Why isn’t the city of Sacramento spending more on kids facing violence? | Opinion

When Measure L was passed by voters in 2022, its mission was to uplift and support programs that intervene in youth violence and help foster a better future for Sacramento’s young adults. Its passing was seen as a step in the right direction.

Measure L funds the Sacramento Children’s Fund via a 4% tax on all cannabis activities in the city, that generates about $25 million a year.

On the city’s website explaining the measure, it states that the programs chosen to receive funding “will prioritize children and youth most impacted by poverty, violence, and trauma.”

The Sacramento Children’s Fund is a critical pool of money for community-based organizations trying to help vulnerable youth seeking a better path than the one laid out for them. Yet, the first money spent by the children’s fund was not as focused on the people who need it as the program promised.

“I’m just not sure in the end we are able to direct funds to the specific priority population that are genuinely most impacted, most effected at the center of risk for violence, trauma and poverty,” Sacramento Children’s Fund Commissioner Nicole Kravitz-Wirtz said in an August 8 commission meeting, reflecting on the awards that were given.

According to the Kravitz-Wirtz, only 5% of the funds through Measure L are going to programs that focus specifically in youth violence. Less than one percent is going to youth homelessness and 55% of funds went to groups specializing in mental health.

It’s good that the city council wanted to focus on mental health, but they should’ve kept in mind the larger goal of these funds, which is to help prevent young adults from ending up on the wrong path thanks to violence. Further, some of the recipients aren’t solely focused on mental health.

For instance, one of the organizations awarded funding under the mental health designation was the Food Literacy Center. I’m sure the center does a great job, but what does that have to do with mental health?

During strategic planning discussions before funds were awarded, the commission recommended giving 60% to grassroots organizations because they need the money more than city programs do. The council voted for a 50-50 split between grassroots organizations and city funded ones, a loss for community-based organizations are more dependent on grant funding.

It’s not wrong for the council to want some of the funding to go to city programs, but they don’t seem to understand the realities experienced in communities or what Children’s Fund money is meant for.

The one investment underserving of these funds, is the skate park on 28th and B.

Pick the right programs for funds

There was a full lot on Saturday at the 28th and B skate park nestled between the American river and the Sutter Landing dog park. I wanted to see for myself the skatepark the city decided to give the money to.

Walking up to the Sutter Landing skate park, I imagined that I would be hearing skateboards clink against rails as they grind down them. them. I thought I would hear the slam of the wheels on the ramp as the boarder would go swiftly down, hopefully still upright.

But I did not.

The lot was full of people coming out of there, but they were not holding skateboards and helmets. They had towels, snacks, and sunscreen, heading down to the American River. The entrance to the skate park was padlocked even though signs said the lot should be open as it closes 9 PM every night and is open at 6 a.m. There were no signs that said it should be closed that hour. The city, through the Sacramento children’s fund, gave this skate park $750,000 that will give renovations to the park and will get rid of the five dollar entry fee.

What sense does it make to invest more than half a million dollars to a facility that on some days is mainly used as a parking lot for people to go the American River? Not much.

It’s a failed investment. It also begs the question: Is the city using Measure L funds, which go towards youth prevention programs for the wrong reasons?

Remember what Measure L funds are for

There are community organizations that were left out the inaugural recipient class of the children’s fund. Grassroots groups that could use $750,000 to keep their work going for the foreseeable future.

The youth violence epidemic plagues this city. Just last year there was a deadly weekend last September that took the lives of five young adults. Sacramento County prosecutors handled 357 juvenile cases that involved firearms in 2023, up from 222 in 2020, according to data provided by Ho’s office. The D.A.’s Office prosecuted 25 juveniles in shooting cases in 2023, up from 16 in 2020 .

This crisis will not be fixed by taking away a five dollar entry fee at a skate park that is padlocked when it should be open.

The violence that our youth experience will be lessened, however, when the funds are given to organizations that see our children on a daily basis, that can impact them before that go down a wrong path.

This is only the first round of Sacramento Children Funds recipients and so the city council, with guidance from the commission, has a chance reconfigure it with a deeper focus to what Measure L is meant for.

Public safety is youth violence prevention. That should be the only goal.