Should people up to age 24 be treated as children?

That's the direction that sponsors of the measure to extend San Francisco's "Children's Fund", Proposition C are headed. The measure labels 18 to 24 year old adults as "Transitional-Aged Youth".

The politicians behind this plan are in "handout" mode now, but labeling people as "Transitional-Aged Youth" could later be used to take away rights of young people.

It's not hard to imagine some future measure restricting persons designated in city programs as Transitional-Aged Youth from fully engaging in "adult"activities.

Let government treat you like a child so you can be eligible for more "free" stuff, and you may soon find them treating you like a child in ways that aren’t so nice.

Treating young adults like dependent children isn't only risky for those affected. There’s ample reason to doubt whether creating a new category of adults in San Francisco to be dependent on government services is really in the city's best interests.

Restricting the use of taxpayer money for decades to come isn’t such a hot idea either. If Proposition C passes, millions of dollars more will be removed from the discretionary part of the municipal budget for the next 26 years. Does anyone really know what the needs of San Francisco will be, or the city's economic situation will look like, in 2040?

Those of us who are young adults want more bottom-up solutions. We need reduced barriers to economic participation and entrepreneurship, not more dignity-erasing handouts and top-down programs.

Please sign this petition to respect the dignity of young adults in San Francisco by asking city voters to vote NO on Proposition C.