Investing in our youth

Investing in our youth is critical for a healthy community. There are negative out comes to not investing in our young people. Young people contribute to society, democracy and the economy. Without investment, the youth contribute to disease, crime and violence. Investing in our youth is investing in our economy.

The youth today are trying to learn to navigate this world and are facing challenges in poverty, education and employment. Depression and mental health disorders are increasing. Social media is having a negative influence, peer pressure and drug abuse is on the rise and young people are facing uncertainty.

Many children are living in poverty. Poverty has negative impacts on children's health, social, emotional and cognitive development, behavior and educational outcomes. Children born into poverty are more likely to experience a wide range of health problems, including poor nutrition, chronic disease and mental health complications. This can extend into adulthood with low income, chronic disease, and shorter life span.

Covid 19 has interrupted education and employment opportunities. Pressure to preform and compete is becoming a struggle for young people. Academic standards have become increasingly higher and the pressure to have educational excellence and score high on exams has become a burden. Universities and housing costs have increased and so has the weight of higher education.

Covid 19 has caused an increase in depression among our young people. We are currently facing a mental health crisis. Mental health challenges are real in children, adolescents, and young adults. Untreated these problems interfere with learning, socialization and self-esteem. Suicide rates have increased significantly teens are reporting they feel sad and hopeless.

While social media can be fun, and a great place to connect to friends and family, it poses risks for young people. Kids are exposed to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and there are privacy issues. Young people have turned to social media during the pandemic and not reality. The rise of social media has been linked to increased violence and gang related activity.

Kids like to fit in and go along with the crowd. Peer pressure can reinforce good behavior it can also reinforce bad behavior. The risks for influencing alcohol/drug use, or being exposed to gang violence has increased with social media. Peer pressure is a force for good or bad and we must steer our youth towards positive habits and positive role models.

We are living in uncertain times. Uncertainty for the future is a major concern for the youth of today. The pandemic has exposed inequalities both socially and financially. Climate change is now a top concern for our young generation. Young people are taking action and they are the agents of positive change.

Investing in children is the smartest investment to make. Our children are our future. We must invest in healthier systems for our future.  It is better to invest in preventative care then expensive social problems later. Investment must begin during early childhood development. During the early years lifelong behaviors and patterns are being developed. High quality programs promote positive development and leads to adults making positive contributions to society. When we invest in our children we are investing in our economy and our future and our community success.

GUN VIOLENCE

Fear of gun violence reduces the quality of life in our society. Political opposition to gun control has created government barriers instead of government support. Guns are the leading cause of preventable deaths. Children and teens experience high rates of gun injuries and death. A low sense of safety, access to unsupervised guns, and risky behavior such as drug dealing contribute to involvement of gun violence. Without nonviolent conflict resolution skills, individuals rely on guns to solve their problems.

Prevention methods include reduction of youth access to guns, raising emotionally healthy children and intervention to a person who are threatening violence.  Prevention must be implemented in our society to reduce violence. Prevention is going to need the entire community involved.

With the ability to make homemade guns and purchase parts online, ghost guns are a new factor to tackling gun violence. These build your own unlicensed weapons are untraceable. Anyone can purchase a kit and no background check is required. Technology has created a way to print guns with a 3D printer. We need preventative measures to keep up with technology and respond accordingly to prevent unnecessary death.

We need to create a new model for tackling gun violence. We need to bring community together and build alliances to create problem solving skills and prevent individuals from engaging in gun violence. No single program is enough. Schools, workplace, neighborhoods, health systems and faith based groups need to be active in prevention.  We must recognize if there is someone who is threatening harm to themselves or others. We must make it safe for someone to relay this information so innocent people are not harmed and a crisis intervention can occur.

With a problem solving approach and community engagement we can identify, plan, and collaborate deescalate and use crisis intervention. Encourage law enforcement and mental health facilities to create a partnership to assist with a mental health crisis that may provoke violence.

Everyone wants a safe city to live and thrive. We must work together to create a safe city. We must invest in our youth, so they have problem solving skills and conflict resolution. We must recognize and mobilize when we identify an individual who may do harm to themselves or others. We cannot live in fear and it is time to focus on a solution to gun violence.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Housing is a human right and we need to return to the American Dream of affording a home. A good home provides protection. Children are less exposed to violence and sexual abuse. It can increase the opportunities for earning income. It is easier to send kids to school and after school programs. Having a home gives you better access to healthcare. A safe and good home reduces mental stress and makes it easier to be included.  We must keep this dream alive.

 We are in a housing crisis and the increase in housing prices is causing economic harm.  People are spending the majority of their income on housing. With the price of housing so high people are facing food insecurity, can’t afford health care and cutting costs where possible. It greatly reduces the demand for consumer goods. This threatens the wellbeing of the community. There is not a county or state where a minimum wage full time worker can afford a two bedroom apartment.

The burden of significant rent increases makes it more difficult to thrive. We need to invest in affordable rental housing. We need to minimize the harms Covid 19 has caused on renters. We need to create better more accessible subsidized housing. We need to end discriminating practices and segregation with housing.

While a home owner may see their wealth rise a renter will see lower income. This creates wealth disparities this can hurt future generations wealth inequality. Having a home increases the possibilities for strong social, economic and cultural connections. Covid 19 has exposed the disparities in our communities and the underserved are suffering more than affluent communities. Poverty is on the rise.

When households spend most of their income on housing, they have less money to spend on social events. Budget constraints often leave individuals unable to partake in events that cost money. Participating in community events gives individuals the sense of belonging it is healthy to participate in events that create a stronger community. Participating is good for the economy, and builds a healthier economy.

Food insecurity is another downside of expensive housing. Healthy diet and nutrition are important for a vital life. Brain function and body function depend on a healthy diet. When housing costs are so high often good nutritious food is replaced by lower cost unhealthy diets. Malnutrition causes underdevelopment in children and poor health.This has a negative impact on society.

Land availability and zoning laws are major obstacles to subsidized housing. High quality subsidized housing needs long term commitment and not a band aid. We need to create incentives to construction of affordable homes we need to empower borrowers and create more options for first time borrowers. Partnerships with Habitat for Humanity and using land trusts and socialized housing are options that need to be used. Community space and future affordability needs to be a priority.

Racial equity needs to be addressed. We need increased minority home ownership opportunities. We need to invest in distressed racial segregated neighborhoods.  We need inclusive housing options that embrace diversity. History shows black people have been left out of home ownership and a target population to predatory lending. We must end discriminatory practices to home ownership and affordable housing. Integration must be the answer to segregation and structural racism.

Everyone deserves a roof over their head. We have the skills to create new and innovating housing options. We have the power to be inclusive with housing designs and community needs. Affordable housing can only help our community during these times of uncertainty. The benefits of affordable housing make it worth investing in. The health, safety and wellbeing of our families and communities depend on it. Housing is a human right and it must be affordable for all income levels. We have the ability to return the American dream of affording a home, a place of prosperity and pride.

Sacramento has found itself in the spotlight in recent years after multiple incidents of citizen deaths by law enforcement. 

While the increased prevalence of cell phone camera footage has sparked a national conversation about police brutality and the use of force, names like Stephon Clark and Joseph Mann remind us that these events don’t always happen far from home. Since 2016, there have been 18 officer-involved shootings in Sacramento, all of which were deemed justified.

These incidents sparked some changes to the Sacramento Police Department, including requiring body cameras to be worn and footage of officer-involved shootings to be released within 30 days, as well as appointing an Inspector General to review shootings. 

This, along with the decision to create an Office of Community Response that will help field 911 calls and ensure law enforcement is only utilized when necessary, is helping to transform how Sacramento addresses public safety. Such changes have shown success in reducing adverse outcomes for communities of color and those struggling with their mental health. I recommend reading this recent in depth reporting on the topic.

The city also chose to move the Office of Public Safety Accountability directly under the City Council and establish the Sacramento Community Police Review Commission to provide recommendations on improving everything from interactions with the public to increasing diversity within its ranks. 

However, many advocates believe more reforms are necessary to begin rebuilding trust.

This makes sense considering members of the commission have spent significant time and energy reviewing hundreds of pages of material, listening to experts, and crafting specific and well-researched recommendations — only to have many still left unimplemented.

To their credit, the Sacramento Police Department has decided to change some policies, including banning the use of choke holds, changing procedures related to shooting at moving vehicles, and requiring police officers to render medical care as soon as possible.

Still, many recommendations are still waiting to be put into action. Some of these include requiring data collection and reporting on all “Use of Force” incidents, using force only as a last resort when all other reasonable alternatives have been exhausted, and requiring drug and alcohol testing of officers after an incident.

Mario Guerrero, chair of the Sacramento Police Review Commission, expressed at a recent meeting that he will be pushing hard for the City Council to take a formal vote on this issue. “We expect that our recommendations be taken seriously and be given a vote,” said Guerrero.

While most of the commission’s work has centered around changing the department’s Use of Force policies, another area of focus includes incentivizing a more diverse police force. Notably, they recommend creating long-term strategies to encourage hiring of more Black and Indeginous residents, women, and members of the LGBTQ community. New researchsuggests that increasing diversity in law enforcement can lead to better outcomes for communities of color and may help rebuild trust in neighborhoods that have been historically overpoliced.

This is a crucial moment for Sacramento to make meaningful change.

We have the opportunity to lead with compassion and make sure we prioritize public safety for everyone. If this city is serious about real reform and respecting the labor done by its own Police Review Commission, it’s recommendations should be taken into consideration and adopted as soon as possible. Otherwise, what was the point?

We can’t wait for another death to do the right thing.

You can read an overview of the Commission’s recommendations here.

Last month, Sacramento tried to answer a seemingly unanswerable question: how many of our neighbors are unhoused?

It was the first Point-in-Time Count since the pandemic began, and as I walked with my fellow Sacramentans gathering information on the number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, I was reminded of the power we have as individuals, even on issues that may seem insurmountable. But a question lingered: What if we all worked together?

As a candidate, I find myself talking to people in Sacramento every day, and inevitably, the conversation leads to homelessness. At a recent event, a business owner in our Oak Park neighborhood shared a very personal story about his experience with homelessness, and how, if not for the kindness of one stranger, he would still be struggling with addiction and unhoused. He and that stranger now own homes near one another and have formed a lifelong friendship.

Based on the last Point-in-Time Count Sacramento conducted in 2019, we know that the number of unhoused residents was 5,570 — a number that has likely doubled since the pandemic began. On top of this, we learned that just last yearnearly 200 people died on our streets. Homelessness is on our doorsteps and at the forefront of our collective consciousness because, quite truthfully, this crisis is a reminder of the human suffering our policy decisions can produce.

In order to truly move forward, we must work together to learn from the mistakes and successes of others while being strategic and utilizing an economy of scale to maximize the impact of our tax dollars. I applaud a recent article, which looked at Mayor Steinberg’s call to the County Board of Supervisors to partner on a coordinated system to establish a single point-of-access for homeless services in our region. It is a model that has shown promise just to the north of Sacramento.

This past year, I met with community members in the City of Marysville who explained that representatives from two counties, several cities, school districts, hospitals, churches, nonprofits, and local businesses all came together to create the Sutter Yuba Homeless Consortium (SYHC). These representatives meet regularly, set goals, share resources, and most importantly, have created a regional strategic plan to address homelessness.

The SYHC works with organizations to share resources in innovative ways:

• Partnering with schools to install washers and dryers for unhoused students to wash their clothes.
• Working with local hospitals to dispatch nursing teams to encampments.
• Collaborating with district attorneys and judges to provide legal support.
• Teaming up with local businesses for job training and placement.
• Pooling funds to build much needed affordable housing.

Just imagine what a similar model could look like in this community where our resources are far greater.

Research shows us that a lack of affordable housing is one of the most significant factors driving so many Sacramentans into homelessness, and that number will only grow. The Sacramento Bee recently reported that roughly “1,250 Housing Choice Voucher holders in Sacramento do not have housing.” That number rose even with a new state law looking to make it easier for voucher holders to find housing. But how can they find affordable housing when the median rent price in Sacramento is now more expensive than in Seattle, Washington, D.C., and New York? To address our housing shortage, we would need about 17,000 new housing units for low-income residents by 2029.

I fear we will continue to fall short if we don’t find ways to collaborate.

California has 58 counties and 482 cities. My professional career has allowed me the opportunity to work with policy makers at every level of government across the state and taught me that, on the issue of homelessness, most local governments believe they must come up with their own unique solutions and rely on their own individual resources. Unfortunately, Sacramento has found itself in a similar situation. But, as I know from my personal experience with homelessness, you neither know nor care whether you live on city, county, special district, or state land when you live in your car. You just need help.

The leadership of Sacramento County, Yolo County, and the cities throughout the region should consider a collaborative path forward, pool resources, and work together to build shared prosperity.

It is our moral imperative.

We have to work harder to come up with better solutions in order to create a affordable housing attraction for developers , there definitely needs to be some review of policies that are stopping developers from building and if elected i am not afraid to have that conversation because lives are at stake here our number one priority should be getting people in decent living enviroment and follow up with them on issues such as mental health and stick to the plan...