Measure X is the half-cent sales tax approved for a period of seven years by Oceanside voters in 2018 to maintain and improve general city services including police patrols; crime, drug, and gang prevention; fire, paramedic and 9-1-1 response; pothole repair, street maintenance; improved infrastructure; maintain safe, clean parks and beaches; and address homelessness. The funds require citizen oversight by a committee and independent audits. | |
Measure X Funding Expands Youth Prevention & Intervention Programs | |
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Studies show that a balance of prevention, intervention, and suppression strategies are critical for reducing gang activity in communities. Prevention programs can target youth at risk of gang involvement and help reduce the number who join gangs. Intervention programs and strategies can provide services for younger youth who are actively involved in gangs to steer them away. Measure X revenue is helping to expand these strategies in Oceanside.
In fiscal year 2023/24, the City is committing $800,000 to a wide variety of prevention, intervention, and suppression programs serving more than 800 youth in Oceanside. The addition of another $200,000 in Measure X funding to implement further programming will be evaluated by the City Council in September.
City staff are working with community organizations throughout Oceanside to partner on programs that feature a mentorship component with the goal to divert Oceanside youth from engaging in gang and drug activity, which enhances community safety and provides a pathway for brighter futures.
All of the following programs will collect data and will be evaluated throughout the year to ensure we are funding programs that have a maximum impact on Oceanside youth.
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Transformational Consulting | This program uses goal setting, career exploration, and positive reinforcement to build leadership skills, reduce truancy, and reduce dropout rate in youth. The program will support 500 chronically truant youth in the Oceanside Unified School District. Project Transformation will provide mentorship and teach social and emotional skills. | |
REACH Afterschool Program Expansion | Vista Community Clinic's Libby Lake REACH and Balderrama REACH programs are afterschool youth development efforts that provide over 115 at-risk youth with a higher level of support through evidence-based curricula and mentorship. The program includes educational assistance and recreational activities for teens. | |
Weekly Sports Clinics with SOS | The Oceanside Samoan Cultural Committee / Save Our Streets (SOS) is an organized group of dedicated volunteers that work to promote the needs of Oceanside youth. They hold weekly sports skills clinics for over 200 Oceanside youth, along with tournaments and mentoring. | |
Unicorn Homes works to support safety, housing, education, and inclusion for LGBTQ+ youth in our community. The program is coordinated through the North County LGBTQ Resource Center, and will increase the capacity for youth foster care, and provide therapy, outreach, and advocacy for youth. | |
Oceanside Youth Partnership Mentoring | The Oceanside Youth Partnership is a character- building and mentoring program designed for at-risk teenage youth. The 16-week program coordinated by the Police Department aims to reduce juvenile delinquency and offer alternatives to gangs and substance abuse. The weekly activities focus on positive values like responsibility, perseverance, trustworthiness, and discipline. | |
Art Participation with Mural Projects | This program helps students learn about the environment and technology while creating works of art. The Art Miles Mural Project has facilitated more than 5,000 murals painted by over ½ million people from more than 100 countries, addressing social issues that affect youth around the world. The benefits of art for youth include problem-solving, creativity, and connection. | |
Oceanside's Finest Basketball Club | |
This program is focused on mentoring through basketball coaching. The coaches teach not only basketball skills, but the values of hard work, honesty, integrity, and leadership development.
The main goal of the program is for youth to learn important skills that will translate in the real world, resulting in recruitment for high school basketball or even collegiate teams.
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Club Crown Heights Youth Enrichment | Lifeline Community Services operates Club Crown Heights at the City's Crown Heights Community Resource Center. The no-cost after school program provides enrichment activities to youth who might otherwise go unsupervised. It offers youth homework assistance, tutoring, outdoor sports, field trips, and creative programming designed to develop youth leadership and community engagement. | |
Other Proposed Projects Include... | The City Council will soon be evaluating a Measure X proposal to expand on these programs for Oceanside youth by adding $200,000 to the budget to implement a wider variety of opportunities, such as more sports programming and additional arts and cultural programs. The item is anticipated to come before the Council on September 13. | |
New Fire Station 1 Construction Progress | | |
Funded largely by Measure X with help from a Department of Defense grant, the construction of new Fire Station 1 is underway and making significant progress at the corner of Civic Center Drive and N. Freeman Street. The new station will replace the nearly 100-year old downtown firehouse at the corner of Pier View Way and N. Nevada Street. | |
Measure X Funding Pier Bridge Designs | | |
With Measure X funding, the City recently completed Phase 1 of the Pier View Way Bridge and Lifeguard Headquarters Project, which evaluated reconstruction/restoration options for the white concrete bridge structure, including the lifeguard headquarters below. Known as the “Pier View Way Bridge," this structure was built nearly a century ago in 1927. Despite repairs through the decades, the concrete bridge is past its useful life. At the Council meeting August 23, the option to reconstruct the concrete bridge and construct a new lifeguard support facility was approved. Measure X will continue to fund the preliminary design and environmental phase of this project. It is expected the preliminary design, environmental document, final design, and then permitting will take several years to complete. | |
Citizen's Oversight Committee | | |
The next Measure X Citizen's Oversight Committee meeting takes place December 14, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. All are welcome! | |
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