Teens Question City Hall Candidates

This past week a panel of 15 teens actually sat across from some City Hall Candidates. Why is this odd? It normally isn’t teens that are involved in this process, nor do they make the decision of who will actually be in the City Hall. But this time they do, I believe this city has realized that it will be the teens who will be here in the future and it really will effect their lives.

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Each teen was part of a group called, “Neighborhood Service Organization’s Youth Initiatives Project” and there were over 100 people listening to this meeting. The kids asked some very smart questions that while it may always be on everyone’s mind it is never really asked. Take a peek at the questions below:

Detroit Free Press reported the following questions:

-  How will you guys help to lower the trafficking of drugs?
-  What can you do to get kids home safely?
-  How are you going to stop the gangbangers, robbers and other violence?
-  I live in this neighborhood, and I’m tired of hearing gunshots. What are you going to do about it?

The teens went on to question each candidate what they were like as teens and if they did anything to help the community. Unfortunetley the article didn’t have the response to these candidates but it sounds like there is a very smart group of teens that would possibly make some really good leaders one day.

I think this is a very good thing and maybe something we should get more teens involved in. After all if we know what they really think and feel maybe we can all come together to help one another. Sure there are some that just won’t care but there are others out there that do care and are normally looked over. Give teens the chance to stand up and speak out and we may start hearing some really good solutions. Do you think the teens should get a say in who runs for City Council? What do you think?

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