Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Residents, library workers decry layoffs as small-business owners demand action on street vending
Summary
Multiple Hayward residents and library workers urged the City Council to stop recent layoffs that they say gutted library services and to take stronger action on unpermitted street vending that business owners say is harming storefronts and public safety.
Dozens of residents and city employees opened Tuesday's Hayward City Council meeting with sharply critical public comments about recent municipal layoffs and unpermitted street vending.
"The city must stop the layoffs," said Veronica Bartavian, identifying herself as a former SEIU Local 1021 member and a laid-off library worker. Bartavian said layoffs removed essential ESL, citizenship and adult-literacy programs and argued that budget choices "demonstrate your values."
Reina Escovedo, a 15-year Hayward Library employee who described herself as "the face of Kirby," said the library's mobile outreach vehicles are "out of service sitting idle instead of serving the community," and that the library lost 10 positions. "Positions are frozen, hours reduced to…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
