Parents of All Political Stripes Agree

The Sunday Internal Affairs column listed an incorrect dollar amount regarding the costs associated with implementing software restricting access to pornography on the children’s computers in our libraries. To be clear, there are three sets of computers in libraries: adults’, teenagers’, and children’s. Back in 2009, the cost to implement porn filters for both the teen and children’s computers was $89,900. The cost for just the children’s computers was half that, or $45,000. Community members even offered to donate the money to pay for the software. Nonetheless, the proposal was rejected by the city council, except Mayor Reed, Pete Constant, and myself. Fortunately, our new library director, Jill Bourne, views this as an important safety measure, and will implement this protection for children without city council approval. It’s not about the money, just common sense. No parent I know approves of unrestricted access to pornography for children.

Pierluigi Oliverio