Pacoima Addresses Drugs, Gangs

The extent of Pacoima’s drug and gang problem was underscored Saturday as about 25 community leaders met and suggested solutions that ranged from boycotting merchants who permit drug-dealing outside their businesses to opposing President Reagan’s Persian Gulf policy.

“We’re focusing on what we as a community can do,” said Jake Flukers, organizer of the seminar and coordinator of anti-drug efforts for the San Fernando Valley branch of the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People. “We’ve got to concentrate on the 95% or 90% of the kids who are not on drugs or involved in gangs.”

The seminar was organized in mid-June, but came nine days after a drug-related shooting at Van Nuys Pierce Park Apartments wounded five Pacoima gang members and sent children who were playing nearby scurrying for cover. Two reputed South-Central Los Angeles gang members were arrested.

Flukers said he recently bought his 8-year-old a new, brightly colored pair of tennis shoes. Because of the color of the shoes, the boy can’t wear them for fear of being mistaken for a gang member, Flukers said.

A Lot of Stories

“Everyone has a story,” he said. “Everyone knows that we do have a problem.”

But instead of spending most of their time swapping stories about the problem, the group tried to start finding specific answers. Some of the proposed solutions, such as energizing parents to become more involved with their children, had been heard before. But the participants hoped that their united efforts might help bring their ideas to fruition this time.

For example, businesses need to be persuaded to contribute time and money to provide Pacoima youth with more community or recreation centers, said LeRoy Chase, president of the Pacoima-based Boys and Girls Club of the San Fernando Valley.

“You always read about this community--we have no bowling alleys, no theaters, but people want the community to provide some alternative” to gang membership, Chase said.