By Lookout Staff

April 2, 2025 -- One month after Councilmember Jesse Zwick floated the idea of selling the Fairview Branch Library, a rally will be held at City Hall opposing the potential move.

The rally -- organized by a coalition of community and library groups calling on residents to join in -- will take place next Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. before the start of the City Council meeting.

"Fairview Library is an integral part of our community's social infrastructure, providing essential services to students, seniors, and families," said Library Board Chair Judith Meister.

"While we understand the city's budget challenges, selling this vital community asset would have permanent consequences for our neighborhood."

The Fairview branch, which opened in 1956, serves approximately 15,000 Sunset Park residents and welcomed some 80,500 visitors before it was shut down during the coronavirus emergency in March 2020.

The Fairview and Ocean Park branches have re-opned two days a week on a self-service-only basis with a grant secured by library staff after the City cut nearly half their funding.

Since reopening in November 2022, Fairview staff members have activated limited in-person programs, while lobbying the City to fully reopen the branch.

Advocates of the library fear the branch "faces the threat of permanent closure and sale," with the City Council possibly taking action "as soon as June 24."

The fear was fueled by Zwick's comments at a special March 8 budget study session where Councilmembers floated several extraordinary ways to address a potential fiscal crisis ("Council Floats Bold Moves to Balance Budget," March 10, 2025).

Both Zwick and Councilmember Dan Hall pushed for selling City properties as a "last resort" to pump money into the Housing Fund, which has been used to help pay $230 million in sex abuse settlements.

During the meeting, Zwick noted the Fairview branch "is two blocks" from Virginia Avenue Park library and said it "is not serving anyone now sitting there closed.” He suggested "shutting it down and disposing of the land."

"I think we need to think about whether we are getting anything out of keeping that library open," he said, noting the money could be used to restore programs at other branches.

Tuesday's rally is organized by Friends of Sunset Park, the Santa Monica Public Library Board and Friends of the Santa Monica Public Library.