Bernson to Seek More Anti-Gang Funding : Prevention: Gang-related incidents in the Valley increased 134% last year. The councilman is seeking a greater share of the city’s $1.4 million earmarked for youth programs.

The San Fernando Valley, where gang-related crime more than doubled in 1989, is not getting its fair share of $1.4 million in city funds proposed to steer susceptible youths away from gang membership, a top aide to Los Angeles City Councilman Hal Bernson said Monday.

“The Valley always gets less,” complained Greig Smith, Bernson’s chief deputy. To help remedy this, Smith said Bernson will seek city funding for an anti-gang program proposed by Project Heavy/San Fernando Valley, a nonprofit social service agency.

Monday, the council’s Public Safety Committee, chaired by Councilman Richard Alatorre of the Eastside, adopted a $1.4-million anti-gang plan recommended by city staff.

Project Heavy, however, was not among seven Valley-based social service agencies that would be granted money under the plan. The proposal next goes to a committee chaired by Councilman Joel Wachs, a Valley lawmaker, for further review.

Smith said more anti-gang money should go to Valley organizations because of a recent spurt in gang crime. Statistics released last month showed gang-related crime in the Los Angeles Police Department’s Valley Bureau increased 134% in 1989 over the prior year--from 510 crimes to 1,191--a greater increase than in any of the department’s three other bureaus.

The Central Bureau reported a 55% rise in gang-related crimes, and the West Bureau reported a 34% increase. The South Bureau had the smallest rate of increase, 6%, but the greatest number of gang-related crimes, 2,674.

Smith said it was not clear how much money Bernson will seek for Project Heavy. Bernson was attending a seminar in Irvine on Monday.

The agencies receiving the $1.4 million are to use it to provide services to youths susceptible to joining gangs, spending much of the money addressing problems in the families of potential gang members.

Of the total city funding package, $222,928, or 15.2%, was allocated to the Valley. City staff recommended that El Centro de Amistad, a Canoga Park-based social service agency, coordinate the Valley program.

El Centro would get $37,000 under the plan, while El Nido Services, another Valley agency, would receive $68,928, the largest single award among Valley agencies. Other agencies recommended for funding were: Juvenile Justice Connection, Pacoima Community Youth Culture Center, Maud Booth Center, SFV Child Guidance and Assn. of Educational Therapists.

Because funding is allocated to each of the four Los Angeles Police Department bureaus based on its share of gang-related crimes, the Valley would receive the smallest amount, despite having the greatest rate of increase. Although Bernson has not opposed use of this formula before, it now makes sense to give additional funds to those areas experiencing rapid increases, Smith said.

Smith noted that 35% of the city’s youth--ages 6 to 17 years--live in the Valley.

“Using gang-related crimes is the wrong criteria for allocating funds,” Smith said. “It misses the mark. Kids in gangs who are already committing crimes are not the ones we thought were to get helped by this program. We thought it was to help kids from problem homes not yet in gangs.”