Im Not a Writer, just someone who wants change

Tonight I had a chance to attend the Tracy Press Candidate forum for the 2008 Mayoral Race, I was excited to see each of the Candidates speak on the issues that are on voters minds, Community activist Celeste Garamendi, Mayor Brent Ives and Councilwoman Evelyn Tolbert all showed up and were prepared for what looked to be a good debate. But truth is, by the end of it, I was left with a face similar to one of John McCain Debate 3 Proportions accompanied by the feeling of the short kid in class raising his hand. Left out and confused why.

It seems that our glorious 18 year mayor Brent Ives is completely out of touch with the needs of the youth of Tracy and can’t seem to grasp that the Tracy Ca of 2008 going into 2009 is NOT the same Tracy Mr. Ives was first elected to lead and Our City is going to keep changing. Tonight, when Garamendi expressed her view that Jobs should be the most important priority for Tracy in the next few years, Ives Responded by stating public safety is the most important priority to him. He then went through his stances on gang control and Police enforcement during his terms. A Very Respectable note to older voters, But something didn’t sound right to me as someone that sees what is happening out in the community. What I don’t think the mayor understands is Job Growth is one of the main factors to the rise in gangs, drug use and violence in Tracy, and the lack of Good paying jobs is a reason why the public won’t be safe. See, the Conservative “Trickle down Effect” might not work in economics all too well but The Trickle down cause and effect of Parents not being able to parent is real. The last 10-18 years under Ives and with Evelyn Tolbert has proved to me that they are not in step with the changing city’s Needs.

The Tale has been told so many and sadly too many times, Our Tracy parents needing to commute to the Pleasanton/Livermore area to work for the companies with good paying jobs, Yes Good paying jobs, not the mostly minimum wage jobs Mr. Ives is so proud of bringing to Tracy. Those parents that are getting up at the break of dawn to beat the Altamont traffic, working a full days shift and then having to sit in that very same Altamont pass traffic coming home are losing their ability to keep an eye over their kids to a routine that takes up the majority of the day. And where are their kids? Well from knowing a lot of the kids of these commuter parents, I can tell you that they are doing nothing, or should I say a good amount are doing nothing positive, can find NOTHING to do in this town of ours and see the city government doing NOTHING to help them. Drug use is up, Violence is up and gang activity is up, even if our elected officials refuse to notice just because they can’t point it out on a graph. The youth in Tracy has been abandoned culturally by the local government and that is why we need Change! I see the D.A.R.E program vehicles riding around spreading the words of No DRUGS or DRINKING! But who is getting the message? Is it the kid smoking at his house while his mother is trying to get off early from her Job in Livermore? , The Kids out doing Meth and Ecstasy after school? The kids drinking at the parks? The answer is NOONE THAT NEEDS TO HEAR IT. The main reason for TEEN DRUG USE in Tracy is THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO DO, Yes, A sad excuse but the excuse I’ve heard most nonetheless. Sure the young students at elementary schools are hit hard by the message of D.A.R.E, but by High school and now even middle school, TEENAGE FRIENDS and PEER PRESSURE HIT HARDER. The Teenage years are years that THE PARENT SHOULD BE HOME MORE BEING PARENTS NOT FORCED TO COMMUTE ALL DAY!

Also I heard the incumbent politicians talking tonight about the after school programs, the sports, and even a mention of the Grande Theater programs as what they have for the youth (to everyone that is reading this, yes, they said The Grande Theater Programs, and yes, I was also confused on what they were talking about.). We need a place for teens to go and hang out, something to distract them from getting high and drunk, something that makes them feel a part of something not just some demographic of the population the City can throw a teen dance at then assume it will get them to feel included, and more importantly a place where they can and WANT to go. The City of Tracy and its mayor Brent Ives is completely lost on this. Nothing he said in his speeches tonight would make me think otherwise, same with Councilwomen Evelyn Tolbert, who gave an entire answer on what she would do for the kids without stating what she would do for the kids. Both Tolbert and Ives want to run for mayor on what they have done in the last 10 to 18yrs but what is sad is between the 10 to 18yrs they have had in the City’s government all I can see is 10 to 18yrs of abandonment of youth Culture and a complete failure to address the youth in a way that they will listen. We Need a Change!

Now to the gang problem, I will be the first one to say this with a hand over my heart, This Gang Unit that Tracy has come up with is another example how the city government has completely missed the point and is using force or hand when they need to use force of mind. The kids who fall into gang activity are not evil demons we need to exorcized out of the city by harassment and court cases. They are misguided members of the community that need to be cared for not just punished then swept under the rug. The gang wars will come harder now, With The rise in Various rival gangs moving to Tracy, it is clear that the violence is around the corner. At this Critical time we need to make sure that the groups set on helping to stop it and prevent it are not just focused on the “ghetto” and Older areas but also to the MANY new Housing developments where many of the gang members have moved into. We also need to make sure that these GANG UNITS of ours are doing their jobs and not just harassing the innocent like I have seen, Or to stop the rise in youths in gangs, how about this Mayor, GET BETTER PAYING JOBS IN THE CITY SO PARENTS CAN BE HERE PARENTING THEIR CHILDREN NOT FROM CELL PHONE CHECK UPS BUT FROM ACTUAL PARENTAL INTERACTION!

The key is GOOD PAYING JOBS MAYOR! That will bring our Commuter parents home, help us get the younger citizens more in line and build up the family unit again. Because you have not brought these to Tracy, now we see a need for more hard hitting Drug and Alcohol Programs and appropriate Gang Prevention groups to parent for them. But it doesn’t stop there, once again there needs to be more youth activities created with the actual needs of the Youth in mind not just what they think the youth wants. There needs to be a gathering place to keep kids off the street and Places for kids to express themselves. There needs to be a culture revolution, more music centers and venues, Movie theaters and other youth friendly spots, but most of all after 18 years there needs to be a change in Command and a new outlook on bringing the City up from where it is. Everyone says the youth is the Future, Well at this rate; our future isn’t looking too good.

WE NEED CHANGE!