Credit Liam Niemeyer / WKMS
Murray residents calling for removal of a local Confederate monument donated books to their county library and other “little free” libraries throughout the city on Saturday in an effort to engage and give back to their community. The donations followed a “week of action” organized by these residents centered around the past Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Rikki Neal and her two toddlers brought dozens of books into Calloway County Public Library, most of them children’s books featuring multicultural stories and history, including the book, “I Promise” by basketball star LeBron James. Neal said her husband, Sherman, helped fundraise about $1,500 in the community to buy more than 100 books in total. Advocates hope the books help community members gain perspective and awareness on diverse experiences.
FAIRFIELD-SUISUN, CALIFORNIA
Layoffs of Golden Gate bus drivers and transit workers might be halted by federal relief funds [San Francisco Chronicle]
Dec. 23 Transit workers facing layoffs at Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District may be saved for now by new coronavirus relief funds, with agency staff recommending its board vote to rescind layoffs and pay cuts planned for January at a meeting Wednesday.
The news of a $900 billion federal stimulus bill passed Monday injected Bay Area transit agencies with immediate relief, although long-term financial instability remains. More than two dozen agencies are predicted to receive $975 million, although exactly how much each agency including the district that runs the Golden Gate Bridge will receive and when is still being determined. But the prospect alone was enough for the district’s board to call a special meeting to vote on reversing course when the president signs the new stimulus bill into law.