Going out, nuisance and information about sexuality: in the youth center in Hoofddorp, young people were able to tell their stories to the council members of the municipality of Haarlemmermeer last Thursday evening. With this special council meeting, the municipality wants to reduce the gap between politicians and residents.
During the ‘council meeting’, council members talked to citizens on location – NH News
During the evening, four different themes were discussed at various locations in Hoofddorp. One of those themes is ‘young people in Hoofddorp,’ a part of society that also feels a relatively great distance from politics nationally. The young people were able to tell their stories to the council members at Youth Center Flex C. And they seized that opportunity.
Skate park and LGBTI+
For example, the local skaters, who are also connected to the center through ‘skate coaches’. They receive a budget to maintain their skate park, but notice that the local youth, who sometimes want to cause destruction, also use their park: “If the municipality would help us to build fences around the skate park, they could don’t take the fat bike with you. And they never stay more than three meters away from those things.”
Haarlemmerqueer, a group of young people that organizes activities for LGBTI+ people and maintains contact with schools, also sees an opportunity: “We notice clear differences in how much secondary schools want to think about how they can give substance to education about homosexuality, for example. If that would not come from us, but from the top, i.e. the municipality, then there would be much more support.”
“We are the link between the municipality and the youth themselves”
It does not surprise Amos Reyes Rodriguez, the social manager of the youth center, that the council members came out to them: “As a Youth Center, we are the link between the municipality and the youth themselves. Because we know and understand both sides, we can draw the lines between what they want, and how we can prevent problem behavior.”
After the first few pitches, the council members rotate between different tables, each with a different youth topic. And they not only listen, they also ask extensive questions. Not only about gender and sexuality or the skate park, but also about entertainment venues in the region and financially supporting projects for young people.
Loitering youth
One of the council members participating this evening is Kim Denie (PvdA). She sees a lot of value in the conversations she has with ordinary citizens: “You are presented with insights and stories that you simply do not get in a policy document. I can vote for something based on such a document, but if you It is very clear here that things are different, then that will really influence your choice as a councilor.”
The municipality has had to deal with a lot of nuisance from groups of young people, but Denie thinks it is important that she does not get the feeling that they are being fooled: “You often hear the term ‘loitering youth’. I prefer to avoid it, because instead of “To demonize, we are obliged to ensure that these young people have something to do. I would also be annoying if there was nothing for me at all. That is really something that we as a municipality must continue to actively work on.”
The weekly council meetings are usually held in the town hall in Hoofddorp, but four times a year the entire council goes into the area to speak to residents on location. Mayor Marianne Schuurmans explains why: “We see around us that the gap between citizens and politics is increasing, and this is one of the ways in which we as a municipality hope to combat that.”
The mayor believes it is important that everyone can have an impact on local administrators: “With an evening like this, we not only give a face to the politicians in the council, but we enable people to come into direct contact with the council members, which means they can also share their concerns much more easily.”