County Issue / Security at Fair...

Marcos Vargas, Executive director, El Concilio

I believe the first priority needs to be the safety of the public, including the young people that attend the fair. So I think that it’s appropriate that some limitations be placed on youth who are on probation or who are gang affiliated--in regard to admittance to the fair or possible curfew. But I think, at this point, the problem of gang violence has escalated to the point that the public safety must come first. However, it would be inappropriate to deny admission to young people simply because they’re wearing baggy clothes or what is considered gang attire. My only concern would be that we step too far. I remember at one point, if you had long hair you were considered a drug addict. I believe much more emphasis needs to be placed on gang prevention programs before gangs become an even greater problem, rather than reacting to issues once they escalate, such as violence at the fair. It’s important that we place more emphasis on prevention programs in the community, such as academic enhancement and employment programs targeting at-risk youth.

Michael Paluszak, General manager, Ventura County Fair

I don’t believe it’s unfair to anyone. It doesn’t prevent people from attending the fair, it prevents certain attire and insignia that certainly is known to make people uncomfortable. The fair is supportive of the Police Department policy and it’s not something that’s new this year at the fair. It’s something that we continue to do because we’ve had continued success with the program in terms of limiting problems significantly on the grounds and it seems to have been well accepted by everyone attending the fair. If it’s a condition of their probation, this event is no different than being anywhere else in violation of their probation. Those conditions are in place, not because we impose them, but because at some point the probation department imposed them. We’re merely cooperating. Our goal at the fair is to create a wholesome family atmosphere where families and people of all ages from babies to senior citizens can come and feel secure and have a good time. All this helps achieve that goal and that’s the reason we are so proactive--to ensure everyone’s enjoyment of the fair.

Michele Konkle, Ventura County deputy probation officer

The fair is typically a mixing or a bringing together of juveniles from all over the county, which would or could include a mixing of all of the gangs from the county who are rivals, and limiting certain individuals’movements has, in the past, avoided or helped to avoid violent confrontations. I agree that prior behavior, as well as terms and conditions of probation, dictate how much freedom an individual can have to guarantee the safety of the community and the individual. The wearing of gang attire is an instant visual indication that an individual could be involved in gang activity, thus possibly provoking an incident that could otherwise be avoided. There is a very small percentage of juveniles on intensive-supervision probation, and this small percentage has historically committed the majority of youth crimes. These are hard-core delinquents, many of whom are gang members, and removing them from an environment where there is a high potential for the coming together of different factions helps us to have a safe fair.

Steve Bowman, Lieutenant, Ventura police

I think the fairest approach is to make the event as safe as possible for as many people as possible. The policies involving gang attire and probation are not the same issue. Probationers have made an agreement with the court to remain out of custody providing they follow certain rules. They have the choice of whether to go to jail or remain free and part of that choice may involve having their freedom limited, so that’s their personal decision to accept probation. The ban on gang attire is not designed to keep people out of the event. Everybody’s welcome to the event, including people who associate or are involved in gangs. The communication expressed in gang attire is inflammatory and has been shown to cause injury to other people, and that’s the purpose for keeping the attire and that communication out--to reduce the potential for violence that involves not only the people wearing the attire, but everybody at the event.

Roberta Payan, Program coordinator, Westpark Community Center, Ventura

First of all, I think when you talk about gang attire, it’s not what mainstream people think it is. A lot of people think that gang attire is people wearing black Raider clothing. That’s not what it is. My understanding of the policy is that if they have explicit markings or indications on their clothing that show their affiliation with a criminal street gang, that’s what’s going to prevent them from going into the fair. So it’s different from what people think. As far as it being fair, unfortunately I think a lot of policies regarding this population have been developed and implemented and I know it’s done for the safety of everybody concerned, but, personally, I question whether or not it’s violating their civil rights. As far as the safety of the people at the fair, last year was the first year that they did it and I think it was a very quiet fair. I think that with a lot of the things that are going on now with gunfire in our area, it’s a reasonable request on the part of the police. But it’s no guarantee.