City must invest in keeping youth moving in right direction

In a democracy, we value our choices – which are the cornerstones of the system and the basis for direction.

We also get to choose what we value.

Here in Merced, our local democracy took a giant step forward last November when residents demanded the right that every neighborhood be heard when they passed Measure T – which changes how we will elect members of our City Council. We will now have district elections – six districts with six different council members. Gone are the days when six council members represented the whole city, and I’m glad to see those days go.

This new way of doing things will create a more diverse City Council. Such diversity is good for our city.

District elections will help ensure that we have a representative who lives in our neighborhood and understands our needs. This new democracy will also allow council members to develop deeper relationships with citizens and a better understanding of the communities they represent.

It’s an exciting time in our city. Change is coming, and this year we get to put our new democracy to the test.

We have choices to make. What will we value? John F. Kennedy once wrote, “We, the people, are the boss, and we will get the kind of political leadership, be it good or bad, that we demand and deserve.”

It is very well-documented that failing to invest in youth triggers substantial economic and social costs. Without proper resources, but perhaps more importantly, without a supportive philosophy that should guide policy decisions at schools and across a variety of city departments, youth are excluded from the process and then are dropped by society.

In the last seven years, the cuts to the parks department in Merced have been dramatic. And while the city’s finances have improved significantly, the parks department still suffers from a significant lack of investment. Parks play an important role in the health of a city; a healthy parks system attracts businesses, which attracts jobs. And healthy parks assist in the development of young residents.

Two years ago, the Merced City Council provided $25,000 to establish and operate a Youth Council to give youth a chance to represent themselves, their values and their vision and to then share their ideas and recommendations with the city. Last year, the City Council budgeted $12,500 for the continued operation of the Youth Council.

Youth are the future. They will lead this city one day. Will they be ready? What are we doing today to help them prepare for tomorrow?

In the coming weeks, we’ll see what the City Council is doing to get ready for the future. In November, we’ll see how residents feel.

For me, the choice is simple. I choose a healthy Merced that invests in youth to help all Merced communities rise.

This story was originally published April 15, 2016 at 2:01 PM with the headline "City must invest in keeping youth moving in right direction."