To foster growth and development, the city of Pomona must prioritize its children and youth. Investing in the younger generation is essential for the city's future, especially given the concerning statistics surrounding their well-being.

Why vote Yes on Measure Y, Pomona's Kids First Initiative? 

30% of the population is under 24. There are not enough services for them. Creating an Accountability Board if the Measure passes is a chance to educate them about how the government works. Accountability is built into the Kids Initiative - City Council appoints them, the staff for child and youth services will be housed in the City Manager's office and the City Council retains veto power. 

Currently, children and young adults under 18 make up approximately 24% of Pomona's population. Alarmingly, 16.4% of the city's residents live in poverty. This socioeconomic strain leads to significant challenges for young people, including high rates of violence, trauma, and adverse health outcomes. Many face issues such as violence-related harm, unintended pregnancies, substance abuse, and interactions with the child welfare and criminal justice systems.

Particularly vulnerable are transitional-aged youth, especially those between 18 and 24 who are exiting foster care. They often encounter hardships like homelessness, unemployment, early parenthood, and substance dependency. 

Within the Pomona Unified School District (PUSD), a staggering 90% of students are classified as low-income. The educational landscape is further complicated by the presence of disabilities, a significant number of English-learners, and a percentage of foster and unhoused youth. Recent data reveals that many students in PUSD are not meeting grade-level literacy standards, and only a small fraction of English-learners are reclassified, indicating systemic educational challenges.

Pomona's unemployment rate stands at 5.6%, nearly double that of the national average, disproportionately affecting youth of color and those from low-income backgrounds. Additionally, the city has only 1.49 acres of recreational space per 1,000 residents—significantly below the Los Angeles County average, which impacts community well-being. Community surveys reveal that many residents feel unsafe in local parks and believe they are poorly maintained, highlighting a clear disconnect between city resources and resident needs.

Mental health is another critical concern. A study by the Pomona Student Union indicated that only 41% of local youth are aware of available school mental health services, and even fewer feel comfortable accessing them. The ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has only intensified these issues. The pandemic highlighted existing inequities, particularly affecting Black, Latinx, and Native American communities, who experienced the highest rates of illness and economic hardship. The "learning loss" resulting from the pandemic disproportionately affected students of color, English-learners, students with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ youth. This deepening of disparities calls for urgent action to address these systemic inequities.

In response, the Kids First Initiative seeks to create a sustainable funding stream to tackle these challenges. The initiative seeks to address the structural conditions that contribute to negative behaviors among youth and families, build resilience, and enhance community support. By supplementing existing programs and forming coalitions between public agencies and non-profit organizations, the initiative hopes to foster a healthier, more supportive environment for Pomona's youth.

Given these pressing needs, the Pomona Editorial Board strongly endorses the Kids First Initiative and urges voters to support Measure Y. Investing in the well-being of children and youth is not only a moral imperative, but also a strategic necessity for the future prosperity of Pomona.

The Pomonan editorial board consists of opinion journalists whose perspectives are shaped by their expertise, research, discussions, and established principles. This board operates independently from the newsroom.