Long Beach voters approve $3M budget for library

Voters passed the Long Beach library district’s nearly $3.4 million budget and re-elected trustee Alan Greenberg in Tuesday night’s election.

The budget did not include money to restock the West End library, which had generated protest from some residents of the West End neighborhood who said they would vote against the budget. The library was destroyed by superstorm Sandy.

The library budget passed, 1,478 to 501, library officials said.

West End resident Diane Parr ran against Greenberg for a five-year seat. She said the neighborhood needed more representation on the library trustee board, and that the West End library should be saved.

Greenberg defeated Parr, 1,156 to 994, library officials said.

Library officials have said the system would continue to lease the West End library building through February. The trustees would have to decide in February whether to fully close the branch, officials have said.