Thread: Los Angeles: City Council members say gang crisis warrants..

This will be a monumental job.
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City Council members say gang crisis warrants faster action
BY RICK ORLOV, Staff Writer
LA Daily News
Article Last Updated:04/21/2007 12:20:48 AM PDT

A lack of significant new funding to launch Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's anti-gang program drew complaints and concern Friday as the plan received its first official review.
The plan, unveiled during the mayor's State of the City address, allocates $168 million for intervention and prevention programs, but just $16.8 million of that is new funding.

At a meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee on Gangs and Youth, City Council members and others said the gang crisis warrants faster action.

"I think we know what a lot of the problems are and where they exist," said Councilwoman Janice Hahn, who represents the Harbor Gateway area. "We shouldn't be wasting time."

Harbor Gateway was not among the eight gang-reduction zones outlined in the mayor's plan.

Harbor Gateway has become a symbol for much of Los Angeles' gang problem. On Dec. 5, immigrant Arturo Ponce, 34, was shot and killed in the neighborhood, and 10 days later, 14-year-old Cheryl Green was shot when she was believed to have crossed a gang line.

Deputy Mayor Arif Alikhan said the mayor's initial program is merely the first step in a long-term prevention and intervention campaign.

"We are starting in areas where we have existing programs to maximize and leverage the money that is there," Alikhan said. "As we get more funds, we will be able to expand to other areas."

Alikhan said the mayor plans to appoint an interim director to conduct initial assessments in four prime areas — Foothill, Northeast, Newton and Southeast — and the eight identified gang-reduction zones.

Former state Sen. Tom Hayden urged the city to work on a variety of levels to combat the problem.

"You have to sit down with the governor and deal with this," Hayden said. "Prisons are the incubation of where violence occurs. And I urge you not to forget juvenile halls. Any kid that can be saved early is to the good."

http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_5718635

LA has hundreds of thousands of these gang members. They virtually control large sections of the city. The overwhelming majority are Hispanic and are the children of illegal immigrants who came into LA in the 80"s and 90"s. This is the future of all our large cities unless we can get illegal imigration under strict control within the next few years.

I say let LA rot. You reap what you sow. You wanted all those illegals, now you deal with it

What a joke Lost (since the illegal loving mayor has been there..) Angeles has become!

Ya, talk to the governor, he's also been part of the problem, soon you won't have any money as all your tax paying citizens are moving out.