially recognized nearby Neighborhood Council recently had its charter revoked for less than what has occurred in this situation and they are presently trying to regroup with new board members. In addition, another Neighborhood Council had to wait to be officially recognized until all conditions were met. Yet another was recently placed on probation. Another had to make changes to By-Laws before being recognized, and so on. I have at least twelve examples. So go do your own research…
  25. cashAugust 4, 2010 at 7:18 pm
    So it is a process issue that has your feathers ruffled? This is an easy fix, but Kenny the Scamp did not offer Alan the opportunity for such a fix. Or did he? Looks like he just pulled the plug for political reasons to me.
  26. mikeAugust 4, 2010 at 8:44 pm
    So full of themselves, they don’t realize that their posts are too narrow to read. #wch
  27. cashAugust 4, 2010 at 12:35 pm
    BG-H, even you should know that there’s more than one way to skin a cat.
  28. DamageincAugust 4, 2010 at 3:58 pm
    Berta have you received a death threat?
  29. Berta González-HarperAugust 4, 2010 at 4:15 pm
    Several.
  30. cashAugust 4, 2010 at 4:33 pm
    Some biker gang not digging you.
  31. Berta González-HarperAugust 4, 2010 at 8:00 pm
    Cash, many opportunities were presented and requests made for Ferdman to make course corrections and get back on track. Because Of HIS ARROGANCE AND EGO, HE REFUSED. Too late now, since that train already left the station.
  32. DamageincAugust 4, 2010 at 9:40 am
    I don’t like to throw the N word around very much… But If you encourage the burning of books… you are a NAZI.
  33. AlpinerAugust 4, 2010 at 9:53 am
    Jeff, not going to happen here, no matter who is on the council and what they believe. Freedom is too cherished.
  34. DamageincAugust 4, 2010 at 12:06 pm
    Funny how quickly the liberty lovers change their tune when the books, TV shows or movies have an anti-christian/humanistic theme.
  35. AlpinerAugust 4, 2010 at 1:59 pm
    Have you ever seen this actually happen? Your proof…
  36. Saugus SplasherAugust 4, 2010 at 9:58 am
    We need a new thread entitled “City Library Hysterics – can it get more hysterical?” Jeff, you jumped the shark on this one, buddy. It’s like you first decided the city running the libraries is bad and now you’re trying to come up with every possible (and impossible) arguement against it. But to paraphrase Ronald Reagan, you “paid for this microphone” so you can say and spin any which way you can.
  37. IHeartSCVAugust 4, 2010 at 10:43 am
    I don’t think a bit of literary censorship would be such a bad thing; it would encourage more people to read books again, forbidden fruit being the most tempting.
  38. MikeAugust 4, 2010 at 10:48 am
    Sorry to challenge a cliché, but I think delicious fruits are the most tempting. I’m more concerned about the city having bad taste in fruit than banning fruit, but I could see either happening, but the latter is a remote chance. That said, if the city does indeed go ahead with taking control, I would really like to see this done concurrent with a resolution affirming a commitment to the first amendment and the free exchange of ideas.
  39. Fred ButlerAugust 4, 2010 at 11:01 am
    Geesh, Another hand-wringing scare piece about the impending fundamentalist dystopia about to engulf our freedom loving society. Give me a break. We have much more to fear from lefty progressives than a bunch of right-wingers.
  40. AlpinerAugust 4, 2010 at 2:01 pm
    Why not look to other “city” run libraries like Glendale or Pasadena and see if they have had any issues in this area before making such statements.
  41. JeffAugust 4, 2010 at 2:03 pm
    Because Santa Clarita is not like Glendale or Pasadena?
  42. DexterAugust 4, 2010 at 2:53 pm
    because you would not find one instance of a city pulling out of a county library system so they could ban books?
  43. CoastalSageAugust 4, 2010 at 8:44 pm
    Once fifteen or so years ago, I had a library card for the huge Santa Monica library. Tired of our tiny local LA City library’s selections, I spent several hours for a decent mystery story to take out and read. Unfortunately, the people who pick out the books for the Santa Monica library to buy seemed to specialize in weird, artsy “literature”, and I couldn’t find a decent book amount the tens of thousands in the giant building. So, to me, the practical comment is that the choice of what books are available at ANY library truly depends of the literary tastes of the person who controls the check book.
  44. spineflower2August 4, 2010 at 9:33 pm
    Book banning has happened in this valley in our schools. It will even moreso when a private company is involved. Only fools believe otherwise.

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