Pasadena City Council has submitted Measure PL to Pasadena voters asking them to approve a bond for the Pasadena Central Library retrofit, repair, and upgrade.

The cost is $195 million or up to $360 million in principal and interest over 30 years.

Full costs are unknown because final plans and cost estimates are not due until spring.

Homeowners can expect to pay up to $28.90 per $100,000 of assessed valuation. Some renters not covered by rent control can expect their landlords to raise rents. Even renters covered by Pasadena rent control can expect some landlords to petition the Pasadena Rental Housing Board to raise rents to cover increased costs.

Pasadenans have always provided support for our city’s library system by voting to raise taxes. I’ve volunteered and donated to past campaigns.

We just passed Measure L for the library in 2022. But this time, it’s different. If the Measure PL passes, we will be paying for two bonds and more indebtedness for a longer period.

I am not advocating “to do nothing and simply wait for the historic structure to collapse.” Pasadenans may want to preserve the historical and architectural significance of the Central Library and make it earthquake safe while enhancing may library services.

But is this bond measure the most cost-effective or best funding source?

Besides, even before COVID and the Central Library closure, there’s been a decline in physical library visits over the past 10 years. This at a time when library usage is increasing in the digital realm rather than in physical spaces.

Adults and children who embrace the internet age require that investments be made in digital and on-line library services throughout the library system, including branch libraries.

The costs are excessive. he city’s staff and consultants presented only two options and were dismissive of thoroughly researching lesser expensive alternatives.

With the Central Library’s closure, we face the questions, how do we restore services and what should future services be as the internet revolution intensifies.

To restore or expand services, do we really need the Central Library? With our eight branch libraries, it seems we’re managing fine with the closure. What if we reimagined how this historic building could be used?

More critically, and not yet discussed, Pasadena faces over $2 billion in capital projects of which only $758 million has been appropriated for 2025. The balance of $1.242 billion is unfunded.

Taxpayers will be expected to ante up hundreds of millions each for items like Rose Bowl repairs, the 710 stub project, water and sewer-main replacements, electrical grid upgrades, clean energy projects, and street repairs. Add to that the city’s affordable housing challenges.

Property owners and residents deserve the opportunity to have a better publicized, community-wide discussion of city priorities with all the facts and alternatives.

We need to make a fully informed decision on whether the library bond should be at the top of the list.

That’s why, in part, two city councilmembers voted against putting the library bond proposal on the ballot.

Join in voting NO on Measure PL

Ed Washatka is a Pasadena resident.