Council exploring options for student involvement
By LAUREN BONIFACIO Special to the Daily Press
CITY HALL — Supporters of a youth commission failed to convince elected leaders last month to officially get teenagers involved in local politics.
Council members questioned at their Feb. 24 meeting whether teenagers would really get involved if a youth commission was set up to serve as an advisory board to City Hall regarding young people’s issues. And despite the dozens of kids that showed up to rally for more parking at Santa Monica High School, only one student spoke in support of a commission.
The obvious imbalance in support of the two youth issues might just mean that a full-fledged commission, on par with the commissions representing the senior community, women and people with disabilities, might not be the best way to incorporate youth into City Council actions, Mayor Richard Bloom said.
“One thing that we look for … is some enthusiasm on the part of the people it will serve,” Bloom said. “A commission setting that works best for adults might not work at all (for youth).”
“One thing that we look for … is some enthusiasm on the part of the people it will serve. A commission setting that works best for adults might not work at all (for youth).” — — MAYOR RICHARD BLOOM
But some students think a youth commission could affect change on issues ranging from taxes on teenagers’ afterschool jobs to the perceived “achievement gap” in education to the lack of parking at city schools, said Santa Monica High School senior Andy Knab, who participates in the school’s student government.
“A commission would help as a stepping stone for students... into the political process,” Knab said.
Jerry Rubin, coordinator of “People for a Santa Monica Youth Commission,” said his young supporters’ lackluster attendance last month could be explained by the City Council’s late meeting, which lasted past midnight. But teenagers still need a voice in city government, he said.
“Just because they’re not old enough to vote doesn’t mean that their input is any less important,” Rubin said after the meeting. He estimated the commission would cost City Hall about $7,000 in staff time and overhead costs. “What better investment is there?”
Young people deserve no less than their own commission, school board member Oscar de la Torre said. He pointed out that there are youth members to advise the school board, yet the City Council has none.
“Obviously, there are many avenues for youth to get involved,” de la Torre said. “But a youth commission would provide one of the only ways … for young people to give some guidance on youth policy.”
Like at last month’s meeting, Rubin has remained unsuccessful in convincing elected leaders to form a youth commission. For the past year, he has been pushing for Santa Monica to follow the lead of other nearby cities, such as Malibu.
The Malibu Youth Commission’s 15 school-aged members make recommendations to the City Council on youth issues and are responsible for planning and organizing activities and events for young people in the city, said Malibu Recreation Supervisor Theresa Odello.
Although Santa Monica council members argued a youth commission might lack continuity because students could likely lose interest in city government, Odello said that a minimum two-year commitment from commissioners keeps the Malibu commission functional. She added that many of the commissioners reapply once their terms are over.
“We think that we’re getting a lot done,” Odello said.
Before putting off a discussion on a Santa Monica commission last month, the council said it would explore the different — and possibly more cost effective — options for youth and revisit the idea of a youth commission in the future.
In cities across the state, young people are taking part in local politics in different ways.
The West Sacramento Youth Commission is one of four advisory subcommittees of the Parks and Community Services Commission. The young people help plan youth services and help distribute the Parks Department’s $12,500 in funding each year.
And with the exception of staff time, the city gives its youth valuable government and leadership experience at zero cost, said Recreation Supervisor Julie Leber.
“There are a couple of youth commissioners I have dealt with that are more responsible than the adults,” Leber said.
Youth commissioners in San Francisco have been liaisons between the Board of Supervisors and city youth on issues ranging from police presence in schools, substance abuse treatment, the rights of juvenile hall inmates and young people’s health coverage, said 19-year-old commissioner Shanell Williams.
Youth in Redondo Beach can participate in a youth commission that advises the City Council on youth-related policies and plans activities. Also in the area is the South Bay Youth Project’s Youth Advisory Committee, which plans youth activities in the beach cities.
Calabasas once tried to get students involved in its government.
The struggling Teen Advisory Council was “never able to get too much off the ground,” city special events coordinator Amy Eastman said.
After members discovered that their highest priority was planning activities for their age group, the council reorganized into the Teen Activities Council last summer. The council drew more than 400 young people to its first event.
In Santa Monica, Bloom said youth can already get involved through Rosie’s Girls, a summer camp program, and the Pico Youth and Family Center. He also floated the idea of placing youth representatives on other commissions.
But youth commission supporters said existing programs aren’t enough and the city owes young people a voice in government. Organizations that endorse the idea include the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education, the Santa Monica Classroom Teachers Association, the Santa Monica College Board of Trustees and various student councils and clubs throughout the city’s schools.
However, council members remain hesitant to add yet another commission onto the city’s list of more than 15 commissions and boards. A commission might degenerate into a sort of student government, overrun with school issues, Councilman Bob Holbrook said.
“If I started hearing concerns from the young people that are in the arena the city can deal with, like extended library hours … and beaches, and if they weren’t able to be addressed by the different boards and commissions, I would consider (a commission),” Holbrook said. “But it seems 99 percent of the input I get from students is generally revolving around (school issues).”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 10, 2004. Read the original PDF.