Growing up as a youth in San Leandro, I was provided with a wonderful place to develop into a young adult. First living in the Broadmoor neighborhood for six years, then moving to the tranquil Estudillo Estates for the remaining eleven years, I was able to play with all of the neighborhood children who would become my best friends. Although my situation in San Leandro was and is one of pleasant and adventure filled years, other youths do not have those same opportunities as I was fortunate to have because of the safety and child friendliness variations.

Safety is the largest issue facing youths in San Leandro. Despite our excellent law enforcement, city streets continue to be not only places of busy traffic and fast drivers, but of violence as well. It is important to regulate speeds and traffic flow at places recognized as having a high concentration of youths such as parks, schools, and shopping centers. Violence presents another opposing factor to safety of youth in the city. It is not uncommon to hear that one of my friends has been beaten for his money or just for the “fun” of it by complete strangers. These types of occurrences not only bring unnecessary and damaging violence to the neighborhoods of San Leandro, but also can instill fear resulting in youths becoming part of the “wrong crowd” as a way of providing for what they believe is their protection. The groups of people often get mixed up with drug trafficking, which markets its product upon other youths causing a vicious cycle to occur.

To solve the violence, we must ensure that the city curfews are made very clear and enforced consistently. Now this is not to say that policy should go around specifically telling youths to go home, but rather to make sure that in especially hazardous areas the young people are protected. Another means of reducing gang affiliation and drug issues is by creating more accessible places such as the boys and girls club in San Leandro, or after school programs at the schools. These are places where the youth can go to be in a safe location where they are free to play sports, do school work, or just goof around. A sort of “night club” would be an excellent attraction for youths of the later years to find safe and exciting fun as well as meet new people of their own age. With the increase in traffic directive and the options made available for youth to spend their time in a safe setting, the problems facing the youth in the city can begin to be diminished.

Among all things, the issues which face the youth in San Leandro are the same issues faced among youth all around the world. While safety provides obstacles, there are ways in which we can combat the effects of danger and violence. Regulation of traffic in highly concentrated areas and providing areas of safe surrounding are amidst the solutions to the problems cur­rently being faced by the youth. It is important to be provid­ed with a safe environment which will promote growth and provide for a fun and flourishing up-bringing.