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Oakland Summer Programs May Fall Victim To Lean Budget

OAKLAND (KCBS) – Parents in Oakland may have a tougher time finding city-sponsored activities for their children this summer because the city may not be able to afford services and programs that have been offered in past years.

Under Oakland Mayor Jean Quan's worst case scenario budget plan, five recreation centers and 14 of the city's 18 libraries would be closed. Programs like the teen summer passport program and children services would be all but gutted.

KCBS' Anna Duckworth Reports:

"There is always capacity for the programs where parents can afford to pay," said Quan. "What we worry about is those programs that we pretty much do without any kind of fee in the toughest neighborhoods."

Mayor Quan knows shutting down these programs could leave thousands of children without a place to go. She said her office is working to get organizations to open their doors on Friday and Saturday nights this summer, and she also expects that by the time school lets out, the 81st Avenue library will stay open until 10 p.m. on Fridays.

"We're just really just wracking our brains to see what we can do to bring down youth violence in the city," said Quan.

Quan said she's hopeful the shutdowns will be averted through a voter approved parcel tax and concessions from city employees.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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