Anthony Howard retweetledi
Another politician giving us problems with zero solution. Great bit for political points, what are you actually going to do to help?
@CoryBooker - you're 100% correct that the costs of youth sports are out of control. Here are 3 things those in government can do to actually put your money where your mouth is.
1. Stop subsidizing private equity companies from coming into communities and taking over physical infrastructure (rinks, fields, etc...). They are coming into towns and taking tax payer money to build and operate facilities - they are billion dollar businesses let them foot the bill.
2. Stop allowing equipment companies to create monopolies. In hockey alone, prices of equipment have gone up 45% since COVID because of private equity mergers and a few big companies having a vast majority of the market share.
3. Invest in staff and directors for youth sports in communities. Many times these positions are held by volunteers who cannot put in the time and effort to run programs efficiently. So private entities come in to operate clubs, raising prices on everyone. Not to say some of these private entities don't do a good job, but on a macro level it raises costs on everyone.
This is not just a cost issue. It's a mental and physical health issue.
Our kids have never been more obese and physically unhealthy. The exorbitant costs price people out of sports sending kids to screens. Lack of sports in our communities decreases a sense of togetherness, teamwork, and belonging that are so important for our kids' life skills development.
I'm so tired of politicians talking like this only to do absolutely nothing. You talk a great game, put your money and capital where your mouth is and actually do something to affect some positive change.
Cory Booker@CoryBooker
The cost of youth sports has gotten out of control. Parents are getting squeezed. Kids are feeling the weight. We cannot allow it to become a luxury good available only to those with means.
English
