City Council Panel Backs Anti-Gang Ordinance

A Los Angeles City Council committee Monday endorsed a proposal to bar gang members from the city’s 350 parks, with violators facing up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Civil rights lawyers denounced the proposed ordinance, saying it would infringe on gang members’ constitutional rights. They compared the plan to a similar measure imposed last year by the city of San Fernando, which they also spoke against.

But members of the council’s Public Safety Committee said the ordinance would give police a much-needed tool to fight what they said is a growing crime problem in parks caused by some of the 100,000 gang members citywide.

The measure, which moves to the full council for consideration, is patterned after San Fernando’s ordinance, said City Atty. James K. Hahn. Under that ordinance, members of criminal street gangs who enter Las Palmas Park in San Fernando can be cited and fined $250. The measure was championed by Dist. Atty. Ira Reiner.