Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Park Won’t Air Anti-Gang Messages : Recreation: Magic Mountain officials say it doesn’t fit in with fun theme. A rampage sparked Santa Clarita’s request.

City officials are disappointed by Six Flags Magic Mountain’s reluctance to air anti-gang programming on its in-park television system, as the city had requested.

Magic Mountain declined, saying the anti-gang messages don’t fit in with the park’s theme of fun and entertainment. Discussion of gangs does not work with the atmosphere that Magic Mountain is trying to create for its patrons, said park spokeswoman Bonnie Rabjohn.

The city’s request followed an outburst of violence at Magic Mountain on April 17. More than 60 injuries were reported during that incident and several businesses next to the park were ransacked by youths. Sheriff Sherman Block said the incident was probably gang-related.

Mayor Jan Heidt, who first suggested that Santa Clarita’s Anti-Gang Task Force broadcast messages over the park’s 160 monitors, said the park should consider renting out the system--especially for such an important public service announcement.

Heidt said the amusement park’s stance is odd in light of the April 17 incident.

“I was surprised after what happened at Magic Mountain. I’d think they’d want a message saying there’s a right way and a wrong way (to behave),” Heidt said.

But Rabjohn defended the park’s decision. “It’s that message that’s not appropriate. Keep in mind that you as a guest are coming to have a good time and leave your world around you,” she said.

“Hopefully, we’ll be able to get to those people some other way,” said Assistant City Manager Ken Pulskamp. Other task force plans include the use of billboards, bumper stickers, testimonials from former gang members and public speakers.

Magic Mountain is willing to work with the task force, but won’t carry the anti-gang programming even if it is presented in a format that otherwise conveys fun and entertainment, Rabjohn said. She noted that park patrons are from not only Santa Clarita, but all over Southern California and beyond.

The in-park system has 160 monitors that broadcast Warner Bros. cartoons, promotions of current and upcoming attractions, highlights from other Six Flags amusement parks and promotions for park sponsors.

“The Six Flags Television is an entertainment medium, used to entertain people while they’re waiting for the rides,” Rabjohn said. “It’s almost like an additional attraction at the park.”

Programming unrelated to the amusement park chain has never been shown on the system, Rabjohn said.

Despite the April 17 violence, local law enforcement officials do not consider the park a trouble spot for gangs.

“We don’t have a problem with gang activity at Magic Mountain. We do have a gang problem in Santa Clarita disassociated from Magic Mountain. We have hundreds of little gang members here,” said Lt. Marv Dixon of the Santa Clarita Valley sheriff’s station, who also serves on the task force.

Dixon said Santa Clarita Valley’s gang presence is predominantly taggers, a trend that has grown so significantly that it is “coming close to overwhelming us.”

The Santa Clarita Valley sheriff’s station has reassigned a four-member unit created to combat burglaries and robberies to focus entirely on gangs and graffiti.