Councilman Seeks $5 Million for Anti-Gang Programs

Seeking to address an upsurge in gang-related crime in Los Angeles, Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas this week called on his colleagues to earmark $5 million to expand the city’s gang violence prevention programs.

Ridley-Thomas’ proposal, which will be considered by a council committee, comes in the wake of reports that violent crime in Los Angeles was up 7.5% in the first six months of the year, compared with the same period in 1999. Homicides increased 28% over the same period last year.

“The rise in violence cannot be separated from the under-funding and poor coordination of key gang prevention, diversion and intervention programs,” said Ridley-Thomas, who leads the council’s Ad Hoc Committee on Gang Violence and Juvenile Justice. “We must give these programs the kind of funding necessary to get back on track, and it’s got to happen now.”