OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE decisions that will have immediate and profound impact on an entire community do not come along frequently. In the entire history of Alameda there have been a handful of times where the community and its leaders have chosen a path that instantly had an effect on the people who live and work in our city. The most recent example is probably the theater and parking complex, which has had a very positive impact on the business in the area and on our citizens, both young and old, who are flocking to enjoy both the movies and surrounding dining experiences.

The new Youth Development Center proposed by the Alameda Boys & Girls Club is one of those actions with that kind of impact that our elected officials can take to create a wonderful opportunity for our children.

An effort to bring a major building project to Alameda, especially one in the long-neglected West End, that will serve thousands of children over its lifetime does not seem like a candidate for controversy. And yet it is. The club's request for a portion of bond revenue coming to the city from the East Bay Regional Park District in order to complete this project has been met with vocal opposition from at least a few.

I haven't heard any arguments that the children of our community, especially those living and attending school in the West End, don't deserve a safe and enriching place to go after school, weekends and during vacation

All I have heard is that so called public money should not be used for a private enterprise, even though the Boys & Girls Club, a nonprofit organization, exists only to serve the public good and even though instances of public and nonprofit partnerships exist throughout local, county, state and federal government. For some inexplicable reason, some people opposing our efforts seem unable to consider the public we serve as part of the community. They claim they are not "the public" that government money is meant to serve.

We disagree. The children and families that we do and will serve are certainly entitled to all the services that the city and supporting nonprofits can provide. One might even argue that, in particular, the children in Alameda's West End are entitled to our very best effort to compensate for years of neglect and lack of infrastructure.

The investment being made by the Boys & Girls Club, along with the partnership of the Alameda Unified School District, which has provided the land and will use the building during the school day, creates a situation where the participation of our local government is a fantastic investment that will provide a return of years of critical youth services. It will not tap into Alameda's general fund and it will help make our community healthier and more vibrant.

We encourage our City Council to do the right thing and provide the help we need to build this community asset.

George Phillips is executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Alameda.