Program to Counter Gangs Gets Extension From Council

Hope in Youth, a fledgling anti-gang program backed by Cardinal Roger M. Mahony and other religious leaders, won a promise from the City Council on Tuesday that Los Angeles will continue funding the as-yet unproven project through December.

With Hope in Youth supporters packing the council chambers, Councilman Richard Alatorre pushed through the extension, despite staff recommendations that the funding be continued only through June pending further independent evaluation.

The 10-2 vote to provide $1.8 million for its share of the countywide project was good news for the organization, which last month lost further financial support from the county. The council also changed its funding rules so that Hope in Youth can turn to the county, state or federal governments for matching funds, instead of all three, as the city had required.

The lopsided vote belied the heated debate that preceded it. Alatorre castigated Gloria Clark, an administrator in the Community Development Department, for reporting that program operators were not performing satisfactorily.

“I am offended. . . . I’m gonna remember that, Gloria,” fumed Alatorre, who paced at the side of the council chamber, muttering expletives, when several council members raised questions about extending the program beyond June 30.

The only “no” votes were cast by Councilwomen Laura Chick and Jackie Goldberg, who wanted to wait for further evaluation, which is expected today, before deciding whether to continue the project.

An earlier report showed that the project had 146 staff members but just 154 young clients. Councilwoman Ruth Galanter said Tuesday that she resented being chastised for asking about the numbers for a project whose concept she believes in.

Councilman Mike Hernandez said later that the extension will give the program the full two years it was promised when the council decided to support it. Even with the $1.8 million authorized Tuesday, the total city expenditure on the project will be $3.7 million, well below the $5 million initially committed, Hernandez said.

He said the staff misrepresented the January report by the Evaluation and Training Institute.