Education and Youth

By Mario Juarez

Our youth are our future. We must do everything in our power to ensure that they are set along a positive path and are well prepared to thrive adn prosper.

Although the Council is not in charge of the school district, we can have an impact on education. We can help retain committed teachers, partner to provide after-school recreational facilities, mobilize external supportive resources and help to impact student retention.

Teacher retention and support with "Loan Buy-down Program"

One key to classroom success is the presence of committed, invested teachers. My program will provide a substantial benefit that will help to retain teachers over the long term.

As of March 2008, 3,200 residential units are available for sale in Oakland. They are generally not selling and in this buyers' market, sellers are discounting price, paying concessions, offering upgrades and looking for other creative ways to move properties. My Loan Buy-down Program, that would initially be available to teachers, works like this:

• Interest rates are set by lenders at the specific market rate - based on their underwriting criteria.

• For example, the monthly payment on a $500,000, 30 year loan with a fixed 6% interest would be around $2998.

• Many lenders allow borrowers to "buy-down" interest "points" in effect securing profit at the front end of a loan.

• Assuming a 1 point buy-down to discount ½ point in interest rate, it would take 10 points to buy-down a 6% interest to 1%.

• The seller could sell the property at the asking price and then apply concessions equal to the desired buy-down amount.

• Participating lenders would agree to the points buy-down.

• A 1% loan, fixed for 30 years will deliver a monthly payment of $1608; a savings of $1389.

• Participants would generally be required to maintain qualifying employment and unit residency to retain program advantages for at least 15 years.

• While initially for teachers, this program can ultimately be expanded to include other lower income, Oakland-based public service employees

District 5 has very few parks and other such facilities so our children have minimal access to safe and positive after school recreational venues. I will work to partner the city's Department of Parks and Recreation with school sites to develop wholesome after school programs for our children.

Business and Community Mobilization to Beautify Schools

Working in cooperation with school principals, I will lead efforts to enlist and coordinate volunteers from business and the community to help maintain and beautify our school sites.

Supplemental Funding

My Safety Plan describes a way to secure funds from the imposition of a specific new user fee in partnership with the Port of Oakland. I would seek to direct a portion of these proceeds for student retention activities, determined and directed by the OUSD Board, to address the correlation between drop-outs and their relationship to crime and public safety.

YOUTH

When I was a teen, the Summer Youth Employment Program allowed me to work at the Spanish Speaking Citizen's Foundation, public programs such as this provided a constructive outlet for my youthful and creative energy. I believe that Oakland has many effective social programs, but their availability and operations are not as well coordinated or properly advertised as possible. I will work to increase their effectiveness and capacity.

To begin this effort, I will inventory and list on my website youth related programs with complete information on what they do, their population served, contact information and any other relevant information in an easy to navigate manner.