Jessica Lynn Johnson: Open Letter to the WC Board of Supervisors

Supervisors,

I am writing to all of you to express my extreme displeasure with some of the appointments to the newly created library board. I should preface this by saying that this is not at all directed to Chairwoman Cullers, as her track and voting record shows that she is the only supervisor with the common sense to try and stop this absurdity.

As a non-resident, I don’t expect to hear back from any of you. I will state, as I have in a previous email sent over a year ago, that I grew up in Front Royal. It is my home. I spent 25 years of my life there. I STILL own a home in town that a family member resides in, therefore, Mrs. Cook, you do in a way represent me as my tax dollars still contribute to the Town and County. I am in Front Royal often, as many family members still reside there.

The appointment of Eric Belk to the board is very concerning. He and his family alone submitted 27 book removal requests to Samuels. ALL of the removal requests made generic statements claiming that books containing LGBTQ themes were inproppriate and sexually motivated. You have stated time and time again that this new board is not about regulating and/or restricting content in the library, that this is all for financial oversight. How are we supposed to believe that, when at a minimum, one of the five appointees was heavily involved in Clean Up Samuels? How is this person supposed to remain objective in making decisions about the future of the library? Your agenda you tried to deny all along is now very clear. You cannot hide it. I am curious to see Mr. Belk’s and others qualifications that deemed them sufficient to be on this board. I know for a fact that multiple citizens applied who were very qualified, and none of them were even contacted for an interview.

My heart sinks to think that in the near future, the Samuels library I grew up with may cease to exist. All because a group of people did not get their way with book removals. It did not have to be this way. I think now I may understand why my property value shot up over $70,000. So you can afford to fund an entire new library system governed by quasi theocracy.

I look forward to hearing from any of you, but I probably won’t. Have a blessed day.

Jessica Johnson
Warrenton, VA

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