Simi Valley Gang Task Force Presents List of Strategies

SIMI VALLEY — The Community Gang Task Force, reestablished last year to make sure that America’s third-safest city stays as hoodlum-free as possible, presented a lengthy list of suggestions on Monday to the City Council.

The report includes 71 strategies to combat gangs by widening the traditional law-enforcement approach to involve educators, parks and recreation officials, religious leaders and youth groups.

It was initially intended to be the final statement of the task force, reorganized in November in response to a series of gang-related incidents involving San Fernando Valley gang members as well as renewed tension among local gangs.

But the Simi Valley Police Department recommended to the council that the task force become a permanent gang-fighting fixture, and council members unanimously agreed.

In addition, council members accepted the department’s suggestion that it give the council yearly reports on the city’s gang problem.

“I think this is the first step to the end of gang problems in Simi Valley,” said Councilman Bill Davis. “But we have to keep at it.”

Simi Valley has no definitive count of how many gang members reside in the city. Police say there are two established Latino gangs, with a combined membership of about 150.

Moreover, there are two Asian gangs in town, although police believe their numbers are small.

And small, if nonexistent, is the way law-and-order Simi Valley wants to keep the ranks of local street gangs.

To that end, the task force--made up of police officers and prosecutors, teachers and recreation officials, citizens and politicians--came up with numerous recommendations designed to tackle the gang problem from every conceivable angle.

Among the suggestions are:

* Having rangers from the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District report gang activity in local parks and notify police and school officials when school-age youths are seen in parks during school hours.

* Expanding the religious community’s efforts to reach young people before they get into gangs by sponsoring more citywide youth events.

* Hosting an awards ceremony at the Boys & Girls Club of Simi Valley to recognize those who quit gangs.

* Cracking down on loitering gang members by augmenting the city’s anti-loitering ordinance.

* Starting an anti-gang hotline for residents to phone in tips about local gang activity.

* Forming a volunteer adult-mentor program to help young people make positive life choices.

Council members approved the recommendations and pledged to do everything within their power to see them implemented.

But they did believe the task force needed to broaden its focus even more.

Mayor Greg Stratton said he liked the report but believes the panel should have sought aid from Ventura County’s social-service agencies to help educate parents of gang members on how to control their children.

The meeting began with a slide presentation of local youths flashing gang signals.

“The parents of all those kids should have been embarrassed,” Stratton said. “And all those kids should have been taken home and spanked.”