Asemblymember Mendoza’s
Joint Powers Anti-Gang Taskforce |
Rationale
The group obviously agreed that gang activity does not respect city boundaries. Very often local gang-members cross boundaries and become problems in the other jurisdictions. There was a majority consensus that it takes a multi-faceted approach to solving gang issues. On the crime-fighting side, enhanced communications, information sharing and sharing of resources will be helpful; coupled with enhanced abilities for prevention and intervention by offering youth alternatives, career advancement opportunities and jobs.
Bill
We need a community-wide approach to solving the gang problem.
Assm. Mendoza seeks to bring together local law enforcement agencies, municipalities, school districts and the business sector as a joint powers group to both share and enhance crime-fighting resources by applying for grants and other funding and also to create new job opportunities and training/re-training avenues and also seek out and promote existing job opportunities for youth. The joint powers could be similar to those used for transportation funding and other purposes. The bill would establish a pilot program in our District and several others, to ask for funding for at the very least a coordinator and a grant writer.
Assembly Member Mendoza’s Qoutes
"Gang violence is everyone's problem. It takes a united approach to deter their violence, save our kids and take back our streets."
"The JPAG approach is a new and innovative idea that minimizes cost, pools resources and maximizes our strength to fight back. It helps us send a strong message to violent gang members that the community is united, that our officers will work together to find them and that their violence will be met with swift and just punishment. But at the same time, it also sends a caring message to the kids who are struggling to stay away from their grasp. That message is: we care and we're here for you with life-saving alternatives like positive recreational activities, training and jobs."
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