LONG BEACH, Calif. \u2014 Long Beach is facing a $58 million budget gap, and on July 30 city officials released a budget proposal in an attempt to close that gap.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If that budget is approved, 263 city employees could be laid off and 220 unfilled positions would be eliminated.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Libraries would be one of the main organizations to see cuts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
According to the proposed budget, if passed, it would cut three vacant and 11 filled positions and decrease library hours from six to five days a week at five branches.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Those locations that would see hours cut would include Bay Shore, Burnett, El Dorado, Harte and Obama.<\/p>\n
IAM Local 1930 is the union that represents the Long Beach employees who could be impacted by potential cuts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sashi Muralidharan, representative for IAM Local 1930, said they will fight to keep every job that impacts their members and community.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe work with the city to find alternatives to layoffs, and we mobilize the members, and we try to mobilize the residents,\u201d Muralidharan said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In a statement sent to Spectrum News, the city said in part, \u201cThis challenging but essential action preserves library access across the city for the remaining five days, Tuesday through Saturday.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Director of the Department of Library, Arts and Culture Cathy De Leon sent a statement that said in part:<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are confident that together we can find a balanced path forward that reflects Long Beach\u2019s continued investment in education, opportunity, and community well-being.\u201d<\/p>\n