Mayor Hahn Urges Congress to Fund Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Programs Press Release June 17, 2004

Los Angeles – Mayor Jim Hahn today hosted a gang prevention conference and urged Congress to vote against a White House proposal that cuts juvenile justice and delinquency programs by 40 percent. Mayor Hahn said programs need more funding in order for cities to successfully curb gang violence.

“Innovative gang prevention and intervention efforts in Los Angeles cannot be sustained unless federal juvenile justice and delinquency prevention programs continue to receive additional funding,” said Mayor Hahn. “Keeping our communities safe and providing positive opportunities for youth is my top priority which is why I am urging Congress to vote against a decrease in federal funding of these programs and to fully fund programs with proven results.”

Mayor Hahn sent letters to the House and Senate on the heels of the gang prevention conference he co-hosted today with the City of Los Angeles Human Relations Commission to bring together elected officials including City Council President Alex Padilla and Councilmembers Tony Cardenas and Janice Hahn, community leaders, law enforcement and educators to share ideas and recommend new initiatives to prevent youth from joining gangs. The conference also featured several entertainment industry representatives including film director John Singleton, screenwriter Tyger Williams, and actress/community activist Kim Fields, in order to discuss how the industry can create positive images for at-risk youth.

So many of our kids turn to movies, music, and fashion for guidance, which is why I am so pleased that we are here to work together to examine how the image and appeal of gangs can be changed,” said Mayor Hahn.

Panel discussion topics included: The Impact of Gang Activity on Los Angeles; Cutting-Edge Approaches to Reducing Gang Involvement; Dynamic Forces that can Help to Create Hope in Our Community – the Fashion and Entertainment Industries (moderated by Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group President Nina Jacobson).

Panelists for the day-long event included President of the Los Angeles Urban League John Mack, Father Greg Boyle founder of Homeboy Industries, Former State Senator Tom Hayden, Parents of Watts Executive Director “Sweet” Alice Harris, Wide Receiver for the Cleveland Browns Dennis Northcutt, and community leader and Executive Director of Communities in Schools of Greater Los Angeles/San Fernando Valley William “Blinky” Rodriguez.

“For decades, we have worked tirelessly to rid our street of gangs. We have had truces, we have had injunctions and we have embraced hundreds of different intervention programs. And unfortunately, we continue to be plagued by gang violence. While I commend all of these efforts, we are continuing to neglect the biggest piece of the puzzle-gang prevention,” said Councilwoman Janice Hahn. "Our only hope to rid Los Angeles of gang violence is to grow up a generation of kids who will choose not to join a gang in the first place.”

“Los Angeles has 75% of the State’s gang-related crime,” said Council President Alex Padilla. “It's vital that we take a two-pronged approach by being vigilant in our enforcement of the law, while at the same time leveraging our resources to provide positive alternatives for youth so that we can stop gang violence before it starts.”

“While so many people are concerned about controlling and subduing gang violence, we believe that investigating ways of preventing gangs exercising their influence in the city is very important,” said City of Los Angeles Human Relations Commission Executive Director Rabbi Allan Freehling. “Therefore, this is a day dedicated to exploring creative ideas so that we are united as a community to deal with this phenomenon and eradicate it once and for all.”

Mayor Hahn and the LAPD are working diligently to reclaim Los Angeles neighborhoods from the grip of gangs. Last year LAPD was able to reduce the number of gang-related homicides and shootings because of an unprecedented number of community members who came forward with information. Today’s conference addressed ways in which the community and public and private organizations can work with the police department to alleviate gang crime.

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Office of Mayor James K. Hahn
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Los Angeles, CA 90012

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