Huntington Beach Voters Reject Library Review Board, Block Privatization

In a special election, Huntington Beach voters decisively rejected two City Council-backed measures aimed at increasing municipal control over the public library system. Measure A, which dismantled the controversial 21-person Community Parent Guardian Review Board responsible for screening children’s books for sexual content, passed with nearly 60% approval, returning oversight to the library services director. Measure B, also approved, restricts the city from privatizing library operations without public consent. The election followed heated debates and opposition to the Council’s messaging, including politically charged “Protect Our Kids from Porn” signs that sparked outrage among parents and community members. Critics argued the Council’s efforts amounted to censorship, particularly targeting books with LGBTQ themes and sex education, while supporters claimed the measures were necessary to shield children from inappropriate material. The vote marks a significant defeat for the all-conservative Council, signaling community preference for less politicized management of library content and operations.