By Ben Adler and Lauren Patron
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kazu/local-kazu-608729.mp3
Salinas, CA – It's safe to say the city of Salinas's image has taken a few hits recently. There was last fall's E. coli outbreak, for example, and increased gang violence. But perhaps most embarrassing was when Steinbeck's hometown nearly had to shut down its public libraries. Well, that embarrassment is now gone. In November of 2005, taxpayers agreed to put a little money towards strengthening their community. They passed Measure V, a half cent sales tax, and turned Salinas's financial picture around. And as of Tuesday (July 17, 2007, the libraries are now as healthy as ever-- open consistently five days a week... for up to eight hours a day. KAZU's Ben Adler reports.
This story was reported and produced by KAZU intern Lauren Patron.