Youth participation should be allowed | Letters | Sept. 25

Published 1:09 pm Friday, September 25, 2009

More than a year ago, the City Council expressed its sense that bringing more young people into the processes of government here would be constructive and important.

That was based on a recommendation I had made to create a non-voting seat for a senior high school student selected by his or her peers.

The recommendation made it to the Community Relations Committee and won approval there. And there is where it stopped.

An enhanced concept was also introduced some weeks ago that would place a high school intern each semester at the service of each council member to further involve students in local government. That also has been ignored.

If such participation is not considered useful as so-called mature folks continue to debate many issues in heated fashion, why should the future leaders of our community sense they should be taken seriously at any time?

Even more important, just what is it we are teaching in civics and history classes about the significance of community participation?

One would hope that those continuing on the council, those who will assume office soon and all who have complained about the lack of sensitivity from the voice of the people, will join the effort to press for more opportunities for our young people to serve and to have their say.

Joseph J. Honick

Olympus Beach Road