[00:00:09]
ARE WE GOOD? EVERYONE THERE? WE GOOD? ARE WE GOOD? VERY GOOD.
WELCOME TO THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING FOR JUNE 6TH, 2023.
UM, BEFORE WE START, I JUST WANNA DO A LITTLE HOUSEKEEPING, UM, IF YOU WILL, IF YOU ALLOW ME, UM, I'VE BEEN TOLD WE'RE AT CAPACITY HERE AND, UM, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE WILL HAVE THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
UH, AND SO I ASK THAT EVERYONE WILL LISTEN TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS AND TO, UM, AN EVENT THAT WE MAY HAVE TO EVACUATE OR, YOU KNOW, THE LOGISTICS IS COMING IN AND OUT OR WHATNOT.
BUT I, I, UM, ASK IF YOU WOULD, UM, PLEASE, UH, HELP THEM IN RESPECT THEIR, THEIR, UM, DIRECTION.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, I WANNA START THE MEETING, UM, WITH, UH, PASTOR JOHNSON AND SAY A PRAYER BEFORE WE BEGIN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER PRAYERS, ALWAYS, UH, RELUCTANT TO KEEP MY BACK TO THE GREATER NUMBER.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
YOU REMEMBER WILD BILL
WHAT'S THAT? THAT'S THE MARINE.
WOULD YOU MUMBLE THAT? A LITTLE LOUDER ABOUT THE MARINE
ANY MORE MARINES IN HERE? HOLD YOUR HAND UP.
I'LL COVER ALL THE BRANCHES SOON.
I WAS ASKED TO DO MORE THAN JUST A PRAYER, AND I HOPE I WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP IT SHORT, BUT, UH, I WANTED TO, UH, REMIND EVERYBODY WHAT THE DAY IS.
I WAS ASKED BY OUR, OUR CHAIRPERSON TO DO THAT.
I THINK IF WE REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED ON JUNE THE SIXTH OF 1944, IT CAST A WHOLE DIFFERENT, UH, LIGHT ON WHAT WE MAY BE FEELING TONIGHT, ANXIOUSNESS, ANXIETY, UM, INQUISITIVENESS, WHATEVER FEELINGS WE MAY BE HAVING.
I WANT YOU TO GO BACK WITH ME TO THE BEACHES OF NORMANDY IN 1944 WHEN MANY OF YOU HAD RELATIVES AND GRANDPARENTS THAT WERE ON SOME OF THE SHIPS THAT DISEMBARKED AND INVADED THE BEACHES THERE.
THAT IS WHAT GIVES US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE AND TO VOICE OUR OPINION AND TO CELEBRATE AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS REPUBLIC.
AND WHAT THIS REPUBLIC PROVIDES FOR US.
A CHANCE TO SPEAK, TO VOTE, TO BE A PART OF A BIBLE DEMOCRACY.
AND WE ARE TO DO THIS IN PEACE AND TRANQUILITY.
IS THAT CLEAR?
YOU'LL HAVE PLENTY OF VOICE AND PLENTY OF TIME TO VOICE YOUR OPINION.
THIS IS A GOOD BOARD, HAS A GOOD STAFF, AND THEY HAVE THE CONDITIONS OF THIS COUNTY AT HEART.
THEY DIDN'T TELL ME TO SAY THIS, FOLKS, I'M, THIS IS ON LARRY JOHNSON'S
WHY AM I DRESSED IN THIS OUTFIT? SOME YEARS AGO, I STARTED TELLING THE STORY OF MY FAMILY THAT FOUGHT IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, AND I HAVE, UH, BEEN DOING THAT NOW FOR OVER 10 YEARS.
I'M A RETIRED ANGLICAN BISHOP.
I'M AN OLD MARINE, AND I'VE DONE OTHER THINGS IN LIFE TOO.
SO THERE AIN'T MUCH I AIN'T SEEN.
SO WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT NOW, GO BACK WITH ME TO 1944 AND IMAGINE THESE SHIPS WITH OUR BOYS CLIMBING DOWN ROPE LADDERS, GETTING ON, UH, PERSONNEL CARRIERS AND GOING ASHORE.
I DON'T INTEND TO GIVE YOU ALL OF THE DETAILS OF THAT BATTLE, BUT BY THE END OF THE FIRST DAY, 7,000 HAD DIED ON THE BEACHES.
7,000 OF OUR ALLIED TROOPS, OVER 4,000.
THOSE WERE OUR BOYS, OUR MEN, SOME WOMEN, OF COURSE, THE BATTLE WENT ON FOR SOME DAYS BEFORE WE WERE BE, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SAY THAT THE GERMAN ARMY WAS DEFEATED ON THAT BEACH.
177,000 MEN AND WOMEN WOULD'VE BEEN WOUNDED AND OVER 50,000 DEAD LYING ON THE BEACH SO THAT WE COULD COME HERE IN FRONT ROW TONIGHT AND CONTINUE WHAT THEY GAVE US.
AND THAT IS THE ABILITY TO SPEAK OUT.
AND YOU'RE NOT HERE, YOU'RE NOT SPEAKING IN GERMAN.
THERE'S NO GUSTAPO THAT'S GOING TO HINDER US, BUT WE HAVE THAT FREEDOM.
[00:05:02]
OUR CHAIRPERSON ASKED ME TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ON JUNE THE SIXTH, AND THAT'S PROBABLY ABOUT AS BRIEF AS LARRY JOHNSON CAN MAKE IT.I WANNA MOVE NOW TO THE MAN FOR WHOM THIS COUNTY IS NAMED, AND THAT'S JOSEPH WARREN.
JOSEPH WARREN'S BIRTHDAY WILL BE THE 11TH OF THIS MONTH IN JUST A FEW DAYS.
JOSEPH WARREN WAS A 34 YEAR OLD PHYSICIAN.
BUT THE CALL WENT OUT FOR FREEDOM AND JOSEPH WARREN TOOK HIS MEDICINE KIT, TOOK HIS MUSKET, AND HE WENT INTO BREEDS HILLMER HILL TO FIGHT FOR FREEDOM.
BY THE END OF THAT DAY, HE WOULD BE A DEAD MAN, LEAVING HIS FOUR CHILDREN.
THERE WOULD ALSO BE, THERE WOULD ALSO BE 400 OF HIS COMPATRIOTS THAT WILL LIE DEAD IN DITCHES IN THE MUD WITH THE BRITISH STILL ATTACKING.
THAT WAS THE COST OF OUR FREEDOM.
IS IT 1852? THIS COUNTY WAS NAMED.
LOOK UP ON THAT AND TELL 1536.
WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE SOME 20 YEARS AGO, I WANTED TO KNOW, I GOT A DEGREE IN HISTORY.
I WANTED TO KNOW WHY IS THIS COUNTY NAMED JOSEPH WARREN A YANKEE? AND, UH, I SOON FOUND OUT THAT THERE WERE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF SOLDIERS THEY FOUGHT IN THEIR REVOLUTION FROM THIS AREA.
IT WASN'T A COUNTY THEN, BUT THEY CAME FROM THE MOUNTAINS WHERE YOU NOW LIVE.
AND WHEN THEY CAME HOME, IF THEY CAME HOME, THEY WERE BURIED IN THESE MOUNTAINS.
SO ALL AROUND YOU, THIS VERY, AT THIS VERY MOMENT OR DOZENS OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIERS, GRAVES, THE SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION ARE, ARE FINDING THOSE GRAVES AND THEY ARE MARKING THOSE GLORIES AND THEY'RE HOLDING CEREMONIES.
AND I HOPE YOU WILL FIND OUT WHERE SOME OF THOSE ARE.
AND YOU CAN GO AND YOU CAN LOOK OVER A PILE OF DIRT AND SAY, OF THANKSGIVING, JOSEPH WARREN WAS PROBABLY THE MOST POPULAR HERO WE HAD.
GENERAL WASHINGTON DID NOT BECOME A GENERAL FOR TWO WEEKS AFTER JOSEPH HAD BEEN KILLED.
JOSEPH HAD BEEN SELECTED AS THE COMMANDING GENERAL AND, UH, NEVER HAD A UNIFORM.
HE DIED IN HIS CLOTHES THAT HE WENT TO WAR WITH WEARING.
AND HIS MOTHER TOLD HIM, SAYS, JOSEPH, DO NOT GO.
SHE SAID, JOSEPH, PLEASE DO NOT GO.
SHE SAYS, I MUST GO WHERE FREEDOM CALLS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BE FREE.
AND HE SAYS, IF I HAVE TO DIE, I JUST, I I WANT TO BE KNEE DEEP INTO BLOOD OF MY FELLOW AMERICANS.
AND WHEN HE DIED, HE WAS IN A DITCH AND HE WAS WOUNDED, AND THE BRITISH HAD SENT A CONTRACT OUT BECAUSE HE WAS SO POPULAR AMONG THE, THE REBELS.
THEY SAID, GENERAL GAGE SAYS, GET WARREN.
BEN ADDED, STILL TRYING TO PATCH UP A GOD THAT WAS WOUNDED.
AND HE ORDERED THIS CAPTAIN TO EXECUTE HIM.
SO HE PASSED HIS PISTOL TO HIS SERVANT AND SAID, KILL HIM.
JOSEPH WARREN GAVE HIS LIFE SO THAT YOU AND I COULD BE HERE IN FRONT ROYAL VIRGINIA, SITTING IN A CROWDED ROOM, SOME ANXIOUS, SOME NOT.
LISTENING TO AN OLD RETIRED ANGLICAN BISHOP.
I BECAME A BISHOP AFTER THE MARINE CORPS.
WELL, HEY WAL, I GOT RELIGION AFTER MARINE CORPS
SO NOW THAT'S ENOUGH OF MY TALKING, AND I'M SURE THE CHAIR LADY PERSON HERE IS WONDERING WHEN LARRY'S GONNA SIT DOWN.
I CAN'T SIT DOWN WITHOUT THIS.
I THOUGHT WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY TODAY AND WAS DIFFICULT TO FIND IT.
BUT THEN GOD OPENED MY BIBLE AND THERE IT WAS.
I'M TAKING BREATHING VERY BRIEFLY FROM THE PSALM OF PSALM 85.
LORD, THOU ARE BECOME GRACIOUS INTO TH LAND.
THOU HAS TURNED AWAY THE CAPTIVITY OF JACOB.
WE HAVE BEEN TURNED AWAY FROM THE CAPTIVITY OF KING GEORGE.
THOU HAS FORGIVEN THE OFFENSE OF THY PEOPLE.
WE HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN OF ALL OF OUR SINS WHEN WE
[00:10:01]
BECAME A COUNTRY THOU HAS TAKEN AWAY ALL OF OUR DISPLEASURE.IN OTHER WORDS, THE DISPLEASURE OF BEING UNDER A KING.
TURN US THEN, OH LORD, BE OUR SAVIOR.
LET THINE ANGER THAT WE HAVE CEASE BECAUSE WE WERE AN ANGRY PEOPLE WHEN WE WERE FIGHTING FOR OUR FREEDOM AND SO MANY DYING.
PLEASE NOT BE DISPLEASED WITH US FOREVER.
OUR FATHER, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THIS GATHERING HERE.
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE FREEDOM TO COME THIS NIGHT IN THIS PLACE IN FRONT ROYAL VIRGINIA TO VOICE OUR OPINION.
LET US ALWAYS HAVE THIS FREEDOM.
LET US PASS THIS FREEDOM ON TO OUR CHILDREN.
AND IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, WE PRAY.
EM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH WITH THAT,
[C. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance of the United States of America]
I'M CALLING OUR MEETING TO ORDER AND WILL EVERYONE PLEASE STAND FOR A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, A PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.THIS IS A, THIS IS A GREAT CROWD.
AND I ALMOST CRIED RIGHT THERE.
AND I'VE, I HEAR THE PLEDGE EVERY, EVERY TUESDAY JUST ABOUT.
AND TO HEAR IT THE WAY THAT Y'ALL AND US DID IT TOGETHER, IT MADE ME FEEL GOOD.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME OF TONIGHT'S GONNA BE, AND I KNOW THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF TALKING, AND I JUST HOPE THAT IT'S CALM AND IT'S SIMPLE AND IT'S TRUTHFUL AND FROM THE HEART.
AND NO MATTER, NO MATTER WHAT COMES OUT OF THIS OVER THE NEXT WEEK OR WEEKS, SOME GONNA WIN, SOME GONNA LOSE.
AND THANKS FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
MAYBE IT'S JUST A WAY THAT I THINK, BUT THANK YOU FOLKS.
YOU GOT ME BEFORE I COULD TELL YOU NOT TO DO THAT.
[D. Adoption of Agenda – Additions or Deletions]
LOT WORK TO DO, WE'LL GO START WITH OUR NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, WHICH IS ADOPTING OUR AGENDA.SO DO WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS? YES, MA'AM.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD A RESOLUTION AS ITEM S, UM, FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO ASK VDOT TO RENAME THE INTERSET STATE 66 WESTBOUND BRIDGE OVER THE SHANDO RIVER IN WARREN COUNTY IN MEMORIAL OF, UH, VIRGINIA STATE TROOPER DANIEL LEE WILLIAMS. VERY GOOD.
SO, AND JASON MAYBE FOR EFFICIENCY.
AND, AND WOULD YOUR MOTION ALSO INCLUDE THE RESOLUTION APPROVING MODIFICATIONS TO THE JUNE 27TH MEETING AGENDA AND THEN MOVE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA WITH THOSE TWO ADDITIONS? SO MOVED AS, UH, MR. HAM HASK.
SO DO WE HAVE A SEC? A SECOND? SECOND.
[E. Public Comment Period (60 Minute Time Limit) (Part 1 of 2)]
MOVING TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.BEFORE I REMIND EVERYONE OF, UH, WHAT THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS, I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE A HARD STOP AT SEVEN 30 SO WE CAN GO INTO OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET.
BUT THEN AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING, WE'LL COME BACK AND RESUME WHERE WE LEFT OFF TO FINISH THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT UP FRONT.
SO, UM, I JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYBODY, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO GIVE INPUT ON ANY ENT ISSUE, NOT THE SUBJECT OF A PUBLIC HEARING, OR IS NOT INTENDED AS A QUESTION OR ANSWER PERIOD.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT SHALL BE LIMITED TO 60 MINUTES WITH THE MAX OF THREE MINUTES FOR ONE FOR EVERYONE'S, EVERYONE SPEAKER.
UH, THE SPEAKERS MAY ONLY SPEAK ONCE AND WILL BE HEARD IN THE ORDER IN IN WHICH THEY HAVE SIGNED UP.
SO IF EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT, WE'LL, WE'LL START.
UH, MR. HENDERSON, DO WE HAVE SOMEONE? UH,
[00:15:01]
YES MA'AM.OH, AND BEFORE YOU START, I JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW, BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK HERE, I'M GOING TO BE REAL, UH, STRICT WITH THE THREE MINUTE RULE.
JUST, I WANNA MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR EVERYONE TO SPEAK.
UH, MARK EGGER, 1 0 2 EAST FOURTH STREET, YOU'LL BE HEARING FROM PEOPLE TONIGHT WHO WILL CLAIM THAT WE ARE BANNING BOOKS THAT WE ARE IN FAVOR OF CENSORSHIP AND THAT WE ARE AGAINST THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
NOBODY IS CENSORING ANYTHING IN THE UNITED STATES.
ANYBODY, ANYBODY CAN PUBLISH ANYTHING AND ANYONE CAN PURCHASE ANYTHING, INCLUDING EXPLICIT PORNOGRAPHY.
THE ANTI-SCIENCE PSYCHOPATHS WHO BELIEVE THAT A BOY CAN BECOME A GIRL ARE FREE TO PURCHASE ANY CRAPPY BOOK THEY WANT WITH THEIR OWN MONEY.
THE REAL QUESTION IS WHAT MATERIALS IS THE LIBRARY GOING TO SPEND TAXPAYER MONEY ON? THE LIBRARY DOES NOT PURCHASE EVERY SINGLE BOOK IN PRINT.
THEY HAVE ONLY A VERY, VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF ALL THE BOOKS CURRENTLY IN PRINT AROUND ONE TO 2%.
SO IT'S NOT ABOUT CENSORSHIP, IT'S ABOUT PRUDENTIAL DECISION MAKING AND SPENDING TAX DOLLARS ON BOOKS WOULD ONCE SAY THAT THE LIBRARY IS CENSORING THE 99% OF THE BOOKS IN PRINT THAT ARE NOT IN THE LIBRARY.
THE PROBLEM IS THE COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICY OF THE LIBRARY, WHICH COMES DIRECTLY FROM THE LEFT WING AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.
YOU MIGHT THINK THE ALA IS SOME BENEVOLENT TRADE ASSOCIATION.
THE ALA HAS THROWN THEIR WHOLESALE SUPPORT BEHIND SEXUAL PERVERSION AND THE ANTI-SCIENCE LIE OF TRANSGENDERISM.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE A L A IN HER OWN WORDS DESCRIBED HERSELF AS A MARXIST LESBIAN.
THE ALA EVEN SUED TO OVERTURN THE CHILDREN'S INTERNET PROTECTION ACT BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT CHILDREN SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO INTERNET PORNOGRAPHY AT THE LIBRARY.
THE LIBRARY TAKES THE POLICY OF THE ALA AND MAKES THEM THEIR OWN COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICY.
THEY THEN RELY ON THE MAINSTREAM BOOK REVIEW CORPORATIONS.
WE GIVE ENTHUSIASTIC FIVE STAR REVIEWS TO ANY BOOK WHICH CONTAINS SEXUAL PERVERSION OR THE ANTI-SCIENCE LIE OF TRANSGENDERISM.
IF THE BOOK HAS A BOY CLAIMING TO BE A GIRL OR A GIRL CLAIMING TO A BOY, YOU CAN BET IT WILL GET GUSHING REVIEWS REGARDLESS OF HOW CRUMMY THE WRITING IS.
AND THREE OF THE WOKE REVIEW COMPANIES, HORN BOOK, REVIEW LIBRARY JOURNAL AND SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL ARE ALL OWNED BY THE SAME CORPORATION.
THESE MAINSTREAM REVIEWERS ARE NOTHING MORE THAN AN ECHO CHAMBER.
NO ALTERNATIVE VOICES ALLOWED BY THE ESTABLISHED ORTHODOXY OF THE ELA AND THEIR ALLIES IN THE BOOK REVIEW INDUSTRY CONSIDER A BOOK LIKE THIS IS WHY THEY HATE US BY AARON ACEVES, WHICH CONSISTS ENTIRELY OF A TEENAGE BOY SPENDING HIS SUMMER LOOKING FOR OTHER BOYS TO HAVE ORAL SEX WITH INCLUDING A CHAPTER IN WHICH HE USES A WEBSITE TO FIND STRANGERS TO HAVE SEX WITH, RESULTING IN A MEETUP WITH ONE OF HIS HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS.
THIS BOOK, WHICH CONTAINS NUMEROUS EXPLICIT SCENES OF SEXUAL PERVERSITIES, IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE LIBRARY BECAUSE IN THE WORDS OF THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR, IT QUOTE MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICY AND SHOULD BE RETAINED BY SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY OR CONSIDER A BOOK LIKE I AM JAZZ BY JESSICA HERTHEL, A PICTURE BOOK FOR THREE TO EIGHT YEAR OLDS.
THE PURPOSE OF THE BOOK IS TO MAKE VERY YOUNG CHILDREN THINK THAT A BOY CAN BECOME A GIRL, TO INDOCTRINATE THEM INTO THE LIE OF TRANSGENDERISM.
BY THE END OF THE BOOK, JAZZ IS ABOUT EIGHT YEAR OLD.
HE IS STILL A BOY CLAIMING TO BE A GIRL.
OF COURSE, NOTHING IS SAID ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO JAZZ AS HE GROWS UP.
THE REAL JAZZ IS NOW ABOUT 22 YEARS OLD.
HE NEVER WENT THROUGH PUBERTY BECAUSE HE TOOK PUBERTY BLOCKERS.
HE TAKES FEMALE SEX HORMONES TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE HE'S A GIRL.
HE HAD HIS PENIS CHOPPED OFF BY A QUACK DOCTOR WHEN HE URINATES THE URINE SHOOTS OUT HORIZONTALLY FROM THE FAKE VAGINA THAT THE QUACK DOCTOR MADE.
HE GAINED A HUNDRED POUNDS AFTER THESE OPERATIONS.
HIS LUNATIC MOTHER CONTINUES TO PUSH HIM TO BE A FEMALE SO THAT SHE CAN MAKE MONEY OFF THE REALITY TV SHOW HE STARS IN.
HE HAS SEVERE DEPRESSION AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES WITH, I'M SORRY, MR. EGGERT.
THAT WAS THE FASTEST THREE MINUTES I'VE EVER LIVED.
LET'S JUST RESPECT ALL THE SPEAKERS.
MR. HENDERSON, DO WE HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE? UH, NEXT UP IS JAY NORTH.
I LIVE AT EIGHTIES MAIN STREET IN LERAY.
UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT MATTERS CONCERNING, UH, SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN FRONT ROYAL AND MOVED TO PAGE COUNTY JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
I HAVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS HERE.
I REGULARLY PATRONI PATRONIZED LOCAL BUSINESSES CONTRIBUTING TO TAX REVENUE AND CONSUMING PUBLIC SERVICES.
SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.
GROWING UP AS A GAY PERSON, I WAS A VICTIM OF VIOLENCE AND PERSECUTION.
WHETHER I WAS WALKING TO OR FROM SCHOOL OR MAKING MY WAY ACROSS TOWN, I WAS REGULARLY NOT SAFE.
I WAS PURSUED AND HUNTED BY PEOPLE WHO ATTACKED ME AND WISHED ME DEAD.
I HAVE FALSE TEETH IN THE FRONT THAT WERE BASHED
[00:20:01]
IN AS A CHILD.THE LIBRARY BECAME A PLACE OF REFUGE FOR ME WHERE I WAS SAFE, A SANCTUARY WHERE I COULD, WHERE MY CURIOUS MIND COULD LEARN ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM SCIENCE TO HISTORY, RELIGION, THE ARTS, AND MYSELF.
I WAS AWARE AT A YOUNG AGE THAT I WAS DIFFERENT, THAT I WAS GAY.
I GREW UP IN A HOME AND FAMILY WITH DEEPLY HELD RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.
BEING GAY WAS NOT SOMETHING MY FAMILY COULD EMBRACE OR ACCEPT.
THE ONLY THING I WAS TOLD ABOUT BEING GAY WAS THAT IT WAS A SIN, AND THAT PEOPLE WHO WERE GAY GOT AIDS AND DIED AS A FORM OF PUNISHMENT.
THE WORLDVIEW AND VIOLENCE OF MY DAILY EXISTENCE LED ME TO ATTEMPT SUICIDE AT THE AGE OF 11.
AND THEN AGAIN AT THE AGE OF 15, THE LIBRARY GAVE ME A PLACE TO LEARN WHAT THE WORD GAY MEANT.
THIS WAS IN THE EIGHTIES, SO THERE WAS A FAIR AMOUNT OF INFORMATION DESCRIBING BEING GAY AS A MENTAL ILLNESS.
AND I LEARNED THAT IN OUR HISTORY, PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF HAVE BEEN INSTITUTIONALIZED, LOBOTOMIZED AND JAIL AND JAILED.
BUT I ALSO LEARNED THAT I WASN'T ALONE.
THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE LIKE ME.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES ARE A RESOURCE FOR ALL PEOPLE.
WHETHER YOU'RE LOOKING TO LEARN OR JOURNEYING TO IMAGINARY WORLDS, LIBRARIES ARE A VITAL PART OF ANY SUCCESSFUL SOCIETY AND ESSENTIAL TO THE CAUSES OF FREEDOM AND LIBERTY.
LIBRARIES HOLD THE HISTORY OF WHO WE WERE AND WHERE WE COME FROM, AND THEY HELP US WITH WHO WE'RE BECOMING AND WHERE WE'RE GOING.
SAMUELS IS CURRENTLY UNDER ATTACK BY THOSE WHO SEEK, WHO SEEK TO CONTROL THE IDEAS AND INFORMATION THAT ARE FREELY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
SOME CLAIM THERE'S DANGER, DANGEROUS INFORMATION AND IDEAS THAT POSE THE THREAT TO THE PUBLIC GOOD.
THEY WISH TO HAVE BOOKS REMOVED THAT CONFLICT WITH THEIR PERSONAL BELIEFS RATHER THAN EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS TO CHOOSE WHAT TO BELIEVE, HOW TO LIVE AND WHAT TO READ.
THESE FOLKS SEEK DENY TO DENY THOSE RIGHTS TO OTHERS.
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BAN IDEAS THEY DISAGREE WITH AND CONTROL WHAT INFORMATION OTHERS HAVE ACCESS TO PURSUE UN-AMERICAN AMBITIONS.
HISTORY GIVES US COUNTLESS EXAMPLES OF AUTHOR OF AUTHORITARIAN GROUPS SEEKING TO CONTROL OTHERS BY LIMITING THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE TO BE EDUCATED AND INFORMED.
THE BURNING OF THE GREAT LIBRARY OF ALEXANDRIA IS ONE EXAMPLE.
THE THE EXTREMISTS WHO DID SO FELT THAT THERE WAS HERESY WITHIN MORE RECENT EXAMPLES INCLUDE THE PURGING AND RESTRICTION OF INFORMATION AND PERSECUTION OF PEOPLE DURING THE INQUISITION.
THE BURNING AND BANNING OF BOOKS BY THE NAZIS.
AND THE VERY PERTINENT ISSUE BEING BROUGHT BEFORE YOU TODAY, UM, HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IN YOUR ROLE AS PUBLIC SERVANTS, THERE ARE PEOPLE TODAY WHO SEEK YOUR ASSISTANCE IN ENFORCING THEIR SPECIFIC WORLDVIEW WHO WISH TO IMPOSE THEIR BELIEFS ON OTHERS.
UM, THE NEXT, DO WE HAVE SOMEONE ELSE? KEVIN BOYD? COULD I, UH, TIME BACK PLEASE.
WOULD WOULD I BE ABLE TO GIVE HIM TO FINISH HIS NO, NO, NO.
HE'S OFFERING HIS TIME TO LET ME FINISH.
I'M, UM, A GRADUATE OF LIBERTY UNIVERSITY 2004.
UM, I HAD A VERY CLOSE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JERRY FALWELL.
I UNDERSTAND BOTH SIDES OF THIS TOPIC.
UM, BECAUSE NOT ONLY DID I GROW, GROW UP EVANGELICAL, I HOLD A DEEP, UM, PASSION FOR CHRIST AND HAVE A, A CLOSE RELATION WITH, WITH CHRIST.
BUT HOWEVER, I AM A GAY PERSON.
AND SO IT GIVES ME A UNIQUE VIEW ON BOTH SIDES OF A LOT OF ISSUES.
AND FOR THAT, I'M VERY THANKFUL, BUT IT'S NOT EASY AND IT'S HARD SOMETIMES.
UM, THERE IS A BOOK THAT PROBABLY WOULD BE BANNED BECAUSE OF ITS CONTENT, BUT IT'S A BOOK THAT HAS CHANGED CULTURES, HAS FREED PEOPLE FROM CHAINS AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS.
IT'S A BOOK THAT WE MOST OF US LOVE.
WE CAN FIND IN A DRAWER OF A HOTEL WE'RE IN.
UM, AND THERE ARE ARE PASSAGES IN THAT, IN THAT BOOK THAT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR EVERYONE.
FOR EXAMPLE, EZEKIEL, UM, THERE'S A PASSAGE THAT SAYS THERE SHE LUSTED AFTER HER LOVERS WHOSE GENITALS WERE LIKE THOSE OF DONKEYS AND WHOSE ADMISSIONS WERE THOSE LIKE HORSES.
NOW IF THAT WAS IN A, A MODERN BOOK, IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD BE DISGUSTED AT AND WE'D SAY, THAT'S NOT APPROPRIATE FOR FILL IN THE BLANK, BUT THIS IS THE BIBLE.
[00:25:01]
BAN THE BIBLE FROM A LOCAL LIBRARY? IT ALL COMES DOWN TO PERSONAL CONVICTIONS AND WHETHER SOMETHING IS APPROPRIATE FOR YOU OR YOUR OWN CHILDREN.AND I JUST URGE EVERYONE TO TAKE THE HAND OF YOUR CHILD WHEN YOU'RE AT THE LIBRARY AND DECIDE WHAT IS AND IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THEM.
AND IF, IF THE, THE PRESENCE OF CERTAIN BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY MAKE YOU NOT WANT TO GO THERE OR THINK IT'S A DANGEROUS PLACE FOR YOUR CHILDREN, THEN START YOUR OWN LIBRARY.
MANY CHURCHES HAVE THEIR OWN LIBRARY.
MANY SCHOOLS HAVE THEIR PRIVATE SCHOOLS, HAVE THEIR OWN LIBRARIES, AND GIVE YOUR FUNDS AND YOUR TIME AND YOUR ATTENTION TO THOSE PLACES.
BUT A PUBLIC LIBRARY SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE.
AND I HAVE DEEP SEATED BELIEFS ABOUT THINGS THAT I AM VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT, BUT I DON'T EVER PUSH THOSE UPON SOMEONE ELSE.
WE'RE, UH, WE'RE APPROACHING SEVEN 30.
I THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR ANOTHER SPEAKER.
I LIVE AT 96 JACKSON PLACE IN MIDDLETOWN, WHICH IS IN WARREN COUNTY.
UM, PARENTHETICALLY, IF I MAY, IT'S NOT WHAT I CAME TO SPEAK ABOUT, BUT THE PARKING LOT GUYS, IF, IF WHEN YOU GET TO THE BUDGET, CAN YOU MAKE A LINE ITEM FOR PARKING LINES, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHERE YOU'RE PARKING.
UM, AND ON TO THE PURPOSE FOR MY, MY COMING HERE, I AM HERE ABOUT THE LIBRARY.
UM, I'M GONNA TRY TO REMAIN COHERENT.
WELL, SPEAKING EXTEMPORANEOUSLY, BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS A LITTLE KID, I, I, 5, 6, 7, 8 YEARS OLD, I USED TO HAVE THESE DREAMS PERIODICALLY WHERE, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS LIKE A MONSTER OR SOME KIND OF BAD GUY, YOU KNOW, A ROBBER OR WHATNOT COMING AFTER US.
AND I COULD SEE THAT THERE WAS IMMINENT AND DRAMATIC DANGER AND THE PEOPLE AROUND ME, THE AUTHORITIES THAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO RELY ON, OH NO, IT'S OKAY.
AND, AND THAT'S ACTUALLY A COMMON KIND OF A DREAM THAT YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE IS THEY TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW, WHO, HOW ARE THEY PROTECTED? DOES THE AUTHORITY THAT THEY REC RELY ON RECOGNIZE DANGER? ARE THEY GONNA BE OKAY? AND STUFF LIKE, SO I'M GONNA CIRCLE BACK TO THAT, BUT I JUST, THAT'S THEMATICALLY WHERE, WHERE I'M COMING FROM HERE BECAUSE, UM, I'M, I'M GONNA ASK YOU FOR A MOMENT TO, TO, TO KIND OF PAN OUT.
EVERYBODY HERE, A LOT OF US ARE GONNA BE FOCUSING ON THE CHILDREN, AND THAT'S REALLY CRITICAL.
UM, BUT IT, IT CERTAINLY ISN'T THE ONLY THING.
THERE'S A REVOLUTION THAT'S BEEN GOING ON AND IT'S ON PURPOSE, AND IT IS INDEED MALICIOUS AND IT IS AFFECTING EVERY SINGLE INSTITUTION IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN MOST OF THE WORLD, MOST OF THE WESTERN WORLD.
AND IT IS THAT REVOLUTION THAT WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE AND TAKE SERIOUSLY.
AND LITTLE OLD WARREN COUNTY HERE IS HAVING OUR CULTURAL REVOLUTION, AND RIGHT NOW IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE KIND OF LOSING AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT BANNING BOOKS, BUT, YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT A COPY OF OF WHAT'S HERE AND I, I DON'T REALLY ACTUALLY DON'T CARE TO READ IT.
BUT IT, IT, THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CONTENT OF THE BIBLE WHEREIN WE'RE GIVEN MORAL LESSONS ON WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DISREGARD OUR CREATOR AND ANOTHER, WHEN WE'RE GROOMING PEOPLE AND IN PARTICULAR OUR CHILDREN.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT WE ALLOW OUR OWN CHILDREN TO SEE AND READ AND EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE THIS STUFF THAT GOES INTO THE CULTURE IS AN AFFLUENT THAT AFFECTS EVERYBODY.
AND YOU WOULDN'T LET PEOPLE PUT THE POISON IN THE, IN, IN THE RIVER OR INTO OUR AIR FOR THE SAME REASON.
OKAY, WE'RE AT SEVEN 30, SO WE'RE GONNA MAKE A SHIFT.
UM, AND AGAIN, AS I SAID EARLIER, AFTER WE'RE DONE WITH THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, WE'LL RESUME BACK TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, WE'RE GONNA, LET ME
AGAIN, I JUST WANNA, I'LL REMIND EVERYBODY OF OUR PUBLIC HEARING GUIDELINES,
[00:30:01]
UM, THAT THE PUBLIC HEARING IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO DISCUSS THE MATTER THAT IS BEFORE THE BOARD FOR ACTION.A PUBLIC HEARING IS NOT A DEBATE.
ALL COMMENTS WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND NOT TO THE AUDIENCE.
THE SPEAKERS SHALL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK, AND PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE OF YOUR FELLOW SPEAKERS.
THERE WILL BE NO APPLAUSE, BOOING OR OTHER LOUD DISRUPTIONS TO THESE PROCEEDINGS, POSTERS AND OTHER MEANS OF VISUAL DISPLAY OF COMMENTS ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THE BOARDROOM.
THE BOARD WILL NOT TOLERATE PERSONAL ATTACKS BY ANYONE ON ANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THESE PROCEEDINGS.
ANYONE WHO VIOLATES THE GUIDELINES OF THE PUBLIC HEARING MAY BE ASKED TO LEAVE THIS MEETING.
SO WITH THAT, UM, FOR OUR PUBLIC HEARING, IT'S
[K. Public Hearing FY 2023-2024 Budget]
GOING TO BE ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2324 BUDGET.AS A REVIEW OF THE WORK SESSION WE HAD EARLIER AT FOUR O'CLOCK TODAY, THESE ARE THE APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE MAJOR FUNDS.
THIS IS THE SANITARY DISTRICT'S BUDGETS, 2.2 9 5 1 6 1.
THESE ARE SANITARY DISTRICT FUNDS.
THESE ARE THE MAYOR MAJOR AREAS OF REVENUE FOR THE COUNTY, CLEANING AND ZONING, GIS FEES, BUILDING FEES, USE OF FUND BALANCE, AND THE GENERAL FUND REVENUES ARE THE GENERAL PROPERTY TAXES, OTHER LOCAL TAXES, OTHER LOCAL REVENUES, STATE AND FEDERAL REVENUES.
SOME OF THE MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS FOR 24 IS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PROGRAM.
SIX, FIRE AND RESCUE PERSONNEL IMPLEMENTATION OF A CANCER PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR FIRE AND RESCUE FIRE STATIONS.
UH, POSITION FOR DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS CLERK IN THE TREASURER'S DEPARTMENT.
ASSESSMENT, BUDGETARY ACCOUNTING, SOFTWARE AND FINANCE AND CAPITAL PROJECTS.
THESE ARE THE MAJOR AREAS OF GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES AND THE WELLNESS PROGRAM.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT EARLIER TONIGHT, BUT JUST AS A GENERAL OVERVIEW, IT'S A WELLNESS PROGRAM TO, UH, FOCUS ON CAREER WELLBEING, SOCIAL WELLBEING, FINANCIAL WELLBEING, PHYSICAL WELLBEING, AND COMMUNITY WELLBEING.
THE FOCUS IS ON WELLNESS EVENTS, SERVICES SUCH AS HEALTH SCREENINGS, PHYSICALS AND MENTAL HEALTH COACHING, AND PROVIDING RESOURCES TO EMPLOYEES ASSET REPLACEMENT.
THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT BEGAN IN JULY OF THIS YEAR.
A TOTAL OF 4.8 MILLION IS PROPOSED IN 24 OF THE 4.8 MILLION.
3.2 MILLION INCLUDES OUTSTANDING PURCHASES.
SO THERE'S THE AS 400 FINANCIAL SOFTWARE REPLACEMENTS, ONE VEHICLE AND THE DELIVERY OF A TANKER PUMPER THAT IS YET TO BE PURCHASED.
UM, SOME COMPLETED REPLACEMENTS INCLUDE 2.2 MILLION IN SHERIFF AND FIRE AND RESCUE, A 1.9 IN IT.
OF THE 2.7 MILLION, APPROXIMATELY 1.3 MILLION WAS FUNDED THROUGH SPECIAL PROJECT FUNDS.
1.6 MILLION IS REQUESTED FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 OF THAT.
IT IS FOR FIVE EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLES, 40 REPLACEMENT PORTABLE RADIOS, ONE ADDITIONAL RADIO CONSOLE IT SECURITY UPGRADES.
AND TO REPLACE THE EXISTING TRACK AND COURT SERVICES FOR PARKS, MAINTENANCE AND GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE.
THE REMAINDER OF THE ASSET REPLACEMENT PROGRAM WILL BE FUNDED WITH CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUNDING.
THERE'S NO NEW FUNDING REQUESTED FOR THIS YEAR.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT INCLUDES 10,815,000 4 69 IN PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 24.
OF THAT 6.8 MILLION IS IN FIRE AND RESCUE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR FIRE STATION DEVELOPMENT AND CANCER PREVENTION.
2.6 IN PUBLIC WORKS, CONVENIENT SITE DEVELOPMENT AND BUILDING REPAIRS.
1.7 IN PARKS AND REC FANTASY, LAND RECONSTRUCTION, AFEX TRAIL, ROCKLAND PARK, ATHLETICS FIELD, AND INDIAN HOLLOW BELT.
IN 60,000, 60,000 FOR THE LIBRARY FLOORING, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH 300,002 PARKS FOR GRANTS AND THE USE OF ARPA FUNDING 500,000 TO FARM RESCUE.
[00:35:01]
THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM WILL BE FUNDED WITH SPECIAL PROJECTS FUNDING.THERE'S NO NEW FUNDING PROPOSED FOR THE C I P THIS FISCAL YEAR AND 600,000 IS PROPOSED TO BE TRANSFERRED TO ASSET REPLACEMENT.
JUST A GLIMPSE OF THE FANTASY LAND, UH, REIMAGINED.
IT WAS COST APPROXIMATELY 67,000 IN COMMUNITY DONATIONS.
LOTS OF VOLUNTEERS AND CAME TO, CAME TOGETHER TO CREATE THE HAPPY CRAIG FANTASY LAND PLAY, PLAYGROUND, FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES.
SIX NEW POSITIONS ARE PROPOSED.
THE RECLASSIFICATION IN FIRE ADMINISTRATION TO FINANCE TECHNICIAN AND CONS.
CONTINUE SUPPORTING THE SAFER GRANT AS ASSET REPLACEMENT IS AN AMBULANCE.
CONTINUE SUPPORTING AGENDA FARMS, COMMUNITY FIRE STATION, RELOCATION AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECT CANCER PREVENTION AND FIREFIGHTER P P E.
THIS IS THE OVER, UH, CHRIS S ESTES.
ALRIGHT, AND THIS IS ACTING UP SOME REASON HOLD TIME.
MY NAME IS CHRIS ESTES AND I LIVE FRONT ROYAL.
CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? NOT MY NAME IS CHRIS ESTES AND I LIVE IN FRONT ROYAL.
UM, I THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT ANY PARTICULAR KIND OF BOOK OR TO, OR ANY PARTICULAR GROUP OF PEOPLE.
I'M HERE BECAUSE WITHOUT THE LIBRARY, I PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE ALIVE TODAY.
I GREW UP IN A FAMILY THAT DIDN'T HAVE MUCH MONEY.
MY PARENTS WEREN'T EDUCATED AND THEY WEREN'T GOING TO SPEND ANY GOOD MONEY ON BOOKS.
I DISCOVERED THE LIBRARY, IT OPENED UP A NEW WORLD FOR ME.
IT GAVE ME A GLIMPSE OF WAYS OF LIVING THAT HELPED ME DECIDE TO MOVE BEYOND MY SMALL KENTUCKY TOWN.
IT GOT ME INTO THE ARMY WHERE I SPENT 10 YEARS TRAVELING THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD, AND I'M THE ONLY ONE IN MY FAMILY WHO GOT OUT OF KENTUCKY AND WHO DIDN'T DIE.
A LITTLE, A MISERABLE, LONELY DEATH.
EVERYONE CAN FIND SOMETHING THEY DON'T LIKE IN ANY GOOD LIBRARY I CAN, BUT OTHER PEOPLE WANT THOSE BOOKS AND I DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO DENY THEM THAT I'M A VOLUNTEER AT THE LIBRARY.
I DO THAT SO THAT OTHER KIDS HAVE A CHANCE.
I SEE PARENTS COMING OUT OF THE LIBRARY WITH THEIR BOOK, WITH THEIR KIDS.
THEY'RE CARRYING BOXES OF BOOKS.
I SEE HOMESCHOOLERS JUST SCOOPING UP ARMFULS OF BOOKS AND IT DOES MY HEART GOOD.
THOSE KIDS HAVE A CHANCE THAT I DIDN'T HAVE.
I ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THE LIBRARY AND I ASK YOU TO SUPPORT IT COMPLETELY AND FULLY.
DO WE HAVE SOMEONE ELSE? HEY, AJ LANCASTER.
MY NAME IS AJ LANCASTER AND I AM A RESIDENT OF WARREN COUNTY, VIRGINIA, AS WELL AS A PATRON OF SAMUEL OLD PUBLIC LIBRARY.
I AM APPALLED BY THE LIBRARIAN APPROVED PORNOGRAPHY FOR KIDS IN THE LIBRARY FOREVER BY JUDY BLOOM IS IN THE ADULT YOUNG ADULT FICTION SECTION, TAR TARGET READERSHIP, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
SUMMARY FROM THE LIBRARY'S WEBSITE READS, KATHERINE AND MICHAEL'S ROMANCE LEADS PROGRESSIVELY RAPIDLY FROM KISSING TO SEXUAL INTERCOURSE AFTER KATHERINE GETS THE PILL.
BUT WILL THEIR LOVE LAST FOREVER? PAGE 77 READS, AFTER WE KISSED, WE HAD A, FOR A WHILE, HE TOOK OFF HIS PAJAMA TOP AND THEN HE SAID, LET'S TAKE YOURS OFF TOO.
I SLIPPED MY NIGHT, GRA NIGHTGOWN OVER HIS HEAD AND DROPPED IT TO THE FLOOR.
THEN THERE WERE JUST MY BIKINI PANTS AND MI MICHAEL'S BOTTOMS BETWEEN US.
FEELING HIM AGAINST ME THAT WAY MADE ME SO EXCITED.
HE ROLLED OVER THE TOP OF ME AND WE MOVED TOGETHER AGAIN AND AGAIN UNTIL IT FELT SO GOOD.
I DIDN'T EVER WANNA STOP UNTIL I CAME.
AFTER A MINUTE, I REACHED FOR MICHAEL'S HAND, SHOW ME WHAT TO DO.
OUT OF HIS PAJAMA BOTTOMS, HE LED MY HAND TO HIS PENIS.
KATHERINE, I'D LIKE YOU TO MEET RALPH.
SHE'S A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE.
DOES EVERY PENIS HAVE A NAME? I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MY OWN.
IN BOOK'S, PENISES ARE ALWAYS DESCRIBED AS HOT AND THROBBING, BUT RALPH FELT LIKE ORDINARY SKIN, JUST HIS SHAPE WAS DIFFERENT.
THAT AND THE FACT THAT HE WASN'T
[00:40:01]
SMOOTH EXACTLY AS IF A LOT WAS GOING ON UNDER THE SKIN.I DON'T KNOW WHY I'D BEEN SO NERVOUS ABOUT TOUCHING MICHAEL.
ONCE I EVER GOT, ONCE I GOT OVER BEING SCARED, I LET MY HANDS GO EVERYWHERE.
I WANTED TO FEEL EVERY PART OF HIM.
WHILE I WAS EXPERIMENTING, I ASKED, IS THIS ALL RIGHT? AND MICHAEL WHISPERED, EVERYTHING'S ALL RIGHT.
WHEN I KISSED HIS FACE, IT WAS ALL SWEATING.
HE TOOK HIS MY HAND AND LET IT BACK TO RALPH, SHOWING ME HOW TO HOLD HIM, MOVING MY HAND UP AND DOWN ACCORDING TO HIS RHYTHM.
SOON MICHAEL MO AND I FELT HIM COME.
A PULSATING FEELING OF THROBBING LIKE THE BOOK SAID, THEN WETNESS.
SOME OF IT GOT OVER MY HAND, BUT I DIDN'T LET GO OF RALPH.
PAGE 1 0 5 READS, THIS TIME I TRY TO RELAX AND THINK OF NOTHING, NOTHING BEYOND MY BODY FELT.
AND THEN RALPH WAS PUSHING AGAINST ME AND I WHISPERED, ARE YOU IN? ARE WE DOING IT? NOT YET.
I'M TRYING KATH, BUT IT'S VERY TIGHT IN THERE.
WHY SHOULD I, WHAT SHOULD I DO? CAN YOU SPREAD YOUR LEGS SOME MORE AND MAYBE RAISE THEM UP A LITTLE LIKE THIS? THAT'S MUCH BETTER AND BETTER.
I COULD FEEL LIKE HIM HALFWAY INSIDE ME.
KATH, WHAT? I THINK I'M GOING TO COME AGAIN.
I FELT A BIG THRUST FOLLOWED BY A QUICK, SHARP THING THAT MADE ME SUCK IN MY BREATH.
MICHAEL CRIED AND I DIDN'T COME.
HIDING BEHIND THE STANDARDS OUT OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, THE SAMUEL PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS DEEMED THIS BOOK APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN.
THIS CONDUCT CONTENT SHOULD NOT BE ACCESSIBLE TO CHILDREN IN THE LIBRARY WITH COMMUNITY INFLUENCE.
THE LIBRARY NEEDS TO COME UP WITH NEW STANDARDS THAT DON'T PLACE PORNOGRAPHY IN THE HANDS OF CHILDREN.
AND FOR THIS LIBRARY, FUNDING NEEDS TO BE CUT UNTIL THESE BOOKS ARE GONE.
OKAY, JUDGE, I DID FIX THE, OH, WE FIXED THE CLOCK.
UM, SAM, DO YOU KNOW, IS THE LIVE LINK ON, DID WE GET IT FIXED? OKAY.
DALEY, DID YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? YEAH.
WOULD LIKE, UH, A MOMENT FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO CONSULT WITH THE CHAIR, PLEASE? ABSOLUTELY.
OKAY, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A LITTLE BREAK,
[00:45:40]
EVERYONE.WELL, BEFORE WE RESUME WITH THE, UH, PUBLIC HEARINGS, YOUR GAL.
BEFORE WE, UH, WE, UH, CONTINUE, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, LET EVERY, REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THE PUBLIC HEARING IS TO TALK ABOUT THE FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET.
AND GRANTED, WE, WE REALIZE THAT THE, THE LIBRARY IS PART OF THE BUDGET.
SO WHEN YOU COME TO SPEAK, IF YOU COULD PLEASE, YOU KNOW, UM, TIE IT IN TO, TO THE BUDGET.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, MR. HENDERSON, PATRICK PATTON, THANK YOU.
I LIVE IN FRONT ROYAL AND I'M A PATRON OF SAM SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY AS A TAXPAYER.
AND I AM DISGUSTED THAT I HAVE EARNED MY HARD-EARNED MONEY HAS BEING, IS BEING USED TO FUND FREE PORNOGRAPHY FOR CHILDREN AT THE LIBRARY.
ONE OF THE BOOKS, LIGHT FROM UNCOMMON STARS IS ONE THAT'S VERY, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT.
IT IS A NOVEL IN THE YOUNG ADULT SECTION.
AS YOU KNOW, THE YOUNG ADULT SECTION IS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL, 12 YEARS OLD TO HIGH SCHOOL.
CHAPTER SIX DETAILS A MAN'S VIOLENT SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A TRANS TRANSGENDER PROSTITUTE.
ONE OF THE EXCERPTS FROM THAT SAYS, UNFORTUNATELY THE HOOKUP WAS HORRIBLE, ALTHOUGH HE SEEMED NORMAL AT FIRST, HE WAS HIGH ON SOMETHING AND HIS DICK WASN'T GETTING HARD.
IS THIS GONNA TIE INTO THE BUDGET? YES MA'AM.
I MEAN, IF, I MEAN, I DON'T WANNA TAKE AWAY, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANNA SAY, BUT WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AFTERWARDS.
BUT AGAIN, THIS IS, THIS IS PART OF ONE OF THE BOOKS THAT WE ARE PAYING FOR.
WE'RE PAYING TAXPAYER DOLLAR GOES TO THE LIBRARY.
AND THEREFORE THIS IS ONE OF THE BOOKS THAT, CUZ THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GIVING OUR CHILDREN.
A MAN ON DRUGS WITH A A LIMP DICK CAN BE VERY SCARY.
HE TRIED AND CURSED, THEN BEGAN TO BLAME HER, INSISTING HE WAS SOFT BECAUSE HE WASN'T A HOMO.
AND THEN HE WANTED HER TO TOP HIM AND THEN HE WANTED HER TO SPEAK CHINESE.
THEN HE PULLED HER HAIR AND SPAT ON HER.
BUT AT LEAST HE DIDN'T RE-INJURE HER RIBS.
AND THANK GOODNESS HE WASN'T ABLE TO COME.
SOMETIMES GUYS LIKE THIS GOT CRAZY WHEN WITH TRANS GIRLS AFTER THEY CAME.
AND YES, THANK GOODNESS HE PAID.
THE LIBRARIANS ARE WELL AWARE OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS BOOK AND THAT IT EXISTS IN THE LIBRARY.
AND THEY BELIEVE THE CHILDREN SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO GRAPHIC DETAILS OF PEDOPHILIA AND SEXUAL ABUSE.
THEY HIDE BEHIND THIS BOOK'S APPROVAL BY THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, WHICH CLEARLY HAS NO CONCERN FOR THE WELLBEING OF MINORS.
SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY THAT WE PAY FOR NEEDS TO REJECT THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION STANDARDS, WHICH FAVOR PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL AND DEVELOP THEIR OWN STANDARDS FOR CURATING BOOKS.
THE BOARD NEEDS TO CUT LIBRARY FUNDING UNTIL THEY STOP PROVIDING PORNOGRAPHY TO OUR CHILDREN.
JULIANA RIPA, THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME TODAY.
WE ALL COULD SPEAK YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS PLEASE.
I LIVE AT TWO 40 LOCUS TAIL ROAD IN FRONT ROYAL.
[00:50:01]
ALL TAXPAYERS HAVE AN INTEREST IN WHERE THEIR MONEY GOES.AND AS AN ADULT, I KNOW IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THE INNOCENCE OF CHILDREN.
HOWEVER, MANY OF THE BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED TO THE LIBRARY DO NOT DO THIS.
SUCH AS THE ANATOMY OF A SINGLE GIRL BY DARIUS NASKI.
IT IS CATEGORIZED IN THE YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE SECTION.
AND UNLIKE THE OTHER BOOKS, THESE CHARACTERS ARE ADULTS, BUT THE NOVEL IS WRITTEN FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL READERS.
THE MAIN CHARACTER, DOMINIQUE, IS A YOUNG COLLEGE STUDENT NAVIGATING A NEW RELATIONSHIP.
PAGE 1 56 READS, GUY ROLLS OFF ME AND SAYS, DOM, I REALLY THINK YOU SHOULD GET ON TOP.
I TOLD YOU LAST NIGHT, I LIKE BEING ON THE BOTTOM, BUT OBVIOUSLY THAT'S NOT CUTTING IT.
HAVE YOU HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE ON TOP OF SOMETHING? NO, I'VE NEVER DONE IT.
SO WHAT'S STOPPING YOU? BECAUSE IF SEX FEELS AWKWARD, IT MUST LOOK AWKWARD.
AND AS LONG AS WE'RE IN THE MISSIONARY POSITION, I'M LARGELY COVERED.
YOU WIN THIS TIME, I SIT UP AND COMMAND HIM ON YOUR BACK STAT.
ONCE HE RECLINES, I HOLD UP HIS PENIS WITH MY FINGERS AND STRADDLE HIM BEFORE SLOWLY DESCENDING ON IT.
I COULD READ MORE, BUT I THINK THAT'S ENOUGH TO SAY THAT THIS IS VERY GRAPHIC.
WAIT, ARE YOU FINISHED? YOU COULD FINISH WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.
MANY OF US DO NOT WANT MONEY FUNDED TOWARDS THIS.
I THINK THIS HAS MADE MANY PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE AND IF IT'S MAKING US AS ADULTS UNCOMFORTABLE, THEN IT IS DESTROYING THE INNOCENCE OF OUR CHILDREN.
IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN'S INNOCENCE AND NOT JUST THE CHILDREN THAT ARE BORN TO US IN BLOOD, BUT THE CHILDREN OF OUR COUNTRY, THE CHILDREN OF THIS COUNTY.
WE ARE ALL INTERESTED IN THESE CHILDREN AND WE ALL CARE ABOUT THEIR INNOCENCE AND THE ADULTS THAT THEY WILL BECOME AND WHAT THEY ARE EXPOSED TO AS CHILDREN.
AND WE DO NOT WANT OUR MONEY GIVEN OVER TO THIS KIND OF LITERATURE THAT WILL FORM THEM, BUT NOT IN THE WAY WE ARE HOPING FOR.
THE NEXT SPEAKER, STEVEN GUYANO.
I MOVED TO FRONT ROYAL ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO.
MY KIDS GO TO SCHOOL IN FRONT.
ROYAL, I'VE BEEN A PATRON OF THE SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY AND I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE FUNDING, UH, FOR THE LIBRARY.
UM, I'M ACTUALLY IN FAVOR OF MORE FUNDING FOR THE LIBRARY.
I ACTUALLY GREW UP, UH, GOING TO THE LIBRARY A LOT.
UM, I USED TO ACTUALLY SPEND ALL DAY THERE.
SOMETIMES IN THE DAYS OF DIALUP INTERNET, MY MOM WOULD USE THE LIBRARY AND I WOULD GO OFF TO THE, UH, KIDS SECTION OR THE YOUNG ADULT SECTION AND READ.
UM, THERE'S A RIDICULOUS, UH, SUGGESTION MADE THAT IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY, THEN HOLD YOUR KIDS' HANDS AND PREVENT THEM FROM READING THEM.
AND BASICALLY THE THING PUT FORWARD IS THAT WE CAN BASICALLY PUT WHATEVER WE WANT IN IN THE LIBRARY AS DISGUSTING AS POSSIBLE.
AND IT'S, WE CAN CONSTRUCT THIS AND ESSENTIALLY IT'S YOUR JOB TO GO THERE AND HOLD YOUR CH CHILDREN'S HAND AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T TOUCH IT.
THAT'S A RIDICULOUS BURDEN TO PUT ON PARENTS.
WE WANT TO HAVE AN INSTITUTION WHICH WE CAN GO TO AND TRUST.
AND I USED TO BIKE TO THE LIBRARY.
THIS IS JUST, THIS IS NOT A SERIOUS PROPOSAL.
WHAT THEY REALLY WANT IS TO HAVE THEIR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO.
THEY WANT TO HAVE CONTROL OVER WHAT'S IN THE LIBRARY AND THEN BASICALLY PLACE THE BURDEN ON THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE FUNDED IT TO PREVENT THEIR MESSAGE FROM GETTING TO THEM.
UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I, THERE'S A BOOK HERE THAT I WANTED TO READ A COUPLE EXCERPTS FROM.
IT'S CALLED, THIS BOOK IS GAY AND BOY, ARE WE GONNA FIND THAT OUT.
IT'S TALKS ABOUT PLEASE QUIET.
IT TALKS ABOUT VARIOUS WAYS TO, FOR MEN TO, UH, GIVE BLOWY, FOR MEN TO HAVE A**L SEX.
IT SAYS ONE PAGE 74, STILL, UNLIKE VAGINAL SEX, A LITTLE MORE THOUGHT HAS TO GO INTO A**L SEX.
AS PLEASANT AS BUMMING CAN BE, WE MUST HOLD IN MIND THAT THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF THE BACK
[00:55:01]
PASSAGE IS TO DO POOS.POO IS NOT SEXY, BUT THEN IT GOES ON AND ON ABOUT HOW YOU SHOULD ACTUALLY HAVE SEX WITH AN ANUS THAT DOES GO POO AND HOW YOU SHOULD PREVENT THE POO FROM GETTING ON YOU AND ALL THIS KIND OF STUFF.
THIS IS, THIS IS NOT LITERATURE, THIS IS SMUT.
THIS IS, SOMEONE TALKED ABOUT THE LIBRARY OF ALEXANDRIA.
THIS IS NOT, THIS IS GRAFFITI THAT YOU WOULD FIND SCROLLED IN POE, WHICH I VISITED.
I WOULD ASK YOU GUYS TO USE THE POWER THAT'S BEEN GIVEN TO YOU, THE POWER OF THE PURSE, WHICH REALLY REPRESENTS OUR WILL.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY, IT'S ABOUT US HAVING A SAY OVER WHAT IS IN OUR, IN OUR LIBRARIES.
I'D LIKE YOU TO USE THAT POWER TO PULL FUNDING FROM THEM UNTIL THEY REMOVE THIS MATERIAL.
I LIVE IN THE HARMONY ORCHARD NEIGHBORHOOD IN WARREN COUNTY.
I'M ALSO, UM, AN EPISCOPAL PRIEST IN THE RECTOR OF CALVARY EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN TOWN.
I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF OUR LIBRARY, FULL FUNDING OF OUR LIBRARY, ALSO ON RECORD TO, FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT BOOK PURCHASES FROM THE LIBRARY ARE OFTEN COMPLETED THROUGH GRANTS THAT ARE RECEIVED.
WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT THE LIBRARY IS AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR THE FUNDING, FOR THE HOURS THAT IT IS OPEN, THE STAFFING THAT EXISTS, THE PROGRAMS PROVIDED FOR ALL GENERATIONS.
I HAVE PARISHIONERS THAT DON'T HAVE AIR CONDITIONING.
I HAVE PARISHIONERS THAT ARE LONELY AND ISOLATED.
SO THE PUBLIC FUNDING OF A LIBRARY IS MUCH MORE THAN THE BOOKS.
AND OUR DEMOCRACY AND OUR FIRST AMENDMENT ALLOWS US FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
AND IF PARENTS HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY, IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO CHECK OUT OR NOT CHECK OUT ANY BOOK IN THE LIBRARY.
THEY DO NOT HAVE TO, BUT NO ONE, NO GROUP, NO DENOMINATION, NO BELIEF STRUCTURE HAS THE RIGHT TO IMPOSE THAT UPON THE PUBLIC.
IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE BOOK, DON'T CHECK OUT THE BOOK.
OUR FAMILIES, THIS COMMUNITY ENCOMPASSES A BROAD SWATH OF PEOPLE.
WE DON'T ALL HAVE THE SAME BELIEF STRUCTURES.
WE DON'T COME FROM THE SAME RELIGIONS.
THERE ARE OTHER WORLD RELIGIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR LIBRARY IS A PUBLIC LIBRARY.
AND IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS ELECTED OFFICIALS IN A DEMOCRACY TO PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY, OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH, THE FREEDOM FOR ACCESS FOR PUBLISHED MATERIALS AND FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE THEIR TAX MONEY GOES, OUR TAX MONIES GOES TO OUR ROADS, OUR FIREFIGHTERS, OUR SCHOOL TEACHERS.
IT IS A BILLION, MULTIPLE BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET.
SO YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT YOUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS GO SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE BUDGET.
I URGE YOU TO FULLY FUND THE LIBRARY AS AN INVALUABLE PLEASE AS AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE TO OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY.
AND EVERY PARENT HAS THE RIGHT TO NOT CHECK OUT A BOOK.
DO WE HAVE SOMEONE ELSE? UH, JIM BRUCE, IF I'M READING THAT CORRECTLY.
AND I LIVE AT 1 0 8 MANASSAS AVENUE.
UH, IN FRONT ROYAL, I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT.
UH, BEFORE YOU AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN OF WARREN COUNTY, I'VE HEARD SEVERAL SPEAK ON, UH, DEFUNDING THE LIBRARY.
UH, I DO NOT BELIEVE IN JUMPING ON A BANDWAGON SIMPLY BECAUSE ONE PERSON OR ONE GROUP MAKES A STATEMENT OR A YOUTUBE VIDEO.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE CONTENT IN ITS CONTEXT AND NOT CHOOSE A FEW CHERRY PICKED PASSAGES FROM THOSE BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN LABELED PORNOGRAPHIC.
IN ADDITION, WHAT IS THE ACCEPTED WORKING DEFINITION OF PORNOGRAPHY? I'VE YET TO HEAR IT.
ARE THESE WORDS PORNOGRAPHIC, HOW BEAUTIFUL YOU ARE AND HOW PLEASING MY LOVE WITH YOUR DELIGHTS YOUR STATURE IS LIKE THAT OF
[01:00:01]
THE PALM AND YOUR BREASTS LIKE CLUSTERS OF FRUIT.I SAID, I WILL CLIMB THE PALM TREE.
I WILL TAKE HOLD OF ITS FRUIT.
MAY YOUR BREASTS BE LIKE CLUSTERS OF GRAPES ON THE VINE.
THAT'S A DIRECT QUOTE FROM THE BIBLE.
WHEN MY CHILDREN WERE YOUNG, WE DID NOT BAN THE BIBLE FROM OUR HOUSE.
AS PARENTS, IT WAS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE WHAT THEY READ WAS APPROPRIATE FOR THEM.
IT WAS ALSO OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO TRAIN THEM IN THE VALUES THAT MY WIFE AND I SHARE.
PUT BLUNTLY IF THERE'S TOO MUCH SMU ON MY BLU-RAY PLAYER.
BANNING BLU-RAY PLAYERS IS NOT THE ANSWER BECAUSE SAMUELS IS A PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THEY EXIST, SERVE THE ENTIRE PUBLIC.
SO NATURALLY THERE'RE GOING TO BE BOOKS IN EVERY SECTION AND EVERY GENRE THAT PEOPLE FIND OFFENSIVE IN THIS PARTICULAR BREW.
HAHA, ARE THERE OTHER OPTIONS BESIDES BANNING AND OR DEFUNDING? WHAT IF THE BOOKS IN QUESTION WERE PLACED IN A SEPARATE PART OF THE LIBRARY WHERE THEY CAN ONLY BE ACCESSED BY ADULTS WHO ARE ACCOMPANYING THEIR CHILDREN? OR WHAT ABOUT GIVING MINORS A DIFFERENT LIBRARY CARD? SO BOOKS COULD, CERTAIN BOOKS CAN ONLY BE CHECKED OUT WITH PARENTAL APPROVAL.
AND I'M SURE THERE ARE MANY OTHER VIABLE OPTIONS.
ISSUES OF HUMAN SEXUALITY WILL NOT GO AWAY THROUGH BOOK BANDS, DEFUNDING PROTESTS, GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND BOYCOTTS.
EDUCATION IS LEARNING ABOUT THINGS WE DO NOT KNOW OR UNDERSTAND.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT WE BELIEVE, BUT IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHY WE BELIEVE IT WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY RESPECTING THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE LIKE WE DO.
I LEARNED MORE BY READING BOOKS OR WATCHING VIDEOS OR LISTENING TO LECTURES I DISAGREE WITH THAN I DO BY IMMERSING MYSELF IN WHAT I ALREADY BELIEVE AS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
YOU LIKE SAMUEL'S LIBRARY RESPONSIBLE FOR SERVING THE ENTIRE COUNTY, INCLUDING THOSE WHO VOTE LIKE YOU, LOOK LIKE YOU, WORSHIP LIKE YOU, AND THINK LIKE YOU.
AS BILLY GRAHAM REPORTEDLY SAID, THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF NUTS IN THE LORD'S FRUITCAKE.
DON'T DEFEND THE THEIR DEFUND, THE FRUITCAKE FACTORY BECAUSE A FEW PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT SOME OF THE INGREDIENTS.
I'M A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF LINDEN AND, UH, MY FAMILY FREQUENTLY VISITS THE LIBRARY, WHICH I THINK IS AN INCREDIBLY VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR THE PUBLIC.
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS SUPPORTED IN LARGE PART, NOT WHOLLY THROUGH TAXPAYER FUNDS.
IT OPERATES FOR THE BENEFIT OF US LOCAL RESIDENTS AND LOCAL TAXPAYERS LIKE ME.
HOWEVER, THE CHURCH DOESN'T PAY TAXES.
ANY SPECIFIC CHURCH SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY VOICE IN TELLING US TAXPAYERS WHAT WE CAN OR CANNOT READ.
IF THEY WANNA DICTATE WHAT PEOPLE CAN READ, THAT'S FINE.
THEY CAN DO THAT IN THEIR OWN LIBRARY.
IF THEY WANNA TELL US TAXPAYERS WHAT WE CAN READ, THEN THEY SHOULD START PAYING TAXES UNTIL THEY DO.
THEY SHOULD HAVE NO VOICE IN DICTATING WHAT WE CAN OR CANNOT READ IN OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY.
UM, AND I'LL SKIP THE REST, JUST AN INTEREST OF TIME.
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS AN INCREDIBLY VALUABLE RESOURCE.
UM, IT'S A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR PEOPLE WHO IDENTIFY AS L G B T, UM, WHO FEEL THEY'RE ALONE.
UM, PLEASE CONTINUE YOUR FULL SUPPORT OF THE LIBRARY.
DO WE HAVE SOMEONE ELSE? UH, IAN SHEY SHEY, IF I'M SAYING THAT RIGHT.
I LIVE ON EIGHT MOUNTAIN VIEW DRIVE IN FRONT ROW VIRGINIA.
UM, I'M A RESIDENT OF WARREN COUNTY.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH YOU CONCERNING FISCAL YEAR, UH, BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 2024.
UH, CONCERNING FUNDING FOR THE LIBRARY.
UH, I'M SURE YOU'LL HEAR MANY EXCERPTS OF CERTAIN BOOKS DURING THE LIBRARY, UM, THAT MANY WOULD CONSIDER OBJECTIONABLE OR PORNOGRAPHIC.
UM, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO SUSPEND FUNDING FROM THE LIBRARY UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THESE BOOKS HAVE BEEN REMOVED.
UH, THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN EARLIER WHO SUGGESTED PUTTING A, UH, PUTTING TOGETHER A BOARD OF PARENTS WHO CAN REVIEW BOOKS AND, UH, DEMOCRATICALLY DECIDE WHICH ONES SHOULD AND SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED IN THE CHILDREN'S SECTION OF LIBRARY.
UH, THESE BOOKS ARE MAIN LIBRARY.
MAYBE THEY SHOULD BE IN THE ADULT SECTION.
UM, MAYBE CHILDREN SHOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THEM.
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MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.I AM, UH, A RESIDENT OF FRONT ROYAL.
UH, I AM HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE, UH, FUNDING FOR THE LIBRARY.
UH, I JUST WANT TO ECHO, UM, MANY OF THE THOUGHTS AND COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED ABOUT THE PORNOGRAPHIC BOOKS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN THE LIBRARY AND THAT HAVE BEEN MADE SO AT LEAST IN PART BY PUBLIC FUNDING.
UM, WITH REGARD TO THE PRESENCE OF THESE BOOKS, I DO NOT BELIEVE, AND I THINK THAT I STAND WITH MANY CITIZENS OF THIS TOWN AND THIS COUNTY THAT, UM, PORNOGRAPHY HELPS THE FORM THE IMAGINATION OF GOOD CITIZENS.
I HAVE A SON AND I AM AFRAID FOR HOW HE WOULD BE IF HE WERE TO GROW UP FILLING HIS MIND WITH PORNOGRAPHY.
I KNOW FRIENDS WHO HAVE DAUGHTERS AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE, UH, HOW THEY WOULD FEEL, UH, IF THEY KNEW THAT THE SON, THAT THE BOYS WHO WERE COMING TO VISIT THEIR DAUGHTERS WERE, UM, HABITUALLY THOUGHT OF WOMEN IN THIS, UH, HORRIFYING WAY, IN THIS OBJECTIVE OBJECTIFYING WAY.
UM, SO I, I JUST WANT TO BRING THESE CONCERNS TO YOU AND ASK YOU TO USE WHAT POWER YOU HAVE AS IT HAS BEEN SAID.
UM, THE TASK BEFORE YOU IS NOT AN EASY ONE, AND I'M NOT SURE THAT I HAVE ALL THE CLEAR ANSWER.
I KNOW I'M NOT PRESENTING POLICY TO YOU, BUT I DO ASK YOU TO TAKE SERIOUSLY, UM, THE, THE CONCERNS OF THESE CITIZENS TO EXERT SOME INFLUENCE, SOME POWER ON THE LIBRARY, UH, TO REMOVE THESE BOOKS, WHICH ARE IN FACT, PORNOGRAPHIC.
MY NOTES IRMA POWELL LIVE IN FRONT ROYAL VIRGINIA, AND I'M SPEAKING ABOUT THE, UM, BUDGET LIBRARY.
SO CONSIDER THIS SCENARIO A FAMILY GOES TO THE MOVIES.
THE YOUNG SON SEES AN AD FOR THE MOVIE, GODZILLA MEETS THE GANG BANGERS.
GODZILLA, CAN WE SEE IT? AND THE DAD SAYS, NO, HUN, THAT'S AN R-RATED MOVIE.
IS THIS CENSORSHIP? IS THIS BANNING OF MOVIES? NO, IT IS RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT OF MEDIA ART.
THE MPA, THE MOTION PICTURE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA VOLUNTARILY RATES MOVIES FOR THEATERS TO ALERT PARENTS AS TO ANY APPROPRIATE CONTENT GIVEN RADIANCE SUCH AS R, WHICH REQUIRES A PARENT OR GUARDIAN TO ACCOMPANY THE CHILD.
AN NC 17 OR ANYONE UNDER 17 IS DENIED ADMISSION.
AND IT ONLY TAKES ONE SCENE TO TURN A G-RATED MOVIE INTO AN R OR AN NC 17, WHICH THEY USED TO CALL X-RATED MOVIE.
IS THAT CENSORSHIP? THE SAME APPLIES TO BOOKS, WHICH THROUGH THE WRITTEN WORD CAN EVOKE IN AN IMAGE IN THE MIND A STRONG OR STRONGER THAN ONE SCENE ON THE MOVIE SCREEN.
AND IT ONLY TAKES ONE PAGE TO TURN A G-RATED BOOK INTO AN R OR AN X-RATED BOOK.
AND LIKE THE MPAA, THE LIBRARY HAS JUST AS GREAT A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PARENTS OF THE COMMUNITY, TO ALL OF THE COMMUNITY TO ALERT THEM TO ANY CONTENT THAT MAY BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR SOMEONE UNDER 17.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MISINFORMATION FLOATING AROUND.
THE PARENTS ARE TRYING TO BAN BOOKS FROM THE LIBRARY.
THERE ARE ALREADY MANY BOOKS IN THE ADULT SECTION THAT COULD BE CLASSIFIED AS ADULT ONLY BOOKS AS WELL AS A SLEW OF R RATED MOVIES.
THE ISSUE IS RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT OF THE LITERARY WORKS AVAILABLE AT THE LIBRARY.
IT'S LAUDABLE THAT SAMUEL'S LIBRARY IS ATTEMPTING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL THE COMMUNITY.
BUT JUST AS A MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY REACHES ACROSS ALL SPECTRUMS OF VIEWPOINT AND EXPERIENCE THAT DOES NOT EXONERATE THEM OF THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE ALL THEIR CLIENTELE AWARE OF THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THE CONTENT.
JUST AS THE YOUNG BOY WOULD FOCUS ON GODZILLA AND FIND HIMSELF CONFRONTED WITH EXPLICIT SEXUAL CONTENT.
SO DO CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS NOT EXPECTING ADULT CONTENT IN THE CHILDREN'S SECTION BE CONFRONTED WITH GRAPHIC SEXUAL CONTENT THAT THEY WERE NOT LOOKING FOR? THIS IS IRRESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT OF LITERARY WORKS, AND IT'S AN AFFRONT TO THE COMMUNITY THAT SAMUEL LIBRARY PROFESSES TO SERVE.
SAMUEL LIBRARY CANNOT SAY THAT IT IS THE PARENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO MONITOR THE CONTENT OF THE BOOKS THE CHILDREN LOOK AT WHEN THEY HAVE SPRINKLED THE INAPPROPRIATE MATERIAL IN WITH APPROPRIATE MATERIAL IN THE CHILDREN'S AND YOUNG ADULT SECTIONS.
I PROPOSE THAT ALL SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONTENT, WHETHER HETEROSEXUAL OR LGBTQ PLUS BE REMOVED FROM THE CHILDREN'S AND YOUNG ADULT SECTION AND PLACED IN THE ADULT SECTION.
IF THE PARENTS WISH TO TAKE THEM OUT, THEY'RE WELCOME TO DO SO AND
[01:10:01]
THEN CAN READ THEM TO THEIR CHILDREN IF THEY LIKE.NO SUCH TITLES SHOULD BE ALLOWED OUT ON A CHILDREN'S LIBRARY CARD THAT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT OF THEIR LIBRARY CONTENT.
AGAIN, THE ISSUE IS NOT THE LIBRARY PUTTING ADULT CONTENT IN THE ADULT SECTION.
THE ISSUE IS THEIR IRRESPONSIBILITY IN THEIR MANAGEMENT IN TRANS LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IN DEALING WITH INAPPROPRIATE CONTENT IN REGARDS TO CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS.
AND GRAPHIC SEXUAL CONTENT, WHETHER HETEROSEXUAL OR OTHERWISE IS ALWAYS INAPPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS.
IF THE MOTION PICTURE ASSOCIATION CAN RECOGNIZE THAT.
SO ELABORATE THREE MINUTES REP.
HELLO, MY NAME IS CALISTA MAYBERRY.
UM, I LIVE IN THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT IN FRONT ROYAL AND WHAT, PARDON ME.
I LIVE IN THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT IN FRONT ROYAL.
AND I ORIGINALLY WAS GOING TO COME UP HERE AND TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE, I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT WITH CERTAIN THINGS, UH, BEING TALKED ABOUT WITH THE LIBRARY, BUT I DON'T WANT TO REGURGITATE THAT ANY LONGER SO YOU GUYS DON'T KEEP HEARING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER.
SO RATHER I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL WITH MY REMAINING TIME WHAT THINGS THE LIBRARY HAS OFFERED ME AS A TAXPAYER AND AS THE CHILD OF A TAXPAYER GROWING UP.
SO THE LIBRARY PROVIDED A PLACE FOR ME AT A YOUNG AGE TO GO TO AND TO EXPLORE AND TO ESCAPE.
AND I, LIVING IN A RURAL AREA, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE ANY BOOKSTORES NEARBY.
WE HAVE TO DRIVE UP TO WINCHESTER FOR BOOKS, A MILLION OR SIMILAR THINGS.
AND SOMETIMES MY FAMILY DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR ME TO BE GO AND BUY ALL THESE BOOKS THAT I LIKED.
SO THE LIBRARY PROVIDED ME A PLETHORA OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT I WAS ABLE TO ACCESS AND SOME OF THE THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WEREN'T MY CUP OF TEA, UM, I JUST SAT THEM DOWN, TALKED TO MY PARENTS, I WAS LIKE, I DON'T THINK I WANNA CHECK THIS STUFF OUT ANYMORE.
UM, AND THEN I PROCEEDED AND I ENDED UP BECOMING A VOLUNTEER AT THE LIBRARY AT AGE 11.
AND I CONTINUED TO BE A VOLUNTEER FOR SEVEN YEARS.
AND AT THAT TIME I BELIEVE THAT WHAT THE LIBRARY OFFERED ME WAS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY.
WHAT I EXPERIENCED THERE WAS SOME OF THE MOST HEARTWARMING AND SOME OF THE MOST SENSE OF BELONGING THAT I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED IN ANY PLACE ELSE, ESPECIALLY IN THIS COUNTY.
IT WASN'T THAT I ALWAYS AGREED WITH SOME PEOPLE.
UM, I DID COME FROM A PRIVATE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL AND SOMETIMES I DIDN'T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT OTHER PEOPLE WERE SAYING AT THE LIBRARY, WHETHER THEY BE STAFF, UM, PATRONS OR OTHER VOLUNTEERS.
NONETHELESS, ONCE WE PUT ASIDE OUR DIFFERENCES, THIS IS A PLACE TO ENJOY OUR TAXPAYER FUNDED AS WELL AS, UM, OBVIOUSLY GRANT FUNDED PRODUCT THAT IS AT THE LIBRARY.
I JUST WANT TO URGE THE BOARD TO PLEASE CONSIDER NOT JUST THE DIVISIVENESS OF WHAT'S BEING DISCUSSED TODAY, BUT ALSO JUST THE SINGULAR SENSE OF COMMUNITY THAT A LIBRARY PROVIDES.
AND SOMETHING LIKE TAKING AWAY THE BUDGETARY, UM, CONCERNS WITH THAT WOULD BE VERY DESTRUCTIVE TO OUR, WHAT OUR COMMUNITY IS.
AND I SEE THE REST OF MY TIME.
MR. HENDERSON, DO WE HIT THE NEXT PERSON? UH, JENNIFER MAYBERRY.
HI, MY NAME IS JENNIFER MAYBERRY.
I'M LIVE IN THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT.
I AM A FOURTH GENERATION RESIDENT, SO THERE, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH DEEPER ROOTS CAN GET FROM ME.
UM, I'M SUPER NERVOUS BECAUSE I HAD TO SET AND ENDURE PROBABLY SOME OF THE WORST THINGS I'VE EVER HEARD.
I HAVE A WHOLE SPEECH UP HERE THAT I WANTED TO READ BECAUSE I GREW UP IN THE LIBRARY.
BOTH OF MY PARENTS DID NOT GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL.
MY DAD WHO PASSED, HE ONLY WENT TO THE EIGHTH GRADE, BUT MY
[01:15:01]
OLDER BROTHER AND I, WE LIVED TWO BLOCKS FROM THE OLD SAMUEL'S PEP LIBRARY.WE WENT THERE ALMOST EVERY DAY DURING THE SUMMER WHEN WE WEREN'T RIDING BIKES.
I REMEMBER THE OLD CARD CATALOG THAT WAS IN THE CHILDREN'S SECTION.
I REMEMBER THE HUGE BEAN BAGS THAT WE WOULD GO AND SET IN.
MY PARENTS DIDN'T, OUR PARENTS DID NOT ACCOMPANY MY BROTHER AND I TO THE LIBRARY.
WE WOULD READ WHATEVER WE WANTED TO READ.
AND AS A CHILD, I BASED MOST OF MY BOOKS, CHOOSING THEM BY THE PICTURES, AND I NEVER FOUND ANYTHING TO BE INAPPROPRIATE WHEN I WAS READING THEM.
I'VE READ THOUSANDS OF BOOKS I STILL LOVE TO READ, AND CHILDREN DON'T KNOW ANY DIFFERENT WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG UNLESS WE ARE FORCING OUR BELIEFS ONTO THEM.
I WENT TO CHURCH EVERY SUNDAY.
I'VE READ ALMOST ANYTHING, EVERY SUBJECT YOU COULD POSSIBLY READ.
I HAVE READ, THERE ARE PARTS OF BOOKS THAT I'VE LIKED, PARTS THAT I HAVE NOT LIKED, THOSE BOOKS THAT I'VE NOT LIKED, I JUST DON'T PICK THEM BACK UP.
WHAT I'M ASKING IS, THE LIBRARY IS AMAZING AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT ALL THE EMPLOYEES AT THE LIBRARY AND ALL THE VOLUNTEERS DO AT THE SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY.
AND I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THIS MAY NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE LIBRARY, WITH THE FUNDING, BUT I AM, I JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT LIVING HERE MY ENTIRE LIFE AND KNOWING THAT MY GREAT GRANDPARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, EVERY FAMILY MEMBER THAT I KNOW AND HAVE KNOWN CAME FROM THIS PLACE TONIGHT, MAKES ME EMBARRASSED.
AND I'VE NEVER SAID THAT BEFORE IN MY LIFE.
WE NEEDED TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN EMPATHY AND LOVE.
ALL I KEEP SEEING UP HERE IS WHITE MEN COMING UP AND RANTING.
I SEE THEM LAUGHING ON THE TELEVIS TELEVISION, PLEASE.
AND THAT IS THEIR RIGHT TO DO THAT, JUST AS THIS IS MY RIGHT TO SPEAK.
AND YOU'RE THREE MINUTES ARE UP.
I THOUGHT, ARE YOU CALL, I THOUGHT, OKAY.
DO I HAVE TO GO OR
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SUPERVISORS.
I LIVE HERE IN WARREN COUNTY AND I'M A WHITE MAN.
UH, AND I'M A TAXPAYER IN THIS, IN THIS COUNTY.
OKAY, EVERYONE, PLEASE, I WANNA BEGIN BY THANKING YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO THE COMMENTS.
IT'S A HARD DECISIONS YOU HAVE TO MAKE.
A PUBLICLY FUNDED LIBRARY SHOULD NOT BE GIVING CHILDREN ACCESS TO OBSCENE READING MATERIALS.
IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO READ ANY OR ALL THE VARIOUS EXCERPTS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPILED AND SENT TO YOU, I'D HOPE THAT YOU WOULD AGREE THAT THESE TYPES OF BOOKS DO NOT BELONG WITHIN REACH OF CHILDREN.
BUT THE LIBRARY STAFF SEEMS TO DISAGREE AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE TONIGHT ASKING FOR YOUR INTERVENTION AS THE BODY RESPONSIBLE FOR FUNDING MUCH OF THE LIBRARY'S BUDGET.
I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO DEFUND THE LIBRARY UNTIL THESE OBSCENE AND PORNOGRAPHIC BOOKS ARE REMOVED FROM THE CHILDREN'S SECTION.
ALTHOUGH I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CHILDREN CAN SEE AND READ EVEN MORE OBJECTIONABLE MATERIAL THAN WHAT IS FOUND IN THE LIBRARY ON THEIR PHONES OR ON TV, AND MANY POSSIBLY HAVE, FAMILIES SHOULD BE ABLE TO FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THE BOOKS THEIR CHILDREN READ OR CHECK OUT IN THE SEC CHILDREN'S SECTION OF A TAXPAYER FUNDED LIBRARY ARE NOT OBSCENE.
SOME SAY THAT REMOVING BOOKS IS CONTRARY TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
OBSCENITY IS NOT PROTECTED UNDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT, AND THESE BOOKS ARE OBSCENE.
IF FAMILIES WANT TO EXPOSE THEIR CHILDREN TO THIS TYPE OF LITERATURE IN THEIR HOMES, THAT'S THEIR PARENTAL CHOICE.
BUT FOR A PUBLIC LIBRARY, THE COLLECTION SHOULD REFLECT THE VALUES OF THE AREA IN WHICH IT IS LOCATED.
AND WARREN COUNTY IS A CONSERVATIVE FAMILY-ORIENTED COMMUNITY, NOT SOME PROGRESSIVE COUNTY LIKE FAIRFAX OR LOUDON.
PLEASE HOLD THE LIBRARY ACCOUNTABLE.
I AM A RESIDENT OF FRONT ROYAL.
I AM A LIBRARY PATRON AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE LIBRARY AS WELL.
I AM THE FIRST PERSON IN MY HOUSEHOLD IN, IN MY FAMILY TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE.
AND I ATTRIBUTE MUCH OF THAT TO THE FACT THAT I SPENT MANY, MANY HOURS.
I BASICALLY LIVED IN A LIBRARY.
HE AS A KID, IT HAD SCIENCE BOOKS, GREAT LITERATURE.
[01:20:01]
IT DIDN'T HAVE WAS PORNOGRAPHY.AND THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT, IS THE FACT THAT THIS COUNTY IS FUNDING SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
NOW, THERE ARE THOSE TODAY WHO SAY WE'RE HERE TO BAN BOOKS.
THERE ARE WHAT, 150 MILLION BOOKS IN PRINT BETWEEN TWO TO 4 MILLION BEING ADDED EVERY YEAR.
DO WE HAVE A SMALL, WHAT SAMUEL'S LIBRARY MAYBE HAS 10,000, 15,000? I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY THEY HAVE.
IT'S NOT 150 MILLION CHOICES HAVE TO BE MADE.
THIS IS ABOUT CHOICES THAT ARE MADE WHEN THESE THINGS COME IN.
WE WOULD EXPECT THAT OUR LIBRARY IS MAKING CHOICES THAT IS, THAT ARE COMMENSURATE WITH THE VALUES THAT WE HAVE AS A COMMUNITY, AS A SOCIETY.
AND THAT WE'RE NOT SEEING THAT.
I GREW UP IN A VERY ROUGH SECTION OF BALTIMORE, YET I HAD A LIBRARY I COULD GO TO THAT WAS A HAVEN.
BE THESE THINGS ARE AIMED AT YOUNG CHILDREN NOW.
THEY SAY THESE CHOICES, THEY HAVE TO SELECT BOOKS AND RESOURCES THAT MATCH WHAT WE AS A COMMUNITY BELIEVE.
LIBRARIANS HAVE DONE THIS FOR CENTURIES AND THEY'VE DONE IT WITHOUT HAVING PORNOGRAPHY IN THE LIBRARY.
THE SAME AS OTHER SPEAKERS WHO HAVE BEEN HERE HAVE SAID.
SO MOST OF THE CHOICES THAT LIBRARIANS MAKE ARE GOOD.
I LOOK AT THE LIBRARY AND I LOOK FOR BOOKS ON BOMB MAKING.
I LOOK FOR BOOKS ON POISONING THE WATER SUPPLY.
THERE WERE NONE THERE BECAUSE SOMEBODY MADE A CHOICE NOT TO INCLUDE.
THOSE ARE THOSE BOOKS OUT THERE.
BUT SOMEBODY CHOSE NOT TO PUT THEM IN.
ARE THOSE BOOKS BANNED BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T CHOOSE TO PUT THEM IN? THERE ARE ARE 140 PLUS MILLION BOOKS THAT ARE NOT IN THAT LIBRARY.
ARE THOSE ALSO BANNED? SO THE QUESTION IS NOT WHETHER THEY CAN MAKE CHOICES, BUT WHETHER THEY WILL MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE.
THIS HAS NEVER MEANT THAT ANYTHING GOES.
AS A SOCIETY, AS A COMMUNITY, WE MAKE DECISIONS COLLECTIVELY TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.
MY CHILD, MY 15 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER CAN GO INTO A CONVENIENCE STORE, BUT SHE CAN'T BUY THE CIGARETTES.
SHE CAN'T EVEN GET TO THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE BEHIND THE COUNTER.
BECAUSE WE AS A SOCIETY HAVE MADE A DECISION THAT WE'RE GONNA PROTECT THEM FROM THAT.
SHE ALSO CAN'T BUY PORNOGRAPHY WHEN SHE WALKS IN THERE.
WHY? BECAUSE WE AS A, AS A SOCIETY HAVE MADE A CHOICE NOT TO OFFER PORNOGRAPHY TO CHILDREN.
NOW WHY THEN SHOULD OUR TAX DOLLARS GO TOWARDS SUPPLYING THIS FOR FREE WHEN THEY CAN'T GO IN A STORE AND BUY IT THEMSELVES? NOW THOSE WHO WANT IT FOR THEIR CHILDREN, FEEL FREE TO BUY IT FOR THEM.
I'M A RESIDENT IN WARREN COUNTY FRONT ROW.
UM, I'M HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT CENSORSHIP.
CAN YOU ONLY HEAR ME
IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO READ SOME VERSES FROM THE BIBLE IN THE BOOK OF JUDGES CHAPTER 19, VERSE 24 TO 29.
AND I APOLOGIZE, THEY'RE A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE HERE.
LET ME BRING OUT MY VIRGIN DAUGHTER.
AND THIS MAN'S WIFE RAPE THEM AND DO WITH THEM WHATEVER YOU WANT, JUST DON'T DO SUCH A GODLESS THING TO THIS MAN.
BUT THE MEN REFUSED TO LISTEN TO HIM.
SO THE LEVI GRABBED HIS WIFE AND FORCED HER OUTSIDE.
THEY HAD SEX WITH HER AND ABUSED HER ALL NIGHT UNTIL MORNING.
THEY LET HER GO AND THE SUN WAS COMING UP AT DAYBREAK.
THE WOMAN CAME TO THE DOOR OF THE HOUSE WHERE HER HUSBAND WAS AND COLLAPSED.
SHE WAS STILL THERE WHEN IT BECAME LIGHT.
HER HUSBAND GOT UP IN THE MORNING, OPENED THE DOORS OF THE HOUSE, AND WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE.
HIS WIFE WAS LYING AT THE DOOR OF THE HOUSE WITH HER HANDS ON THE DOORSTEP.
THE LEVITE SAID TO HER, GET UP, LET'S GO.
SO HE PUT HER ON THE DONKEY AND LEFT FOR HOME.
WHEN HE ARRIVED HOME, HE GOT A KNIFE.
HE TOOK HIS KNIFE AND CUT HER LIMB FROM LIMB INTO 12 PIECES.
HE THEN SENT THE PIECES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORIES OF ISRAEL.
IN HEARING THESE VERSES, DOES THIS MEAN THAT THE BIBLE'S PROMOTING RAPE AND MURDER? SHOULD THE BIBLE BE BANNED ANY ON ANY SORT OF BAND LIST? OF COURSE NOT.
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THESE VALUES ARE TAKEN OUT OF THESE VERSES ARE TAKEN OUTTA CONTEXT AND ARE PART OF A MUCH BIGGER BOOK.THE SAME BOOK ALSO STATES YOU SHALL NOT TAKE VENGEANCE OR BEAR A GRUDGE AGAINST ANY OF YOUR PEOPLE, BUT YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.
LEVITICUS CHAPTER 19 VERSE 18.
LIBRARIES SUCH AS OURS OFFER DIVERSE COLLECTIONS WITH RESOURCES FROM MANY POINTS OF VIEW.
AND THE LIBRARY'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO INFORMATION FOR ALL USERS.
I HAVE NOTHING BUT GRATITUDE FOR THE EXPERTISE OF EDUCATORS AND LIBRARIANS HERE IN WARREN COUNTY.
THEY DO THEIR JOB WELL AND HAS MADE SAMUELS A CORNERSTONE OF THE COMMUNITY DEDICATED TO SERVING THE INFORMATION NEEDS OF EVERYONE.
HATE AND FEAR DISGUISED AS MORAL OUTRAGE HAS NO PLACE IN WARREN COUNTY.
NEXT, DO WE HAVE EVIDENCE? SPEAKER AARON GUNTER.
MAY I BEGIN? OKAY, EVERYONE PLEASE.
I AM A RESIDENT OF FRONT ROYAL ON I AM A PATRON OF SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY.
AND I AM HORRIFIED TO KNOW THAT MY TAX DOLLARS ARE FUNDING PORNOGRAPHY FOR CHILDREN AT THE LIBRARY, PORNOGRAPHY LIKE KINGDOM OF ASH, WHICH IS A NOVEL IN THE YOUNG ADULT SU UH, YOUNG ADULT SECTION.
ON PAGE 4 72 WITH A GROWL, ROWAN SWEPT HER INTO HIS ARMS, NEVER TEARING HIS MOUTH FROM HERS AS HE CARRIED HER TO THE BED AND SET HER DOWN GENTLY OFF CAME THEIR BOOTS, THEIR JACKETS AND SHIRTS AND PANTS.
AND THEN HE WAS WITH HER, THE STRENGTH AND HEAT OF HIM POURING INTO HER BARE SKIN.
SHE COULDN'T TOUCH HIM FAST ENOUGH, FEEL ENOUGH OF HIM AGAINST HER EVEN WHEN HIS MOUTH ROVE DOWN HER NECK, LOOKING OVER THAT SPOT WHERE HIS CLAIMING MARKS HAD BEEN, EVEN WHEN HE ROAMED FURTHER WORSHIPING HER BREASTS AS SHE ARCHED UP INTO EACH LICK AND SUCKLE EVEN WHEN HE KNELT BETWEEN HER LEGS, HIS SHOULDERS SPREADING HER THIGHS WIDE AND TASTED HER OVER AND OVER UNTIL SHE WAS WRITHING BENEATH HIM.
ROWAN THRUST INTO HER IN A MIGHTY STROKE AS HE PLUNGED HIS TEETH INTO THE SIDE OF HER NECK.
SHE CRIED OUT AT THE CLAIMING RELEASE ALREADY BARRELING ALONG HER SPINE, BUT HE BEGAN MOVING, MOVING WHILE HIS TEETH REMAINED IN HER AND SHE MOVED WITH EACH DRIVE OF HIS HIPS, THE SHEER SIZE OF HIM, A DECADENT SHE WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO GET ENOUGH.
SHE DRAGGED HER NAILS DOWN HIS MUSCLE BACK THEN LOWER FEELING EVERY POWERFUL STROKE OF HIM WITH INTO HER RUINED, WITHDREW HIS TEETH FROM HER NECK AND ALAN CLAIMED HIS MOUTH IN A SAVAGE KISS HER BLOOD A COP TANG ON HIS TONGUE.
I'M NOT GONNA READ ANYMORE OF THAT, BUT I THINK YOU GET THE GIST.
I HAVE A 13 YEAR OLD BROTHER AND THE FACT THAT HE CAN GO INTO OUR LIBRARY AND BEGIN READING THROUGH THIS BOOK, HE WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE TO HAVE A LIBRARY CARD.
HE WOULDN'T EVEN NEED TO CHECK IT OUT, BUT THAT HE COULD RUN ACROSS THIS IN THE YOUNG ADULT SECTION.
IT MAKES ME SICK TO MY STOMACH.
SO SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY NEEDS TO REJECT THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION STANDARDS, WHICH FAVOR PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL FOR CHILDREN AND DEVELOP THEIR OWN STANDARDS FOR CURATING BOOKS THAT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE WELLBEING OF MINORS.
LIBRARY FUNDING SHOULD BE CUT UNTIL THIS BOOK IS REMOVED FROM THE LIBRARY.
IS HE HERE? NO, HE'S NOT IN THE HALLWAY.
HI, MY NAME IS JULIA EASTON AND, UM, I'M A RESIDENT OF FRONT ROYAL.
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ALSO A PATRON OF SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY.AS A TAXPAYER, I'M DISGUSTED THAT MY HARD-EARNED MONEY IS BEING USED TO FUND FREE PORNOGRAPHY FOR CHILDREN AT THE LIBRARY.
TRICKS BY ELLEN HOPKINS IS A NOVEL IN THE YOUNG ADULT SECTION, ABOUT FIVE TEENAGERS WHO FALL INTO PROSTITUTION AS THEY SEARCH FOR FREEDOM, SAFETY, COMMUNITY, FAMILY AND LOVE.
I GUESS THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD FIND THAT IN PROSTITUTION.
THIS PASSAGE IS ABOUT CHILD PROSTITUTION.
PAGE 5 71 READS, HIS LAP IS WARM, INVITING.
I CLIMB INTO IT, SLIP MY ARMS AROUND HIS NECK.
SOARING UP HERE IN THE CLOUDS.
SOARING UP HERE IN THE CLOUDS.
I KISS HIM, SUCK HIS TONGUE INTO MY MOUTH SEEKING MOISTURE.
IT CURLS OVER MY OWN TONGUE, SENSUOUS AS SMOKE TIME SLOWS.
WANT SEX AS IT WAS MEANT TO BE, AS ONLY BRYNN CAN EVER GIVE IT TO ME.
MY HEAD SPINS, DIZZY WITH ANTICIPATION.
MY BRAIN SCREAMS, KISS ME KISS ALL THOSE SPECIAL PLACES JUST LIKE YOU USED TO.
BUT, BUT WHAT? WHY IS HE STOPPING? HE REACHES INTO A BACK POCKET.
WHAT IS THAT? A RUBBER? NO, WE DON'T NEED THAT.
FINALLY, HE SAYS, NEVER KNOW WHAT KIND OF GIFT ONE OF YOUR CUSTOMERS MIGHT HAVE LEFT.
WHAT? MY FACE FLUSHES HOT FROM THE S SCAG HOTTER STILL WITH THE OVER AN OVERDOSE OF ANGER, ALWAYS WITH NO EXCEPTIONS.
MY CUSTOMERS USE CONDOMS. I TRY TO PUSH HIM AWAY, BUT EVEN IF I WERE PERFECTLY STRAIGHT, MY STICK FIGURE BODY WOULD BE NO MATCH FOR HIS TONED PHYSIQUE.
MY VISION IS BLURRED LOOKING THROUGH A FISHBOWL AND MY MUSCLES FEEL LIKE STEEL CABLES MUCH TOO HEAVY TO DRAG AROUND.
AND THE WEIRDEST STEEL CABLES MUCH TOO HEAVY TO DRAG AROUND.
SO HELL, HE CAN SCREW ME IF THAT'S ALL IT MEANS TO HIM.
HE SOOTHES NO NEED TO WASTE A PERFECTLY GOOD B***R IN, OUT, IN, OUT.
THIS IS EXPLICIT PORNOGRAPHY, EXPLICIT PORNOGRAPHY, CAREFULLY CURATED BY LIBRARY STAFF AND PLACED INTO THE HANDS OF CHILDREN THEY KNOW.
THESE LIBRARIAN KNOW THAT THIS MATERIALS HERE AND THEY HAVE NO PLAN TO GET RID OF IT.
I'VE RECEIVED LETTERS NOW SAYING THAT MY LETTERS OF REC REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERING MINUTES ARE UP, ARE REJECTED.
THIS PORNOGRAPHY ACCEPTED BY THESE LIBRARIANS.
I'M SORRY, YOU'RE THREE MINUTES ARE UP.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.
I'M A PATRON OF THE LIBRARY, BUT I'M NOT A FAN OF PUBLICLY FUNDED PORNOGRAPHY FOR KIDS.
I COME FROM A LONG LINE OF LIBRARIANS.
MY GRANDPARENTS WERE BOTH LIBRARIANS AND MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER WAS A LIBRARIAN.
BUT FELIX, EVER AFTER BY CASE CALENDAR IS A NOVEL IN THE YOUNG ADULT SECTION OF THE LIBRARY ABOUT A LOVE TRIANGLE FORMING BETWEEN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, A LOVE TRIANGLE BETWEEN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
AND THEN HERE'S A QUOTE FROM 2 55, PAGE 2 55.
ALL I CAN FEEL ARE HIS HIPS, HIS HAND UNDER MY SHIRT ON MY LEGS UP AND DOWN MY BACK.
SOMEHOW I END UP ON HIS LAP LEGS ON EITHER SIDE OF HIM AND I CAN FEEL HIM FEEL HIS HEART ON WHICH BOTH SCARES THE ASS OUT OF ME.
IT DOESN'T SAY S AND SENDS A THRILL THROUGH ME AS I PRESS THROUGH AGAINST HIM TUGGING HIS SHIRT AS HE PULLS BACK.
I TRY TO FOLLOW HIS MOUTH WITH MY OWN, BUT HE PULLS BACK AGAIN.
MY EYES AUTOMATICALLY GLANCED AT BACK DOWN AT EZRA'S LAP WHERE I WAS JUST SECONDS AGO.
AND WHERE A BULGE STILL VERY OBVIOUSLY PRESSES UP AGAINST HIS GENES.
THIS IS A DERELICTION OF DUTY BY OUR LIBRARIANS.
THEY KNOW THIS AND THEY SHOULD BE FIRED.
THERE SHOULD BE NO FUNDING UNTIL THE LIBRARIANS OF THIS LIBRARY WHO KNOW THAT THIS CONTENT IS HERE ARE FIRED.
THE LIBRARY HAS DETERMINED THAT THIS BOOK IS APPROPRIATE FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
THE LIBRARIAN TOLD ME TO MY FACE, A BOOK SIMILAR COULD BE A A WOULD BE AVAILABLE AND WOULD BE FINE FOR AN 11 YEAR OLD.
AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF OF THE BOARD, OF THE BOARD OF THE LIBRARY SAID THE SAME.
HE SAID HE WAS OKAY WITH IT BEING FOR AN 11 YEAR OLD AS WELL.
[01:35:01]
THIS BOOK HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, WHOSE GOAL IS CLEARLY TO HYPERSEXUALIZED CHILDREN.THE LIBRARY NEEDS TO ADOPT STANDARDS OF THEIR OWN AND NOT RELY ON THE A L A I ASK THAT YOU REVOKE FUNDING UNTIL THIS PROBLEM IS RESOLVED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND HAVE A NICE EVENING.
HELLO, MY NAME'S EMILY CRESTON AND I LIVE IN TOWN HERE.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO START BY SAYING THAT I JUST HAD MY FIRST BABY, AND WE'RE NOT QUITE GOING TO LIBRARIES YET, BUT WE WILL BE SOON.
A CIVIL SOCIETY EXIST TO SUPPORT THE FAMILY.
PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS, LIBRARIES AND OTHER PUBLIC SPACES HELP PROVIDE FAMILIES WITH HAVENS OF RECREATION.
THESE SPACES SUPPORT THE RAISING OF CHILDREN.
A LIBRARY THAT THREATENS THE INNOCENCE OF CHILDREN PUTS PARENTS IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY CAN'T TRUST THE VERY COMMUNITY THEY'VE PAID WITH THEIR TAX MONEY TO MAINTAIN.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN, BUT RAISING A FAMILY TAKES A VILLAGE.
THE LIBRARY SHOULD NOT BE THE ENEMY OF THE FAMILY, BUT ITS ALLY SEXUALLY.
EXPLICIT CONTENT READ DURING THE WRONG STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT CAN DO SO MUCH DAMAGE TO A CHILD'S PSYCHE.
CHILDREN EXPOSED TO GRAPHIC SEXUAL CONTENT DO NOT HAVE THE DEVELOPMENTAL TOOLS TO PROCESS WHAT THEY ARE READING, WHICH LEADS TO CONFUSION.
THE INTRODUCTION OF EXPLICIT CONTENT WILL CONFUSE AND MUDDLE OUR CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS OF INTIMACY, BODILY AUTONOMY, BOUNDARIES, AND SAYING, NO, WE DON'T WANT OUR CHILDREN ENGAGING IN RISKY BEHAVIOR.
AND THIS IS PROMOTING THAT OUR CHILDREN DESERVE TO BE FREE OF THESE BURDENS.
WE MUST ADVOCATE FOR THE INNOCENT MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I HAVE ALSO LIVED HERE MY WHOLE LIFE.
UM, SO I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE HERE KNOW OF PEOPLE WHO STRUGGLE FROM ADDICTION.
UM, I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE HERE KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO STRUGGLES FROM A PORN ADDICTION.
UM, THEY, THEY, THEY START YOUNG.
NO ONE'S SAYING THAT THESE BOOKS.
MAYBE SOME PEOPLE ARE SAYING THESE BOOKS SHOULD NOT BE IN THE LIBRARY.
I I THINK THERE SHOULD BE AN ADULT SECTION SEPARATE.
I DON'T THINK KIDS SHOULD HAVE THIS.
I DON'T THINK A 12 YEAR OLD SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THIS.
I MEAN, THE IDEA THAT A 12 YEAR OLD CAN GO IN THERE AND PICK UP A BOOK LIKE ANOTHER ONE OF THESE BOOKS, I, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S APPALLING.
IF AN ADDICTION CAN START YOUNG, THEN SHOULDN'T WE, AS TAXPAYERS OF WARREN COUNTY DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO INHIBIT THAT? SHOULDN'T WE DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO HELP THEM GROW? IN VIRTUE ISN'T, ISN'T IT OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A COMMUNITY TO GIVE THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO OUR CHILDREN? AND IF THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED A PORN ADDICTION AND PEOPLE DO SUFFER FROM IT, THEN BOOKS LIKE THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS IS CRAZY.
THIS IS, SO SOMEONE WAS READING AND FROM THIS EARLIER, I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO LIKE THIS.
PLEASE QUIET IN THE AUDIENCE, PLEASE.
I MEAN, HOW MUCH TASTE OF LUBRICANT NOT TO CHOKE PULLS MY FEET, DRAPES MY BACK SKINS.
KIDS SHOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THIS.
[01:40:16]
MY NAME IS JANE ELLIOT.UM, WHY DOES SAMUEL'S LIBRARY THINK THAT THE TOPICS OF PORNOGRAPHY AND GROOMING AND EVEN BLASPHEMY ARE ACCEPTABLE READING MATERIAL FOR CHILDREN? ONE BOOK IN SAMUEL'S CH CHILDREN'S SECTION CALLED KISS NUMBER EIGHT, WANTS TO TACKLE ALL THREE SUBJECTS WITHIN ITS COVERS.
THIS BOOK FALLS IN A GENRE OF GRAPHIC NOVEL, MEANING IT'S A COMIC BOOK, BUT THIS IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL SUPERHEROES COMIC BOOK.
DEAR SUPERVISORS, ON PAGE EIGHT IS A SCENE DEPICTED IN A CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
THE DRAWING SHOWS TEENAGE GIRLS SITTING IN THE PEW AT THE MOST SOLEMN PART OF WORSHIP.
IN THE EXPLICIT ILL ILLUSTRATIONS, THEY ARE DEPICTED SAYING VULGAR, EROTIC THINGS ABOUT THE LIFE SIZE.
CRUCIFIX ON THE SANCTUARY WALL.
HERE'S A BITTER TASTE WITH APOLOGIES IN ADVANCE.
QUOTE, IF WE GET MORE DECENT LOOKING ALTAR BOYS, MAYBE I'LL STOP DROOLING OVER OUR LORD AND SAVIOR QUOTE.
SO YOU'RE TELLING ME YOU COME TO CHURCH BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE HOTS FOR JESUS, QUOTE, SHAME YOU NEVER GET TO SEE THAT BACK.
I CAN'T GO ANY FURTHER BECAUSE IT'S THAT BAD.
AND IF THIS IS NOT A, A MOCKERY, A, A, A BIGOTED THING, AND SOMEBODY SAID, YOU KNOW, A SOMETHING ABOUT BIGOTRY, WELL, I SAY THIS IS A CASE OF BIGOTRY RIGHT HERE, ATTACKING PEOPLE OF FAITH FOR CHILDREN.
I HAVE TO WONDER IF SAMUEL'S LIBRARY WOULD CONSIDER HAVING SUCH A COMIC BOOK OR ANY BOOK IN THE CHILDREN'S SECTION OR IN THE ADULT SECTION FOR THAT MATTER, THAT WOULD MOCK THE TENETS OF JUDAISM OR ISLAM OR ANY OTHER RELIGION.
WHY IS SAMUEL'S OKAY WITH THE TAX ON CHRISTIANITY? WHY IS SAMUEL'S PROMOTING BOOKS THAT UNDERMINE AND MOCK VALUES THAT PARENTS CONSIDER MOST IMPORTANT AND WORK HARD TO INSTILL IN THEIR CHILDREN? WHY DOES SAMUEL'S WISH TO OFFER MATERIALS THAT ONLY CONFUSE IMPRESSIONABLE YOUNG MINDS? WHY IS SAMUEL'S DEFENDING THE RIGHTS TO EXPOSE CHILDREN TO BLASPHEMY AND PORNOGRAPHY? AND OF COURSE, THE PREDICTABLE OUTCOME OF GROOMING HAS SAMUEL'S BECOME THE PROVERBIAL FLASHER OPENING THEIR OBSCENE RAINCOAT TO UNSUSPECTING CHILDREN.
SOMETHING NEEDS TO DESPERATELY CHANGE AT SAMUEL'S LIBRARY.
STARTING AT THE TOP, THE COMMUNITY HERE DOES NOT SUPPORT THIS MATERIAL BEING AVAILABLE TO CHILDREN.
MOST OF ALL STANDARDS OF DECENCY DO NOT SUPPORT THIS.
WHY WOULD ANY TAXPAYER BE OKAY WITH SUPPORTING SUCH BLASPHEMY AND POOR WITH THEIR TAX DOLLARS? WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS NEED TO DEFUND THIS FILTH.
UM, I THINK, UM, IF WE CAN TAKE A SHORT 15 MINUTE BREAK.
WE'LL, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A 15 MINUTE BREAK AND THEN WE WILL RESUME WHAT? THERE'S ONLY THREE LEFT.
YEAH, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND TAKE A BREAK.
OH, YOU GOT EVERYONE HERE? THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR LETTING US TAKE A BREAK.
I JUST WANNA, WE'LL FINISH OUR PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING IS COMPLETED, WE'LL GO BACK INTO OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND FINISH THE LAST HALF HOUR.
AND THEN WE WILL, UM, CONTINUE WITH OUR AGENDA.
SO WITH THAT SAID, MR. HENDERSON, DO WE HAVE A ANOTHER PERSON SIGNED UP? MELISSA CHAPEL WHITE.
[01:45:01]
I DON'T SEE HER EITHER.UM, THE NEXT, NEXT PERSON PLEASE.
SARAH MASON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
I'VE LIVED IN WARREN COUNTY FOR 20 YEARS AND I AM AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE LOCAL CATHOLIC AND HOMESCHOOL COMMUNITIES.
I'VE ALSO TAUGHT AT THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL LEVELS FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS WITHIN THOSE COMMUNITIES.
I APPRECIATE, UH, THAT THE CLEANUP SAMUELS CREATED A DETAILED LIST OF JUVENILE AND YOUNG ADULT BOOKS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS THAT MAY CONTAIN EXPLICIT MATERIAL OR THAT MAY PROMOTE GENDER IDEOLOGY I HOLD IN COMMON.
MANY OF THE CONCERNS THAT THIS GROUP HAS REGARDING THESE TOPICS IS IMPORTANT TO ME THAT I KNOW WHAT MY CHILDREN ARE READING.
SOME OF MY CHILDREN ARE READY TO START HAVING THE SENSITIVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SEXUAL IDENTITY AND SEXUAL ACTIVITY, AND SOME ARE NOT.
I ABSOLUTELY WOULD NOT ALLOW MY CHILDREN TO READ THE BOOKS THAT WERE CITED TONIGHT.
THIS LIST IS A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR WHEN I LOOK OVER NEW BOOKS OR SERIES THAT MY CHILDREN ASKED TO READ.
HOWEVER, I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THE ATTEMPT TO REMOVE 39 BOOKS FROM THESE SECTIONS OF THE LIBRARY.
WE'RE NOT TALKING FIVE OR 10, BUT 139.
AND I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THE ATTEMPT TO CUT VITAL FUNDING TO A LIBRARY THAT CONSISTENTLY PROVIDES SO MUCH TO THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF WARREN COUNTY.
THE LIBRARY'S CURRENT CRITERIA FOR BOOK SELECTION AND RETENTION OF JUDGING THE ENTIRETY OF THE BOOK, RATHER THAN A SCENE OR PASSAGE, PROTECTS BOOKS THAT PROMOTE CONSERVATIVE VALUES.
AND RAILING AGAINST THAT CRITERIA IS A LONG-TERM LOSS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
JUST AS A BOOK WITH ONE EXPLICIT SCENE IS NOT REMOVED FROM THE YA COLLECTION, SO TO A BOOK THAT CONTAINS A SCENE EXPLICITLY PROMOTING THE CONSERVATIVE UNDERSTANDING OF SEXUALITY IN MARRIAGE CANNOT BE REMOVED BY THOSE WHO FIND OUR VALUES ABHORRENT.
I DO NOT WANT SAMUEL'S BOOK SELECTION AND RETENTION CRITERIA CHANGED.
IT PROTECTS BOTH LIBERAL AND CONSERVATIVE RIGHTS, AND IT ENSURES THAT ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY CAN SEE THEIR DEEPLY HELD VALUES REFLECTED IN THE CONTENT OF THE LIBRARY COLLECTION, INCLUDING MY CATHOLIC CONSERVATIVE WORLDVIEW.
IT HAS BEEN MY ROUTINE EXPERIENCE AT SAMUELS THAT THEY'RE HAPPY TO ACQUIRE BOOKS THAT I FORMALLY REQUEST BE ADDED TO THE COLLECTION, BE IT FOR CHILDREN, TEENS, OR ADULTS.
I LOVE REGULARLY FINDING EXPLICITLY CATHOLIC BOOKS AT SAMUELS, FINDING BOOKS OF POPULAR CONSERVATIVE LEADERS AS WELL AS SO MANY WONDERFUL HOMESCHOOL RESOURCES.
THERE ARE MANY PARENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO SHARE MY VALUES WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT CONTENT THEY WANT ACCESSIBLE TO THEIR CHILDREN AND TEENS.
THERE ARE ALSO MANY PARENTS WHO DO NOT SHARE MY VALUES AND WHO WANT DIFFERENT CONTENT AVAILABLE TO THEIR CHILDREN AND TEENS.
AND IF I WANT MY BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY, I MUST RESPECT MY NEIGHBORS RIGHT TO HAVE HIS BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY.
AND THE CURRENT SELECTION AND RETENTION CRITERIA PROTECTS EVERYONE.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT IS BECAUSE OF MY CONSERVATIVE VALUES THAT I OPPOSE ATTEMPTS TO REMOVE OVER 100 BOOKS AND THE ATTEMPT TO CUT FUNDING TO SAMUEL'S LIBRARY.
IF I VALUE THE RIGHT OF SELF-GOVERNANCE, I MUST EMBRACE THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT ACCOMPANY THAT.
I'M THOMAS BALL AND I LIVE ON, UH, GOONY MANOR LOOP IN BROWNTOWN.
AND I COME TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF FULL FUNDING FOR SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY.
UH, MORE THAN THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE STAFF OF SAMUEL'S LIBRARY.
FOR 20 YEARS I'VE BEEN A MEMBER AND PATRON OF THE LIBRARY.
I HAVE ALWAYS FOUND THEM TO BE PROFESSIONAL, COURTEOUS, AND KNOWLEDGEABLE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT JOB, UH, MONITORING AND CHOOSING THE BOOKS THAT THEY PRESENT.
I UNDERSTAND THE OBJECTIONABLE CONTENT THAT HAS BEEN READ THIS EVENING, BUT I CONTINUE TO RESPECT THE STAFF AND I BELIEVE THEY ARE DOING A GOOD JOB AND ARE A CREDIT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I BELIEVE ALL OF YOU CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTY OF REPRESENTING A DIVERSE POPULATION, AND I BELIEVE CUTTING FUNDING WOULD BE AN UNREASONABLE HAMMER TO APPROACH THIS PROBLEM.
AND I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE STAFF THAT WE NOW HAVE.
[01:50:03]
MR. HENDERSON.DO WE HAVE ANOTHER SPEAKER? NOT, NOT FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SO IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME AND SPEAK TO THE BUDGET? ANY OTHER COMMENTS? UM, SO I GUESS WE'LL JUST START IN THE FRONT, BUT WHAT, OKAY.
YOU, YOU HAVE NOT SPOKEN BEFORE, IS THAT CORRECT? NO, MA'AM.
AGAIN, JUST TO REMIND YOU, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
FATHER, I'M A RESIDENT OF FRONT ROYAL LIVE ON
UM, AND WHAT I'VE HEARD TONIGHT IS JUST A REFLECTION OF WHAT IS IN OUR LIBRARY.
NOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE LIBRARY TO FIND THINGS LIKE THIS.
WHAT WE'VE HEARD IN THE KID'S SECTION IS ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING.
UM, YOU THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BACK IN THE DAY WHEN YOU COULD WALK INTO A GAS STATION, YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD LET YOU BUY PORN.
THEY WOULD NEVER LET A KID BUY PORN.
IT WAS IN THE BACK OF THE SHOP FOR LIKE SHAME.
I MEAN, YOU'RE GONNA WALK ALL THE WAY BACK AND WALK ALL THE WAY FRONT WITH THAT PORN MAGAZINE.
YOU'RE GONNA STOP IT ON THE COUNTER AND YOU'RE GONNA PAY MONEY TO GET THAT MAGAZINE.
WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THE KIDS SECTION, WHEN YOU WALK INTO THE LIBRARY, IT'S RIGHT THERE.
YOU'RE GONNA WALK INTO THE LIBRARY.
THOSE KIDS ARE GONNA GO OUT AND DO WHAT THEY WANT.
THEY'RE YOUNG, THEY'RE CURIOUS.
THEY'RE GONNA GO PERUSE THE SECTIONS.
AND IT'S NOT JUST THE PORNOGRAPHIC WORDS.
YOU, THERE ARE FULL NUDE PICTURES IN THESE BOOKS.
I, I, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE DON'T RECOGNIZE THAT.
HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT THAN PICKING UP A MAGAZINE OF, OF NAKED PEOPLE? RIGHT? THERE'S AN AGE RESTRICTION ON ONE AND APPARENTLY, AS LONG AS YOU CAN WALK AND USE YOUR HANDS, YOU CAN GET IT INTO A DIFFERENT ONE.
WHY IS THAT RIGHT? AND I MEAN, THERE'S $60,000 GETTING PAID FOR THE FLOOR.
I DON'T WANT MY MONEY GOING ANYWHERE NEAR THE LIBRARY IF THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE SUPPORTING.
IT'S HARD ENOUGH TO RAISE THEM WITH ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS BEING SHOVED IN THEIR FACE ALL OVER THE PLACE.
RIGHT? SO WHY AM I GONNA GIVE MY MONEY TO A LIBRARY WHO SUPPORTS THINGS THAT I PERSONALLY DO NOT? I DO NOT SEE THE MERIT IN THEM.
SO I'D LIKE YOU ALL TO CONSIDER THAT.
AND I KNOW A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE HERE ARE ON MY SIDE OF THE AISLE TOO, ON THIS KIND OF THING.
IF YOU WANT TO GET A BOOK LIKE THAT, AMAZON I'M SURE HAS IT.
THERE ARE A MILLION OTHER PLACES TO GET IT.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GIVE SOME MONEY, BUT IF IT REALLY MEANS THAT MUCH TO YOU, THEY CAN SPEND A LITTLE MONEY, A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY ON IT.
UM, HOW CAN I, JASON, COULD I, I JUST PICK THE FOLKS OR COULD I ASK THEM TO COME LINE UP OR SOMETHING? THIS IS ENTIRELY UP TO YOU AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT MATTERS.
I WE'RE, THERE'S NO, THIS IS SO, OKAY.
I I WANNA MAKE SURE I, I GET EVERYBODY.
SO CHAIR, I THINK WE'RE GETTING CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT LIST WE ARE ON.
OH, WAIT, LET, LET, LET ME CLARIFY THAT THEN.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT WE'RE FINISHING UP.
THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE BUDGET THAT WE ARE REVIEWING FOR FISCAL YEAR 23, 24.
HOW LONG DOES THAT GO? OKAY,
AND THAT'S, WE HAVE A HALF HOUR REMAINING FOR THAT, WHERE YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING, UH, UM, THAT'S NOT ON OUR AGENDA.
SO, SO WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE WITH THE COMMENTS WITH THE BUDGET.
WE'RE NOT A PUBLIC COMMENTARY NOW.
WELL, WE GOTTA FINISH THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE GOTTA FINISH THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SO, WELL, OKAY, SO WE'RE GONNA, THIS IS AGAIN, THE SPEAKERS TO FINISH OUT THIS PUBLIC HEARING HAS TO HAVE NOT, I SHOULDN'T HAVE, HAS TO HAVE, I I WISH THAT WOULD PERTAIN TO THE BUDGET THAT WE ARE APPROVING.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, I'LL TAKE BIG PART.
[01:55:01]
HAS TO PERTAIN TO THE BUDGET.SO NOW IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE OR YOU WANNA READ IT EXCERPT FROM BOOKS OR WHATNOT, THAT'S THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
AND YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO STAY FOR THAT.
LOUD, LOUD, BUT THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
MY HUSBAND AND I MAKE OUR HOME IN THIS COMMUNITY IN FRONT ROYAL SPECIFICALLY, I HAVE, WELL, LET ME LOOK AT MY, I HAVE, UM, I SPENT 20 YEARS SERVING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.
UM, AND I HOLD A BACHELOR'S OF SCIENCE AND A MASTER'S IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT.
I'VE DEDICATED MY LIFE TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, AND THIS IS AN ISSUE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
UM, I'LL BEGIN BY SAYING 41 OF PERCENT OF BAND BOOKS ARE, UM, INVOLVING CHAR HAVE CHARACTERS IN THEM THAT ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR, OR PEOPLE THAT REPRESENT THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, UM, THAT IS DISPROPORTIONATE TO THE DEMORA DEMOGRAPHIC, UH, MAKEUP OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THEREFORE, THE ASSETS ARE ALLOCATED DISPROPORTIONATELY TO THE MAJORITY BY REMOVING THE VOICES OF THE MINORITY.
BY REMOVING THE VOICES OF THE MINORITY, YOU ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY ALLOCATING TAX DOLLARS TO THE MAJORITY.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING, THIS ISN'T MY OPINION.
AND THAT IN AND OF ITSELF SHOULD BE ENOUGH OF AN ARGUMENT TO, UH, NOT CUT FUNDING TO SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THE BOOKS IN QUESTION, UM, THESE SPECIFIC BOOKS WERE REQUESTED BY, I BELIEVE, LESS THAN 60 PEOPLE TO BE REMOVED FROM OUR LIBRARY, WHICH SERVES 40,000 PEOPLE.
IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TAX DOLLARS AND BUDGET, SHOULDN'T THE MAJORITY OF THE BUDGET SERVE THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE, NOT LESS THAN 60? I HAD THE PRIVILEGE RECENTLY TO LEARN THE STORY OF THE LIBRARY'S GARDEN, ONE THAT I LOVE.
AND WHEN I WORKED WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, I WOULD TAKE THEM THERE BECAUSE IT'S A PEACEFUL PLACE.
IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE CAN BUILD AS A COMMUNITY.
AND THE STORY IS REALLY SIMPLE AND REALLY LOVELY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY STARTED IT, HAVE CONTRIBUTED IT TO IT, AND HAVE MAINTAINED IT SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING A PEACEFUL PLACE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS TO RELAX AND READ.
CAN'T WE USE THAT AS AN EXAMPLE FOR CREATING A LIBRARY COLLECTION AND INSTEAD OF REMOVING BOOKS THAT AREN'T IN LINE WITH OUR IDEALS, THAT IN AND OF ITSELF IS, IS, UH, VIOLATING YOUR THREE MINUTES SYRUP UP.
UM, THIS FELLA HERE, HE'S HE, YEAH.
HE LET THE WOMAN TAKE HIS SPOT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU.
I'M IN THE SOUTH FORCE DISTRICT, MS. COLORS, UM, UH, UM, UH, UH, MY, YEAH, BENTONVILLE, VIRGINIA, I LIVE, UM, I FEEL THE NEED TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF FUNDING FOR OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY AND ITS SERVICE TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
UH, A COMMUNITY WHICH IS DIVERSE IN BELIEF, VALUES, FAITH AND CULTURE.
THE PUBLIC, THE PUBLIC PART OF PUBLIC LIBRARY MEANS THAT ITS SCOPE IS BROAD OPEN AND DOESN'T QUESTION THE INTELLIGENCE OF OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES AND GUIDE THEIR OWN FAMILIES THROUGH A WORLD OF CULTURE, HISTORY, AND EDUCATION AS THEY SEE APPROPRIATE FOR THEMSELVES.
MY WIFE AND I HAVE TWO CHILDREN THAT HAVE THAT THEY'RE HERE TONIGHT, UM, THAT HAVE BEEN HOMESCHOOLED, ATTENDED PRIVATE SCHOOL, WEATHERED THE PANDEMIC TOGETHER, AND ARE NOW ATTENDING WARREN COUNTY'S PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM,
[02:00:01]
SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY WITH ITS WONDERFUL STAFF.AND THE CAREFULLY CURATED RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN A CONSISTENT, TRUSTED, AND RELIABLE CORNERSTONE OF OUR FAMILY THROUGH ALL PHASES OF OUR CHILDREN'S GROWTH TO YOUNG ADULTHOOD.
I URGE THE MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD TO NOT SET A PRECEDENT BY PLACA PLACATING THIS SMALL BUT VERY VOCAL GROUP THAT IS ATTEMPTING TO FORCE THE COMMUNITY TO ITS OWN NARROW STANDARDS.
IT IS NOT THE PLACE OF THIS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OR THIS GROUP TO, OR THIS GROUP TO DICTATE TO OUR COMMUNITY, IN OUR COMMUNITY RAISED HOW TO RAISE OUR FAMILIES OR HOW WE OBSERVE THE WORLD AROUND US.
I STRONGLY URGE THIS BOARD TO PLEASE NOT COMPROMISE THE ALREADY LIMITED BUDGET THAT THE LIBRARY OPERATES WITHIN.
THEY PROVIDE A VITAL RESOURCE TO ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
BY THE WAY, I'M SURE THERE ARE TONS OF BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY THAT PROBABLY ARE OFFENSIVE TO ME AND MY FAMILY, BUT I WILL, I WOULD DEFEND THE RIGHT FOR THOSE BOOKS TO BE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE.
THAT THE AUDIENCE AT THE, THAT, AGAIN, THE, THE PROFESSIONAL AND TRAINED STAFF OF THE LIBRARY DEEM NECESSARY IN THE LIBRARY FOR THE AUDIENCE THAT IT'S INTENDED.
UM, I TRUST THE LIBRARIANS AND I TRUST THAT THEY USE THEIR ALLOCATED BUDGET RESPONSIBLY.
PLEASE FULLY FUND THEM, AND I APPLAUD THE ALL OF OUR LIBRARIANS.
UM, WE'LL HAVE THIS WOMAN RIGHT HERE.
UM, WANTED TO COME UP IN SUPPORT OF FULL FUNDING FOR SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY.
UM, I DON'T ENVY YOU ALL AT THIS TIME.
UM, WITH ALL THE POLITI POLITICIZING OF EVERY SINGLE THING THAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW, UM, THE REASON THAT THE BOOK BANNINGS ARE COMING UP, BECAUSE THIS ALL STARTED WITH 134 BOOKS AND 53 INDIVIDUALS THAT WANTED TO GET THEM BANNED FROM OUR LIBRARY.
AND WHEN THE LIBRARY SAID, NO, WE WON'T BE BANNING ANY BOOKS, THEY SAID THAT THEY WANTED TO COME FOR THE LIBRARY'S BUDGET.
THE LIBRARY IS AN IMPORTANT PLACE FOR MANY PEOPLE WITH MANY DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS.
IT'S USED FOR MORE THAN JUST READING.
PEOPLE USE IT TO LOOK FOR JOBS WHEN THEY DON'T OWN A COMPUTER.
THEY USE IT FOR COMMUNITY GATHERINGS.
UM, AND UP UNTIL RECENTLY IT'S BEEN A PLACE THAT WE CAN ALL SAY THAT WE'VE ENJOYED AND LOVED.
AND JUDY BLOOM HAS BEEN IN THAT LIBRARY SINCE I WAS A KID, CUZ I TEXTED OUT.
SO, UM, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S OKAY.
AND AS PARENTS, EVERYBODY, YOU ALL KNOW MY CHILD, I'M SURE, UM, IF I TELL HER SHE CAN'T READ A BOOK, SHE DOESN'T READ IT, AND THAT'S THAT, AND THAT'S ALL.
AND IF SHE DOES, THEN I'LL GO REAL MEDIEVAL AND THEN I MIGHT GIVE HER A SAY, NOT ANYMORE.
BUT AT THOSE AGES, THAT'S WHAT WAY IT HAS HAPPENED, YOU KNOW? SO I MEAN, I THINK AS PARENTS, WE NEED TO JUST LET THIS COOL OFF A LITTLE BIT.
I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S AN AGENDA.
THESE BOOKS HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.
SOME OF THEM ARE NEWER, SOME OF THEM ARE OLDER.
THE JUDY BLOOM ONE POPPED OUT TO ME BECAUSE IT IS INDEED A BOOK THAT I SAW THERE WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.
AND EVERYONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO ENJOY THIS LIBRARY FINE WITH THESE BOOKS AND ITS EXISTENCE.
AND MOST KIDS DON'T KNOW THAT THESE BOOKS EVEN EXIST UNTIL THEY COME ON A BANNING SPOT.
AND IF YOU WANNA MAKE A BOOK POPULAR, BAN IT, BECAUSE THEN THE KIDS ARE GONNA WANNA READ IT.
I MEAN, ALL OF US ALL PUT LOOSE, ALL OF US.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE THE GOOD REVEREND FROM FOOT LOOSE AND SAY, BOOK BANNING IS THE BRIDGE TOO FAR, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
AND THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT TRY TO SUPPRESS KNOWLEDGE ARE PREDATORS.
YOU CAN LOOK AT THE CHIN DYNASTY, YOU CAN LOOK AT THE NAZIS.
THEY ALL START OUT BY BANNING BOOKS.
AND I THINK THAT THE GENTLEMAN THAT YOU HAD SPEAKING TONIGHT WAS PERFECT TIMING TO BRING UP NORMY, BECAUSE THAT'S THE FIRST THING THE NAZIS DID.
THEY BANNED THE BOOKS AND HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF.
AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE TO LEARN HISTORY IN SCHOOL BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT IT'S CYCLICAL.
AND I KNOW DOLORES KNOWS ABOUT GENERAL GENERATIONAL CURSES.
JUST ME THREE MINUTES THROUGH UP.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
UM,
WHAT IF WE ALL JUST GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS ELIZABETH BELK AND I COMPLETED FORMS TO REQUEST SOME OF THE BOOKS TO BE REMOVED.
[02:05:01]
I ALSO SENT ALL OF YOU AN EMAIL ADDRESSING MY CONCERNS AND ASKING YOU TO STOP PROVIDING FUNDING FOR THE BOOKS THAT INCLUDE PORNOGRAPHIC MESSAGES TONIGHT.TONIGHT I'D LIKE TO MAKE THREE POINTS, BUT FIRST I'D LIKE TO SHARE AN ANALOGY WITH YOU.
HAS ANYONE HEARD OF THE STORY OF THE POOP AND THE BROWNIES? A TEENAGE BOY WANTED TO WATCH A MOVIE THAT HAD AN INAPPROPRIATE SCENE FOR SOMEONE HIS AGE.
WHEN HIS FATHER SAID HE COULDN'T WATCH IT, HE COMPLAINED THAT IT WAS A GREAT ACTION MOVIE AND TERRIFIC REVIEWS, AND THERE WAS ONLY ONE BAD SCENE.
BUT THEN HIS FATHER WENT ABOUT BAKING SOMETHING AND THEN BROUGHT IT BACK TO HIS SON.
HE SAID THEY SMELL GOOD, THEY LOOK GOOD.
THEY ARE MADE WITH SUGAR AND EGGS AND FLOUR AND LOTS OF CHOCOLATE.
OH, BUT THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF POOP IN THERE.
IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT OF POOP.
WANNA TRY SOME? HIS SON GOT THE MESSAGE.
YES, THE STORY SOUNDS RIDICULOUS, BUT THIS BRINGS TO ME, ME TO MY FIRST POINT.
THE ANALOGY ILLUSTRATES THE PROBLEM WITH THE LIBRARY'S HANDLING OF YOUTH BOOKS THAT INCLUDE EXPLICIT PORNOGRAPHIC CONTENT.
THE LIBRARY STAFF STATES THAT WE SHOULD NOT BASE OUR CRITIQUE OF A BOOK ON A SPECIFIC PASSAGE.
THEY CLAIM THAT THE BOOK TEACHES A LESSON ABOUT ADOLESCENTS PORTRAYS A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP OR TELLS A GREAT STORY OF REDEMPTION, ET CETERA.
WE SHOULD IGNORE THE FACT THAT IT INCLUDES EXPLICIT PORNOGRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS.
HOWEVER, IF ANY BOOK INCLUDES PORNOGRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS, IT IS EXPOSING THE READER TO PORNOGRAPHY AND THAT IS HARMFUL AND IT'S WRONG.
IT IS A FACT THAT CHILDREN EXPOSED TO PORNOGRAPHY, WHETHER IN WRITING OR IN PICTURES, WILL BE MORE INCLINED TO SEARCH FOR PORNOGRAPHY FURTHER.
IT IS A FACT THAT REPEATED EARLY EXPOSURE TO PORNOGRAPHY RESULTS IN A HYPERSEXUAL VIEW OF THE WORLD AND PUTS YOUTH AT HIGHER RISK FOR DEVELOPING ADDICTIVE SEXUAL BEHAVIOR.
AND FOR THOSE WHO KEEP SAYING THAT IT'S ABOUT BANNING BOOKS, IT IS NOT AS PEOPLE SAID, IT'S ABOUT CHOOSING THE CORRECT BOOKS FOR CHILDREN.
AND THIS EXCERPT IS NOT FOR CHILDREN, AND IT IS IN THE 12 TO 18 YEAR OLD.
BEHIND ME, IT'S ABOUT A YOUNG BOY.
THIS IS, THIS IS A STORY ABOUT THE CHILDREN WHO ARE PROSTITUTES.
A BOY WITH TWO MEN BEHIND ME AND IN FRONT OF ME.
BOTH MEN GROW HARD AND FOR SOME HORRIFYING REASON, I RESPOND IN LIKE MANNER.
I HAVE NEVER CONSIDERED THREE-WAY SEX.
AND THEN A LITTLE FURTHER, HE MOVES IN FRONT OF ME, STRIPS BRETT FROM THE WAIST DOWN, PUSHES HIM ONTO HIS HANDS AND KNEES, THEN HE DROPS HIS OWN TROUSERS.
COME ON, HE URGES, POSITIONING HIMSELF INCHES FROM BRETT'S FACE SHAKING.
BRETT FOR THREE MINUTES ARE UP, MA'AM.
PLEASE REMOVE THIS SO GARBAGE FROM OUR LIBRARY.
OKAY, SO I'M, I'M JUST GONNA GO ROW BY ROW, JUST IF I'M SORRY.
I, THIS IS, I'M, I, THIS IS MY FIRST RODEO, IF YOU WILL.
HOW'S IT GOING EVERYBODY? MY NAME IS JOE, UH, KELA, BELIEVE ON SALEM AVENUE.
UH, I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT WE'RE ALL IN FULL SUPPORT OF FUNDING THE LIBRARY.
I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S ACTUALLY SAYING TO THAT THEY ACTUALLY WANT THE OUTCOME TO BE DEFUNDED THE LIBRARY.
SO WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THAT WE WANT THE FUNDING TO GO TO THE RIGHT THINGS.
SO FOR ALL THOSE ARGUMENTS LIKE DEFUNDING AND BANNING BOOKS, WE WANT THEM TO GO TO THE RIGHT THINGS, WHICH MAKES SENSE.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO READ A QUICK EXCERPT FROM THE RULES OF CONDUCT FROM SAMUEL PUBLIC LIBRARY.
UM, YOU CAN PULL THIS UP ONLINE, LOW PDF.
SO THE FOLLOWING FORMS, CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? GOOD.
THE FOLLOWING FORMS OF CONDUCT SHALL BE CONSIDERED IMPROPER WHEN IN THE LIBRARY OR ON LIBRARY GROUNDS.
THERE'S NOW A BIG LIST OF THINGS.
A, DISORDERLY CONDUCT, AND B, OBSCENE, ABUSIVE OR SEXUAL LANGUAGE OR ACTS.
WE'VE OBVIOUSLY HEARD EXCERPTS TONIGHT.
THERE ARE MANY BOOKS CONTAINING THESE THINGS.
THIS IS A PRETTY CLEAR, IT'S A PRETTY CLEAR, EASY LEAP TO MAKE.
THESE THINGS SHOULD NOT BE ON THE LIBRARY PREMISES.
ACCORDING TO THE RULES OF CONDUCT OF SAMUEL LIBRARY ITSELF.
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ANY OF THE ABOVE RULES AND REGULATIONS MAY RESULT IN SUSPENSION OF LIBRARY PRIVILEGES AND OR REMOVAL FROM THE LIBRARY.
THIS SEEMS PRETTY CLEAR, AND I THINK IT'D BE A VERY GOOD IDEA TO DEFUND THE LIBRARY UNTIL THESE BOOKS HAD BEEN REMOVED PER LIBRARY PROTOCOL AND LET FUNDING BUREAU STORE AT THAT POINT.
I THINK YOU'VE ALREADY SPOKEN.
[02:10:01]
WHAT'S THAT? ARE WE OKAY? OKAY.AND SINCERELY, THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING AND YOUR, YOUR PATIENCE AND ATTENTIVENESS TO WHAT IS QUITE CLEARLY THE UNAMBIGUOUS WILL OF THE PEOPLE OF THE VALLEY.
I FIRST CAME TO FRONT ROYAL 10 YEARS AGO, EXTREMELY EARLY IN MY ADULT LIFE, AND THIS TOWN HOUSED MY FIRST DATE WITH MY NOW WIFE.
IT'S WHERE WE ENJOY RESTAURANTS AND MUSIC FESTIVALS WITH OUR KIDS.
IT'S WHERE MY PARENTS LIVE AND WHERE THEY SEE THEIR TWO GRANDCHILDREN REGULARLY.
AND NOW THIS COUNTY, WARREN COUNTY, IS DEFINED LARGELY BY FRONT ROYAL AND THIS TOWN.
FRONT ROYAL IS ITS CHILDREN, ITS CHILDREN ARE ITS FUTURE.
THEREFORE, THIS TOWN IS ITS CHILDREN.
NOW, REGARDING THE BUDGET, I FULLY SUPPORT THE LIBRARY AND I WANT TO ENSURE THEY'RE FULLY FUNDED AND REMAIN A PLACE FOR ALL TO FEEL SAFE.
THE LIBRARY IS A GOOD AND ESSENTIAL PLACE FOR A COMMUNITY.
YET THERE IS A FOUL AND VILE SICKNESS THAT IN THIS LIBRARY, IN THIS TOWN, ONE THAT IS EXPLICITLY TARGETING CHILDREN TO DESCRIBE THIS AS PORNOGRAPHIC, MASSIVELY UNDERSELLS HOW DESPICABLE THIS IS BOOKS IN SECTIONS EXPLICITLY FOR MINORS, YOU KNOW, RANGE IN TOPICS FROM A TRANSSEXUAL TEEN HAVING HOMOSEXUAL RELATIONS WITH A GHOST, GRAPHICALLY DRAWN PICTURES, HOW TO INSTRUCTIONS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS AMONG DOZENS OF OTHER EXAMPLES.
ANYONE WHO WOULD SUGGEST THAT WANTING CHILDREN TO NOT BE EXPOSED TO PORN IS SOME SILOED BELIEF SYSTEM IS IN THE MOST CHARITABLE INTERPRETATION, INTENTIONALLY OBTUSE.
THIS IS NOT VALLEY VALUES, THIS IS NOT THE FRONT ROYAL THAT WE LOVE.
THERE IS NO RIGHT TO TARGET CHILDREN WITH SEXUAL CONTENT AT ALL.
MUCH LESS DISORDERED SEXUAL CONTENT.
MY CHILDREN DESERVE TO BE SAFE FROM THIS FOUL CONTENT AND ESPECIALLY SAFE FROM THE PERVERSE KIND OF PEOPLE ATTRACTED TO STORIES ABOUT SEXUAL EXPLOITS OF MINORS PROTECT OUR CHILDREN, HAVE THE COURAGE TO SECURE THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTY.
HOW YOU DOING? MY NAME'S STEVEN OZ VADK AND I'M A PATRON OF SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY.
I AM APPALLED THAT MY TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING USED TO PROVIDE CHILDREN ACCESS.
SORRY, IS THERE, IF YOU COULD PUT THAT DOWN.
I, THIS IS, WE HAVE NO POSTERS OR OTHER MEANS OF VISUAL DISPLAY OF COMMENTS THAT ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THE BOARDROOM.
THIS IS THE GUIDELINES THAT I READ AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THIS IS IN A BOOK CALLED IT'S PERFECTLY NORMAL.
AND, UM, THIS IS FOR, THIS IS RATED, RATED FOR AGES 10 AND UP 10 AND UP PAGE 10 READS, SEXUAL INTERCOURSE.
HAVING SEX CAN INVOLVE THE PENIS AND VAGINA, OR BOTH, OR THE MOUTH AND THE GENITALS OR THE PENIS AND THE ANUS.
SOMETIMES PEOPLE USE THE WORD SEXUALITY TO TALK ABOUT SEX.
WHEN PEOPLE USE THE WORD SEXUALITY, THEY'RE USUALLY TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING IN OUR DAILY LIVES THAT MAKES US SEXUAL HUMAN BEINGS, OUR GENDER, OUR SEXUAL FEELINGS, THOUGHTS AND DESIRES, AS WELL AS ANY SEXUAL CONTACT FROM SEXUAL TOUCHING TO SEXUAL INTERCOURSE.
PAGE 23 READS, WHEN THE CLITORIS IS TOUCHED AND RUBBED, THE CLITORIS AND THE WHOLE BODY CAN FEEL BOTH GOOD AND OUTSIDE AND INSIDE.
I I I I DON'T WANT TO READ THE REST OF THIS.
I CAN'T BELIEVE ANYBODY WOULD WANT THIS FOR THEIR 10 YEAR OLD.
THIS IS A DEMONSTRATION TO SHOW EVERYONE HOW HORRIBLE THIS IS, AS IF THIS ISN'T ENOUGH.
THIS BOOK IS FULL OF CARTOON DRAWINGS OF PEOPLE HAVING SEX AND MASTURBATING.
I ALREADY SHOWED YOU THE, THE ILLUSTRATIONS.
LIBRARY STAFF HAVE READ THESE BOOKS AND HAVE DETERMINED THAT THIS MATERIAL IS APPROPRIATE AND ACCEPTABLE FOR CHILDREN TO READ.
SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY NEEDS TO REJECT THE ALA STANDARDS,
[02:15:01]
WHICH FAVOR PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL FOR CHILDREN AND DEVELOP THEIR OWN STANDARDS FOR CURATING BOOKS THAT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WELLBEING OF MINORS.LIBRARY FUNDING NEEDS TO BE CUT UNTIL THIS PORNOGRAPHIC BOOK IS REMOVED.
DALEY WHAT, UM, MS. OCHER, THE FEET IS DOWN.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF, UM, DOWN AGAIN IF SAM KNOWS ABOUT THAT OR NOT.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THE COMMENT.
SO WE COME UP, UH, THE WOMAN RIGHT HERE.
MY NAME IS INGRID CHENOWETH AND I LIVE IN FRONT ROYAL AND I ALSO SERVE AS PASTOR OF GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH.
THERE'S A WOMAN IN THE BIBLE WHO IS DESCRIBED AS BEING THE FIRST PERSON TO NAME GOD AND THAT'S HAGAR.
AND SHE DESCRIBES GOD AS THE ONE WHO SEES, SHE CALLS HIM ELROY.
AND I WANT TO JUST SAY TONIGHT THAT ALL OF OUR KIDS AND YOUTH NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE SEEN, THAT CARING ADULTS RECOGNIZE THAT THEY EXIST AND THAT THEY ARE PRECIOUS AND BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN OF GOD EXACTLY AS THEY ARE.
OUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES SERVE AS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FREE AND OPEN VENUE WHERE ALL KIDS AND YOUTH CAN ACCESS INFORMATION THAT IS IMPORTANT TO THEM AND THAT REFLECTS THEIR IDENTITIES.
THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO SEE THEIR LIVES AND THEIR IDENTITIES ALSO REFLECTED IN THE BOOKS THAT THEY READ.
AND I KNOW THAT MANY OF THE BOOKS IN QUESTION TONIGHT, NOT THE ONES WHO'VE BEEN READ ALOUD TO Y'ALL, BUT OTHERS ARE ON THAT LIST SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY PORTRAY LGP, L G BT Q UH, IDENTITY IN A FAVORABLE LIGHT.
NOW, MY PARENTS CAME TO THIS COUNTRY FROM THEIR HOMELAND OF ESTONIA, WHICH IS NEAR FINLAND, RIGHT AFTER WORLD WAR II BECAUSE THEY WERE FLEEING THE IDEOLOGICAL IRON CURTAIN OF BOTH STALINISM AND NAZI GERMANY.
THEY TOLD STORIES OF BEING TERRI TERRIFIED TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES BECAUSE EXPRESSION OF THOUGHT WOULD'VE LANDED THEM IN A LABOR CAMP IN SIBERIA.
AND I'M NOT EXAGGERATING, OR POSSIBLY IN A NAZI PRISON OR A CONCENTRATION CAMP.
THEY KNEW HOW CRITICALLY IMPORTANT IT IS TO HONOR THE FIRST AMENDMENT, HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE TRUE FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND FREEDOM OF RELIGION.
THEY RISKED THEIR LIVES OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO COME TO THIS PLACE OF FREEDOM.
AND SO ALLOWING A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE TO RESTRICT WHAT OTHERS ARE ALLOWED TO READ GOES AGAINST WHAT IT MEANS TO LOVE FREEDOM.
IT GOES AGAINST WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN AMERICAN.
AND I BELIEVE IT ALSO GOES AGAINST WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A FOLLOWER OF GOD, OF ELROY, THE ONE WHO SEES THE ONE WHO ESPECIALLY SEES THE LEAST OF THESE.
PLEASE DO NOT DEFUND THE BUDGET OF THE LIBRARY.
MY FAMILY LIVES AT 1 50 71 BLUE MOUNTAIN ROAD IN FRONT ROYAL IN WARREN COUNTY.
UH, MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE 1984.
UM, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT SAMUEL'S LIBRARY AND FULL FUNDING FOR IT AND TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR THE MULTIPLE OF SERVICES THEY PROVIDE.
MY ADULT SONS WITH AUTISM ARE ABLE TO UTILIZE, UTILIZE THE CONFERENCE ROOMS WITH THEIR TUTORS AND CAREGIVERS, WHILE ALSO BENEFITING FROM THE SELECTION OF BOOKS AND RESOURCES.
THE LIBRARY STAFF IS ALWAYS VERY HELPFUL AND ACCOMMODATING.
I'VE ALSO BEEN PART OF GROUPS IN THE SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO USE THE LARGE COMMUNITY ROOMS FOR VARIOUS ACTIVITIES.
THE LIBRARY IS TRULY A MARVELOUS RESOURCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
I TRUST THE STAFF AND BOARD OF SAMUEL'S LIBRARY TO MAKE COMPETENT AND CONSCIENTIOUS DECISIONS REGARDING BOOKS AND MATERIALS FOR THE LIBRARY.
I ALSO TRUST PARENTS TO MAKE CHOICES FOR THEIR OWN CHILDREN REGARDING CHOICES OF BOOKS, BUT NOT TO MAKE DECISIONS REGARDING OTHER PARENTS' CHOICES OF BOOKS.
I URGE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO CONTINUE TO FUND THE LIBRARY AT THE CURRENT LEVEL AT LEAST AND POSSIBLY MORE.
AND SO, OH, WE'LL, WE'LL GET THIS FELLOW UP HERE.
[02:20:01]
THE SUPERVISORS.I'M PETER LEMON AND I, I LIVE HERE IN FRONT ROYAL AND WORK HERE TOO.
AND, UM, I'D LIKE YOU TO NOT DEFUND THE LIBRARY, JUST DEFUND THESE BOOKS.
UM, AS PARENTS, WE ALL KNOW CHILDREN ARE EXTREMELY IMPRESSIONABLE.
THIS IS WHY WE PROTECT THEM FROM BAD THINGS, BAD PEOPLE, BAD PLACES, BAD PICTURES, BAD MOVIES AND BAD BOOKS.
THEY ARE TOO YOUNG TO PROTECT THEMSELVES OR EXERCISE JUDGMENT.
THAT IS WHY GOD GAVE THEM PARENTS.
ONLY A NEGLIGENT PARENT WOULD FAIL TO PROTECT THEIR INNOCENT CHILDREN FROM BAD THINGS.
PARENTS ARE REQUIRED TO MAKE ALL THE JUDGEMENTS FOR THEIR CHILDREN, AND IF THEY HABITUALLY FAIL TO THE LAW TAKES THOSE CHILDREN AWAY FROM SUCH PARENTS.
WE KNOW THE IMPRESSIONS WE MAKE ON OUR CHILDREN LEAVE A MARK ON THEM AN IMPRINT THROUGH THEIR WHOLE LIVES.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE SO CAREFUL TO ONLY MAKE A GOOD IMPRINT.
AND THE EARLY IMPRESSIONS LEAD TO HABITS WHICH LEAD TO CHARACTER BAD OR GOOD.
AND OUR CHILDREN'S ENEMIES KNOW THIS TOO, AND THEY WANT TO MAKE THEIR BAD IMPRESSIONS ON OUR CHILDREN'S MINDS WITHOUT OUR CONSENT.
THEY TARGET OUR CHILDREN BECAUSE IF THEY TARGET US, THEY WOULD FAIL BECAUSE WE ARE NOT IMPRESSIONABLE.
MISERY LOVES COMPANY AND THOSE WHO WANT TO PANDER THIS GARBAGE ARE MISERABLE.
THEY WANT COMPANY, THEY TARGET CHILDREN BECAUSE THEY'RE INNOCENT, THEY'RE IMPRESSIONABLE, AND THEY KNOW THEY CAN BRAINWASH THEM AND MANIPULATE THEM.
AND THEN ONCE HABITUATED USE THEM TO PUSH FORWARD THEIR OWN PERVERTED AGENDAS.
NO ONE HAS A RIGHT TO PUT EVIL IN FRONT OF OUR CHILDREN'S EYES IN THE NAME OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH OR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.
OR BECAUSE SOME LIBRARY ASSOCIATION SAID EVIL IS GOOD.
ONLY PERVERTS WANT TO PERVERT OTHERS.
ONLY PERVERTS WANT TO SEE INNOCENCE SHATTERED.
ONLY PERVERTS WANT COMING OF AGE TO MEAN BECOMING SEXUALLY PERVERTED.
WHY DON'T WE SEE IT IN SEX DEALING? WE RESTRICT INTERNET PAGES.
WHY NOT BOOK PAGES? THESE PEOPLE WHO ADVOCATE PERVERSION ARE LOST AND WE DON'T WANT THEM TO TAKE OUR CHILDREN TO THEIR SELF-INFLICTED HELL.
SO IF LIKE ONE OF THE BOOK TITLES WE WANT GONE, YOU ASK, WHY DO I HATE THEM OR YOU OR ANYONE? WE DON'T, WE DON'T HATE HUMAN BEINGS.
WE SHOULD HATE THE ACTIONS OF THOSE WHO MANIPULATE THE INNOCENT FOR THEIR OWN DIRTY ENDS.
THAT HATE IS WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IN FORCE TONIGHT.
THESE AUTHORS AND THOSE THEY ADVOCATE FOR OR WHO ADVOCATE FOR THEM CLA CLAIM TO CHAMPION THE DIFFERENT AND WANT US TO OPEN OUR MINDS TO THEIR DIFFERENCES.
BUT THEIR DIFFERENCE IS TO BE PERVERTED, TO DENY NATURAL LAW.
IT IS SIMPLY SICK AND INSANE TO EXPOSE OUR CHILDREN TO FILTH BECAUSE YOU WANT THEM TO BE MORE EMPATHETIC OR COMPASSIONATE.
DOES THAT NOT PROPAGANDA? I'VE RAISED CHILDREN FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS NOW.
UM, THE FELL IN THE GREEN SHIRT.
HI, MY NAME IS ANTHONY MCDONALD AND I AM A RESIDENT OF FRONT OF FRONT ROYAL.
I DIDN'T INTEND TO SPEAK TONIGHT, BUT I'VE HEARD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE MISCHARACTERIZE OUR OPPOSITION TO THESE BOOKS.
BEING IN THE LIBRARY AS AN OPPOSITION TO A DIVERSITY OF IDEAS OR AN ATTEMPT TO IMPOSE SOME SORT OF IDEOLOGICAL LITMUS TEST, IT COULDN'T BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.
WE SIMPLY DON'T WANT OUR CHILDREN EXPOSED TO PORNOGRAPHY.
THE, THE PASSAGES THAT HAVE BEEN READ TONIGHT ARE ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING.
AND HOW, UM, THE, THE, THE SIDE IN FAVOR OF KEEPING THEM GETS UP HERE AND, AND MAKES STORIES ABOUT HOW THE LIBRARY DOES SUCH GREAT WORK OF JOB TRAINING AND, AND PROVIDING SERVICES FOR PEOPLE AND THINGS LIKE THIS.
MY QUESTION WOULD BE, ARE THESE BOOKS AND IS THE PORNOGRAPHY SO IMPORTANT THAT WE WOULD WANT TO GET RID OF THOSE SERVICES? AND WHAT DO THOSE SERVICES HAVE TO DO WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IS THE ANSWER.
THE LIBRARY IS PERFECTLY CAPABLE AND AS PEOPLE HAVE TESTIFIED FOR GENERATIONS HAS PROVIDED THOSE THINGS, BUT IT IS NOT PROVIDED PORNOGRAPHY FOR KIDS.
AND THAT IS WHERE THE OPPOSITION COMES IN.
AGAIN, IT'S NOT ABOUT OUR KIDS BEING EXPOSED TO IDEAS WE DON'T AGREE WITH.
I TEACH IDEAS THAT I DON'T AGREE WITH.
WE TALK ABOUT GODS AND GODDESSES AND THINGS LIKE THIS.
THINGS THAT I DO NOT BELIEVE IN DO NOT SUPPORT THE WORSHIP OF THESE THINGS.
[02:25:01]
NOT TALK ABOUT WITH MY KIDS OR DO NOT EXPOSE THEM TO IS PORNOGRAPHY.AND THE REASON IS, IS AS HAS BEEN STATED HERE, AS, AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS WITH CHILDREN, I HAD TO GO THROUGH, UM, TRAINING TO RECOGNIZE, UM, SEXUAL ABUSE SITUATIONS.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'RE WARNED ABOUT IS GROOMING BEHAVIOR.
ONE OF THE STEPS OF WHICH IS EXPOSING THE TARGET TO SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIAL SO AS TO DESENSITIZE THEM AND TO MAKE THEM A MORE READY TARGET.
NOW, I AM SURE THAT THERE'S A DIVERSITY OF MOTIVATIONS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS, AND I'M NOT GOING TO ACCUSE ALL OF THEM OF BEING GROOMERS, BUT THE, THE, THE, THE BEHAVIOR PRODUCES THE SAME RESULT.
NO MATTER WHAT YOUR, YOUR YOUR INTENTION IS, IT'S THE EXPOSURE TO PORNOGRAPHY THAT DESENSITIZES THE CHILD TO SEXUAL, UM, SITUATIONS THAT ARE DANGEROUS AND HARMFUL TO THEM THAT DESTROY A CHILD'S LIFE.
AND THE PERVASIVENESS OF THAT IN A SOCIETY DESTROYS THE SOCIETY.
WE SEE THIS ALL OVER THE PLACE.
UM, GET RID OF THE PORNOGRAPHY.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR, NOT GET RID OF DIVERSITY OR WHATEVER THEY'RE TRYING TO PAINT IT AS.
UM, OKAY, WE'RE COMING DOWN THIS ROW HERE AND THE WOMAN RIGHT THERE.
MY NAME IS SALLY MEREDITH AND I LIVE IN FRONT ROYAL.
UM, I DON'T WANNA USE UP ALL MY TIME TALKING ABOUT CENSORSHIP BECAUSE THE SOLUTION TO THAT ISSUE IS PRETTY SIMPLE.
IF YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT'S IN A BOOK, DON'T READ IT.
IF YOU DON'T THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR YOUR CHILD, DON'T LET THEM READ IT.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS IS THE IDEA THAT A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WOULD TRY TO ATTACK THE LIBRARY'S FUNDING JUST BECAUSE THEIR ATTEMPT TO HAVE BOOKS REMOVED FROM THE LIBRARY WAS UNSUCCESSFUL.
TAKING MONEY AWAY FROM THE LIBRARY WILL BE HURTFUL TO THE LIBRARY'S PATRONS BECAUSE THE LIBRARY WILL BE FORCED TO MAKE CUTS TO THE PRO TO ITS PROGRAMMING.
WHERE WOULD THIS GROUP OF CITIZENS SUGGEST THE LIBRARY BEGIN WITH CLASSES FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS WITH G E D CLASSES THAT HELP PEOPLE EMPOWER THEMSELVES AND BETTER THEIR LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION WITH STORY TIME FOR CHILDREN THAT ALLOW THEM TO SOCIALIZE WITH THEIR PEERS ALL WHILE LEARNING TO LOVE READING AND LOVE THE LIBRARY WITH PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
I COULD GO ON AND ON, BUT YOU GET THE IDEA.
THE LIBRARY DOES A LOT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES ARE THE GREAT EQUALIZER.
THEY'RE THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE HAVES AND THE HAVE-NOTS.
THE LIBRARY GIVES ACCESS TO RESOURCES THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ACCESS AT HOME, SUCH AS TECHNOLOGY AND THE LIBRARY'S AMAZING SEED LENDING LIBRARY.
THE LIBRARY PROVIDES ACCESS TO RESOURCES SUCH AS BOOKS, DVDS, CDS, MAGAZINES, AND SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT THEY MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO ACCESS.
BY REMOVING FUNDING, YOU'RE TAKING AWAY ACCESS TO ALL OF THIS.
FOR SO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY, JESUS TELLS US THAT WE SHOULD HELP THOSE IN NEED.
TAKING FUNDING THAT PROVIDES SO MUCH DOESN'T SEEM LIKE WHAT JESUS WOULD DO.
I ALSO WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW A LIBRARIAN MAKES CHOICES FOR THE LIBRARY'S COLLECTION.
I CAN SPEAK TO THIS BECAUSE I'M CURRENTLY A GRADUATE STUDENT IN OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY'S MASTERS OF LIBRARIAN INFORMATION SCIENCE PROGRAM.
I TOOK ONE ENTIRE CLASS IN COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT.
AS A PART OF THIS CLASS, I LEARNED THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING A COLLECTION DIVERSE SO THAT ALL PATRONS CAN SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN THEIR LIBRARY.
THIS INCLUDES PEOPLE OF COLOR, MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT FAITHS, AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
DISAGREEING WITH A GROUP DOESN'T MAKE IT BAD OR WRONG AND IS NO CRITERIA FOR REMOVAL OF A PARTICULAR RESOURCE FROM THE LIBRARY.
UNFORTUNATELY, BOOKS RELATED TO DIVERSITY ARE THE MOST FREQUENTLY CHALLENGED.
I HAVEN'T REVIEWED THIS LIST OF CHALLENGED BOOKS, ATS SAMUEL'S LIBRARY, BUT I WOULD BE WILLING TO BET THAT THIS IS TRUE INSTEAD OF SPREADING HATRED BIAS AND DISCRIMINATION.
SHOULDN'T WE JUST LET PEOPLE LIVE THEIR LIVES? THANK YOU.
I RESIDE AT ONE LAZY LIVING LANE IN FRONT ROYAL VIRGINIA.
I BELIEVE I'M ONE OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS, MR. BUTLER.
I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH NEIGHBORS AND, UM, FRIENDS LIKE MANY OF US AFTER READING THE ARTICLES IN THE NEWSPAPER.
SO I HAVE WITH ME COMMUNICATIONS FROM OTHER MEMBERS OF MY COMMUNITY
[02:30:01]
WHO STRONGLY APPROACHES BANNING BOOKS AND CUTTING THE FUNDS FOR SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY.YOU'VE BEEN A RETIRED PEDIATRICIAN.
CAME TO MY HOUSE THIS AFTERNOON TO BRING HIS HANDWRITTEN STATEMENT.
I WILL MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO YOU, BUT HE STRONGLY, STRONGLY OPPOSES ANY ATTEMPT TO OVERRIDE THE ROLE OF THE LIBRARIAN'S CURATORSHIP OF BOOKS THAT ARE APPROPRIATE FOR JUVENILES AND CHILDREN.
ADOLESCENTS, WE LEARN OVER TIME WHAT CONSTITUTES SCIENTIFIC FACT.
NOT ALL OF US AGREE WITH THOSE FINDINGS NECESSARILY, BUT OVER TIME WE LEARNED THAT PEOPLE WHO WERE REVILED AND BANNED SUDDENLY ARE QUITE CORRECT.
THE RELIGIOUSLY MOTIVATED ORGANIZERS SEEKING TO REMOVE 134 BOOKS FROM THE YOUNG CHILDREN AND JUVENILE, UM, YOUNG ADULT SECTIONS OF THE LIBRARY HAVE PLACED ON THEIR PUBLICLY AVAILABLE WEBSITES.
CITATIONS TAKEN FROM PAGES OF VARIOUS CHILDREN'S AND YOUNG CHILDREN'S, UM, ADULT'S TITLES THAT THEY DESCRIBE AS PORNOGRAPHY.
THE QUESTION OF WHAT CONSTITUTES PORNOGRAPHY IS BLATANTLY AN ENTIRELY SUBJECTIVE.
I ACTUALLY FOUND MYSELF LAUGHING BECAUSE SOME OF THESE CITATIONS WERE READ OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO THIS GROUP.
IT'S PERFECTLY NORMAL, WHICH WAS CALLED PORNOGRAPHY IS A VERY WELL CRAFTED COMIC BOOK WITH VARIOUS DEPICTIONS OF WHAT CONSTITUTES SEXUALITY.
IT IS APPROPRIATE AT CERTAIN LEVELS OF DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN TO BECOME FAMILIAR WITH WHAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR AGE LEVEL.
THE IMAGES THAT THE GENTLEMAN ATTEMPTED TO SHOW YOU ARE NOT THE LEAST BIT PORN.
YOU'RE THREE MINUTES ARE UP, MA'AM.
UM, OKAY, SO WE WENT DOWN HERE.
SO THE WOMAN IN THE RED BACK THERE.
HELLO, MY NAME IS SARAH DOWNS AND I'M A RESIDENT OF WARREN COUNTY.
UM, I PREPARED A WHOLE SPEECH.
I'M JUST GONNA SCRATCH THAT BECAUSE I'M EXHAUSTED.
I'M SO SORRY Y'ALL HAD TO SIT THROUGH ALL THAT AWFUL OBSCENE MATERIAL.
PLEASE, PLEASE ADDRESS THE BOARD.
UM, BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BUDGETS IN MY WORK, I HANDLE PUBLIC FUNDS AND YOU'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT ANY OLD PUBLIC FUNDS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MILLIONS OF PUBLIC FUNDS THAT EXPAND ACCESS TO MEDIA OF ALL SORTS.
AND IT REALLY BREAKS MY HEART AS SOMEONE WHO HAS GONE TO THE LIBRARY, HAS BEEN TO THE LIBRARY'S EVENTS AND WHO GREW UP AT THE LIBRARY TO HEAR ABOUT THEIR BUDGET POSSIBLY BEING CUT.
UM, I COME FROM A HOME THAT WAS NOT THE BEST, AND SO THE LIBRARY WAS A SAFE PLACE FOR ME.
I WENT TO EVENTS SUCH AS CREATIVE WRITING FOR TEENS AND THE LIBRARY GARDEN PROGRAM, AND I VOLUNTEERED FOR TWO YEARS.
AND NOW THAT I CURRENTLY HAVE A SON OF MY OWN, WE ENJOY THINGS LIKE THE READING TRAIL AND THE BUBBLE SNACK TIME THAT THEY DO AND THE READING WITH THE SHERIFF.
UM, BUT WE ALSO, I ALSO APPLIED FOR GRAD SCHOOL USING THE LIBRARY'S INTERNET.
IF IT WASN'T FOR THE LIBRARY, I WOULDN'T HAVE GRADUATED WITH MY BACHELOR'S DEGREE.
AND, UM, IF IT WASN'T FOR THE LIBRARIANS WHO WORK TIRELESSLY TO PROVIDE THESE, THESE PROGRAMS AND THESE SERVICES SUCH AS HELPING SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE ILLITERATE FILE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY, UM, WE, WE WOULD BE REALLY LACKING A RESOURCE.
AND I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT MONEY GOES A LONG WAY NOW THAT I'M MAKING BIG GIRL MONEY.
MY LIFE HAS CHANGED, RIGHT? AND THOSE BUDGETS MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO TO EVEN CONSIDER CUTTING THE LIBRARY'S BUDGET IS JUST SAD.
UM, AND I'VE RECEIVED MY TIME.
[02:35:02]
UM, OKAY.MY NAME IS JUDY GRIBBLE AND I LIVE HERE IN WARREN COUNTY.
I HAVE FOR 48 YEARS, AND I'M A TAXPAYER.
I'M A MOTHER, A GRANDMOTHER, AND A GREAT-GRANDMOTHER.
AND, UM, I'M AN EARLY CHILD DEVELOPMENT EDUCATOR, SO, UM, I'M A TAXPAYER AND I'M A VOTER AND ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT TO ME.
UM, WHEN MY CHILDREN WERE LITTLE, WE WOULD GO TO THE LIBRARY AT THE LAUNDRY BASKET AND WE WOULD PICK OUT BOOKS AND WE'D BRING 'EM HOME AND THE EACH CHILD WOULD PICK OUT THREE BOOKS BEFORE BED AND I'D READ 'EM TO 'EM AND WE'D KEEP UP WITH THOSE BOOKS AND WE'D PUT 'EM BACK IN THE LAUNDRY BASKET.
AND, UH, MY GRANDCHILDREN, I'D DO THE SAME.
BUT, UH, KIDS ARE SO IMPRESSIONABLE AND IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THESE CHILDREN GROW UP TO BE LEADERS.
THEY HAVE, THERE'S SO MANY FAMILIES THAT ARE BROKEN THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A MOTHER OR THEY DON'T HAVE A FATHER.
AND, UM, THESE KIDS NEED STABILITY.
AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT US TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE SAFE AND THEY'RE, ANY DECISION MADE FOR THEM IS MADE BY US AND THEY TRUST US.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THE SAMUEL'S LIBRARY IS FROM CREER ROAD TO SOUTH STREET, THERE ARE CHILDREN, AND WE'VE HEARD IT BEFORE, THAT CAN WALK TO THE LIBRARY BY THEMSELVES, UNCHAPERONED, AND THESE BOOKS GET FALL INTO THEIR HANDS.
AND I KNOW FROM PRESCHOOL WE WOULD, UM, HEAR THEM SAY DURING A COURSE OF THE WEEK, I WANNA BE A FIREMAN.
WELL, I WANNA BE A SCHOOL TEACHER.
AND THEN NEXT WEEK, WELL, NO, I DON'T WANNA BE A FIREMAN.
THEY CHANGE YOUR MIND ALL THE TIME.
THEY WANNA BE THE BEST THEY CAN BE, AND IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DO THAT.
SO WE COME OVER HERE, SO, OKAY.
SO, DEAR SUPERVISORS, UM, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET ITEM FINANCING THE LIBRARY.
ADDRESS IS ONE 40 FONTANA ROAD, AND I AM A PATRON OF SAN JUAN PUBLIC LIBRARY.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE, THERE, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PEOPLE DISCUSSING HERE PREDATORS AND, AND I JUST KIND OF WANNA SAY, SAY THAT AND ECHOING WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID, THAT I'M HORRIFIED OF THE EXPLICIT PORN PORNOGRAPHIC CONTENT IN BOOKS AT THE, IN THE LIBRARY AND IN THIS CHILDREN'S SECTION.
AND, UH, I JUST KIND OF WANNA GO INTO A BIT DETAIL IN ONE PARTICULAR NOVEL THAT REALLY ENABLES PRE SEXUAL PREDATORS, THAT NAME, THAT BOOK, TITLE BOOK IS DUFF, A NOVEL BY KARIE KAPLAN.
AND, UH, IN THIS BOOK, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, BIANCA PIPER STARTS SLEEPING WITH WESLEY RUSH, A NOTORIOUS WOMANIZER WHO DISCUSSED AND PRACTICALLY TRASHES ARE AROUND.
AND, UH, I WOULD RATHER A COLUMN A, A PREDATOR.
AND, AND I'M JUST GONNA KIND OF READ ONE EXCERPT POEM FROM
[02:40:01]
PAGE 1 67, WHICH STARTS, AND I QUOTE, WE STARTED KISSING AGAIN.THIS TIME THE ZANS MOVED UP BY MY SHIRT AND HANDLED MY BRA.
THERE WASN'T MUCH ROOM IN MY LITTLE TWIN BED, BUT WEASLEY MANAGED TO GET MY TOP OFF.
AND MY JEAN, MY JEANS UNZIPPED IN RECORD TIME.
I STARTED TO UNDO HIS PANTS TOO, BUT HE STARTED ME.
NO, HE SAID, MOVING MY HAND AWAY.
YOU MIGHT NOT AGREE WITH B******S, BUT I HAVE A FEELING YOU'LL ENJOY THIS.
I OPENED MY MOUTH TO ARGUE, BUT SHUT IT UP QUICKLY.
AS HE STARTED KISSING ME DOWN MY STOMACH, HIS HANDS BEGAN MOVING MY JEANS AND UNDERWEAR DOWN TOWARD MY KNEES.
ONE OF THEM PAUSING BRIEFLY TO SQUEEZE THE TICKLISH PLACE ABOVE MY HIP, CAUSING ME TO JERK.
ONCE WITH A GIGGLE, HIS LIPS MOVED LOWER AND LOWER, AND I WAS SURPRISED BY HOW MUCH I WAS ANTICIPATING THE FINAL DESTINATION.
I HEARD VICKI AND EVEN CASEY TALK ABOUT THEIR BOYFRIENDS GOING DOWN ON THEM AND HOW GOOD IT FELTED.
I, BUT I DIDN'T ENTIRELY BELIEVE MY FINGERS CURLED IN THE SHEETS, CRIPPLING THE CLOT TIGHTLY, AND MY KNEES SHOOK.
I WAS FEELING THINGS I'VE NEVER FELT BEFORE.
PLEASURE AND SURPRISE AND PARDON THE LANGUAGE.
THE LIBRARY KNOWS FULL WELL THAT THIS CONTENT IS ACCESSIBLE TO CHILDREN, INCLUDING TEENAGERS.
THEY HIDE BEHIND THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, WHICH HAS DETERMINED THAT THIS BOOK IS APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN.
SO SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY NEEDS TO REJECT THESE LAA STANDARDS AND FUNDING SHOULD BE CUT UNTIL THIS FILTER IS TAKEN OFF.
UM, CHERYL, UH, CHERYL LANGIS FROM ROYAL VIRGINIA, NICE TO SEE EVERYBODY, AND YOU'VE BEEN VERY TOLERANT TONIGHT.
UM, ALL THESE QUOTES, I, I'M FOR NO DEFUNDING OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
I, I'M SO PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IT'S, UH, VERY DEPRESSING TO ME TO SEE WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO OUR COMMUNITY, THIS DIVISION BETWEEN RELIGION, IT SHOULD BE PRINCIPLES BEFORE PERSONALITIES.
EVERYONE THAT COMES UP HERE SHOULD TELL ME WHAT CHURCH THEY COME FROM, AND I IMAGINE IT'S MOSTLY THE ST.
JOHN'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, WHICH ARE, IS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND I HAVE A LOT OF NEIGHBORS THERE THAT I LIKE ON INDIVIDUAL BASES, BUT NOT FOR THIS.
WHAT I WANTED TO SAY WAS ALL OF THESE QUOTES FROM ALL OF THESE, ALL THESE PASSAGES, ALL THESE NASTY S**T THAT PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT, EXCUSE ME.
ANYWAY, UM, NO ONE'S MENTIONED ANY OF THE BOOKS ABOUT THE WOMEN WHO HAVE LEFT RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN RAPED OR PERSECUTED OR ANYTHING IN THEIR, IN THEIR CULTURE.
NO ONE'S MENTIONED ANYTHING ABOUT THE PRIESTS THAT HAVE GONE AHEAD AND MOLESTED LITTLE CHILDREN, UH, SPECIFICALLY IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THERE'S MORE OF THAT THAT HASN'T BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD SO THAT THAT LITERATURE MIGHT BE LOOKED AT A LITTLE CLEARER AND MAYBE THAT COULD BE PUT ON THEIR LIST.
MEANWHILE, I THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M SO SORRY THIS IS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, IS THERE, RIGHT THERE, UH, THE GLASSES? YEP, RIGHT THERE.
YOUR HONOR, I'D LIKE TO, HELLO? UM, MY NAME IS TOBIAS BROWN AND I LIVE IN FRONT ROYAL VIRGINIA, AND I AM A TRANS MAN AND I CAN FEEL THE GLE EARTH BEHIND ME RIGHT NOW.
I WANNA SAY GIVE THE LIBRARY ALL MY MONEY, ALL OF IT THAT GOES FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT WALKS THROUGH THAT DOOR.
PEOPLE DON'T LIKE ME BECAUSE OF THE WAY I LOOK.
I HAVE BEEN BEAT UP TWICE IN THIS TOWN.
I STAND BY EVERYBODY'S RIGHT TO FEEL, TO BELIEVE, TO FIND SAFETY IN WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY FIND SAFETY IN.
THERE WAS NO REPRESENTATION FOR THE L G BT MY AGE, AND IF IT WAS, IT WAS VERY NEGATIVE, WHICH CREATES SUICIDAL TEENS.
IN 2019, I VOLUNTEERED FOR A SUICIDE HEADLINE FOR THE BT QIA PLUS CALLED THE TREVOR PROJECT.
UH, AT THAT TIME, ONE IN FIVE LGBT YOUTH ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.
SINCE THAT TIME, AS OF TODAY, IT'S ONE, TWO.
IF I WAS A CHILD SITTING IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW, AND I WAS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THESE PEOPLE THINK ARE NORMAL, I WOULD THINK EVERYBODY HATES ME AND I WOULD GO HOME WITH THAT.
[02:45:03]
I HAVE 10 NIECES AND NEPHEWS.I READ THEM BOOKS THOUGH, LIKE IT WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE PRIDE, WHERE EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY, STRAIGHT PEOPLE, GAY PEOPLE, PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT DISABILITIES, PEOPLE OF COLOR, THEY'RE ALL REPRESENTED IN THIS BOOK.
IT'S ABOUT COMING TOGETHER AND MAKING SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL.
AND I THINK WE NEED MORE OF THAT IN THIS TOWN.
THE SAME CATHOLIC GROUP 10 YEARS AGO SAID THE GAY PEOPLE NEEDED TO MOVE ACROSS THE BRIDGES, UNDER THE GUISE OF GYPSIES THAN THE DO DONUT SHOP.
THE DONUT SHOP UNDER THE GUISE OF PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM PINUP GIRLS.
NOW, THE ANOTHER WAY FOR THEM TO PUSH THEIR BELIEFS ON EVERYBODY UNDER PROTECTING CHILDREN, BUT WE'RE NOT PROTECTING ALL CHILDREN.
WE'RE PROTECTING A SMALL GROUP OF CHILDREN.
MY MOM WAS A SINGLE MOTHER OF FOUR KIDS.
I ALSO WENT TO THE LIBRARY ALL THE TIME.
MY MOM WATCHED AND, AND LOOKED OVER EVERY BOOK I CHECKED OUT.
IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A PARENT TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR CHILDREN.
IT IS NOT THE COMMUNITY'S RESPONSIBILITY IF YOU HAVE YOUR OWN COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE.
I HAVE A SON AND I HAVE A TRIBE OF PEOPLE WHO LOOK AFTER HIM, BUT I DO NOT WANT MY SON TO BE 10 YEARS OLD AND TO NOT BE ABLE TO WALK INTO THE LIBRARY AND SEE A FAMILY THAT LOOKS LIKE HIS JUST BECAUSE IT DOES NOT IS NOT THE NORMAL.
SO THE ONLY BALL BEING IN THIS COUNTRY BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE, CHURCH HAS NO PLACE IN OUR PUBLIC ANYTHING.
SCHOOL SYSTEMS, LIBRARIES, ANYTHING GO GOOD FOR YOU? SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY.
I'M DANIEL SEALS, BE RESIDENT OF WARREN COUNTY.
UH, I RECENTLY HAD THE PLEASURE OF SPEAKING WITH SUPERVISOR BUTLER, WHOSE FELLOW PARISHIONERS AT ST.
JOHN THE BAPTIST ARE LEADING THIS EFFORT AT OUR LIBRARY.
I'M NOT CATHOLIC, BUT I'VE ATTENDED SERVICE THERE AND I'VE COMPLETED THE BIBLE IN A YEAR PODCAST BY FATHER MIKE SCHMIDTZ.
WHILE TAKING LONG WALKS AROUND TOWN ON THESE WALKS, I OFTEN WONDERED HOW NICE IT IS THAT OUR TOWN HAS AVOIDED THE INCREASINGLY COMMON DISCRIMINATORY EFFORTS AGAINST LIBRARIES.
MR. BUTLER ASSURED ME THAT THIS WASN'T A BAN ON BOOKS, BUT INSTEAD WAS AN EFFORT TO MOVE SALACIOUS ONES TO A SEPARATE SECTION.
I POINTED OUT THAT YES, THERE WERE PERHAPS ONE OR TWO BOOKS THAT WERE, UH, PERHAPS QUESTIONABLE, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY MERELY CITED EXCERPTS OR, UH, HARMLESS REFERENCE TO, TO QUOTE UNQUOTE PRO L G B T Q VIEWPOINTS POINTS.
THIS ISN'T ABOUT SALACIOUSNESS, IN OTHER WORDS, THIS IS ABOUT L G B T Q DISCRIMINATION.
UH, WHERE WAS I HERE? UH, WORSE.
I, I FEAR THAT THIS WILL LEAD TO VICIOUS, DRAWN OUT BUDGETARY FIGHTS OVER, UH, OVER THE LIBRARY'S ACQUISITION OF BOOKS CONTAINING TOPICS BEYOND LGBTQ Q AND BEYOND.
FRIENDS, FEWER THAN A HUNDRED YEARS AGO, BURNINGS OF NOT JUST BLACK BUT CATHOLIC CHURCHES BY THE KK TOOK PLACE POPULOUS POLITICIANS, CYNICALLY STOKED ANTI-IMMIGRATION HATRED AND LIES AGAINST THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
BULLYING OF CATHOLICS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND DISCRIMINATORY HIRING PRACTICES WERE ONCE COMMON OUTSIDE URBAN CENTERS.
I ENCOURAGE THOSE HERE TO LOOK UP AL SMITH, A MAN I GREATLY ADMIRE.
AL SMITH WAS A DEVOUT ROMAN CATHOLIC, BORN INTO POVERTY ON THE LOWER EAST SIDE.
AT 14, HIS FATHER DIED AND AL DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL TO HELP SUPPORT HIS FAMILY, NEVER ATTENDING HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE AGAINST GREAT ODDS.
HE TAUGHT HIMSELF LEGISLATION GOING ON TO SERVE FOUR TERMS AS GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK.
HE SERVED WELL AND FOUGHT THE THEN RAMPANT GRAFT AND RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN CITY AND STATE HIRING.
AL SMITH WAS WARM, SELFLESS, AND HONEST.
REMAINING UNBLEMISHED BY CORRUPTION.
DESPITE HIS TAMMANY HALL ORIGINS MOST KNOW THAT JFK WAS OUR FIRST CATHOLIC PRESIDENT, BUT FEWER KNOW.
WE CAME CLOSE TO HAVING WON PERHAPS EVEN GREATER.
IN 1928, AL SMITH WAS THE FIRST CATHOLIC NOMINATED FOR PRESIDENT RUNNING AGAINST HOOVER.
DESPITE THEIR LARGELY SIMILAR PLATFORMS, AL SMITH LOST IN A LANDSLIDE DUE TO ANTI-CATHOLIC DISCRIMINATION
[02:50:01]
AND BIGOTRY COMMON AT THAT TIME.SO I'M GOING DOWN THAT ROW THERE.
SO THE FELL OFF AND THE HAT RIGHT? YEAH.
I HAVE A NUMBER OF POINTS WHICH I'D LIKE TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION, WHICH NO REASONABLE PERSON WILL DISAGREE WITH AND THAT SHOULDN'T BE CONTROVERSIAL.
ONE, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF WARREN COUNTY, WHICH CONTROLS THE LIBRARY, HAS THE MORAL DUTY OF PROTECTING THE COMMON GOOD OF ITS RESIDENTS.
TWO, PLACING PORNOGRAPHY BEFORE CHILDREN IS OPPOSED TO THE COMMON GOOD THAT IS OBVIOUS AND COMMONLY UNDERSTOOD THROUGHOUT OUR SOCIETY.
IN EVERY OTHER PLACE IN THIS COUNTY, CHILDREN ARE PREVENTED FROM ACCESSING THIS KIND OF FILTH THAT THESE BOOKS ARE PORNOGRAPHIC IS CLEAR.
A GOOGLED THE DEFINITION OF PORNOGRAPHY WHILE SITTING BACK THERE.
IT READS, PRINTED OR VISUAL MATERIAL COMPLAINING CONTAINING THE EXPLICIT DESCRIPTION OR DISPLAY OF SEXUAL ORGANS OR ACTIVITY.
INTEN INTENDED TO STIMULATE EROTIC RATHER THAN AN AESTHETIC OR EMOTIONAL FEELINGS USED IN A SENTENCE, SHE WARNED THAT ACCESS TO HARDCORE PORNOGRAPHY WAS SHAPING CHILDREN'S EXPECTATIONS OF RELATIONSHIPS.
EVEN WITHIN THAT QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH, A CLEAR INDICATION OF WHAT HARM THIS CAN DO TO OUR CHILDREN SINCE THE LIBRARY.
AND IT IS CLEAR THAT FROM WHAT WE'VE BEEN READ TO FROM TONIGHT, THAT THESE BOOKS CERTAINLY FIT THAT DEFINITION.
THIRD POINT, SINCE THE LIBRARY PLACES THIS PORNOGRAPHY BEFORE CHILDREN, THE LIBRARY IS NO LONGER SERVING THE PUBLIC, PUBLIC GOOD AND IT'S FUNDING OUGHT TO BE REMOVED UNTIL SUCH TIME AS IT BECOMES A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE CHILDREN OF FRONT ROYAL.
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BANNING BOOKS.
IT IS SIMPLY NOT ALLOWING THE SICK MINDED TO PLACE PORNOGRAPHY BEFORE OUR CHILDREN.
OKAY, SO COMING DOWN HERE AND SOME WOMAN THE GLASSES? YEAH.
NO, NO HUN, I'M GIVING IT TO MY SON.
UM, THE FELLOW THAT, UM, THAT WENT EARLIER, HIS NAME WAS TOBIAS.
AND I LOOK UP TO HIM AND WHAT HE SAID ABOUT THE LIBRARY, IT LIKE TOOK LIKE HEARING ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO THE LIBRARY.
IT WAS LIKE HITTING ME DEEP BECAUSE I REMEMBER WHENEVER I WAS LIKE 8, 9, 10, ME AND MY AUNT, EVERY TWO TO THREE DAYS OUT OF THE WEEK, WE WOULD GO TO THE LIBRARY AND SHE WOULD BUY ME HARRY POTTER BOOKS AND WE WOULD READ IT.
I WALKED ON MY OWN AND I DIDN'T GO TO ANY, ANY ADULT SECTIONS.
I STAYED WHERE MY AUNT WAS AND YOU KNOW, SHE WAS ABLE TO KEEP ME RIGHT BY HER SIDE.
I FEEL LIKE THAT IF YOU'RE A PARENT, THAT YOU SHOULD BE ALWAYS WITH YOUR CHILD AND YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO RELY ON LIKE, MAKE THEM RELY ON THEMSELVES TO BE PROTECTED.
I THINK THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DO KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE, BUT WE ALSO SPREAD LOVE INSTEAD OF HATE.
LOVE IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING.
I FEEL LIKE HATE IS GONNA MAKE HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF AND I DON'T THINK WE WANT THAT.
I DON'T THINK WE WANT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE NAZIS DID.
I DON'T THINK WE WANT THAT ANYMORE.
BUT I REALLY WOULD APPRECIATE IF WE DIDN'T TAKE DOWN THAT BECAUSE WE AS A COMMUNITY, LIKE MY COMMUNITY, THE LGBTQ AND ALL THE DIVERSITY, WE HAVE A SAFE PLACE THERE USUALLY BECAUSE IN THIS TOWN I DON'T THINK WE REALLY HAVE MUCH OF A SAFE PLACE, BUT THERE WE DO.
AND I JUST THINK THAT IF OUR CHILDREN WANT TO BE SAFE IN A SPOT WHENEVER THEY CAN'T BE AT HOME OR OUT IN TOWN, THEN IT CAN BE SAFE THERE.
HI, MY NAME IS MARY VERTI AND I'VE LIVED IN WARREN COUNTY FOR A LONG TIME, UH, PROBABLY AT LEAST 30 YEARS, AND I REALLY DO LOVE WARREN COUNTY.
I'M IN SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT, I LIVE IN ON ROCKY LANE.
[02:55:01]
ABOUT THE FUNDING FOR THE LIBRARY BECAUSE I THINK IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.I THINK THAT THE ARGUMENTS MADE THAT IT'S NECESSARY, BUT I THINK MORE IMPORTANTLY THEY NEED A BIGGER BUDGET BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE OF DEMOCRACY AND ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL HERE HAVE LISTENED.
WE'VE LISTENED TO EACH OTHER EVEN THOUGH WE DISAGREE.
BUT I DO WANNA GO TO A POINT THAT THIS HATRED, THAT REALLY IT IS BOOK BANNING NO MATTER HOW YOU CUT IT, IT IS CENSORSHIP NO MATTER HOW YOU CUT IT.
AND THE REALITY IS, KIDS WHO ARE DIFFERENT SUFFER.
THE ONE YOUNG MAN TALKED ABOUT SUICIDE.
27% OF KIDS WHO ARE LESBIAN, GAY, AND BI, THEY COMMIT SUICIDE.
THEY MAKE A SUICIDE ATTEMPT AT LEAST ONCE, AT LEAST ONCE THEY HAVE DONE IT IN A YEAR.
AND THAT DOESN'T EVEN COUNT ALL THE KIDS THAT DID DIE THAT THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW BECAUSE NOBODY KNEW WHY.
BUT WE, WE LIVE IN A CULTURE RIGHT NOW THAT IS BULLYING THESE KIDS AND WE NEED TO STOP IT.
AND THE LIBRARY IS A SAFE PLACE FOR THEM.
MY NAME IS JOHN MASSOUD AND I'M GOING TO FIRST SAY TO EVERYBODY, BLESSED ARE THE BRIEF FOR THEY SHALL BE INVITED TO SPEAK AGAIN.
UM, I HEARD TONIGHT A VERY TROUBLING STATEMENT FROM A YOUNG LADY WHO SAID THAT CHURCHES SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK UNLESS I'M VERY WRONG.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE MANY CITIZENS WHO, UM, ATTEND, UH, RELIGIOUS, UM, WORSHIP AND THEY DO PAY THEIR TAXES.
AND THEIR RIGHT TO SPEAK IS AS IMPORTANT AS ANYBODY ELSE TO SUGGEST ANYTHING DIFFERENT IS DISCRIMINATION.
I COULD SPEND HERE ALL NIGHT TALKING, I'M NOT GOING TO, BUT I'M GONNA SAY THIS, PORN IS EVIL PORN ROTS THE MIND PORN SHOULD NOT BE SHOWN TO CHILDREN AND ANYBODY WHO DISAGREES IS A NEED OF PRAYER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.
MY NAME IS VINCENT SURMONT AND I LIVE HERE IN FRONT ROYAL.
I'D LIKE YOU TO JOIN ME IN AN EXERCISE.
IF YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE TO CLOSE YOUR EYES, CLOSE YOUR EYES AND THINK ABOUT THE TIME YEARS AGO, ROLLING A LEMON ON THE COUNTERTOP, THAT ZEST HITTING YOU IN THE FACE, THE SMELL OF THAT, AND THEN SLICING IT AND PUTTING SUGAR WITH IT AND DRINKING THAT WITH A FRESH LEMONADE ON A HOT SUMMER DAY.
JUST THINK OF THE SWEETNESS OF THAT LEMON AS YOU SWALLOW IT AND ENJOY THE FLAVORS.
NOW WHAT I CAN TELL MOST PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, THEIR MOUTH IS CURRENTLY SALIVATING.
THE BRAIN IS SUCH A POWERFUL THING.
THE BRAIN TELLS US WHEN ALL THE THINGS ABOUT OUR BODY, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO, I CAN TELL YOU SOMETHING LIKE I JUST DID AND I CAN MAKE YOUR WA MOUTH WATER.
NOW I THINK THE LIBRARY NEEDS ALL THE FUNDING IT POSSIBLY CAN, AND I SAY THAT, BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT I DON'T WANT IT RIGHT NOW.
I SPENT HOURS IN THE LIBRARY LEARNING SO THAT NOT ONLY COULD I READ, BUT COULD I TALK PROPERLY THAT I COULD GET UP HERE AND TALK IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY.
AND THAT IS BECAUSE I SPENT HOURS LEARNING, WORKING HARD WITH MY PARENTS, BUT MY PARENTS DIDN'T HAVE JUST ME AS A CHILD.
THERE WERE FOUR OTHER BOYS IN MY FAMILY AND THEY HAD TO WATCH ALL OF US.
HOW CAN THEY TAKE THE TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT I DON'T OPEN A BOOK AND READ SOMETHING OR LOOK AT PICTURES OF SOMETHING WHEN THEY'RE ALSO WORRYING ABOUT THE OTHER FOUR? I THINK THAT THE FUNDING NEEDS TO BE WITHHELD TEMPORARILY SO THAT UNTIL THE LIBRARY IS A PLACE WHERE THE MIND IS NOT BEING TRICKED, IS NOT BEING TAMPERED WITH AND PLAYED WITH AND IT IS A GOOD PLACE, THEN UNTIL THEN, I THINK THE FUNDING NEEDS TO BE WITHHELD.
BUT WE NEED TO GET IT BACK AS SOON AS WE CAN SO THAT PEOPLE THAT
[03:00:01]
ACTUALLY NEED THE LIBRARY FOR OTHER THINGS LIKE I DID WHEN I WAS A YOUNG CHILD, THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE THAT THERE AND THOSE RESOURCES THERE BECAUSE THAT MEMORY OF THAT LEMON, THESE MEMORIES THAT WE SADLY ARE, ARE HEARING TONIGHT.I DIDN'T READ ANY OF THESE BOOKS, BUT I'VE HEARD THESE BOOKS NOW.
NOW THE MEMORY IS SO POWERFUL, IT'S GONNA TAKE EIGHT YEARS FROM RIGHT NOW FOR ME TO LOSE THAT MEMORY IN MY, IN MY BRAIN.
NOW IF I THINK ABOUT IT TOMORROW, THAT EIGHT YEARS STARTS OVER AGAIN TOMORROW, I THINK WE NEED TO DEFUND IT UNTIL IT IS A PLACE WHERE ALL THESE SEXUAL THINGS ARE TAKEN OUT SO THAT OUR CHILDREN'S MINDS WHILE THEY'RE GROWING, IF THEY'RE 10 YEARS TO 18 YEARS, IS NOT TAMPERED WITH.
IT FELT LIKE IT WAS STANDING BACK THERE.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME BEING HERE SO LATE THIS EVENING.
UH, MY NAME IS PATRICK KORN MYER.
I LIVE ON DUNCAN AVENUE IN TOWN LIMITS OF FRONT ROYAL.
UM, WE'VE ALL BEEN MADE AWARE THERE ARE SEVERAL BOOKS IN SAMUEL'S LIBRARY IN THE CHILDREN'S AND YOUNG ADULT SECTIONS THAT CONTAIN SEXUALLY EXPLICIT AND PORNOGRAPHIC PASSAGES.
I'VE SEEN AND HAVE NOW HEARD SOME OF THESE PASSAGES AND COULD NOT STAND TO READ OR HEAR MORE THAN A FEW WORDS DUE TO THE GRAPHIC NATURE OF THE TEXT.
AS THE LIBRARY RECEIVES THE MAJORITY OF ITS FUNDING FROM TAXPAYER MONEY, I REQUEST THAT PRESSURE BE PUT ON THE LIBRARY TO REMOVE THE OFFENSIVE BOOKS SINCE I DO NOT WANT PUBLIC MONEY BEING DIRECTED TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF SUCH BOOKS IN GENERAL AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE PURCHASED FOR THE CONSUMPTION BY CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT FREEDOM OF SPEECH, WHICH IS A RED HERRING.
FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS NOT MERE LICENSE AND IT'S ALWAYS SUBORDINATE TO THE COMMON GOOD.
YOU CANNOT YELL FIRE IN A CROWDED SPACE.
FREEDOM OF SPEECH CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO BE WEAPONIZED, NOR CAN IT BE REDUCED TO A POLITE EUPHEMISM FOR PUBLICLY FUNDED PORNOGRAPHY.
I LIVE AT ONE LAZY LIVING LANE CONSTITUENT OF MR. BUTLER'S.
UM, I HAD A STATEMENT I WANTED TO READ, BUT FIRST I WANTED TO MAKE AN OBSERVATION.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ZEAL HERE TONIGHT AND THERE'S A PRICE TO BE PAID FOR ZEAL.
THIS I'VE BEEN OBSERVING, JUST LISTENING AND THIS STRIKES ME AS AN INCREDIBLY GROSS CHARACTER ASSASSINATION OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE LIBRARY AND HER STAFF.
AND IT'S DONE APPARENTLY IN THE NAME OF RELIGIOUS ZEAL.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT MY LORD AND SAVIOR WOULD HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH DESTROYING A PERSON'S PUBLIC REPUTATION.
AND THAT IS WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE TONIGHT.
I'M A CATHOLIC, I'M A CRADLE CATHOLIC.
I RUN AND SERVED ON THE PARISH COUNCILS OF TWO CATHOLIC PARISHES WHO I SPENT THE LAST 10 YEARS OF MY WORKING LIFE IN THE BASEMENT OF A CATHOLIC CHURCH SERVING THE POOR AND THE HOMELESS.
I HAVE CATHOLIC DNA BUT DO I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE FRINGE CATHOLIC APPROACH IN ULTRA TRADITIONALIST TRADITION BECAUSE THE POPE DOESN'T LIKE THAT.
CUZ THE POPE SAYS, I USED TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THE POPE SAID.
WHAT THE POPE BASICALLY HAS SAID, WE HAVE WANT TO PUT RESTRICTIONS ON THAT BECAUSE IT'S DIVISIVE.
YOU SAW A DIVISION, YOU SAW IT TONIGHT, YOU SAW A ZEAL.
I WANNA HA I'M A CATHOLIC, BUT I DON'T WANT A CATHOLIC LIBRARY.
I DON'T WANT A LIBRARY THAT'S RUN BY ANY RELIGION.
I BELIEVE IN WHAT THOMAS JEFFERSON, JEFFERSON WOULD BE SPINNING IN HIS GRAVE IF HE LISTENED TO THIS COMIC TONIGHT IN VIRGINIA IN 2023.
UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT WE HAVE IS ANOTHER ORCHESTRATED POLITICAL ATTACK ON A PUBLIC INSTITUTION.
THE PRESS, THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM, THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS NOW THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
WHERE DOES IT END? THIS IS A SITUATION IN WHICH PEOPLE WANT TO TURN BACK THE CLOCK BEFORE THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH BEFORE THE GREAT CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, 16TH FOUR AND 65 BEFORE THE, THE VICTORIES FOR THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN, GAY PEOPLE AND AND CONSUMERS.
[03:05:01]
GO BACK TO THE 1950S.I REMEMBER THAT SOCIETY DON'T TAKE ME BACK TO THE GOOD OLD DAYS WHEN BLACK PEOPLE COULDN'T VOTE.
DON'T TAKE ME BACK TO THE GOOD OLD DAYS WHEN I HAD TO STICK MY TONGUE OUT TO GET COMMUNION IN CHURCH.
AND THAT'S, THOSE ARE THE THINGS.
DID YOU FIND THIS FUNNY? I DO.
EXCUSE ME SIR, PLEASE OBJECT COURT.
I DON'T, I I I UNDERSTAND SIR.
PLEASE, IF YOU CAN PLEASE GOOD RESTRAIN YOURSELF.
SO I URGE YOU NOT, YOU KNOW, SITUATIONS LIKE THIS.
TONIGHT IS THE MOTHER'S MILK OF POLITICIANS THEY LOVE.
THIS STRATEGY IS DIVIDE, DIVIDE, DIVIDE.
IF YOU CAN SEPARATE A SITUATION, GIVE THREE MINUTES TO UP, SIR.
I PULLED IT THIS FELLA HERE AND THEN I'LL GET HER NEXT
UM, I UH, ACTUALLY MOVED HERE PRETTY RECENTLY, BUT I'VE BEEN COMING OUT HERE FOR YEARS CUZ I HAVE, UH, A LOT OF FRIENDS OUT HERE.
UM, I SERVED, UM, AND I'M AN IRAQ VETERAN AND, UH, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM VETERAN.
AND I DO FIND IT KIND OF UNFORTUNATE AND SCARY SEEING SOME OF THE SENTIMENTS EXPRESSED BY OUR ENEMIES IN THOSE COUNTRIES BEING SHOWN HERE.
UM, AND ONE OF THE THINGS I I I'VE NOTICED WITH SOME OF THESE EXCERPTS THAT HAVE BEEN READ IS, UM, LIKE ONE OF THE EXAMPLES WAS THE IDEA THAT A WOMAN HAVING A CLITORIS IS PORNOGRAPHY.
UM, AND I CAN SEE THAT THERE'S CERTAIN RELIGIOUS IDEOLOGIES AND, UH, POLITICAL, UM, GOALS THAT WOULD ECHO AROUND THAT BELIEF.
UM, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S TRUE TO A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE.
I THINK, UH, SEXUALITY IS A PART OF THE HUMAN CONDITION AND ONE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE, UM, SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE, PREFERABLY WITH PARENTAL GUIDANCE.
BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE LIBRARY.
I THINK THAT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARENTS.
UM, I FEEL THEY SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN WHAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE CONSUMING.
UM, I ALSO, WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUDGET, UM, I THINK IT'S THAT HOLDING THE LIBRARY BUDGET HOSTAGE TO ENFORCE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND A POLITICAL IDEOLOGY IS WRONG.
I THINK USING KIDS AS PAWNS TO TRY TO MANIPULATE PEOPLE'S EMOTIONS IS WRONG.
AND, UH, I THINK THE LIBRARY SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE FUNDED FULLY.
UM, OKAY, SO I GOTTA GO BACK AND THE WOMEN FOR THE GLASSES BACK.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG NIGHT.
I LIVE, UH, IN POINT WOOD SUBDIVISION IN FRONT ROYAL.
UH, I WAS NOT PLANNING ON SPEAKING TONIGHT, SO THIS IS A LITTLE OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
BUT
UM, I THINK, UM, WE ARE RUNNING DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO FULL OUT CENSORSHIP HERE AND IT IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE THAT WE NEED TO AVOID.
I URGE THAT YOU NOT BE USED AS A STRONG ARM TO PROMOTE ANY PARTICULAR SINGLE GROUP'S, UH, AGENDA.
AND, UM, IT'S LIKE RIPPLES IN A POND.
IF, IF WE START HERE WITH THIS ONE THING, NEXT THING IT'S GONNA BE VIOLENCE, NEXT THING IT'S GONNA BE ART BOOKS.
IT'S WHERE DOES IT END? AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT BRINGING IN PEOPLE TO DO THE JUDGMENT.
PARENTS, WELL, WHAT ARE THEIR QUALIFICATIONS? HOW DO THEY JUDGE THAT? THERE'S, IT'S JUST SO FLUID, IT'S JUST SO AMORPHOUS THAT THERE'S A LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE WE GO TO LET'S PULL ALL THESE BOOKS, WHICH ARE TARGETING A SPECIFIC GROUP OF PEOPLE.
UM, AND IT'S, IT'S GONNA KEEP GOING AND GOING AND GOING.
AND
YOU GOTTA LOOK AT THE FUTURE ON THIS, NOT JUST THIS ONE SUBJECT.
SO I JUST URGE YOU TO CONTINUE THE FUNDING.
I LIVE AT, UH, 1286 GU ME LOOP, BENTONVILLE, VIRGINIA.
UM, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT THE LEGAL RIGHT TO THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH DOES NOT EXIST IN THIS COUNTRY TO PROTECT SMUT FOR SEVEN YEAR
[03:10:01]
OLDS.UM, WE'VE ALL HEARD SEVERAL OF THE, UH, READINGS FROM EARLIER TODAY.
WE CAN QUIBBLE ABOUT THE DEFINITION OF PORNOGRAPHY, BUT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, WE ALL KNOW IT WHEN WE HEAR IT AND WE KNOW WHEN WE HEAR THOSE THINGS THAT IT IS PORNOGRAPHIC CONTENT.
I DO NOT WANT MY MONEY, MY TAX DOLLARS GOING TO PROVIDE FILTHY LITERATURE FOR MY CHILDREN OR FOR ANY CHILDREN IN THIS COMMUNITY.
UM, AS REGARDS TO REFERENCES, UM, ABOUT A SMALL GROUP, I DON'T KNOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT.
THERE'S A HUGE GROUP OF PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND THAT'S WHO YOU REPRESENT, WHO ARE IN FAVOR OF DEFUNDING THE LIBRARY IF THEY DON'T COMPLY.
HOW YOU DOING? MY NAME'S, UH, TONY CASTLE.
UM, I AM ACTUALLY A LURAY RESIDENT, BUT UH, SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN FRONT ROYAL AND I CARE ABOUT THIS AREA.
I'M COMFORTABLE WITH BOTH, UH, SERVING TO, YOU KNOW, DEFEND OUR RIGHTS AND ALSO BE HERE TO OPPOSE, UH, THINGS LIKE PORNOGRAPHY, OBJECTIONABLE MATERIAL, OBSCENE MATERIALS FOR KIDS.
UM, SO AGAIN, I'M GONNA KEEP THE STREAK ALIVE AND TALK ABOUT THAT.
SO SAMUEL'S LIBRARY IS USING PUBLIC FINANCIAL RESOURCES.
THEY'RE DEVELOPING LIMITED SHELF SPACE AND DISPLAY SPACE TO CARRY OBJECTIONABLE BOOKS.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD THE NUMBER OF APPROXIMATELY 130 TITLES IS CARRIED BY THE LIBRARY THAT EXCLUDED, THAT INCLUDE EXPLICIT SEXUAL DEPICTIONS.
RELIGIOUS BLASPHEMY IS A GOOD THING.
PROVIDE MISLEADING CLAIMS ABOUT QUEER IDEOLOGY, ESPECIALLY REGARDING INTRODUCING TRANSGENDER TRANSGENDERISM TO KIDS.
AND THESE BOOKS ARE MARKETED TO KIDS.
I KNOW THERE ARE MANY ISSUES AND DECISIONS IN FRONT OF YOU, BUT I HOPE THIS IS ONE THAT YOU'LL CAREFULLY CONSIDER AS IT ESPECIALLY IMPACTS OUR CHILDREN.
MANY FAMILIES WITH KIDS RELY ON SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR BOOKS AND ENRICHMENT AND USING PUBLIC FUNDS TO CARRY THESE BOOKS AS A THREAT TO THEIR INNOCENCE AND HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT.
AND IT RUNS COUNTER TO THE ENRICHED LIVES PART OF SAMUEL'S MISSION.
GIVEN THAT I WOULD ASK, GIVEN THAT I WOULD ASK YOU TO CONSIDER WORKING WITH SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY TO HAVE THESE BOOKS REMOVED FROM THEIR COLLECTION.
NOW I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS A COUPLE POTENTIAL OBJECTIONS, WELL DEFINITE OBJECTIONS THAT HAVE COME UP TONIGHT.
SOME MIGHT CLAIM THAT I JUST WANNA CENSOR LIMIT THE NUMBER OF BOOKS FOR KIDS THAT CLAIM IS FALSE.
I WANT THE VERY BEST BOOKS FOR KIDS IN OUR LIBRARY.
SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY CAN'T HOLD ALL THE BOOKS CURRENTLY IN PRINT AT ANY ONE TIME, LET ALONE THE MANY BOOKS, THE GREAT BOOKS THAT ARE OUTTA PRINT.
THE REALITY IS THAT FOR REASONS OF PHYSICAL SPACE, MOST LIBRARIES CAN ONLY CARRY A LIMITED SELECTION, EVEN THOUGH THAT MAY STILL MEAN A LARGE COLLECTION.
SO A LIBRARY NEEDS TO DECIDE HOW TO USE ITS LIMITED SPACE AND DISPLAY AREA.
AND I WOULD HOPE A LIBRARIAN WOULD NEVER WANT TO DISPLACE A BETTER BOOK FOR A LESSER BOOK, LET ALONE A BOOK THAT CONTAINS OBSCENE GRAPHIC DEPICTIONS OF SEXUAL ACTS, RELIGIOUS BLASPHEMY, INSULTS TOWARD GROSS RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND SO ON.
SOME CLAIM IT'S JUST THE JOB OF PARENTS TO CONTROL WHAT THEIR KIDS READ, NOT THE LIBRARY OR THE COMMISSIONERS.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY THE JOB OF PARENTS TO MONITOR THEIR KIDS.
AND I DON'T WISH TO ABSOLVE PARENTS OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.
BUT I THINK WE ALL INTUITIVELY KNOW THAT THIS ISN'T THE WHOLE PICTURE.
THERE ARE THINGS SOCIETY CAN AND SHOULD DO TO HELP THE MISSION OF PARENTING AND SAFEGUARDING OUR KIDS.
PARENTS HAVE THE MOST ABILITY TO MONITOR THEIR KIDS IN THE HOME, BUT ONCE THE KIDS ARE OUT OF THE HOME AND THEY'VE WALKED INTO A PUBLIC SPACE, THERE ARE REAL LIMITS TO WHAT A PARENT CAN DO.
SO WE ALL HAVE A STAKE IN PROTECTING KIDS AND THERE ARE SIMPLE THINGS WE CAN DO TO HELP EACH OTHER AND, AND EACH OTHER'S KIDS, INCLUDING KEEPING INDECENT OBSCENE BOOKS OUT OF OUR LIBRARY.
I WANNA CLOSE BY SAYING, I HOPE YOU'LL CONSIDER THIS ISSUE FURTHER AND THAT YOU'LL HAVE, UH, YOU'LL WORK TOWARDS REMOVING THESE OBJECTIONAL BOOKS FROM OUR LIBRARY.
OKAY, SO NOW WE'RE GONNA START AGAIN AT THE FRONT.
THANK YOU, UH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M DAVID HICKEY AND I RESIDE IN MIDDLETOWN.
UM, TONIGHT YOU'VE HEARD MANY EXAMPLES OF EXPLICIT ADULT MATERIAL THAT SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY OFFERS TO UNDERAGE CHILDREN.
THERE'S NO REASON WHY THE PUBLIC LIBRARY SHOULD BE MAKING THIS KIND OF INAPPROPRIATE MATERIAL AVAILABLE TO MINORS.
NEVERMIND WITH TAXPAYER FUNDING.
OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT GIVE THEIR APPROVAL OR CHILDREN ACCESS TO THIS MATERIAL.
UH, THEY SHOULD NOT GIVE IT THE GOVERNMENT SEAL OF APPROVAL.
THIS IS AN ISSUE OF PARENTAL RIGHTS.
THERE ARE MANY PARENTS HERE WHO DO NOT WANT THEIR CHILDREN
[03:15:01]
OR THE CHILDREN OF OUR COM OF OUR COMMUNITY IN GENERAL TO BE EXPOSED TO THIS KIND OF MATERIAL.FOR THOSE PARENTS WHO DON'T MIND CHILDREN HAVING ACCESS TO THIS KIND OF MATERIAL, THEY CAN STILL BUY THESE KINDS OF BOOKS AND READ IT TO THEIR CHILDREN AT HOME.
THEY CAN HAVE THEIR FRIENDS AND THEIR CHILDREN OVER TO READ THESE BOOKS IN THEIR HOME AND HAVE A SAFE SPACE THERE.
THEY CAN EVEN GO TO THE LIBRARY AND MAYBE SIGN OUT THESE BOOKS FOR, FOR THEIR CHILDREN IF THAT'S THE PATH THAT THIS BOARD WANTS TO CHOOSE.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT BOOK BANNING OR OTHER MISLEADING LABELS CLAIMED BY THE OTHER SIDE.
THIS IS NOT EVEN LIKE WHEN AMAZON OR BARNES AND NOBLES CHOOSES TO NOT SELL BOOKS THAT THEY DON'T LIKE BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE THEIR POLITICAL MESSAGES.
THIS IS ABOUT SUPPORTING THE RIGHTS OF LOCAL PARENTS TO PROTECT THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR COMMUNITY FROM EASILY ACCESSING THIS KIND OF INAPPROPRIATE MATERIAL FROM THE GOVERNMENT.
TONIGHT I'VE HEARD OPPONENTS OF, UH, PROVIDING KITTY SMU TO CHILDREN COMPARED TO NAZIS, COMMUNISTS, THE KKK AND OTHER UNSAVED GROUPS.
I'D RECOMMEND TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE THESE COMPARISONS TO GO TO THE LIBRARY AND READ ABOUT THOSE GROUPS AND AND LEARN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEM.
I URGE THIS BOARD, THIS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO TAKE ACTION TO SUPPORT PARENTAL RIGHTS AND TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY'S CHILDREN BY REMOVING THESE KINDS OF BOOKS FROM THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
BEFORE I BEGIN, I DO HAVE A COPY OF MY SPEECH FOR YOU GUYS CAUSE I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD A LOT THIS EVENING.
WOULD YOU GIVE SO I WOULD LIKE IT FOR LATER FOR REFERENCING.
UM, MY NAME IS SIDNEY PATTON AND I AM A FRONT ROYAL RESIDENT AND A CYBERSECURITY PROFESSIONAL.
AT THE FOUNDATION OF CYBERSECURITY IS THE CIA TRIANGLE.
IT REPRESENTS THE CONFIDENTIALITY, INTEGRITY, AND AVAILABILITY OF DATA AND INFORMATION.
AS A PROFESSIONAL, IT IS MY DUTY TO PROTECT THOSE ASPECTS FROM THREAT ACTORS, MORE COLLOQUIAL KNOWN AS HACKERS.
THE IMAGE OF A SHADOWY GUY IN A HOODIE IS A MISNOMER.
THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES LIKE ACTIVISTS AND EXTREMISTS THAT WISH TO PUSH THEIR COLLECTIVE AGENDAS ON THE WIDER POPULACE.
ONE COMMON CURRENTLY POPULAR WAY OF DOING THIS IS THROUGH RANSOMWARE, EXTREMELY SIMPLIFIED.
THAT MEANS THAT THROUGH A PROCESS LIKE ENCRYPTION, DATA IS LOCKED AWAY AND WON'T BE RETURNED UNTIL A RANSOM IS PAID.
OFTEN MONETARY, BUT NOT ALWAYS.
HERE'S THE THING THAT PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY KNOW.
IF YOU PAY THE RANSOM AND YOU DO RECEIVE A KEY, THERE'S NO GUARANTEE ABOUT THE STATE OF THE DATA.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN ALTERED OR IT MAY BE CORRUPTED, BUT MOST DEFINITELY PAYING THE RANSOM HAS EMBOLDENED THE ATTACKERS.
IF THEY DON'T ATTACK YOU AGAIN, THEY MOST CERTAINLY WILL ATTACK SOMEONE ELSE.
THIS IS RELEVANT BECAUSE IN THE SIDELY CYBER IN MY TITLE IMPLIES THAT MY WORK IS DIGITAL, WHEN IN FACT THERE ARE PHYSICAL ATTACKS TOO.
WHAT WE HAVE HERE AGAINST SAMUEL'S IS AN ATTACK ON THE AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION THAT ONE GROUP DOES NOT LIKE.
AND THEY ARE ASKING FOR YOU, THE BOARD TO RANSOM THAT INSTITUTION INTO COMPLIANCE.
I DON'T GET TO PICK THE DATA I PROTECT, NOR DO I GET TO DECIDE HOW END USERS USE THAT DATA.
I HAVE TO TRUST THE MANAGEMENT TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.
IN THIS CASE, THAT'S THE PARENTS, EVEN ONES THAT ARE VIEWED AS NEGLECTFUL.
YOU GUYS ARE NOW JOINING ME IN THIS BATTLE.
I ASK YOU TO TAKE ON THE DUTY OF PROTECTING THE AVAILABILITY OF THIS DATA TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY BY TRUSTING THE MANAGEMENT PARENTS TO CONTROL THE END USERS CHILDREN UNDER THEIR CARE.
IT IS A REPOSITORY OF INFORMATION.
I TRUST THE PROFESSIONALS THAT WORK THERE TO CREATE A DIVERSE COLLECTION WITH MATERIALS THAT THE COMMUNITY REQUESTS AND UTILIZES.
I MAY NOT LIKE ALL THE MATERIALS IN THE LIBRARY, BUT I UNDERSTAND IT'S THEIR JOB TO SERVE MORE THAN JUST ME AND MY BELIEFS.
THEY HAVE MASTER'S DEGREES IN LIBRARY SCIENCE AND I DON'T.
SO I'LL STAY IN MY CYBERSECURITY LANE AND ASSIST THEM ANY WAY I CAN.
I THANK THEM FOR BEING AMAZING.
I THANK YOU THE BOARD FOR GIVING US THIS DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT IT CAN SOMETIMES BE A THANKLESS POSITION, BUT LIKE INFORMATION, IT'S VITAL TO OUR ACCOUNT, OUR COUNTRY.
ONE FINAL THING I JUST WANNA CLARIFY IS THAT NO CHILD IS ALLOWED IN THE LIBRARY UNSUPERVISED UNDER THE AGE OF 12.
SO IF YOU'RE 12, YOU NEED TO HAVE A PARENT, THEREFORE YOU CAN'T JUST
[03:20:01]
WALK IN AND ACCESS AGE 10.MIKE, THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER, I HAVE PRINTED COPIES.
DID WE GIVE IT TO MR. HENDERSON? ABRIDGED.
UM, JOHN STAN MEER FROM FRONT ROYAL AND UM, SAMUELS IS AT WORLD CLASS LIBRARY.
UM, RIGHT HERE IN OUR QUAINT LITTLE TOWN.
WE SHOULD BE PROUD TO HAVE IT.
UM, IT'S A TREMENDOUS ASSET AND IT'S GOT GREAT PROGRAMS AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED.
WE WANT TO KEEP IT A PLACE WE CAN BE PROUD OF AND A PLACE THAT ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY CAN ENJOY AND FEEL SAFE.
UM, ON TOP OF THAT, I'D VENTURE TO SAY THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF US, UH, ATHEISTS INCLUDED, WOULD AGREE ON THE VALUE OF PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN FROM HYPERSEXUALIZATION.
UM, ACCORDING TO UNICEF, THE UNITED NATIONS WORLD CHILDREN'S FUND EXPOSURE, PORNOGRAPHY AT A YOUNG AGE MAY LEAD TO POOR MENTAL HEALTH, SEXISM AND OBJECTIFICATION, SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND OTHER NEGATIVE OUTCOMES.
ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF PEDIATRICIANS, CONSUMPTION OF PORNOGRAPHY IS ASSOCIATED WITH MANY NEGATIVE EMOTIONAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND PHYSICAL HEALTH OUTCOMES.
THESE INCLUDE INCREASED RATES OF DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, ACTING OUT IN VIOLENT BEHAVIOR, YOUNGER AGE OF SEXUAL DEBUT, SEXUAL PROMISCUITY, INCREASED RISK OF TEEN PREGNANCY, AND A DISTORTED VIEW OF RELATIONSHIPS.
ACCORDING TO AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, MEDIA HAS A TREMENDOUS CAPACITY TO TEACH, AND IMAGERY DEFINITELY AFFECTS CHILDREN.
CHILDREN AND YOUTH ARE MORE VULNERABLE TO PORNOGRAPHIC IMAGES THAN ADULTS BECAUSE OF MIRROR NEURONS IN THE BRAIN, WHICH CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY EXPERIENCING WHAT THEY SEE.
MIRROR NEURONS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN HOW CHILDREN LEARN.
CHILDREN LEARN IN LARGE PART BY IMITATION WITH MIRROR NEURONS INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS OF OF OBSERVING WHAT OTHER PEOPLE DO AND IMITATING THOSE BEHAVIORS.
SHARON COOPER, FORENSIC PEDIATRICIAN AND FACULTY OF THE UNC SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.
THOSE THREE QUOTES ARE NOT FROM RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, NOT RIGHT WING ORGANIZATIONS.
THOSE ARE MAINSTREAM, IF NOT SLIGHTLY CENTER, LEFT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE USING EMPIRICAL DATA, MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC FACTS TO DESCRIBE TRUTHS.
BY THE WAY, ANOTHER ARTICLE PUBLISHED BY THE ABA, THE GOVERNMENT CAN CONSTITUTIONALLY PROHIBIT THE SALE OR EXHIBITION TO CHILDREN OF MATERIAL THAT IS OBSCENE, FOUR MINORS IF IT CAN DO SO WITHOUT SIGNIFICANTLY INTERFERING WITH THE RIGHTS OF ADULTS.
THAT'S FROM JEFFREY STONE, DISTINGUISHED PROFESSIONAL AT LAW AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.
SO MY POINT IS WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT CHURCH AND STATE AND RELIGION AND CHURCHES DOING BAD STUFF, UM, WHEN REALLY IT'S INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS REPRESENTING THEIR VIEW AS PARENTS.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
MAYBE SOMEONE ORGANIZED IT FROM A CHURCH, JUST LIKE BARACK OBAMA USED A CHURCH TO ORGANIZE HIS COMMUNITY TO PROMOTE THE ENDING OF A WAR, PROVIDING HEALTHCARE, LIFTING THE POOR OUT OF POVERTY DOESN'T INVALIDATE HIS GOALS.
THANK, UM, YES, THE YOUNG LADY.
HI, MY NAME IS KELSEY LAWRENCE AND I LIVE, UM, ON ARROWHEAD ROAD.
UM, AND I WOULD LIKE TO TALK, UM, ABOUT PROHIBITING BOOKS.
SO IT SAYS, THE ACT OF PROHIBITING CERTAIN BOOKS FROM BEING READ OR CIRCULATED IS A CONCERNING PRACTICE THAT INFRINGES UPON OUR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND EXPRESSION.
BOOK BANNING NOT ONLY STIFLES CREATIVITY AND INTELLECTUAL GROWTH, BUT ALSO HINDERS THE PROGRESS OF SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.
AS A RENOWNED AUTHOR, SALMAN RUSHDI ONCE SAID, WHAT IS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION? WITHOUT THE FREEDOM TO OFFEND, IT CEASES TO EXIST.
BOOK BANNING ROBS US OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES, CHALLENGING IDEAS AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING NARRATIVES.
IT LIMITS OUR ABILITY TO EXPLORE HU THE HUMAN CONDITION THROUGH LITERATURE AND HAMPERS OUR CAPACITY TO CULTIVATE EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING.
BY REMOVING BOOKS THAT MAY CONTAIN CONTROVERSIAL OR CHALLENGING THEMES, WE DENY READERS THE CHANCE TO GRAPPLE WITH COMPLEX ISSUES, BROADEN THEIR HORIZONS AND TO FORM THEIR OWN OPINIONS.
IT IS THROUGH ENCOUNTERING DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS THAT WE GROW INTELLECTUALLY AND DEVELOP THE CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS NECESSARY FOR AN INFORMED AND ENLIGHTENED SOCIETY.
[03:25:01]
THE NEED FOR L G B T REPRESENTATION IN LITERATURE FOR ALL AGES CANNOT BE OVERSTATED BY EXCLUDING OR BANNING BOOKS THAT FEATURE LGBTQ PLUS CHARACTERS OR THEMES.WE PERPETUATE A HARMFUL CYCLE OF MARGINALIZATION AND DISCRIMINATION.
LITERATURE HAS THE POWER TO SHAPE MINDS, CHALLENGE STEREOTYPES AND FOSTER ACCEPTANCE.
WHEN YOUNG READERS ENCOUNTER CHARACTERS WHO REFLECT THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES OR IDENTITIES, IT CAN INSTILL A SENSE OF BELONGING AND SELF-WORTH.
JAMES BALDWIN, ONCE WISELY OBSERVED, YOU THINK YOUR PAIN AND HEARTBREAK ARE UNPRECEDENTED IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.
WHEN WE RESTRICT ACCESS TO STORIES THAT CELEBRATE DIVERSITY, WE DENY YOUNG READERS THE CHOICE TO DEVELOP EMPATHY, COMPASSION, AND UNDERSTANDING TOWARDS THOSE WHO MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THEM.
OUR SOCIETY BENEFITS IMMENSELY FROM A LITERATURE THAT ENCOMPASSES A WIDE RANGE OF IDENTITIES AND EXPERIENCES FOSTERING A MORE INCLUSIVE AND INTOLERANT WORLD.
IN CONCLUSION, BOOK PLANNING IS AN ILL-CONCEIVED PRACTICE THAT INFRINGES INFRINGES UPON OUR RIGHTS AND INHIBITS OUR INTELLECTUAL GROWTH BY EMBRACING A DIVI, A DIVERSE RANGE OF LITERATURE, INCLUDING WORKS THAT FEATURE LGBTQ REPRESENTATION, WE FOSTER EMPATHY, UNDERSTANDING, AND ACCEPTANCE.
LET US REMEMBER THE WORDS OF MAYA ANGELOU WHO ONCE SAID, YOU CAN'T USE UP CREATIVITY.
THE MORE YOU USE, THE MORE YOU HAVE.
BY EMBRACING THE POWER OF LITERATURE AND REJECTING BOOK BANNING, WE OPEN OURSELVES TO AN ABUNDANCE OF IDEAS AND POSSIBILITIES THAT CAN PROPEL US INTO A BRIGHTER FUTURE.
HELLO, MY NAME IS BECCA NORRIS AND I LIVE IN TOWN.
UM, SINCE WHEN DID PORN BECOME A RELIGIOUS AGENDA? WHAT IS PORN? IT'S THE DEGRADATION AND THE RAPE AND THE RAPE TRAFFICKING OF CHILDREN, WOMEN AND MEN.
IT IS FUELED BY THE WATCHING AND THE PORN INDUSTRY ONLINE.
WHAT IS LOVE? LOVE UPHOLDS THE DIGNITY AND WORTH OF A HUMAN BEING AND SETS PROPER BOUNDARIES.
DO YOU LET YOUR CHILD EAT POISON BECAUSE YOU LOVE THEM? IS IT LOVE TO LET YOUR CHILDREN INGEST POISON CUZ THEY HAPPEN TO FIND IT IN A PLACE YOU DIDN'T EXPECT? PORN HAS BEEN SHOWN TO CHANGE THE BRAIN, JUST LIKE HARD STREET DRUGS.
ONE PARTICULAR GROUP IGNITE THE LIGHT, RECLAIMING GOD'S PLAN FOR SEXUAL HEALTH.
THEY WORK WITH NEUROSCIENTISTS AND IT'S 97% OF MEN AND 73% OF WOMEN WHO ARE ADDICTED TO PORN.
ADDICTED MEANS YOU CANNOT QUIT WITHOUT HELP.
THE AVERAGE AGE OF EXPOSURE TO PORN IS EIGHT.
SHE WAS WORKING CHILDREN WITH AS YOUNG AS THREE WHO HAD BEEN RAPED BY OTHER SIBLINGS WHO HAD BEEN WATCHING PORN.
SO IMAGINE IF YOU'RE READING IT, I DON'T KNOW WHO, HOW MANY HAVEVE HEARD OF ALESSANDRA.
SO HE STARTED WITH SOME MUTT PICTURES AND BOOKS EVENTUALLY WENT ON TO MURDER.
NOW THAT'S NOT EVERYONE, BUT THAT SHOWS THE POWER IT HAS OVER YOUR BRAIN.
NOW, EVERY SAME SEX ATTRACTION PERSON I'VE TALKED TO READ ARTICLES ON EVERY ONE OF THEM ADMITTED THEY HAD BEEN GROOMED, ABUSED, AND IT'S, MOST OF THEM HAD BEEN PHYSICALLY BEEN RAPED.
HOW COME NOBODY IS ASKING WHO DID THIS TO THEM? THERE SEEMS TO BE VERY LITTLE COMPASSION AND IN FINDING OUT WHO DID THIS TO THESE CHILDREN AND NOW WE HAVE IT IN OUR LIBRARIES WHERE A CHILD COULD FIND IT.
IT'S JUST ASTONISHING THAT ANYONE, REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU COME FROM, COULD THINK THAT PORNOGRAPHY, WHICH IS THE DEGRADATION OF CHILDREN, WOMEN, AND MEN, COULD THINK THAT THAT'S OKAY.
AND IF YOU START LOOKING AT THE DEFINITIONS OF WHAT LESBIANISM AND SODOMY IS, IT, WELL, IT IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT GOOD BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU START DIGGING DOWN THOSE LANES? I JUST, I'M JUST COMPLETELY SHOCKED AND HORRIFIED THAT ANY CHILD COULD POTENTIALLY FIND THIS STUFF AND CAUSE SO MUCH DAMAGE TO THEIR OWN BRAINS.
UM, JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYBODY, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET.
WE, AFTER THIS, WE GO INTO A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WHERE YOU CAN, UM, EXPRESS, UM, OTHER OPINIONS, OTHER,
[03:30:01]
ANYTHING ABOVE, BEYOND THE BUDGET.I'M, I'M IN THE FORK DISTRICT, THIS COOK, AND I'VE BEEN IN FRONT ROYAL SINCE, ACTUALLY BEFORE I WAS AN ADULT.
SO, UM, A COUPLE OF, FEW DECADES NOW, I'M JUST RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THAT YOU OFFER THE LIBRARY CONDITIONAL FUNDING, UM, CONTINGENT ON REMOVING THE LIST OF OVER A HUNDRED BOOKS THAT MANY TAXPAYERS AND, UM, RESIDENTS HERE IN WARREN COUNTY HAVE RESPECTFULLY REQUESTED, BE REMOVED FROM THE LIBRARY, UM, IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A PLACE THAT'S BOTH HEALTHY FOR OUR CHILDREN AND OTHER CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY TO, UM, ACCESS EVERYTHING THAT'S WONDERFUL ABOUT THE LIBRARY.
WE PERSONALLY HAVE, UM, IN MY FAMILY, WE USE THE LIBRARY FOR, UM, BOTH THE MATERIALS THERE, BUT ALSO THE SPACE.
I HAVE A SON THERE NOW WHO'S IN IT CLUB AT THE LIBRARY.
SO IT JUST SERVES AS A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY SPACE FOR SO MANY REASONS.
AND IF WE CAN CONTINUE HAVING THAT IN OUR COMMUNITY AND HAVE IT BE A POSITIVE THING, I THINK IT'S REALLY EXCELLENT FOR VIRTUALLY EVERYONE WHO CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE LIBRARY.
UM, THERE WAS A WOMAN WHO SPOKE EARLIER AND SHE MENTIONED, UM, ACTUALLY AN EXCELLENT REASON TO REALLY BE GUARDING THE CONTENT WE HAVE THERE.
SHE MENTIONED THE, THE HIGH SUICIDE RATE IN, UM, THE L G B Q, UM, COMMUNITY.
AND SHE SAID THAT WHEN SHE WAS YOUNGER, IT WAS ABOUT ONE IN FIVE, EITHER I THINK ATTEMPTED SUICIDE, AND NOW IT'S ABOUT ONE IN TWO IS WHAT SHE WAS SAYING.
SO WHEN I'M LOOKING AT THAT, I'M THINKING, OUR CHILDREN IN THIS COMMUNITY, IF WE EXPOSE THEM TO THIS MATERIAL THAT CAN LURE THEM INTO THIS LIFESTYLE, YOU'RE LOOKING AT A HIGH SUICIDE RATE.
SO THAT BECOMES A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.
SO FOR, FOR THAT REASON, FOR ME, BOTH FOR MY CHILDREN AND ALL OF THE CHILDREN IN THIS COMMUNITY, WHETHER THEY'RE, THEY HAVE THE, UM, PRIVILEGE TO HAVE TWO PARENTS WHO ARE THERE WITH THEM AT THE LIBRARY AND CARING ABOUT WHAT THEY, THEY THEY CHECK OUT, OR CHILDREN WHO AGES 10 AND UP AND FRANKLY WE ALL KNOW UNDER 10, WHO ARE ABLE TO WALK ACROSS THE STREET AND COME TO THE LIBRARY AND JUST, AND GO IN THAT WE'RE THERE.
WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR LIFE AS WELL.
WE'RE, WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR FUTURES AND THAT THEY'RE NOT LEARNING TO A LIFESTYLE THROUGH THIS, UM, GROOMING MATERIAL THAT'S IN THE LIBRARY THAT WILL GIVE THEM THIS HIGH SUICIDE RATE, BECAUSE THAT SOUNDS LIKE A TERRIBLE THING TO PUT FORTH FOR OUR CHILDREN.
SO, IN CONCLUSION, PLEASE CONTINUE TO FUND THE LIBRARY, BUT MAKE IT CONTINGENT ON REMOVING THE MATERIAL THAT IS APPARENTLY VERY HARMFUL FOR THOSE, UM, EXPOSED TO IT.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.
UH, I WANTED TO SPEAK TO YOU ALL ABOUT WHAT A LIBRARY IS AND WHY WE SHOULD FUND IT.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I HEAR A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS TODAY.
I'M GONNA START WITH A QUOTE AND I PROMISE IT'S DERATED ALBERT EINSTEIN SAYS, THE ONLY THING YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED TO KNOW IS WHERE THE LIBRARY IS.
LIBRARY IS A COMMUNITY RESOURCE.
IT'S WHERE PEOPLE FIND COMMUNITY SOMETIMES IN BOOKS THAT OTHER PEOPLE DON'T APPROVE OF.
IT'S ONE OF THE FEW PLACES WHERE YOU CAN EXIST IN PUBLIC WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY FOR IT.
IF YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT IT, THAT'S WHAT A LIBRARY IS.
IT'S WHERE WE STORE OUR COUNTY'S HISTORY.
THAT BEING SAID, I ALSO WANNA POINT OUT THAT WE HAVE A 9.2% POVERTY RATE IN WARREN COUNTY.
AGAIN, THIS IS SOMEWHERE WHERE PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDER OR UNEMPLOYED CAN COME.
THEY CAN GET THE RESOURCES, THEY CAN GET THE TRAINING THEY NEED TO FIND HELP AND GET A JOB.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT A LIBRARY IS.
IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS IT DOES.
IT'S ONE OF THE PURPOSES FOR IT TO BE THERE.
AND FOR PEOPLE TO THREATEN THAT LIVELIHOOD, THREATEN THAT FUNDING, THREATEN THAT RESOURCE OVER A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION SUCH AS IT IS, IS NOT OKAY.
WE SHOULD HAVE THEM A HUNDRED PERCENT.
I WOULD PROPOSE WE CONTINUE TO FUND THEM, FUND THE LIBRARY PROPERLY, POSSIBLY WITH A COMMITTEE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH THESE BOOKS.
LET PEOPLE KEEP USING IT FOR WHAT IT'S MEANT TO BE.
WE GET YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS, PLEASE.
[03:35:01]
HI.HELLO, MY NAME IS COLLEEN DFL.
I WANNA THANK YOU FOR HEARING US OUT THIS EVENING.
I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN MANY SPEECHES, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND MY OWN 2 CENTS.
UM, LAST SPRING I WAS NEWLY PREGNANT WITH MY FIRST CHILD.
UM, WHILE I WAS AT THE LIBRARY, WHICH I LOVE AND HAVE GREATLY BENEFITED FROM, I WANDERED FOR THE FIRST TIME TO THE CHILDREN'S SECTION AND WAS DELIGHTED AT HOW SWEET AND COZY IT IS.
AND I IMAGINED BRINGING MY FUTURE BABY THERE AND MY FUTURE CHILDREN.
FOR ME, I KNOW THE LIBRARY WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE AS A CHILD.
I WOULD GO THERE EVERY WEEK AND CHECK OUT WHATEVER BOOKS I WANTED TO.
MY MOM WOULD GLANCE AT THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE OKAY, BUT THEY WERE BARELY EVER REJECTED.
AS IT STANDS NOW, I WOULD NOT BE COMFORTABLE BRINGING MY CHILDREN TO SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY.
UM, I WANT TO ECHO THE POINT THAT MR. KUK MADE EARLIER, WHICH IS THAT THE GOAL IS NOT TO DEFUND THIS LIBRARY, BUT FOR THESE BOOKS TO BE REMOVED.
AND IF WE NEED TO DEFUND FOR A SHORT TIME IN ORDER TO DO THAT, THEN THAT'S WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
UM, I KNOW MARIA JUST BROUGHT THIS UP, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO QUICKLY ADDRESS THE STATISTIC THAT WAS BROUGHT UP IN ANOTHER SPEECH, SOMETHING LIKE 27% OF LGBTQ MEMBERS, UM, COMMITTING SUICIDE.
AND I KNOW THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE EXACT STATISTIC, I DIDN'T CATCH IT, BUT I JUST WANNA SUGGEST FOR THOSE THAT HAVE SAID THAT WE ARE MOTIVATED BY HATE, THAT THIS MOVEMENT IS, I JUST WANT TO SUGGEST THAT WE ARE TRULY MOTIVATED BY LOVE AND CONCERN FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY BE DRAWN TO A LIFESTYLE WHICH DOES NOT PROMOTE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS.
UM, SO OUT OF LOVE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS AND MOST OF ALL OUR INNOCENT CHILDREN, LET'S KEEP THE CHILDREN'S SECTION OF OUR LIBRARY G RATED.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I TRUST YOU'LL MAKE A CAREFUL DECISION.
I DIDN'T SEE SPEAKING PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'LL JUST WAIT FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, WHICH IS DIRECTLY RIGHT AFTER THIS.
I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T SEE YOUR HAND.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR, UM, YOUR COMMENTS.
UM, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO SAY BEFORE WE MOVE INTO THE PUBLIC COMMENT?
[E. Public Comment Period (60 Minute Time Limit) (Part 2 of 2)]
GOOD.OKAY, SO NOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE INTO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
IT'S THE REMAINING 30 MINUTES.
AGAIN, EVERYBODY WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK, AND I'M LOOKING AT THE TIME, SO HOLD ON JUST A MOMENT.
SO LET, WE'LL LET YOU GO AHEAD FIRST BECAUSE WE ARE, I MISSED YOU IN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I WAS HERE EARLIER WITH MY DAUGHTER, BUT NEEDED TO BRING HER HOME TO BED, BUT WAS WATCHING THE COMMENTS ONLINE AND FELT I REALLY WANTED TO COME AND TALK TO YOU BECAUSE I'VE BEEN LOOKING VERY CLOSELY AT THE CLEANUP SAMUELS, UH, LITERATURE AND WEBSITE AND THEIR LIST OF WHAT THEY'RE CALLING PORNOGRAPHIC BOOKS.
AND I'VE STARTED CHECK TO CHECK THEM OUT OF THE LIBRARY SO THAT I CAN KNOW FOR MYSELF.
I GO TO THE LIBRARY WEEKLY WITH MY DAUGHTER AND, UH, GO TO PROGRAMMING.
I'M VERY DISCERNING ABOUT THE THINGS MY DAUGHTER SEES, YOU KNOW, NO SCREEN TIME LOOKING AT ALL THE THINGS THAT SHE, UM, IS INTAKING AS I THINK ALL OF THESE PARENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.
AND I FOUND SOME BOOKS LIKE THIS ONE ON THE, WHAT IS CALLED THE PORNOGRAPHIC BOOKS LIST FROM THE CLEANUP SAMUELL SITE.
IT'S ABOUT A, A GIRL WHO GETS BULLIED.
IT IS BECAUSE SHE GET, SHE HAS TWO MOMS, BUT IT'S HELPING HER DEAL WITH BULLYING.
THERE'S NO EXPLICIT CONTENT IN THIS BOOK.
THEY'RE ASKING FOR IT TO BE REMOVED FROM THE LIBRARY.
IT HAS NO EXPLICIT CONTENT, NOTHING SEXUAL IN NATURE AT ALL.
SO I JUST ASK THAT WHILE YOU'RE, UM, REVIEWING THIS INFORMATION, YOU WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE, THE LIBRARY
[03:40:01]
ITSELF TO GET YOUR INFORMATION THAT I THINK THAT THE MESSAGES BEING CONFUSED OF THIS EXPLICIT CONTENT VERSUS WHAT IS ON THE LIST THAT I SAW ONLINE ON THE CLEANUP SAMUEL SITE, WHICH IS ALL BOOKS THAT REPRESENT LGBTQ PLUS PEOPLE.AND I HAVE MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY WHO FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY, INTO INCLUDING MY DAUGHTER'S AUNTS WHO ARE VERY LOVING AND SUPPORTIVE PEOPLE IN HER LIVES.
AND I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT I FEEL, UM, LIKE THERE'S A, AN ATMOSPHERE OF BULLYING FROM THE CLEANUP SAMUEL'S PEOPLE, UM, WHO ARE SAYING THEY DON'T WANT THAT REPRESENTATION AT THE LIBRARY.
AND I'M, I'M WORRIED THAT MY DAUGHTER WILL FEEL THAT BULLYING WHEN THEY, THEY FEEL THIS ATMOSPHERE OF NOT SEEING THE REPRESENTATION OF HER FAMILY, WHICH DOES HAVE LGBTQ PLUS MEMBERS AS YOU'RE HEARING FROM OTHER PEOPLE.
SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
IN REVIEWING THIS, PLEASE TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY AND CAREFULLY.
PLEASE LOOK AT THE, THE ACTUAL BOOKS, SEVERAL BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED FOR, FOR REMOVAL ARE NOT IN THE KIDS SECTION, AT LEAST FROM WHAT I SAW FROM THE, THE ARTICLE IN ENVY DAILY THAT I, I'VE BEEN LOOKING THEM UP.
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO CHECK THEM OUT AND READ THEM SO THAT I KNOW WHAT THEY ARE.
UM, AND THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT ALL IN THE KIDS SECTION.
THEY'RE NOT ALL IN THE YOUNG ADULT SECTION.
SO PLEASE, UM, WORK, WORK CLOSELY WITH THE LIBRARY, WITH THE DIRECTOR.
I, I KNOW THAT WE ALL LOVE THE LIBRARY.
UM, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
MR. HENDERSON, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY A LIST OF FOLKS THAT WANNA SPEAK AT THE COMMENT? UH, YES MA'AM.
AND WE HAVE A STU HUBBARD STILL.
HI, UM, MY NAME IS BAILEY YOUNG.
UM, AND I LIVE ON HILL STREET.
UM, I AM A TEACHER HERE IN WARREN COUNTY.
UM, AND I AM SHOCKED, UH, THAT THESE BOOKS ARE IN THE LIBRARY.
IT'S SUMMERTIME, HOPING THAT, UM, ALL OF MY STUDENTS ARE READING AT THE LIBRARY THIS SUMMER.
UM, BUT I REALLY GENUINELY HOPE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY OF THESE PORNOGRAPHIC, UH, BOOKS THAT THEY ARE READING.
UM, NOW I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT, UH, THE LADY WHO SPOKE BEFORE.
THOSE TWO BOOKS ARE NOT ON OUR PORNOGRAPHIC LIST.
IF YOU GO ON SAMUEL'S, UH, CLEANUP SAMUEL'S WEBSITE RIGHT NOW, THOSE TWO BOOKS ARE NOT LISTED AS PORNOGRAPHIC BOOKS.
UM, BUT WE DO, UH, ASK THAT YOU PLEASE, UH, CUT THE LIBRARY FUNDING JUST UNTIL THESE BOOKS ARE REMOVED FROM THE LIBRARY.
WE'VE READ SOME OF THE MATERIAL TONIGHT.
UM, I'VE BEEN COMBING THROUGH THIS STUFF, PUTTING IT TOGETHER.
IT'S, I'M AN ADULT AND I'M HORRIFIED BY THIS MATERIAL.
I CAN'T IMAGINE, UM, WHAT IT'S DOING TO THESE CHILDREN WHO ARE READING IT.
UM, SO I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER TO CUT THE LIBRARY FUNDING TEMPORARILY UNTIL THESE BOOKS ARE REMOVED.
I LIVE HERE IN FRONT WHEEL, VIRGINIA.
MY EARS HAVE HEARD SOME THINGS TONIGHT.
BUT I'M HERE TONIGHT TO VOICE MY CONCERNS ALL REGARDING THE WARREN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
AN OCTOBER WELFARE CHECK WAS REQUESTED FOR MY DAUGHTER.
THE WELFARE CHECK THEN TURNED INTO A MISSING PERSONS REPORT, WHICH THEN TURNED, LED TO MY DAUGHTER BEING LOCATED,
[03:45:01]
DECEASED, ALL OF WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY BEEN AVOIDED, HAD THE PROPER STEPS BEEN TAKEN BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.SINCE THEN, I HAVE MADE AT MY MISSION TO DO MY OWN INVESTIGATIONS AND TO ALL THE WRONGDOINGS THROUGH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
I WAS ADVISED ONCE THE INVESTIGATION WAS COMPLETE, I WOULD BE ABLE TO OBTAIN A COPY OF EVERYTHING THROUGH THE FOYER.
HOWEVER, WHAT HAPPENED WAS ME BEING STONEWALLED FROM GETTING MOST OF THE INFORMATION AND WITH THE LITTLE INFORMATION THAT I DID, CAME A HEFTY FEE OF WHAT I OWE THEM ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
DURING THE TIME, I HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH MAJOR DRISCOLL, EVEN THE MOST RECENT MEETING WITH THE SHERIFF HIMSELF.
WHEN MEETING WITH DRISCOLL, HE WOULD TRY TO PASS A BLAME BACK ON ME.
MY DAUGHTER'S FRIENDS, ANYONE EXCEPT THE DEPUTIES OF THEIR WRONGDOING, WHICH I HAVE ALL INFORMATION.
THE MOST RECENT EVENTS, THESE TWO PEOPLE I'VE MET WITH HAVE BEEN EXPOSED AS WELL AS THE MAJOR.
DRISCOLL WAS AN ADD OF WORKMAN'S COMP CLAIM, AND WAS FOUND TO BE UNCREDIBLE AND UNRELIABLE.
HE LIED IN, ATTEMPTED FOR FINANCIAL GAMES AS SOON AS I BOUGHT ALL THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE SHERIFF AND ASKED HIM TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
TO MY KNOWLEDGE, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE.
NOW THAT WE HAVE THE SHERIFF HIMSELF AND DEANED THE SAME AND ISN'T ABLE TO TESTIFY FOR THE COUNTY, HOW CAN BOTH THE SHERIFF OR THE MAJOR NOT BE CREDIBLE AND STILL BE IN THEIR POSITION? SOMETHING NEITHER SEEMS CAPABLE OF.
I I STILL HAVE PAPERWORK THAT I HAVE WRITTEN UP ON PEOPLE, BUT I HAVE FORMAL COMPLAINTS.
BUT WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND DRISCOLL, I DON'T HAVE FAITH THAT ANYTHING WILL BE HANDLED.
AND I HOPE THAT THE SHERIFF DOES THE RIGHT THINGS.
AND YOU GUYS HELP ME WITH FIXING THIS PROBLEM.
I'M NOT GONNA ADD TO WHAT ALL THE OTHER SPEAKERS HAVE SAID.
I'M GONNA GO BACK A LITTLE BIT IN TIME TO, BACK IN THE SEVENTIES, 1970S WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, AND I DIDN'T REMEMBER ANY TYPE OF FENCING AROUND THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OR THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS WHERE I GREW UP.
AND WE DIDN'T HAVE RESOURCE OFFICERS.
WE DIDN'T HAVE DOORS THAT WERE LOCKED DOWN.
YOU COULD GO TO COURTHOUSE, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH A MEDICAL DETECTOR.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DO ANY OF THOSE THINGS.
NOW, OUR SCHOOLS LOOK LIKE JAILS.
WE HAVE FENCING AROUND IT WITH LITTLE SPIRALS AT THE TOP.
IT'S, UH, WE HAVE TO HAVE RESOURCE OFFICERS THAT WE HAVE TO PAY FOR, AND THEY HAVE GUNS TO SHOOT.
THE PEOPLE WHO COME IN WHO BREAK IN THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT TYPE OF ISSUES.
WE DIDN'T HAVE THE HOMOSEXUALITY ISSUES, THE LESBIAN ISSUES.
UM, I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL THAT WAS NOT EVEN TALKED ABOUT.
AND SO, WHEN OUR LORD JESUS, WHEN HE SPEAKS, AND I'VE HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE BRING UP ABOUT THE BIBLE AND THIS AND THAT, AND IT'S GONNA BE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHEN THEY DIE, THEY'RE GONNA SAY, YOU KNOW, LOOK WHAT I DID, LORD, BUT I DID THIS AND I DID THAT.
HE'S GONNA SAY, GET AWAY FROM ME.
AND SOME PEOPLE DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH, BUT THERE IS TRUTH.
AND TRUTH IS THAT THESE TYPE OF THINGS, LIKE THE PORNOGRAPHY THAT MESSES WITH THE BRAINS
[03:50:01]
AND THINGS, IT, IT, IT IS DESTRUCTIVE.AND WHAT THESE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO SAY IS TO PERSEVERE IN SOCIETY SO THAT WE CAN LIVE BETTER AND NOT BE LIKE A SODOM AND GAUR.
WHERE WHEN ABRAHAM'S WALKING WITH THE LORD AND HE SAYS, HEY, WOULD YOU NOT DESTROY SODOM IF YOU CAN FIND 50 PEOPLE? THE LORD SAYS, NO, I WOULDN'T DO IT.
GOD SAYS, HE SAYS, WELL HAVE PATIENCE WITH ME.
WHAT ABOUT 45? AND, UH, LORD SAYS, OH, I, I WOULDN'T DESTROY IT.
AND HE SAYS, WELL, CAN, CAN I KICK ON? WHAT ABOUT 40? AND THEN HE GOES DOWN TO 35 AND 20.
I THINK HE EVEN GOES DOWN TO ABOUT 10.
AND HE SAYS, WHAT IF THERE'S JUST 10 PEOPLE? HE SAYS, I, I WOULDN'T DESTROY IT.
WELL THEN LATER ON, I SEE MY TIMES COMING UP, BUT HE ENDED UP DID DESTROYING THE CITY.
AND THAT, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING, THAT WE'RE WE WANTING A SOCIETY? AND I'M GLAD WE HAVE SOME YOUNG PEOPLE HERE THAT GIVES ME FAITH AND HOPE THAT THERE IS A GENERATION COMING UP BEHIND ME THAT'S GOING TO FIGHT ON AND FIGHT THAT GOOD FIGHT.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WHO HAS NOT SPOKEN BEFORE? YES.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF PASSION ABOUT KEEPING OUR KIDS SAFE, AND I THINK THAT'S THE ONE HAPPY THING I'VE HEARD THIS EVENING.
UM, I KNOW IT'S INCREDIBLY LATE AND WE'VE HEARD A VARIETY OF PERSPECTIVES ON THIS VERY CHALLENGING ISSUE, BUT IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT THE HEART OF THIS, THIS EVENING WAS ABOUT YOUR BUDGET, AND YOU'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT MAKES SENSE AND WHERE TO PUT YOUR MONEY AND WHERE TO PUT THAT SUPPORT.
AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE LIBRARY SYSTEM HAS A MECHANISM FOR REVIEWING THE BOOKS AND THAT FOLKS HAVE TAKEN THOSE APPROPRIATE STEPS TO FILL OUT THOSE FORMS AND ASK THOSE QUESTIONS AND, AND HAVE THOSE BOOKS REVIEWED.
AND I, I THINK THAT PERHAPS WE SHOULD TRUST THAT PROCESS.
UM, I KNOW THAT IT'S A BIT ARDUOUS AND IT CAN, IT DOESN'T HAVE THE IMMEDIACY OR AN EXPEDIENCY THAT PEOPLE REALLY WANT, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TRUST THAT PROCESS JUST AS WE'RE TRUSTING THIS PROCESS THIS EVENING.
UM, BUT COMING BACK TO YOUR BUDGET, SO I, I DID A LITTLE QUICK MATH.
AND SO IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MOST OF THE TIME, MOST OF THE BUDGET THAT COMES FROM THE COUNTY ACTUALLY SUPPORTS THE OPERATIONS OF THE LIBRARY AS OPPOSED TO THE CONTENT ITSELF.
UM, BECAUSE THERE'S OTHER FUNDING FROM OTHER SOURCES THAT HELP PRODUCE THAT CONTENT.
UM, SO THIS PAST YEAR THERE WAS $1,024,000 THAT CAME FROM WARREN COUNTY THAT WENT TO SUPPORT THE LIBRARY.
AND THEY CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 105,200 TITLES.
I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE MORE THAN THAT.
SO A LITTLE QUICK MATH SAYS THAT EACH ONE OF THOSE BOOKS IS ABOUT $9 AND 53 CENTS.
AND AT 134 TITLES THAT LIKE TO BE REMOVED, THAT'S $1,277 AND 72 CENTS APPROXIMATELY.
SO IF WE'RE TRULY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUNDING OF THE LIBRARY, THAT IS THE AMOUNT THAT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER REDUCING THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR.
PRAY FOR THOSE SPECIFIC TITLES, IF THAT'S TRULY WHAT FOLKS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.
THAT WOULD BE MY BEST SUGGESTION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING AN OPEN MIND THIS EVENING AND FOR LISTENING TO ALL THE PERSPECTIVES.
AND WE AS CITIZENS APPRECIATE YOU.
OH, HAVE YOU SPOKEN BEFORE? NO.
IS THAT CORRECT? HIS, THE MAN? YEAH.
HOW YOU DOING? MY NAME IS DAVID NORRIS.
MY WIFE SPOKE A LITTLE BEFORE ME.
I'VE LIVED IN TOWN ALMOST ON MY WHOLE LIFE, JOINED THE ARMY AND ALL THAT FUN STUFF.
UM, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, WE'RE TRYING WOULD'VE BOOKS ON TRANS STUFF IN PORNOGRAPHY.
KIDS, KIDS DON'T NEED TO SEE ANY OF THAT.
YOU DON'T SEE THEM PUTTING UP SMOKING ADS OR LETTING KIDS WHO JOIN THE
[03:55:01]
MILITARY.SO WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT SUBJECTS LIKE THIS? WHY DO THEY BELONG IN THE LIBRARY? I'M AGAINST THE FUNDING OF LIBRARY IN THAILAND UNTIL THE BOOKS ARE REMOVED AND THEN GO ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS.
LIKE ADULTS CAN SIT THERE AND MUTILATE THEMSELVES AND SAY, THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE.
IF I PUT A FIN ON THE BAT ON MY BACK, I DON'T SEEM TO BECOME A DOLPHIN.
IF A PERSON MUTILATES THEMSELF AND DOES ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY DON'T BECOME THE OPPOSITE SEX.
THEY'RE STILL THE SEX THAT THEY WERE BORN WITH.
I DON'T SEE WHY THERE ARE OTHER, OTHER STATES THAT ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN TO CHILDREN.
WELL, THIS IS THE FIRST STEP AND STARTED THAT HERE.
AND I'D RATHER NOT ABUSE CHILDREN WHEN EVEN THE FACT AFTER THEY'VE MUTILATED THEMSELVES, THEY'VE DONE NOTHING MORE THAN MUTILATE THEMSELVES FOR SOMEONE ELSE'S THING TO SAY, HEY, LOOK, WE'RE SPECIAL.
I'D RATHER KEEP THE CHILDREN SAFE.
BERNARD FAILED AT SCHOOL AND NOT HAVE UTILIZATION.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS CHANCE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S SO LATE.
UM, I WASN'T PLANNING ON SPEAKING, BUT THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN, BEEN GOING THROUGH MY MIND FOR THE PAST, WELL, SIX MONTHS.
AND, UM, I DID GET A LETTER BACK FROM THE LIBRARY.
I DID WRITE SOME FORMS TO THEM ABOUT THE BOOKS THAT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT, THAT I HAVE HAD THE MISFORTUNE OF LOOKING OVER.
AND, UM, I'M VERY CONCERNED FOR OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT, UH, IT IS FOR THE COMMON GOOD.
IT'S NOT A A FRINGE THING OR, UM, I THINK THAT IF THE LIBRARY, THEY U THEY HAVE DANCE CLASSES THERE, THEY HAVE STORY HOUR THERE, THEY HAVE TUTORING THERE, AND YOU CAN RENT A ROOM.
WHAT IF I HAD, SHOULD I HAVE THE FREEDOM TO RENT A ROOM BECAUSE I HAVE AN AGENDA TO PERVERT CHILDREN.
IF I WAS IN THE PRIVATE ROOM AND I TOOK CHILDREN IN THERE AND I SEXUALLY ABUSED THEM OR TOLD THEM ABOUT IT OR READ TO THEM ABOUT IT, WOULD THAT BE OKAY? AND WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE ALSO REGARDING THIS SUBJECT OF THE LIBRARY? JUST BECAUSE OF SIMPLE THINGS IN EMAILS THAT I'VE GOTTEN REGARDING THIS SUBJECT, THESE EMAILS HAVE GONE TO MY SPAM.
SO YOU COULD SAY THAT MY EMAIL IS CENSORING OR BANNING SOME OF MY EMAILS BECAUSE THE CONTENT IS ROTTEN.
SO THAT'S WHY THE FUNDING NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED.
I DON'T THINK, I THINK LIBRARIES SHOULD BE FUNDED, BUT NOT SUPPORTED IN THINGS THAT ARE WRONG.
IS EVERYBODY, ANYBODY ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE WOULD LIKE TO COME AND SPEAK? OH, OKAY.
HELLO, MY NAME IS ROSE HARVEY.
UM, I LIVE HERE IN FRONT ROYAL.
UM, SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY IS ACTUALLY WHAT BROUGHT MY FAMILY HERE TO WARREN COUNTY.
UM, WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I WERE BUYING OUR FIRST HOME AND LOOKING FOR A COMMUNITY TO RAISE OUR FAMILY, WE WANTED A COMMUNITY WITH A GREAT LIBRARY, AND SAMUEL'S WAS WHERE WE FOUND IT.
I TAKE MY ROLE AS A PARENT VERY SERIOUSLY.
ONE OF THE WAYS THAT I USE SAMUEL'S LIBRARY IS TO VET WHICH BOOKS I THINK ARE APPROPRIATE FOR MY KIDS.
UM, THERE'S BOOKS THAT I'VE CHECKED OUT THERE THAT I DECIDED I DIDN'T WANT TO READ TO MY KIDS, BUT I NEVER EVER WOULD FILL OUT A FORM TO REMOVE THAT BOOK FROM THE LIBRARY ENTIRELY JUST BECAUSE I DISAGREED WITH IT.
UM, AND I WOULD NEVER COME BEFORE YOU TO ASK FOR YOU TO CUT FUNDING FROM THE LIBRARY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT I CAN GO THERE AND CHECK OUT BOOKS THAT I DISAGREE WITH WITHOUT SPENDING MY PERSONAL MONEY ON THEM.
UM, BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE REVIEWS ONLINE DON'T GIVE ME ALL THE INFORMATION THAT I NEED.
I LIKE BEING ABLE TO READ THAT BOOK IN PERSON AND REVIEW IT.
UM, AND THAT, THAT'S JUST ONE WAY THAT THE LIBRARY IS A RESOURCE FOR EVERYONE.
UM, THERE WAS SOMEBODY EARLIER TONIGHT WHO IS SHARING SOME BOOKS THAT SHE SAID SHE FOUND ON THE CLEANUP SAMUELS LIBRARY LIST.
[04:00:01]
WERE PUT OUT THAT, UM, PEOPLE WERE FILLING OUT FORMS TO ASK THE LIBRARY TO REMOVE, AND THAT THEY'RE NOW ASKING YOU TO CUT FUNDING FOR THE LIBRARY BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN REMOVED.UM, AND THEN SOMEBODY ELSE CAME UP HERE AND TOLD YOU THAT THOSE BOOKS ARE IN FACT NOT ON THEIR LIST.
UM, I THINK THE FACT THAT SAM, THE CLEANUP SAMUEL'S LIBRARY WEBSITE HAS NOW EDITED THEIR OWN LIST OF WHICH BOOKS THEY WANT REMOVED IS A SIGN THAT WE SHOULD BE TRUSTING THE LIBRARY'S PROCESS FOR REMOVAL OF THE BOOKS AND REVIEW OF THE BOOKS.
UM, IF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE REQUESTING THOSE BOOKS TO BE REMOVED ARE ALSO TAKING TIME TO CHANGE THEIR MIND AND MORE CAREFULLY CONSIDER WHICH BOOKS THAT THEY WANT IN THE LIBRARY.
UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LATE NIGHT AND YOU'VE HEARD FROM SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
UM, I WANNA THANK THE LIBRARY FOR BRINGING ALL THESE PEOPLE HERE TOGETHER, UM, TO BE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY, UM, AND ABOUT OUR GOVERNMENT PROCESS.
ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO COME AND SPEAK? I'LL, UH, HAVE YOU SPOKEN BEFORE? NO, THAT WAS, OH, THAT WAS YOU.
YEAH, THE LUNCH LADIES MADE THE SAME MISTAKE FOR YEARS.
I'M A FORMER RESIDENT OF THE COUNTY IN THE TOWN.
UH, CURRENT RESIDENT IN FAULK COUNTY.
CAME BACK BECAUSE I HEARD THE LIBRARY WAS, UH, YOU KNOW, UNDER ATTACK, SO TO SPEAK.
IT'S CLEAR THAT MANY HERE TONIGHT CAME WITH MINES CLOSED TO NEW IDEAS.
UH, THEY'VE TAKEN ARTISTIC DEPICTIONS OF HUMAN SEXUALITY AND THEY'VE PERVERTED THEM INTO SOMETHING UGLY.
I'M ASKING THE BOARD TO ADD FUNDING TO SAMUELS WITH THE GOAL OF FINDING MORE ARTISTIC DEPICTIONS OF THE HUMAN SEXUALITY.
I'M SURE WE CAN FIND POP-UP BOOKS, UH, THAT WE CAN PUT IN THE YOUNGER SECTIONS, UH, TO, TO GET THEM STARTED EARLIER.
TO THIS END, I THINK THAT ALL FILTERS SHOULD ALSO BE REMOVED OFF OF THE COMPUTERS THAT ARE AT THE LIBRARY.
PARENTS CAN SIT OVER THE SHOULDERS OF THEIR CHILDREN AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT LOOKING IN INAPPROPRIATE CONTENT.
UM, AND WE SHOULD NOT TRY IN ANY WAY TO GUIDE OR PREVENT CHILDREN FROM LEARNING NEW THINGS, UH, NO MATTER WHAT THOSE NEW THINGS MIGHT BE.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
ANYBODY ELSE? LAST CALL, PUBLIC COMMENT IS NOW COMPLETE.
ARE WE GOOD TO GO OR DO YOU WANNA BREAK THE BOARD? EMBERS JUST WANNA GET GO.
[F. Reports – Board Members, County Administrator, County Attorney]
NEXT, UM, ITEM ON OUR AGENDA ARE THE BOARD REPORTS.UM, MR. BUTLER, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT? I HAVE NO REPORT AT THIS TIME.
ALFRED GO MY REPORT THIS NIGHT.
OH, AND, AND, UM, FOR THE SAKE OF TIME, I DON'T HAVE A REPORT.
MR. HAM? WELL, FOR THE FIRST TIME, I'LL JUST SAY THAT THE, I'LL POINT OUT THAT WE HAD A LONG BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING ON 165 MILLION BUDGET, AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS WERE ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE LIBRARY FUNDING AND NOT ANY OF WHICH IS ONE HALF OF 1% OF YOUR BUDGET.
SO I WOULD CONGRATULATE THE BOARD FOR, FOR THE BUDGET.
[G. Appropriations and Transfers]
IS THE APPROPRIATIONS AND TRANSFERS.UM, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THEM AS AS PRESENTED? MADAM CHAIR IS SO MOVED.
MADAM CHAIR? AYE MRS. COLORS? NO.
UM, WE ARE MOVING TO, UM, WE'RE, WE HAD THE RESOLUTION FOR ITEM H, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT WE ARE MOVING? SO WE'RE GONNA JUMP INTO, UM, ITEM I, WHICH IS APPROVAL OF THE MEETING MINUTES ON MAY 2ND, 2023.
WE HAVE THE RESOLUTION THAT WE OH, OKAY.
SO THEY'LL BE THE 20, UH, THEY'LL BE ON THE 27TH, BUT WE HAVE THAT GO AHEAD.
YEAH, SO THEY'LL BE ON THE 27TH, MA'AM.
RIGHT? WE HAVE THE RESOLUTION AT THE END.
[I. Approval of Minutes - May 02, 2023]
UM, SO THE NEXT ITEM IS THE APPROVAL OF OUR MEETING MINUTES FOR MAY 2ND, 2023.[04:05:02]
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT AS PRESENTED? THANK YOU.[J. Building Inspection Fees - David Beahm]
ON TO UNFINISHED BUSINESS.UH, WE'RE REVISITING THE BUILDING INSPECTION FEE, UH, FEES.
SO MR. BEAM, IS HE HERE? HE'S OVER COMING IN NOW.
UH, YOU HAVE THE FORM, YOU HAVE BOTH COPIES IN FRONT OF YOU? WE HAVE THE OPTIONS.
ORIGIN, THE HIGHER FEE THERE IS THE ONE THAT THE BUILDERS SPOKE ABOUT.
AND THIS IS THE ALTERNATIVE THAT YOU LOOKED AT BEFORE.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE LIBRARY.
IT'S BEEN A VERY LONG EVENING.
I, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S SOME QUESTIONS AS FAR AS FROM THE BOARD.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND ENTERTAIN THOSE BECAUSE OF THE LATENESS OF THE HOUR MM-HMM.
IS THERE ANY, UM, DISCUSSION AT THE BOARD? ANY QUESTIONS SIR? MR. BEAM? UM, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE OPTION, WE WENT OVER THIS, BUT IT'S BEEN A LONG NIGHT.
OPTION ONE WAS THE, THE LOWER OF THE TWO FEE RATINGS.
IT WAS A HUNDRED PERCENT CORRECT? YES.
THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO DOUBLE CHECK IN MY LITTLE FOGGY BRAIN RIGHT NOW.
THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS IS WITH THE FUNDING.
THE FUNDING DOESN'T PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SERVICES OR ANYTHING ELSE.
IT'S JUST THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
I LOOK TO YOU ALL TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND THE ABILITY TO ADD SERVICES MAINLY BY MORE STAFF.
THAT, THAT, THAT WOULD BE THE BIGGEST THING.
UM, SO IF THE BUILDERS ARE LOOKING FOR BETTER SERVICE BY THE INCREASED FEES, I CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF PERSONNEL IN THE DEPARTMENT.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION BETWEEN THESE TWO OPTIONS OR SHOULD WE GO AHEAD WITH THE MOTION? IS THERE A MOTION OF WHICH OPTION OR DO WE NEED MORE DISCUSSION? WE WOULD RECOMMEND THE LOWER RATE OF THE TWO FEES THERE.
THAT'S WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE ON THE BOARD WANTS TO GO WITH THE OPTION ONE.
I MOVE THAT THE BOARD ADOPT UM, AND AUTHORIZE THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE BUILDING INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT FEE SCHEDULES BY ADOPTING OPTION ONE, UH, DESCRIBED IN THE WARREN COUNTY AND THE COUNTY OF WARREN BUILDING PERMIT FEES, RESIDENTIAL AND THE COUNTY OF WARREN BUILDING PERMIT FEES.
COMMERCIAL EFFECTIVE JULY ONE.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND ROLL CALL PLEASE.
MADAM CHAIR? AYE MRS. COLORS? AYE.
[ L. Consent Agenda]
NEXT ITEM IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA.SO DO WE, UM, IS THERE ANYBODY WANTS TO REMOVE ANY TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION? IF NOT, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA IS PRESENTED.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND ROLL CALL PLEASE.
[M. Award of Contract for Senior Center Refrigeration System - Alisa Scott ]
OKAY, NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS THE WARD OF THE CONTRACT FOR THE SENIOR CENTER REFRIGERATION SYSTEM IS SCOTT.UH, THIS REQUEST IS TO AWARD A CONTRACT FOR SERVICES PERFORMED AT THE NEW SENIOR CENTER TO CONVERT TWO EXISTING WALK-IN COOLERS, UH, TO FREEZERS.
THE COST OF THE SERVICE IS $58,717 AND WILL COME FROM THE SENIOR CENTER BUDGET LINE ITEM IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND.
AND WITH THAT I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ANYBODY HAS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. SCOTT? IF NOT, WE'LL GO AHEAD.
[04:10:02]
I MOVE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO APPROVE THE AWARD TO AIRSERVE HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING FOR $58,717.I FURTHER MOVE THE BOARD AUTHORIZED THE CHAIR AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, EITHER OF WHOM MAY ACT TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY OR THE ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY.
NEXT ITEM IS I MAY MA MADAME CHAIR, JUST FOR EDIFICATION, I'LL REMIND YOU AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PUBLIC HEARING WE DISCUSSED THAT THERE IS NO ACTION ON THE BUDGET TONIGHT.
YOU HAVE TO WAIT SEVEN DAYS AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THERE'S ANY ACTION.
SO IF ANYBODY'S WAITING FOR A MOTION TONIGHT, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO WAIT A WHILE.
JUST A REMINDER, JUST A REMINDER, EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THAT
[N. VRSA 2023-2024 Workers Compensation and Liability Insurance Renewal - Jane Meadows]
OKAY, SO THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS THE V RS A 2023 DASH 2024 WORK, WORKMAN'S COMPENSATION AND LIABILITY INSURANCE.HI, HOW ARE YOU ARE? UM, SO WE HAVE RECEIVED A PROPOSAL FROM VERSA FOR A RENEWAL FOR 2324 IN THAT RENEWAL AND IN YOUR PACKETS YOU SHOULD SEE THE PRICE INCREASE.
THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE AND THAT WAS DUE TO THE PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS AND ALSO THAT, UM, NOT ALL OF OUR PROPERTIES HAD ORIGINALLY BEEN ADDED TO OUR POLICY.
THROUGH DOING THE AUDIT OF THE POLICY, WE ENSURED THAT ALL COUNTY PROPERTIES ARE NOW COVERED.
HENCE THE REASON THERE IS AN INCREASE, THERE IS ACTUALLY A DROP IN THE WORKER'S COMP.
UM, WE'RE VERY SATISFIED WITH VERSA AND THE JOB THAT THEY'VE DONE THIS PAST YEAR AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY RENEWING THEM FOR 2324.
ANY QUESTIONS? SO WE HAVE A MOTION.
ADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO ADOPT THE WORKER'S COMPENSATION LIABILITY INSURANCE RENEWAL THROUGH VERS FOR FY 2023.
IT'S NOT, I DUNNO, MY COMPUTER HAS THE WRONG PEN ON IT TOO.
SO SHE'S GONNA PASS YOU WHAT IS THE UPDATED MOTION AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT.
OKAY, MADAM CHAIR, I HAVE MOVED THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO ADOPT THE WORKER'S COMPENSATION INSURANCE RENEWAL THROUGH VERSE FOUR, FY 20 23, 20 24 AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE ALL AGREEMENTS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE SUCH RENEWAL.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? STILL? SECOND.
[O. VRSA 2023-2024 Renewal Warren County Volunteer Fire EMS - Jane Meadows ]
NEXT ITEM IS THE, UH, THE VERSA 2023 DASH 2024 RENEWAL OF THE WARREN COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIRE EMS MS. MEADOWS, AGAIN, WE RECEIVED THE RENEWAL FOR, UM, THE VOLUNTEER FIRE, UM, WORKERS' COMPENSATION COVERAGE WITH THAT, UM, VERSA CO COVERS A SUPPLEMENTAL POLICY FOR US.UM, WE DID HAVE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS THAT WE HAD COVERED.
UM, WE ACTUALLY GOT ACCURATE REPORTING NUMBERS FROM OUR DIFFERENT STATIONS AND SO THE NUMBER ALMOST DOUBLED.
SO THAT IS THE REASON FOR THE PREMIUM JOB.
UM, WE ARE SATISFIED WITH WHAT VERSA HAS DONE IN THE PAST YEAR AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THEM.
SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION? NO, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ANYONE ELSE, BUT MY MOTION SHEET IS BLANK.
UM, I MOVE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVE THE RENEWAL OF THE WARREN COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIRE EMS WORKERS COMPENSATION POLICY WITH FOUR FY 20 23, 20 24 AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE ALL AGREEMENTS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE SUCH RENEWAL.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND ROLL CALL PLEASE.
MADAM CHAIR? AYE MRS. COLORS? AYE MR. BUTLER? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[P. Emergency Communications Tower Lease - Alisa Scott ]
NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS THE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS TOWER LEASE.MS. SCOTT, UH, THIS LEASE REPLACES AN OLD LEASE THAT FIRE AND RESCUE HAD, UH, DIRECTLY WITH TRAN
[04:15:01]
FOR EMERGENCY OF RADIO EQUIPMENT.THIS LEASE EXPIRED IN 2019 AND BAYER COMMUNICATIONS INC.
UH, YOU SEE A LIST OF LEASE PAYMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE MADE FROM THE COUNTY TO BEAR, UH, COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE LEASE OF THIS TOWER.
UM, THIS LEASE HAS BEEN APPROVED BY BOTH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND BEAR COMMUNICATIONS, UH, ATTORNEY AS WELL AS THEIR EXHIBIT A INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS AND THEN THEIR LEASE WITH, UM, LYNDON AS WELL.
SO, UH, MR. BRON IS HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LEASE ITSELF.
SO HAVE WE NOT HAD A LEASE SINCE 2019? CORRECT? CORRECT.
SO WE'VE BEEN USING IT WITHOUT A LEASE CUZ IT'S, WE STILL USE THE COMMUNICATIONS PANEL.
COMMERCIAL LEASES ROLL OVER FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
IF, IF THERE'S NO, IF NOTHING HAPPENS AND THIS KIND OF BALL GETS DROPPED, WHICH HAPPENS SOMETIMES, THEN IT JUST CAN COMES, IT JUST BECOMES, IT BECOMES A YEAR TO YEAR.
NO, IT BECOMES A BY LAW IT BECOMES A YEAR TO YEAR LEASE.
SO WE'VE BEEN PAYING THE SAME AMOUNT AS WE WERE PAYING SINCE 2019.
AND THE COSTS THAT YOU SEE HERE UNTIL 2027 REFLECTS THE INCREASES THAT ARE GOING TO BE INCORPORATED.
WELL, THE WAY THIS IS WRITTEN, IT, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE WAS NO LEASE AGREEMENTS SINCE, WELL, THERE WAS 19 UNTIL 2023.
I MEAN THE, THE COMMON LAW IS THAT IF THIS HAPPENS AND THIS HAPPENS ALL, ALL OVER THE PLACE ALL THE TIME, THEN WHAT HAPPENS IS A TERM, A LEASE FOR A COMMERCIAL LEASE FOR A TERM OF YEARS CONTINUES FOR A, ON A YEAR TO YEAR BASIS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IF NOT, DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MADAM CHAIR? I MOVE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVE THE LEASE AGREEMENT WITH BEAR COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED.
I FURTHER MOVE THE BOARD AUTHORIZED THE CHAIR AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, EITHER OF WHOM MAY ACT TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY OR THE ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND WELCOME ROLL CALL PLEASE, MR. BUTLER? AYE.
MRS. OATS? AYE MR. MABE? ALRIGHT,
[Q. Animal Impoundment Agreement between the County of Warren, Virginia and the Humane Society of Warren County - Caitlin Jordan ]
VERY GOOD.MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM IS THE ANIMAL IMPOUNDMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF WARREN, VIRGINIA AND THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF WARREN COUNTY.
SORRY MY IPAD TURNED OFF ON ME.
UM, PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 3.2 DASH 65 46, THE COUNTY'S PERMITTED TO CONTRACT WITH A PRIVATE GROUP TO PROVIDE AN ANIMAL SHELTER FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THE COUNTY CURRENTLY HAS A CONTRACT WITH THE, UM, HUMANE SOCIETY OF WARREN COUNTY TO PROVIDE THAT ANIMAL SHELTER, BUT THAT CONTRACT IS SET TO EXPIRE JUNE 30TH, 2023.
IT IS THE RECOMMENDATION OF STAFF FOR THE COUNTY TO ENTER INTO A NEW CONTRACT WITH THE HUMANE SOCIETY FOR A THREE YEAR TERM, BEGINNING JULY 1ST, 2023 UNTIL JUNE 30TH, 2026.
THE, UH, NEW PROPOSED CONTRACT WAS PROVIDED TO YOU IN YOUR PACKET, HOWEVER, WE HAVE RECEIVED WORD FROM THE HUMANE SOCIETY.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF EDITS THAT THEY WANT TO MAKE.
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THEIR COUNSEL SO WE CAN FINALIZE THOSE.
I DON'T BELIEVE THEY'RE GONNA BE MAJOR, BUT THE MOTION PRESENTED TO YOU DOES GIVE US SOME FLEXIBILITY.
IF THERE'S SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE CONTRACT, WE WOULD HAVE TO BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD.
UM, BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN REACH, UM, A RESOLUTION.
UM, BUT I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
UM, YOU, YOU, BUT UH, HAVE THEY TURNED AWAY ANY DOGS? HAVE THEY TURNED AWAY ANY DOGS? I, I CAN'T SAY I DON'T HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF OUR, NOT TOM, I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANY ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS HERE TODAY.
NO, NOT, NOT ANY THAT WE KNOW OF.
BUT SOMEBODY BROUGHT A DOG AND THEY TURNED IT AWAY OR ANYTHING? NO.
I'M JUST CHECKING CAUSE I SHOULD BE, THEY SHOULD BE ACCEPTING YOUR DAUGHTER, GENERAL LAWYER ACCOUNT.
UM, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD WHAT YOU, YOU SAID EARLIER, SO THE RESOLUTION THAT WE
[04:20:01]
HAVE IN OUR PACKER RIGHT NOW IS GOING TO BE CHANGED POTENTIALLY.WE'RE, I'M STILL WAITING TO CONTACT THEIR ATTORNEY WHO LAST I HEARD WAS LOOKING OVER IT AND WANTED TO GET BACK TO US.
WE DO HAVE SOME IDEAS FROM MS. BOWERS OF A COUPLE OF CHANGES THAT SHE WANTS.
UM, BUT I'M WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THEIR ATTORNEY TO CONFIRM THAT BASED ON WHAT I'M SEEING SO FAR, THEY'RE, THEY ARE RELATIVELY MINOR CHANGES.
NOT ANYTHING I THINK WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT YEAH, YEAH.
UM, BUT IF THEY DO WANT SIGNIFICANT CHANGES, THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE, THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL.
WELL, MY, MY TWO SENSES IS I DON'T WANT TO MAKE AN APPROVAL UNTIL I SEE THE, THE ORIGINAL.
I UNDERSTAND IF IT, IF IT WAS IN AN AMENDMENT, BUT THIS IS A BRAND NEW CONTRACT.
SO, UM, SO YOU COULD JUST TABLE THIS, WE CAN TABLE THIS UNTIL WE GET BACK.
AND SO I CAN SEE THE THAT'D BE FINE.
THE CHANGES BECAUSE WE'LL JUST WORK OFF.
THAT WOULD BE MY, IF THEY DON'T HAVE IT BACK BY JULY ONE, WE'LL MAKE IT RETROACTIVE.
SO YOU CAN JUST TABLE THIS FOR NOW AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE REST OF THE BOARD AGREES WITH THAT OR NOT.
IS THAT FINE? IS THAT OKAY? YES.
SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION? UM, I MOVED TO TABLE IT, THE HUMANE SOCIETY CONTRACT AGREEMENT UNTIL NEXT.
IS IT, DO YOU WANT TO TABLE IT UNTIL WHEN? I WOULD LEAVE IT TABLED UNTIL WE BRING IT BACK, MA'AM.
SO, BECAUSE IF THEY FOOL AROUND WITH IT FOR A WEEK AND HAVE IT BACK THEN WE'LL HAVE IT FOR YOU.
UH, YOU PROBABLY WON'T SEE IT BEFORE THAT CUZ IT'S NOT ON THIS RESOLUTION.
SO YOU WON'T SEE THIS BEFORE THE THIRD WEEK OF JULY, MA'AM.
SO I WOULD TABLE IT UNTIL THEN.
WOULD THAT BE JULY, UH, 18? WOULD THAT BE RIGHT?
I MEAN THE, BUT THAT'S WHEN IT'LL, THE HUMANE SOCIETY MAY NOT LIKE THE IDEA OF, OF HAVING THEIR CONTRACT EXPIRE, BUT WELL THAT'S, WE'VE WE'VE BEEN PRETTY DILIGENT WITH HAVING OUR STUFF DONE AND SENT TO THEM AND REMINDED THEM THAT, HEY, THIS IS THE MEETING THAT WE HAVE AND, UH, BEFORE IT EXPIRES MM-HMM.
AND SO CAITLIN'S DONE ALL THAT.
SO, UM, I WOULD JUST TABLE IT GENERALLY TO PROVIDE THE FLEXIBILITY.
I JUST MOVED TO TABLE THIS CONTRACT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE HUMANE SOCIETY UNTIL SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE.
[ R. Additional New Business]
OKAY.SO THE NEXT ITEM IS OUR RESOLUTION AND IT'S THE RESOLUTION.
UM, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I GOT THE RIGHT ONE.
UM, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO HAVE ADDED TO THE AGENDA AND OUR CONSIDERATION, UM, WE, AT OUR LAST MEETING, WE VOTED TO RENAME A BRIDGE FOR, UM, OFFICER KEVIN MANNION, WHO WAS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY AS A VIRGINIA STATE TROOPER.
AND WE HAVE ANOTHER, UH, VIRGINIA STATE TROOPER WHO IS A NATIVE OF WARREN COUNTY, UM, DANIEL LEE WILLIAMS, WHOSE PARENTS RICHARD AND SHIRLEY WILLIAMS. UM, DANIEL WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE.
AND HE WAS, UM, KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY ON DECEMBER 12TH, 1999.
UM, INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT AS HE WAS HELPING, UM, EN CUMBERLAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA, UH, LOCAL, UH, SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT WITH THE LOCAL DEPUTIES.
AND, UM, HE WAS ALSO A FORMER MARINE.
HE'D, UM, RETIRED FROM THE MARINES, HAD BEEN A STATE TROOPER FOR A YEAR.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO, UM, NAME THE WESTBOUND 66 BRIDGE OVER THE SHENANDOAH RIVER IN MEMORIAL OF STATE TROOPER DANIEL LEMO WILLIAMS. THANK YOU.
UM, MR. WILLIAMS IS NOT A FORMER MARINE, HE WAS A MARINE.
WELL, THERE'S NO FORMER I LEARNED THIS.
I AND I WILL RETRACT THAT THEN.
UM, WHO DECIDED TO, HE WAS A MARINE PERIOD.
SO DO WE HAVE
[04:25:01]
BRIDGE OVER SHENANDOAH RIVER IN MEMORIAL OF VA STATE TROOPER DANIEL LEE WILLIAMS. SO MOVED.[Addition Item ]
UH, IS NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS ANOTHER RESOLUTION, WHICH IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE MODIFICATIONS TO THE JUNE 27TH MEETING.UH, THE, THE BOARD ADOPTED THE POLICY THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR THAT IF THERE WAS A MEETING THE FOURTH TUESDAY OF THE MONTH, IT WOULD BE ONLY FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS.
AND BECAUSE THIS IS THE END OF THE MONTH AND THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR BOTH TOGETHER AND THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE A MEETING ON ELECTION NIGHT, THAT THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO ADD THE ACCOUNTS CUZ THEN WE WILL HAVE THE P CARDS AND THE GAS ACCOUNTS AND ALL OF THAT ALONG WITH MORE APPROPRIATIONS AND TRANSFERS FOR THE YEAR END TO BE ADDED INTO THIS MEETING.
SO THEY'LL BE THERE AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
DALEY? SO WE'RE REMOVING THEM FROM THE THIRD TUESDAY TO THE FOURTH TUESDAY? YES MA'AM.
THE THIRD TUESDAY IS ELECTION DAY.
THERE WILL BE NO THIRD JUST FOR THIS ONE MONTH.
IT'LL STILL BE A THIRD TUESDAY.
THERE'S STILL GONNA BE A TUESDAY SOMEWHERE.
SO WE DO NOT HAVE A MEETING ON ELECTION, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
NO, EVERYBODY'S GONNA GO CELEBRATE THE ELECTION, RIGHT?
SO WITH THAT, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING THE MODIFICATION? SO MOVE MADAM CHAIR.
MR. MABE? AYE BARRY, THANK YOU.
THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS ADDITIONAL NEW BUSINESS.
IS THERE ANY NEW BUSINESS THAT THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO BRING? OH, NOPE.
THE ON THE AGENDA IS OUR ADJOURNMENT OF THE MEETING.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOTION TO ADJOURN IS A SECOND.