It’s frustrating to hear “the kids are our future” from people who don’t actually believe it.
My high school experience has been unconventional to say the least. I’ve exchanged football games for campaign canvassing and school dances for rallies and protests. My five seconds of fame came as my friends and I filled San Mateo City Hall in December to protest, while simultaneously studying for final exams. Like many of San Mateo’s young residents, local politics has become more than an extracurricular to elevate college applications. The average age of the field staff on Congressman Kevin Mullin’s campaign last year was 20. That number does not include the more than 75 student organizers who showed up day by day. The Peninsula Young Democrats were Congresswoman Anna Eshoo’s “coveted” endorsement last cycle.
So why are we still fighting for our seat at the governing table?
San Mateo’s Parks and Recreation Department sponsors a Youth Activities Council, which allows for high school students to engage with city staff and systems, often for the first time in their lives. But the YAC is neither the representation that youth need, nor of what we have proven capable.
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As part of the city’s strategic goals last year, then-Councilmember Amourence Lee fought for more youth representation in government, the product of which is two nonvoting seats on the Parks and Recreation Commission. Certainly a great start, and the payoff of a lot of hard work by other young advocates, but not enough.
In neighboring cities, such as South San Francisco, Campbell, San Francisco — I’m almost certain I am missing a few — youth commissions take instrumental part in the makeup of the city government. Similar to planning, personnel, and so on, a San Mateo Youth Commission would provide valuable advisory powers to our council. Young people don’t just take up space in our parks and facilities; we hope to shape the future of our city in its housing goals, small businesses, libraries, every aspect of San Mateo. We’ve won campaigns, installed programs to help the city, and organized our residents to protect the city’s future. Just let us govern already! To add a new commission would require an ordinance from the council. Easy enough. However, youth do not qualify to be commissioners under our city charter; commissioners must be 18 years of age. To amend the charter requires a vote of the people, so you can expect to see us on your ballot soon.
It was the opportunity to work on Mayor Lee’s campaign in 2020 — and the faith she had in her team of more than 100 middle and high schoolers — that made me the leader I am today. I am lucky to be working my dream job before I go off to college in the fall, but our kids are squeezing into opportunities to engage in government because there are simply not enough spots. Not everyone will be as lucky as me if we fail to act now. If nothing more, take a chance on a young person. Our insight, intuition and desire for justice might surprise you. The kids aren’t just our future — we have been here for as long as we’ve been alive. And when we get our seat at the table, we will probably still ask you to do a TikTok with us after.
Lauren Fitzgerald is an 18-year-old youth activist born and raised in San Mateo. When not in school, she is a campaign organizer and housing and transit advocate.
I will never forget how two local high school students stepped up in 2020 to organize the Black Lives Matter rally in San Mateo -- I will also never forget how people on NextDoor yelled at these young leaders for doing the very things we need to help heal and build our communities. Always, ALWAYS bet on our younger folx to shine the light on what the issues we need to put our time, resources, hearts, and minds behind. Have a beginners' mindset and understand what you can learn from them. Stop lecturing and start listening and collaborating.
I’m a bit confused. Is this Black Lives Matter associated with the BLM groups that in the summer of 2020, committed looting, arson, and mayhem resulting in at least 25 people being killed, caused property damage of over $1 billion, and injured over 2000 law enforcement officers? I can’t imagine any of those actions healing or building our communities, or engendering listening and collaborating. If anything, they’ll do the opposite. Perhaps we’re lucky the BLM rally in San Mateo didn’t have many attendees. Or perhaps we can thank law enforcement in San Mateo for keeping the peace. I haven’t kept up, but has anything positive come out of the BLM movement, not counting the few BLM folks who used contributions for their personal gain?
"And when we get our seat at the table, we will probably still ask you to do a TikTok with us after." If this isnt the most tone deaf statement that illustrates my point - GenZ has already emotionally plateaued - in between a state of arrested development and cognitive dissonance. They know better than all of us - because they say so..stop judging me....These GenZ kids dont value hard work - they value delusional confidence. They espouse such a strange aggressive idealism rooted in remarkably zero substance - that rhetoric makes rational dialogue all but impossible....Im a millennial so im a bit closer to your age than most posters... but to me it seems you lack a personal identity here....you are searching for the meaning of life before understanding that you need to feel before you think...need to experience before you pass judgment.... so now you feel compelled to get wrapped up in social justice or whatever you want to call it - to feel altruistic - to fill whatever void you have in your soul. Very good that you have that energy in your heart - but its very misplaced. Stop telling other people what to do and help the grassroots people that YOU can. Changing one life is very possible and can change the world - changing the world is impossible and is a fruitless endeavor - so stop it. I majored in English/Sociology at UCSB w/ honors for reference. Curious where you are going to school.
Thank you for your activism, civic engagement, writing and clear thinking! At the county level we have a great Youth Commission and our County LGBTQ Commission has had youth representation most years since our founding. I've learned a lot over the last seven years from our youth commissioners and hope that your quest for similar representation at the city level comes to fruition. Keep fighting and writing for what you believe in! THANKS!!!
Unfortunately, Ms. Fitzgerald, many “kids” don’t have an understanding of economic theory, partly due to not having had much experience with earning money and paying taxes. Many “kids” may be easily swayed because they don’t have the breadth of experience to understand the other side of the coin, assuming the other side of the coin is ever discussed. I’d have to ask whether you’re perhaps equating the “people who don’t actually believe it” with folks that don’t agree with your stances? Perhaps these folks are open to listening to your views but are also comparing them to their breadth of knowledge and experience, and deciding your stance is weak. That being said good luck to you. Just be sure you’re open to constructive discussion… Many would say experience and knowledge are more important than youth.
Considering how indoctrinated you are into the right's misinformation, it is a joke that you are saying kids can be easily swayed. The only weak stance here is yours.
Well, dear readers, we have a perfect example in Owen_Day as to someone who is not open to constructive discussion. Sorry, Owen_Day, you’re not going to convince many folks of your stances if you lead with wild accusations and unfounded criticism. Emotional outbursts aren’t a convincing argument but are an indicator of the easily swayed. Perhaps after you’ve gained some experience and knowledge… I can only hope Ms. Fitzgerald is taking note of your stance, or lack thereof, and if needed, adjusting her approach.
The accusations aren't wild, as you have said Trump will be the greatest president of my lifetime and the criticism isn't unfounded, as you have spread climate conspiracies and other lies on this website. I am open to constructive discussion with people who respect other people, and your track record proves that you don't.
Owen_Day, are you alluding to what you believe is a conspiracy theory, but is the truth, in regards to COP attendees riding 400+ carbon spewing jets to the conference, using loads of air conditioning, and eating meat from methane producing cows? If these folks don’t care about their carbon footprint, why should we? Do they know something you don’t? BTW, it doesn’t appear your track record exhibits a pattern of constructive discussion either, but you gotta do you. Have a great weekend!
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(12) comments
I will never forget how two local high school students stepped up in 2020 to organize the Black Lives Matter rally in San Mateo -- I will also never forget how people on NextDoor yelled at these young leaders for doing the very things we need to help heal and build our communities. Always, ALWAYS bet on our younger folx to shine the light on what the issues we need to put our time, resources, hearts, and minds behind. Have a beginners' mindset and understand what you can learn from them. Stop lecturing and start listening and collaborating.
I’m a bit confused. Is this Black Lives Matter associated with the BLM groups that in the summer of 2020, committed looting, arson, and mayhem resulting in at least 25 people being killed, caused property damage of over $1 billion, and injured over 2000 law enforcement officers? I can’t imagine any of those actions healing or building our communities, or engendering listening and collaborating. If anything, they’ll do the opposite. Perhaps we’re lucky the BLM rally in San Mateo didn’t have many attendees. Or perhaps we can thank law enforcement in San Mateo for keeping the peace. I haven’t kept up, but has anything positive come out of the BLM movement, not counting the few BLM folks who used contributions for their personal gain?
"And when we get our seat at the table, we will probably still ask you to do a TikTok with us after." If this isnt the most tone deaf statement that illustrates my point - GenZ has already emotionally plateaued - in between a state of arrested development and cognitive dissonance. They know better than all of us - because they say so..stop judging me....These GenZ kids dont value hard work - they value delusional confidence. They espouse such a strange aggressive idealism rooted in remarkably zero substance - that rhetoric makes rational dialogue all but impossible....Im a millennial so im a bit closer to your age than most posters... but to me it seems you lack a personal identity here....you are searching for the meaning of life before understanding that you need to feel before you think...need to experience before you pass judgment.... so now you feel compelled to get wrapped up in social justice or whatever you want to call it - to feel altruistic - to fill whatever void you have in your soul. Very good that you have that energy in your heart - but its very misplaced. Stop telling other people what to do and help the grassroots people that YOU can. Changing one life is very possible and can change the world - changing the world is impossible and is a fruitless endeavor - so stop it. I majored in English/Sociology at UCSB w/ honors for reference. Curious where you are going to school.
LittleFoot – wow! Just wow! Thanks for putting into words what many are thinking.
Thank you for your activism, civic engagement, writing and clear thinking! At the county level we have a great Youth Commission and our County LGBTQ Commission has had youth representation most years since our founding. I've learned a lot over the last seven years from our youth commissioners and hope that your quest for similar representation at the city level comes to fruition. Keep fighting and writing for what you believe in! THANKS!!!
Unfortunately, Ms. Fitzgerald, many “kids” don’t have an understanding of economic theory, partly due to not having had much experience with earning money and paying taxes. Many “kids” may be easily swayed because they don’t have the breadth of experience to understand the other side of the coin, assuming the other side of the coin is ever discussed. I’d have to ask whether you’re perhaps equating the “people who don’t actually believe it” with folks that don’t agree with your stances? Perhaps these folks are open to listening to your views but are also comparing them to their breadth of knowledge and experience, and deciding your stance is weak. That being said good luck to you. Just be sure you’re open to constructive discussion… Many would say experience and knowledge are more important than youth.
Considering how indoctrinated you are into the right's misinformation, it is a joke that you are saying kids can be easily swayed. The only weak stance here is yours.
Well, dear readers, we have a perfect example in Owen_Day as to someone who is not open to constructive discussion. Sorry, Owen_Day, you’re not going to convince many folks of your stances if you lead with wild accusations and unfounded criticism. Emotional outbursts aren’t a convincing argument but are an indicator of the easily swayed. Perhaps after you’ve gained some experience and knowledge… I can only hope Ms. Fitzgerald is taking note of your stance, or lack thereof, and if needed, adjusting her approach.
The accusations aren't wild, as you have said Trump will be the greatest president of my lifetime and the criticism isn't unfounded, as you have spread climate conspiracies and other lies on this website. I am open to constructive discussion with people who respect other people, and your track record proves that you don't.
Owen_Day, are you alluding to what you believe is a conspiracy theory, but is the truth, in regards to COP attendees riding 400+ carbon spewing jets to the conference, using loads of air conditioning, and eating meat from methane producing cows? If these folks don’t care about their carbon footprint, why should we? Do they know something you don’t? BTW, it doesn’t appear your track record exhibits a pattern of constructive discussion either, but you gotta do you. Have a great weekend!
Lauren - you have it backwards. We shape you and your day will come. Let kids be kids and let's ban TikTok while we are at it.
lower the voting age and the draft age - for females as well as males.
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