The Brief

In a special election on June 10, Huntington Beach voters will decide on two ballot measures:

• Whether to overturn a committee of City Council appointees charged with reviewing children’s books and determining whether they’re appropriate.
• Whether to make it more difficult for the city government to sell or outsource management of the city’s public libraries. 

Official titles on the ballot: 

Measure A: Community Parent Review Board

• A "yes" vote on Measure A means: The ordinance establishing the community review board will be repealed. It will be replaced with minimum standards for librarians to select materials for the library that present a range of diverse viewpoints.
• A "no" vote on Measure A means: The community review board will not be repealed.

Measure B: Public Operation of Library

What your vote means

• A "yes" vote on Measure B means: The city would only be able to sell one of its public libraries or outsource library services if the city declares a fiscal emergency or voters approve the sale or outsourcing in a special or general election.

• A "no" vote on Measure B means: The city can consider selling a public library or outsourcing services.

Understanding the issues

The beach city’s libraries have been a point of controversy since 'MAGA' conservatives won a majority of elected seats on the City Council. One of them, Councilmember Gracey Van Der Mark, has made it a major focus of her political career to try to get books removed from school and city libraries that she believes have inappropriate sexual content.

"What we're trying to do is take our library back to the days where our kids were able to go to the children's section and run around and open books and look at the pictures and read and have it be safe the way it used to be," she told LAist last year.

Elsewhere in Southern California and across the nation, children’s and young adult books — especially those with LGBTQ characters and themes, and books about sex and sexual health — have become a flashpoint in the so-called culture wars. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing a case filed by parents in Montgomery County, Maryland, who want to exempt their children from public school instruction that includes reading books with LGBTQ themes because of religious beliefs.

The backstory 

In 2023, Van Der Mark spearheaded an ordinance, backed by her fellow conservative council members, to establish a board of local parents and guardians to review books for children and teens proposed for library acquisition and vote on whether the books are appropriate. The board can also review books already in the library and decide whether minors need parental permission to check them out.

The City Council also ordered librarians to remove books with “sexual content” from the children’s section of the library. Initially, the librarians were instructed to remove any books showing body parts that typically would be under a bathing suit. That led librarians to move books about the human body, development, and puberty to a high shelf in the adult section of the library. You can see the most recent list of removed books here.

The backlash was swift, with opponents accusing city leaders of censorship. They mounted a petition drive to get the board repealed, which is now Measure A.

Gov. Gavin Newsom also signed a bill last year, the “Freedom to Read Act,” aimed squarely at prohibiting the kind of book restrictions Huntington Beach has enacted for its libraries.

What the review board ordinance says

The library review board, which hasn't been officially established yet, would vote on whether a book meets “community standards for material acceptable for children's access, including books that may contain sexual content or sexual references.”

“Community standards” is defined as the review board’s determination of whether or not a book is appropriate. Examples given of “sexual content” include “sex, sexual organs, sex acts, relationships of sexual nature, or sexual relations in any form.”

The board can also review children’s books currently in the library and decide whether to move them to the adult section and require a parent’s consent to check them out.

Each council member would appoint two members to the board, and the board’s decisions would be final and unappealable.

Review board faces lawsuit

Two Huntington Beach teens, backed by the ACLU and the First Amendment Coalition, sued the city earlier this year over the book review board and its new policy of restricting minors from accessing library books with sexual content.

A city spokesperson told LAist that because of the pending lawsuit, the review board has yet to be established.

Controversy over 'PORN' signs

Some of the many campaign signs seen in Huntington Beach as the city prepares to vote June 10 on two controversial library measures.

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Jill Replogle

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LAist

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Last month, in the run up to the June special election, supporters of the book review board posted campaign signs around Huntington Beach reading “Protect our kids from porn” in big block letters. The complaints began immediately, to schools, city leaders, and in online forums, including this comment on a local Facebook page directed at City Councilmember Chad Williams: “Chad Williams got a whole city full of kids googling ‘What is Porn’ on their smart phones, exposing them to more images online than any books in the library ever will.”

Williams defended the campaign tactic. “The bottom line is there’s pornography that’s available to minors in our public library,” he told LAist at the time. “I’m not going to dance around the subject, it needs to be addressed.”

According to Cornell Law School’s online dictionary of legal terms, the definition of pornography is “material that depicts nudity or sexual acts for the purpose of sexual stimulation.” It is illegal in the U.S. to distribute pornography to minors.

At a recent City Council meeting, supporters of the book review board read graphic passages from books they said were in the Huntington Beach library.

What supporters of Measure A say

Supporters say the book review board Measure A would repeal replaces experienced librarians with untrained political appointees with the power to decide which books kids can access in the city’s library.

They say there’s already a mechanism in place for adults to submit a complaint about a book in the library, which kickstarts a review and potential relocation or removal of the book.

What opponents of Measure A say

Opponents of Measure A, who want to keep the book review board, say the board gives the community greater decision-making power over which books are appropriate for Huntington Beach children.

They say the review board provides a safeguard to make sure children don’t have access to obscene or sexually explicit content in the library without parental consent.

Understanding the second measure on the ballot —Measure B

Around the same time the City Council passed the book review board, they voted to explore the possibility of turning over management of the city’s libraries to a private company.

The idea was immediately controversial, and the sole company that submitted a bid pulled out at the last minute. The City Council has not publicly explored the idea of privatization or outsourcing since then.

But advocates for Measure A decided to mount a second petition drive to put strict limits on the city’s ability to ever sell or privatize the library or otherwise outsource library services. That became Measure B.

What supporters of Measure B say

Supporters of Measure B say the measure will ensure that residents have the final say on any decision to privatize the public library system. And they argue that the measure allows the city enough flexibility to make tough decisions about the budget.

What opponents of Measure B say

Opponents of Measure B argue that the measure would take away the city’s ability to make budget decisions regarding the library, thereby potentially jeopardizing the city’s overall fiscal health.

Further reading

There's a lot of information about the two ballot measures on the city’s website, including:

• Full text of Measure A
• Full text of Measure B
• Official arguments for and against Measure A
• Official arguments for and against Measure B
• Campaign finance information (who spent how much to sway your vote)

Need to know how and where to vote? The Orange County Registrar of Voters has information on the time and place of vote centers and secure ballot drop boxes, and how to mail in your ballot.

You can also track your ballot and make sure it gets counted by signing up for alerts on the registrar’s website.

This story first appeared on The LA Local.

Since 1977, Richard Santillan has been to every Opening Day game at Dodger Stadium. 

“The tradition goes from my father, to me, to my children and grandchildren. Some of my best memories are with my father and children here at Dodger Stadium,” Santillan told The LA Local, smiling under the shade of palm trees near the entrance to the ballpark Wednesday morning. He was there to protest the team less than 24 hours before Opening Day.

Santillan, like countless other loyal Dodgers fans, is grappling with his fan identity over the team’s decision to accept an invitation to the White House and owner Mark Walter’s ties to ICE detention facilities.

More than 30 people joined Santillan on Wednesday morning for a press conference held near 1000 Vin Scully Drive to convey a message directly to the team. 

“We are demanding the Dodgers stop participating in funding of inhumane treatment of families and do not go to the White House to celebrate with the criminal in chief,” Evelyn Escatiola told the crowd. “Together, we have the power to make a change.”

Escatiola, a former dean of East Los Angeles College and longtime community organizer, urged fans to flex their economic power by “letting the Dodgers know that we do not support repression.”

Jorge “Coqui” Rodriguez, a lifelong Dodgers fan, spoke to the crowd and called on Dodgers ownership to divest from immigration detention centers owned and operated by GEO Group and CoreCivic.

Jorge Coqui H Rodriguez speaks at a press conference outside Dodger Stadium on March 25, 2026, to demand the Dodgers not to visit the White House following their 2025 World Series win.

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J.W. Hendricks

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The LA Local

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In a phone interview a day before the protest, Rodriguez told The LA Local he did not want the Dodgers using his “cheve” or beer money to fund detention centers. 

“They can’t take our parking money, our cacahuate money, our cheve money, our Dodger Dog money and invest those funds into corporations that are imprisoning people. It’s wrong,” Rodriguez said. 

Rodriguez considers the Dodgers one of the most racially diverse teams and said the players need to support fans at a time when heightened immigration enforcement has become more common across L.A.

The team’s 2025’s visit to the White House drew ire from the largely Latino fan base, citing the Trump administration’s ongoing attacks on immigrants. 

In June, the team came under further scrutiny when rumors swirled online that federal immigration agents were using the stadium’s parking, which immigration authorities later denied in statements posted on social media accounts.

The team again came under fire after not releasing a statement on the impacts of ICE raids on its mostly Latino fan base at the height of immigration enforcement last summer. The team later agreed to invest $1 million to support families affected by immigration enforcement.

When he learned the Dodgers were pledging only $1 million to families in need, Rodriguez called the amount a  “slap in the face.” 

“These guys just bought the Lakers for billions of dollars and they give a million dollars to fight for legal services? That’s a joke,” Rodriguez said. “They need to have a moral backbone and not be investing in those companies.”

According to reporting from the Los Angeles Times, former Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershawsaid last week that he is looking forward to the trip.

“I went when President [Joe] Biden was in office. I’m going to go when President [Donald] Trump is in office,” Kershaw said. “To me, it’s just about getting to go to the White House. You don’t get that opportunity every day, so I’m excited to go.”

The Dodgers have yet to announce when their planned visit will take place. 

Santillan sometimes laments his decision to give up his season tickets in protest of the team. His connection to the stadium and the memories he has made there with family and friends will last a lifetime, he said. On Thursday, he will uphold his tradition and be there for the first pitch of the season, but with a heavy heart.

“It’s a family tradition, but the Dodgers have a lot of work to do,” he said.

A local favorite mom-and-pop bookshop in Eagle Rock is facing displacement due to a steep rent hike. The owners say theirs is just one of several small businesses along Eagle Rock Boulevard struggling to keep up with lease increases.

Over the past 19 years, many in the neighborhood have come to love READ Books for its eclectic collection of used titles and shop dog Florence.

Co-owner Jeremy Kaplan said it’s been a delight to grow with the community over the years.

“Like seeing kids come back in, who were in grade school and now they’re in college,” Kaplan said.

But the building where Kaplan and wife Debbie rent was recently sold, and the rent increased by more than 130% to $2,805 a month, Kaplan said. He told LAist it was an increase his small business simply could not absorb.

Kaplan said he originally was given 30 days notice of the rent increase. After some research, assistance from Councilmember Ysabel Jurado’s office and some pro-bono legal help, Kaplan said he pushed back and got the 90-day notice he’s afforded by state law.

California Senate Bill 1103 requires landlords to give businesses with five or less employees 90 days’ notice for rent increases exceeding 10%, among other protections.

Systems Real Estate, the property management company, did not immediately respond to LAist’s request for comment.

What can small businesses do? 

Nadia Segura, directing attorney of the Small Business Program at pro bono legal aid non-profit Bet Tzedek said California law does not currently allow for rent control for commercial tenancies.

Outside of the protections under SB 1103, Segura said small businesses like READ Books don’t have much other recourse. And even then, commercial landlords are not required to inform their tenants of their protections under the law.

“There’s still a lot of people that don’t know about SB 1103. And then it’s very sad that they tell them they have these rent increases and within a month they have to leave,” Segura said.

She said her group is seeing steep rent hikes like this for commercial tenants across the city.

“We are seeing this even more with the World Cup coming up, the Olympics coming up. And I will say it was very sad to see that also after the wildfires,” Segura said.

Part of Bet Tzedek’s ongoing work is to advocate for small businesses, working with landlords who are increasing rents to see if they are willing to give business owners longer leases that lock in rents.

What’s next 

After READ Books posted about their situation on social media, commenters chimed in to express their outrage and love for the little shop.

While he looks for a new spot, Kaplan says he’s forming a coalition of local businesses and activist groups to see what can be done to help other small businesses facing similar displacement. He wants to address the displacement issue for businesses like his, which have made Eagle Rock the distinctive neighborhood that it is today.

Owl Talk, a longtime Eagle Rock staple selling clothing and accessories in a unit in the same building as READ Books, is facing a “more than double” rent increase, according to a post on their Instagram account.

Kaplan said he’s been in touch with the office of state Assemblywoman Jessica Caloza and wants to explore the possibility of introducing legislation to set up protections for small businesses like his, including rent-control measures or a vacancy tax for landlords. Kaplan said he also reached out to the office of state Sen. Maria Durazo.

By his count, Kaplan said there are about a dozen businesses within surrounding blocks that are at risk of closing their doors or have shuttered due to rent increases or other struggles.

When READ Books was founded during the Great Recession, Kaplan said he knew it was a longshot to open a bookstore at the same time so many were struggling to stay in business.

“It was kind of interesting to be doing something that neighborhoods needed. That was important to me growing up, that was important to my children, that was important to my wife growing up,” Kaplan said.

“And then somebody comes in and says, ‘We’re gonna over double your rent.”

Topline:

Frozen budget: Most of the city’s Bureau of Street Lighting budget comes from an assessment that people who own property illuminated by lights pay on their county property tax bill. The amount people pay depends on the kind of property they own and how much they benefit from lighting. A typical single-family home currently pays $53 annually, and in total, the assessments bring in about $45 million annually for the city to repair and maintain streetlights. Changing the amount the Bureau of Street Lighting gets from the assessment requires a vote among property owners who benefit from the lights.

Ballots: L.A. City Council’s vote gives city staff the green light to prepare and send out those ballots. Miguel Sangalang, who oversees the bureau, said at a committee meeting earlier this month that he expects to send out ballots by April 17. Notices about the ballots will be sent out prior to the ballots themselves.

Near unanimous vote: L.A. City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez was the only “No” vote Tuesday, saying she wanted to see a more current strategic plan for the bureau. Sangalang said the bureau developed a plan in 2022 that lays out how money will be spent. Councilmember Imelda Padilla was absent for the vote.

Vote count: Votes will be weighted according to the assessment amount. Basically, the more you’re asked to pay yearly to maintain streetlights, the more your vote will count. Ballots received before June 2 will be tabulated by the L.A. City Clerk.

How much more money: According to a report, the amount needed in assessments from property owners to meet the repair and maintenance needs of the city’s streetlighting in the next fiscal year is nearly $112 million.

Use of the money: Sangalang said at a March 11 committee meeting that the extra funds would be used to double the number of staff to handle repairs and procure solar streetlights, which don’t face the threat of copper wire theft. That would all potentially reduce the time it takes to repair simple fixes down to a week. Currently, city residents wait for months to see broken streetlights repaired. The assessment would come with a three-year auditing mechanism.