Admit it: we’re all anticipating this year’s election. Everywhere you go the latest news on Obama, McCain, Biden, and Palin can be seen and heard, loud and clear.
In less than two weeks voters all over America will be at the polls choosing the next president.
And while voters of Union City are checking off who they want to see in the White House, they will also vote on multiple measures, one of them being Measure UU.
What is Measure UU exactly? If passed, the measure will continue funding for public safety, such as the city police, firefighters, emergency supplies. In addition, $500,000 will be put into use for youth violence prevention programs in Union City.
Now read the words again in fine print, youth violence prevention programs. Sounds ideal considering in the past thirteen months there have been four homicides among young people under the 23 years old within the community.
These violence prevention programs would create programs to educate the youth about violence and reach out to young people and their families who live in hostile environments. Since Union City is full of diverse people, bilingual counseling would also be offered.
Some may complain that violence is only problems within certain areas of the community, but the saying if one falls, we all fall applies to Union City. Problems are not going to solve themselves, and the city has to take a step towards solving the problem. The solution can be found if support is given on election day.
In the past few weeks, multiple outreach groups in the city have been going from door-to-door in an effort to gain support for the measure. To publicize the measure, signs have been placed on lawns of multiple homes to get the word out.
I admit right now on my lawn is a sign that says “Vote Yes on Measure UU”, yet last Sunday afternoon, a pamphlet was left on my front door stating all the negative effects of Measure UU. The information provided in the pamphlet stated examples of how homeowner’s taxes would greatly increase should the measure pass. I am not sure if they did not notice the sign on my lawn.
Measure UU would be funded by residents of Union City. The amount each resident pays depends on the size of their property. For example, the average homeowner would have to pay $1 monthly, while condominium and townhome owners would pay less than a dollar. Doesn’t sound too bad of a deal – pay a $1 a month and make a difference in reducing the violence in our city.
In reality, Measure UU has been a part of the city in the form of Measure K, which was passed in 2004. Measuere UU would extend the purpose of K for the next eight years.
What makes UU different from K is that taxpayer’s would pay less than what they’re currently paying. If not passed, the city will lose $2.7 million that is currently supporting policemen and firemen.
Imagine what would happen if UU was not passed: there would be drastic cuts in police and firemen services. One possible cut would be closing down one of the four fire stations in Union City. Reducing just one fire station in the city could make a huge difference if an emergency occurs.
The New Haven School Board has endorsed Measure UU. Most of the youth in Union City attend schools in the New Haven District. District members have an impact on student lives, but it doesn’t stop at school. Besides going to school, the youth have lives out of the classroom that need to be accounted for.
There is no time to waste. Measure UU needs at least a two-thirds vote from the city in order to put a stop to the violence in. Before the situation gets out of hand, Union City needs to step up and give a hand to the youth who cannot live in a community where they do not feel safe. We need to support this measure before it is too late.
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