LAUSD Sticking It To The Little League? The Sequel
Time for some public outrage. A few years back, the Los Angeles Unified School District tried to charge youth groups, sports teams, etc. for use of school facilities. Thanks to an outcry from the citizenry, the District backed off. Once again however school officials are making noise about charging youth groups substantial fees for using school campuses.The problem with this - beyond the obvious hardship it will have on these groups - is that in recent years the LAUSD has built - at great impact on many communities - new campuses with the understanding of "joint use." That is that school facilities such as playgrounds, sports fields, classrooms, etc. could be used by the community for purposes that benefit the neighborhood when school is not in session.
So it's time to gear up again and let Superintendent Admiral David Brewer know this is just not okay.
Labels: david brewer, lausd, youth activities
Posted by Mayor Sam @ 10/01/2007 12:21:00 AM
3 Comments:
Having been one of the first communities to have mixed use with our local middle school and Dept of Rec. and Parks, all I can say, it's about time. In all actually, it started with good intentions, but there have been MAJOR problems at that school since this program began. Every Monday morning, the school janitor before school starts, has to paint out all the graffitti, pick up the condoms, beer bottles, dog poop, along with all the trash. The person from Dept of Rec and Parks who's supposed to be on site when they have use of the school, is either watching TV or he's busy with his girlfriend. Illegal vendors sell their wares at the school. And what's more alarming, that some of the "youth" groups have keys to the gates. Don't get me started on the parking. It spills out to our neighborhood and we can't find parking at our own homes. And who pays for the stadium lights? So if they start charging these user groups a fee, I'm for it. We don't get paid to pick up after these people. No more free rides.
It sounds like you live in a bad neighborhood. So typically, instead of charging those groups who abuse the use, they shut it down for everyone. IF groups leave it as they found it, which should be a rule they sign, these programs are a lot cheaper than dealing with kids who join gangs instead and end up burdens to society their whole lives.
Actually, we live in a "nice" neighborhood. We never had these problems until the joint use program was started. Everyone in the neighborhood used the school grounds and respected it. These groups are from all over the city and don't adhere to the rules. And when you do file a complaint it goes to the deaf ears at Dept. of Rec. and Parks. So who ends up losing, our youths in the community because they can't use the grounds because these groups have a permit.
Good or bad neighborhood, it's a matter of respect.
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