Fresno Supervisor Bredefeld’s push to privatize library is distressing | Opinion

Supervisors entertain bad idea

“Library staff blocked from Fresno Pride event by majority of county supervisors,” (fresnobee.com, May 12)

I am distressed that the Fresno County Board of Supervisors is considering privatizing the county library system.

If history is a guide, the board will outsource the administration of the system to a private company, as other counties (e.g. Santa Clarita and Escondido) have already done. These companies have questionable track records for providing quality library services. They achieve savings chiefly through compensation and benefit reduction, and by centralizing the acquisition process.

The downside to this outsourcing is rampant staff turnover, lower service quality, less attention to local community needs and zero fiscal transparency. The lack of financial transparency and accountability is the worst aspect of these companies. Santa Clarita County ultimately rescinded their contract and reverted to running the system itself.

Privatization is not cost-effective. The board should address its fiscal mismanagement, reduce funding on frivolous items and stop wasting time on resolutions supporting Bredefeld’s anti-LGBTQ agenda.

Douglas Kliewer

Reedley

More censorship from Bredefeld

“Library staff blocked from Fresno Pride event by majority of county supervisors,” (fresnobee.com, May 12)

Being a long-time resident of Fresno County, I am very much opposed to Supervisor Garry Bredefeld’s attempt to privatize the Fresno County Public Library system. Our libraries need to be open and available to everyone in our county.

I have fond memories from growing up of visiting the Book Mobile and the Main Library with my siblings. Every resident of our county has the right of access to every book and source of help and information provided by our library system.

Non-partisan public funding is key to expanded staff and library hours. Political, personal or corporate agendas have no part in trying to control and limit our library.

This move by Bredefeld is merely another example of censorship and banning books.

Jeffrey R. Nennig

Fresno

Supporting unhoused youth

“First person: Heartache of a young Fresnan trying to find a rental she can afford | Opinion,” (fresnobee.com, July 21, 2023)

Recently, I have seen more unhoused youth around grocery stores and other places.

It would be great to have local employers set up a program to train these individuals in learning new skills so that they have a shot at leading a decent life. I urge the City of Fresno to take the initiative to plan programs especially geared toward foster children that age out of the system, as well as other youth unhoused.

We could also set up an assistance and information center, where unhoused youth can call or walk in to get assistance. Alternatively, mobile units with clothing, food and other supplies could also move around the region.

Anuradha Gajaraj-Lopez

Clovis

A better life

“Retired Fresno Unified teacher needs kidney. ‘I feel there’s a lot of good I can still do’,” (fresnobee.com, Nov. 12, 2024)

I was 16 when I started dialysis. I spent 17.5 years in treatment before receiving a transplant nearly 10 years ago. But a transplant isn’t a cure — it’s another type of treatment for my kidney failure, one that still requires lifelong medications, labs and procedures.

Even with coverage, I’ve seen how hard it can be for patients to access treatments they need. Too many people I’ve met on this journey, including those in my local kidney support group, struggle to get therapies that could improve their quality of life, like treatments for pruritus, anemia, phosphorous control or infection prevention. These complications may sound minor, but they can lead to hospitalizations, suffering and even death.

That’s why I’m urging Congressman Vince Fong to support the Kidney Care Access Protection Act. This bipartisan bill would ensure dialysis patients can access the latest treatments and that clinics can keep their doors open in communities that need them.

We cannot change the fact that we have kidney disease. But you can help change the system to give us a better quality of life.

Jennifer McClung

Springville