I'm sure y'all know about this meeting to discuss the budget, and I know many of you plan to be there to advocate for people struggling with homelessness. What I'm not sure you know is that library resources & services that homeless people rely on are in real jeopardy in this budget.

The Tacoma Public Library was told to cut 7.5% of their budget - amounting to over 20 jobs. No other city department was asked to make such deep cuts. Those cuts will be reflected in reduced services and hours of operation.

Our union rep wrote to the City and part of what she said is germane to this discussion: "As the rest of the City only sees 11 proposed layoffs, these members are confused about why their library, an important institution in their community that is experiencing higher demand for services now more than pre-pandemic, is seeing more proposed layoffs than the rest of the City combined, even after dozens of these workers took a 12-week furlough to save the City almost $1 million."

As advocates for the homeless population of Tacoma, I hope you will consider supporting us tonight at the meeting, and signing this petition created by union members: 

Salud y Soldaridad,

Peach McDouall

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