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The Savage Spinmeister - Youthful Letter Writer Seeks to Influence ARD |
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Written by Gary Moffat
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Dear Savage,
It has come to my attention that new laws about skateboarding have been voted on in Auburn at a 4 to 1 vote to eliminate skateboarding in yet another park. There is only one place in Auburn where skating is aloud. As a 13 year old frequent user of the only skate park in Auburn, I would like to request your insight as to how we can get a better understanding of the community for the need of these parks.
The community states that they like to see the youth of Auburn doing constructive things with their free time. Skateboarding is an art that takes dedication and skill to achieve as biking or golf is to others. We do not all enjoy the same passion for the same sport. But the youth of Auburn would like to have a place were they can go practice skateboarding with out the risk of being cited. Their are more than one place to hit golf balls in Auburn along with the golf course, and you can bike ride just about anywhere on the street or on one of the trails.
There are few places were teenagers like myself can hang out with his/her friends and skate without the risk of getting in trouble with the police. If Auburn made another skate park, there would be less disagreements with teenagers who wish to have fun skating. I have also thought about the recent situation with the graffiti that took place and I feel if there were more then one skate park available there may not be such a problem. As I ride around with my parents I notice that Auburn is growing allot. Yet I have not see anything that is going to benefit the teens of Auburn. Any idea in a way that I can progress with this matter would be helpful.
Respectfully,
Lucas E. Carlucci
Dear Lucas,
It is not often that the Savage receives such a well reasoned—if grammatically flawed—letter from a person so passionate about righting a perceived wrong in our community. Moreover, your intelligent communiqué is light years beyond most letters published in Auburn’s other newspaper. For those reasons, I will ignore the fact that you are just 13, and I will do my best to help you transcend the political morass in which you are mired.
First, I must be honest and let you know that I am not sympathetic to your cause. I do not share your view that skateboarding is an art. Quite the contrary, along with hip hop, Nintendo, Britany Spears and Extreme sports, I view it as another insidious culture killer adopted by America’s youth. Also, the relentless screeching, crashing and banging of skateboarders irritates the hell out of me. . .but that’s the Savage’s problem, isn’t it? I’m supposed to be helping you.
There are at least four major problems you face in getting Auburn’s recreation district leadership to respond to your pleas for more skate parks, even though I find the notion of keeping all of our teenagers willingly confined in concrete enclosures to be vastly compelling:
#1, Nobody listens to kids, but you already know that. As a 13 year old, you have no vote and no voice, that’s the reality of it.
#2, A major deal killer is that you represent a “special interest.” You are concerned about a single issue, and along with your peers, you risk losing any credibility you may have if you make a big stink about the skate parks without getting involved more broadly on a political level. It’s sort of like the group of adults who are upset about the new winery ordinance. They are opposed to further development of the wine industry in rural Placer County, so they are predicting the end of life as we know it and writing nasty letters to the newspapers. They have even set their lawyer loose on our nice County Supervisors. In the process, they are alienating the very people they seek to influence.
#3, NIMBY. This is an acronym that means “not in my backyard.” The biggest problem you’ll face is that you will find nary a homeowner to support the construction of any new skateboard parks in their neighborhoods. You’d have a better chance of getting a new dog park approved.
#4, Auburn has already spent $380,000 to build you kids a skate park out on Pacific Avenue near the dam overlook (also known as “Doolittle’s Folly,” but we’ll save that for another lesson). I haven’t been out there, but I hear it’s a good one. With our public coffers drying up rapidly and workers being laid off, it is unlikely any further funding will be earmarked for skateboard parks.
So, what should you do? While I understand you are an artist who is committed to your sport (and I appreciate and applaud your enthusiasm), you might consider broadening your interests. Here are a couple of ideas: join the Boys & Girls Club; read a book a week over the summer; clean up your room and help your mom around the house. . .like mow the stinking grass without being nagged.
If you are truly bent on influencing our elected leaders, however, there is one way to get action: try civil disobedience. You need to create a statement to get attention. One way to do this would be to mobilize the entire skateboard community, and schedule an illegal event on Lincoln Way. Have all of your friends make banners (“Auburn Unfair to Kids,” “What About Us?,” “Bill Kirby for Mayor”) and at the appointed hour, skate downhill as far and as fast as you can before the cops bust you. You’ll get great local press and maybe even make it on KCRA.
Another possibility is to have a sit-in during an ARD board meeting. Have all your friends show up with your boards and when the time for public comment is announced, get up and state your demands. Then, tell the board you’re going to hold your breath until you turn blue if they don’t give you what you want. I can’t promise any of this will work, but it could certainly make this summer one your parents will never forget.
Gary Moffat is a journalist and owner of Carpe Vino in Old Town Auburn. He can be reached at
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