December 02, 2005

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Palo Alto Online

Local youth debate big issues

by Alexandria Rocha

Palo Alto's City Council Chambers are usually filled with well-dressed debaters discussing local topics from storm drains to libraries. But earlier this week, the chambers swarmed with a crowd at least 20 years younger, contesting not local, but state and national issues.

It was the Palo Alto Family YMCA's Youth and Government bill hearing night, a chance for about 40 students to deliver their ideas for new California laws to a panel of six prominent community members.

It was practice, of course, but backed by hours of research and study of the complex issues -- from homeland security to health care -- as well as brainstorming ways to make the nation work better.

"They're the future of the country. To have them participate and buy into the process and understand how they make a difference and understand their importance in the overall country and state is tremendous," said Council Member Hillary Freeman, who was on Tuesday night's panel.

The event was practice for a much larger spectacle in February. Palo Alto's delegation will join dozens of others at the State Capital for a full-scale bill hearing. The local teens will have to perfect two of the six bills they presented this week for the main event.

"It's scary, but once you get up there it's fun. It's like a cult," said Clare Richardson, a junior at Palo Alto High School, who argued that affirmative action should help people based on economic background rather than race.

In its 58th year, the YMCA Youth and Government program has grown to annually involve about 2,200 high school students in 80 delegations across the state. From September to February, the teens write bills, role play governmental positions, attend statewide conferences, and run for various elected offices.

The Palo Alto delegation has been in operation for more than two decades. Each year, about 40 students from Castilleja, Gunn, Los Altos and Palo Alto high schools, as well as Middle College at Foothill Community College, participate. They meet once a week for about two hours and many spend time on their own studying the issues.

Many of today's teenagers are accused of getting their current-events news from sources such as Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" with Jon Stewart, or worse, not getting it at all. But the students in Youth and Government are as up to date as some adult political junkies and newshounds.

"A lot of time teenagers are brainwashed by their parents or TV, but in Youth and Government, you develop a well rounded point of view," said Jane Laird, a junior at Gunn.

"Students in Youth and Government are the most politically active," added Lia Economos, a Paly senior and delegation president.

Similar to students involved with debate teams, many in the YMCA program already have interests in politics and are driven by the challenge of researching, presenting and persuading a certain viewpoint. However, many find their opinions rattled and changed by what they learn through the program. Alina Kabakova, also a Paly senior, said that mostly comes from seeing both sides of an issue.

For some it has had a major effect.

"I went from a total liberal to pretty much a moderate," said Economos.

Throughout the six months, the teen delegates learn a variety of skills, including how to run for office, speak before a group, use parliamentary procedure, dress and guide legislation motions, as well as acquire information on standing joint rules, and committee and house procedures.

"It is a fully functioning state legislature," Economos said.

Each year, the students develop a handful of bills to present at a mock hearing. They can tackle any issue, and they do. This year's six bills included changing the definition of affirmative action from race to economic background; banning newly licensed drivers from talking on a cell phone for the first six months; taxing imported goods to fund social security and pay off the national debt; requiring health care providers to charge the same amount for similar services; changing the state animal from a grizzly bear to a sea otter; and finally, legalizing industrial hemp.

In Palo Alto, the delegates have a chance to practice in front of community members, which not every team does. Last year, with Freeman's help, the hearing was moved from the YMCA center to the City Council Chambers to make the experience even more authentic.

The panel is charged with selecting the night's top two bills, although it's ultimately the students' decision what to present at the State Capitol. Freeman said the panel went with the two bills that were presented the best and seemed to be the most well thought out and researched. Legalizing industrial hemp came in first, and taxing imported goods and adjusting the health care system tied for second.

Dan Logan, executive director of the Palo Alto Family YMCA, said this year's bill ideas were on par with those that students traditionally develop. There was a bill about 10 years ago, however, that has a permanent place in his memory.

The delegates proposed a law that would make California's infamous "rolling stop" legal.

"It was great to hear because the kids obviously see it happening all around them," he said.

And for taking on major issues, Logan said it's a commonality.

"The kids perceive inequities and inconsistencies, maybe even hypocrisy, and they want to do something about it. How come this poor guy has to pay 10 times as much for medical treatment just because he has a different insurance card in his pocket? I give the kids credit for taking it on," he said.

Along with Freeman, the panel included Peter Drekmeier, city councilman elect; Larry Klein, former Palo Alto mayor and city councilman elect; Mandy Lowell, school board vice president; Steve Player, former president of the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce; and Sigrid Pinsky, a community volunteer. They didn't bother with any softball questions, but challenged the students on their arguments. Klein, for example, asked Richardson how she would end racism beyond altering affirmative action.

Sometimes it didn't go so well.

"Have you researched the accident records of teens . . . before and since the inception of cell phones?" Freeman asked the student presenting the bill calling for a six-month cell-phone ban on new drivers.

"Um, I'm sure someone in my group has that statistic, but I'm not very good at communicating with my group," responded Gunn senior David Poulton, to the laughter of some in the crowd.

Even with a few tense moments, the students' enthusiasm was clear Tuesday night.

"The program has become my life. It's the only thing I care about. I love it. I have met my best friends through it," said Economos, who said she has decided to major in global studies and international relations because of the program.

Staff Writer Alexandria Rocha can be reached at arocha@paweekly.com.

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