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Eric Shaw submitting comments re: funding after-school programs with the local tax on recreational marijuana.
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To the Honorable Board:
Afterschool programs are a vital part of our city's educational landscape. They provide young people with enrichment opportunities that improve academic achievement, college and career readiness, and social and emotional outcomes. Programs create safe spaces for young people in the riskiest hours of the day between 3pm and 6pm. It's no surprise that afterschool programs are effective at preventing drug use. As Somerville determines how to direct revenue from the local tax on recreational cannabis, I urge you to create a grant program with the revenue that will be awarded to protective afterschool and summer learning programs.
City leaders have stated that they intend to use taxes from cannabis recreational sales for substance misuse research, treatment, and prevention. The research on afterschool programs and drug use prevention is clear: programs are successful at it. A YMCA survey found that teens who do not participate in afterschool programs are nearly three times more likely to use marijuana or other drugs. Another study of afterschool programs that focus on positive youth development reported that program participants exhibited significantly lower increases in alcohol, marijuana, other drug use, and any drug use one year after beginning the program when compared to a control group. Programs not only keep kids supervised during the riskiest hours of the day, but they build protective factors that make them less likely to use drugs in all settings. In addition, afterschool programs are now incorporating trauma-informed practices so that children whose parents have misused substances or have suffered from the war on drugs are given the opportunity to learn and grow safely. These are only a few benefits that afterschool programs have been proven impart on young people. Closing the opportunity gap? Improving academic outcomes? Combating chronic absenteeism? Improving STEM career interest? Yes, afterschool and summer learning do all of these things too.
As a resident of your city who is committed to providing the best opportunities for our youth, I request that revenue from the local tax on recreational cannabis be directed to afterschool and summer programs. At the least, please allow that afterschool and summer learning programs be included as a possible recipient of the revenue. I appreciate the hard work you are conducting around the implementation of this new policy.
Thank you,
Sincerely,
Eric Shaw