As a young professional, I understand that I could be filling my after-work schedule with fun activities like Happy Hour at a local bar, going to the movies or dinner, or spending time with friends and family. Instead, I spend some of that free time sitting in City Hall, or gathered around the living room of a fellow city resident, discussing upcoming policies and initiatives going through the Council Chamber.
Of all the City Council Meetings and other citizen-led groups I’ve participated in over the years, at twenty-four, I am almost always the youngest in attendance.
This is disparaging to me.
While the mentality of Congress is “do-nothing”, local politics is thriving with new plans and legislation being assembled and researched daily. Within the walls of City Hall, our elected councilmembers are changing the city; the way it looks, the way it feels, the way it allows us all to live, work, and play. It’s true, local-level politics is just as important as national politics and state-level politics.
Unfortunately, the youth who live within our City are indifferent. I believe it stems from the national level of politics: if the people I voted into Congress don’t do anything, why should I bother voicing my opinions to those who represent me at the local level? They’ll just ignore me too, they think.
That’s the wrong attitude to have. As students and young professionals, we have every right to speak, and we should. This is our City, too. Even if you’re not interested in going to Council Meetings at City Hall once a week, at the very least, us youth should stay abreast of what’s being discussed within those walls. Whether you’re for or against a specific policy, let the City Council know. They value your insights and opinions more than you think. To get involved, there is a plethora of means to this end. You can write a letter or help campaign for a cause or a person. For those who enjoy public speaking, you can talk to the Council, face-to-face.
Whatever you decide, please don’t take the side of indifference. It’s true, there are a lot more fun things to do than sit in a City Council Meeting. But even an hour of your time can make a significant difference in your life and the lives of others in your community.
