By Professor Armando Vazquez-Ramos, President and CEO
The California-Mexico Studies Center, Inc.
Now that congressional leaders have introduced legislation for police reform, it is imperative that national, state and local leaders develop a massive summer jobs program for youth, or brace for a long hot summer.As the highest segment of the 45+ million unemployed, we need to create millions of summer jobs to activate the labor force and give young people hope, economic benefits and an opportunity to enter or re-enter the job market.
This will require an infusion of public employment funding to channel the synergy generated by the protest movement around the George Floyd killing, and enhance much needed police-community relations left simmering as we face the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a new civil rights movement has emerged, a new War on Poverty and Unemployment must be created this summer, or the simmering ashes of the 2-week unrest will rekindle.
Like the Public Works policies of the 1930’s due to the Great Depression, and the War on Poverty triggered by the L.A. 1965 Watts Riots, there needs to be new ‘bailout’ funding for our high school and college unemployed youth in the 14-24 age group.
Unlike previous employment training and subsidized jobs in the 1970’s, which relied almost entirely on federal funding, a new War on Poverty and Unemployment should be in partnership with school districts, colleges and universities, labor unions and the private sector.
Please send questions or comments to: armando@calmexcenter.org
