Better solutions needed for Oak Park teens and parents
Guest opinion
By Douglas Hewitson Former member, Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council

The late Bob Kahn came to our Oak Park Park Municipal Advisory Council meetings at least once every other month and asked the question, "What are we going to do about teen drinking in Oak Park?"

Even then I knew he was right. I made some suggestions for teen alternatives. But I feel I let Bob and the community down by focusing on and obtaining additional sheriff's coverage in Oak Park, as well as our own library funding and ZIP code. But sadly, not much directly for the kids.

Parents, take a minute and go back to your childhoods and ask yourself what you did on Friday and Saturday nights. And then ask, what are we providing our kids as alternatives to hosting or going to teen drinking parties?

Over my 19 years in Oak Park I have had two young men who, as sons, have been through all the local drinking and drug parties I care to see and know about. This includes the home of one elected official where teens have been known to drink.

Let's get real parents. All of our kids aren't just sitting around Friday and Saturday nights cramming for the SAT or drinking hot chocolate, making smores and singing around the fire.

So, as a San Fernando Valley" kid, how did my life compare to that of an Oak Park teen today? I can remember going to the occasional amusement park, not that long of a drive. Bowling alleys were close by, there were concerts at Devonshire Downs, and the real Universal Ampitheater. Not far away was motocross, drag racing and so forth.

Fast forward to today- no outdoor amphitheater in Camarillo, no motocross tracks or jet ski lakes in Ventura County, no go-cart track in Agoura, no paintball fields locally. Where is the Oak Park video arcade/Internet café/teen club?

We have a government-funded archery range in Oak Park, and no paintball field? Which do you think teenage boys and girls would prefer?

So while many of us blame popular culture, bad influence by other kids, massive beer advertising, alleged lack of sheriff's coverage, even poor supervision by the football coaches (are they really expected to be tucking in our kids at night, too), what is it that each of us is doing as a parent?

Some parents supply their homes (knowingly or not) for teen alcohol parties, or give their high schoolers "beer to go" so they stay off the hard stuff. Is this really a good idea?

And why has Oak Park High School declined the sheriff and California Highway Patrol Every 15 Minutes program- at no cost to Oak Park? Is it that we think no high school kid in Oak Park would benefit from this highly successful program, or that we think an extra 30 minutes spent in the classroom will help him or her get into Harvard?

With the Kahn family approval, I'd heavily contribute to a "Bob Kahn Center" for teens. I also strongly support Ventura County's Straightup program (www.straightupvc.org) and the Venturay County Limits program (www.venturacountylimits.org).

Mostly, I just want to see us generate tangible solutions.

Let's hear from some more parents. Let's hear from some of the kids and not bash them for their ideas. Let's nurture those ideas.

Kids, parents, if you want to form a committee to discuss treen substance abuse in Oak Park, do it. You can call me toll free at (877) 577-3966 to discuss it. I sure don't have all the answers, but I'm sure together, as a community, we can make things a lot better.

As Larry the Cable Guy says, "Let's get 'er done."