Sunland Park library remains closed, Senior Citizen Center makes changes

Three weeks after the closure of the Sunland Park library, it remains closed.

The library was shut down after the arrest of librarian, Luz Vargas.

Vargas was arrested on charges of voter fraud, after allegedly registering people to vote in Sunland Park who were not residents.

City Council had originally planned to keep the library open, even though the city is facing a $2 million budget deficit.

Once Vargas was arrested, the doors were shut.

Nearly a month later, not much has changed, and some have said the situation of the Sunland Park city facilities have gotten worse.

Many people frequented the city’s only library to read, relax, go online, and even pay taxes or bills.

It was a hub for the community, and closure was strongly protested.

Residents Mario Correa said they particularly miss the library.

“Many people, they feel the same way. And they feel terrible about the library being closed down,” Correa said.

As a result of the library closing, Correa said more seniors are visiting the Senior Citizens Center, which is next door to the library.

That is about to change.

According to an internal memo from Sunland Park Mayor Javier Perea, the Senior Center will now close at 2 p.m.

In addition, transportation will no longer be provided to other centers.

Plus, other senior activities outside of the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. time frame have been suspended.

The memo cites “budget constraints” as the cause of the changes.

With the library on pause and changes to the Senior Center rules, Mayor Pro Tem Isabel Santos said she’s worried for the future of both facilities.

“I don’t know what will happen with this senior center. Probably in the future we will need to close the doors,” Santos said.

Santos added that this is just a concern, and no official conversations on closing the Center have been held.

Nonetheless, Santos believes something must be done soon.

Perea told ABC-7 he believes the library doors won’t be closed forever.

“We are considering volunteers. We developed a volunteer form, and are getting it through legal, making sure that we are protected and volunteers are protected under the insurance of the city. So, it is a process. Like I mentioned before, this is a process that we’re trying to do things right the first time,” Perea said.

Santos agreed volunteers would be a good option for the library, but added she hopes everything can get back to normal.

“I think we, the city council and the mayor, we need to stay to do something to benefit the community,” Santos said.

Perea said the reopening of the library will be determined by City Council, who will decide whether to keep Vargas in her current position, or terminate her.

The city has already posted the librarian job in preparation.

Either way, Perea said it’s just important to get the library back open.