Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Santa Clarita Turns to Youth in Anti-Gang Effort

A city task force is looking to young people for new approaches to stop the spread of gang violence.

“We as adults think we know what the kids want,” said Santa Clarita Anti-Gang Task Force Chairwoman Cecilia Burda. “And often, we’re off base.”

Efforts by the task force have included graffiti cleanups, educating residents about gangs and persuading a West Coast chain of stores to remove from its shelves T-shirts believed to promote illegal activities.

The task force is sponsored by the city and includes law enforcement authorities, school officials, merchants and citizens.

Saugus resident Bonita De Amicis suggested creating a youth component for the group after attending more than two years’ of monthly meetings by the existing anti-gang task force.

“It was great, all these different groups working together,” said De Amicis. “It seemed to me what was missing were the young people we’re trying to address.”

The first formal session to discuss the group with young people is scheduled today at Arroyo Seco Junior High School. The school has a group of about 70 students who are looking for community service activities to participate in, De Amicis said.

Sgt. Carl Deeley, head of the Sheriff’s Department unit assigned to Santa Clarita gang and graffiti problems, is scheduled to address students about ongoing anti-gang efforts.

No goals have been set for the fledgling group, although suggestions for possible projects include peer counseling activities, increased recreation for youths, a newspaper for teen-agers and distributing T-shirts with positive messages.

The youth group could also become active in city government by attending City Council and other meetings, De Amicis said.

“My philosophy about youth is, if you empower them, they’ll go a long way,” De Amicis said.