ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : Never-Ending Casualties

Another weekend, another pair of gang deaths in Santa Ana.

In the year since the City Council approved an anti-gang program in reaction to a particularly horrific killing, the situation has gotten worse. But that’s no reasonto abandon the program; indeed, it shows how much it is needed in the county’s largest city.

Santa Ana registered 15 gang-related homicides through the end of May. That compares to nine gang-related killings in the same period last year; half of all homicides in the first five months of this year involved gangs. The number of gang-related assaults has also climbed, from 62 last year to 100 this year.

The violence flies in the face of a “truce” that has twice in two months seen hundreds of gang members gather in Santa Ana. But as we have said, it would be naive to expect such gatherings to end the hatred, turf wars and violence among the estimated 15,000 members of 200 gangs in Orange County. Still, such meetings are better than nothing.

The same must be said for the Santa Ana City Council’s efforts. The council approved an ambitious program last year after Mauro Vergara Meza was shot to death while driving home from a pickup basketball game at Santa Ana High School.

The program had numerous aspects, including a hot line to report gang activities, a youth recreation center and a bilingual booklet with anti-gang tips for parents. The hot line and recreation center have been scrapped, but the booklet has been published.

Another worthwhile accomplishment has been the popular PRIDE program, which features classes, trips and clubs for fourth- and fifth-graders. Despite tight budgets, the City Council managed to double the PRIDE budget, to $300,000. That’s a good idea. Youngsters have to be taught early about the alternatives to gangs, and shown opportunities outside “la vida” --the life.

There are no quick fixes for the gang problems plaguing Santa Ana and other cities. It will take time, and continued pressure from government, police and residents.