Hahn Calls for Curbs on Pacoima Gang

Calling a San Fernando Valley street gang a public danger and nuisance, Los Angeles city attorney and mayoral candidate James Hahn announced Wednesday he is seeking an injunction aimed at curbing the activities of the Pacoima Project Boys.

The injunction, which could take effect as early as May 16, would make it illegal for any two members of the gang to associate in public in a so-called “safety zone,” bounded by Paxton Street on the north, Glenoaks Boulevard on the east, Pierce Street on the south and San Fernando Road on the west.

“The key provision is to not associate with each other in public in the safety zone,” Deputy City Atty. Jim McDougal said. “The community will no longer have to see groups of gang members in public. This will be a zero-tolerance policy.”

The gang members would also be banned from confronting, intimidating, annoying, harassing, threatening, challenging or provoking any person known to be a witness to or victim of a crime.

“This gang not only robs your money but they rob you of a normal life,” said Hahn, speaking at David Gonzales Park, situated next to the San Fernando Gardens housing project. “The injunction will force these gang members to either end their reign of terror in this neighborhood or go to jail.”

Violation of the injunction would be a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail. The Pacoima Project Boys originated in San Fernando Gardens in the early 1980s and today count more than 200 members, though many are in jail or prison, said LAPD Det. Carlos Sanchez, a gang expert in the Foothill Division.

If enacted, the injunction would be the third such action against a Valley gang. The other two were imposed against the Blythe Street and Langdon Street gangs, both in the northeast Valley.

At a news conference Wednesday, Hahn told of a shooting last month involving the Pacoima Project Boys and four occupants of a parked car.

“The gang members walked up to the car and said the three most feared words in the English language, ‘Where you from?’ ” said Hahn, referring to the classic gang challenge.

When the gang didn’t get the answer they wanted, they fired into the car, the city attorney said. No one was injured. Thinking no one would dare call 911 on them, Hahn added, the gang members were still there when police arrived 15 minutes later.

Two were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Last year in the area targeted for the safety zone, one homicide, 42 robberies and 54 aggravated assaults were reported, according to LAPD statistics.

A small group of children who live in San Fernando Gardens and were playing at the park while the announcement was made said they didn’t worry much about the gang.

One boy, however, said he was frightened recently when a gunshot blew out his sister’s car window while he was sleeping.

“I couldn’t go to sleep very good after that,” said Eddie Gutierrez, 10.

Los Angeles Councilman Alex Padilla, who grew up in Pacoima and played baseball in the park, said the residents of his old neighborhood deserve a better life without the fear that street gangs bring.

“The strong, hard-working community of Pacoima deserves to have safe neighborhoods that are free from gang violence,” Padilla said. “Our young people should be shooting baskets in our parks--and not getting shot at by gang members.”