Long Beach : Gangs Task Force Reports

Admitting that the city has gangs was the first step. Now, with the help of the business community, Long Beach should tackle the gang problem by emphasizing programs on an elementary school level and by targeting minorities.

Those are among the findings in a report presented to the City Council on Tuesday by the city’s task force on substance abuse and gangs. The council referred the report to City Manager James C. Hankla and to its Public Safety Committee.

As part of a lengthy list of recommendations, the task force suggests focusing on at-risk minority youths by, among other things, expanding recreational and remedial programs with bilingual or minority volunteers. This would bolster “the self-image of our minority youths” which has become “distorted due to the lack of opportunities available to them,” the report states.

To get rid of drug and alcohol abuse, the task force also recommends attacking the problem by emphasizing programs where students counsel other students.