SIMI VALLEY : 3 Named to Panel to Curb Gang Activity

The Simi Valley City Council has appointed three residents to a task force formed to study the problem of increased gang activity.

James Grunert, a Ventura County deputy district attorney, Richard Eubeler, who owns a Simi Valley security firm, and Gary Snow, who runs a bookkeeping business, will join 10 other members from county and city agencies and community organizations.

Eubeler said that although graffiti and vandalism have increased in some neighborhoods, the task force has an opportunity to keep gang activity from getting worse.

“It hasn’t gotten to the point where it’s that severe,” said Eubeler, whose firm was hired by the Chamber of Commerce to provide extra security to keep gangs out of this year’s Simi Valley Days Carnival.

“If we jump on this and take immediate action, we can have the upper hand.”

Eubeler said he hopes that the task force can come up with ways to find jobs for potential gang members or to get them involved in sports programs.

The council, during its meeting Monday, also designated Councilwoman Sandi Webb as its representative to the task force. Councilman Michael Piper will serve as an alternate.

“I’m anxious to get going,” Webb said. “If we don’t nip it in the bud, we’re going to start having drive-by shootings . . . like the San Fernando Valley.”

Other members of the task force include Supervisor Vicky Howard, Police Chief Paul Miller and Jason Oliver, a Simi Valley High School student and member of the city’s Youth Council.

The group will research the problem and develop a set of recommendations on ways to discourage gangs. The task force will report back to the council in April.