Simi Valley Soap Box

Council Woman Wants Library Banners

Teresa Rochester wrote in an article in the Ventura Star, “American flags wave from some of Simi Valley's light poles now, but in the future, banners heralding the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum would take their place, at least part of the time.”

There is no doubt that the Ronald Reagan Library is a positive feature for the City of Simi Valley. Thousands of visitors come to Simi Valley each year and undoubtedly a few leave some of their dollars with local businesses. And, the proposed Library flag idea would add color to the streets. But, should it replace the patriotic flags already present? And, should the City suport a private business and not accord other businesses in the City the same opportunity?

The Library is part National Archive and part private foundation. It is the foundation that will benefit most by the advertisement on City streets. The City presently has regulations prescribing the types of display permitted. Regulations will have to be changed to allow for commercial advertising by businesses sponsoring the Library. The City Manager is quoted, “The appropriateness of having sponsor names on the banners is one of the issues the city is looking into, along with the size of the sponsor's name,…”

I doubt that the City wants to open the City streets to general advertising, so it is not appropriate for the City to support the Library, a private enterprise. Existing methods of support are already prevalent. The support of Library functions with City personnel, while not extremely frequent, is nevertheless quite expensive. In addition, the City is looking to buy the old East Valley Sheriff’s station to use for Library parking. Read it here.

posted by Paul Coambs @ 5:08 AM