Villaraigosa plans to eliminate L.A. Bridges gang program

LA Times ^ | 4/14/08 | By David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

[BurbankKarl]

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa plans to eliminate one of the city's most established anti-gang programs, shifting the money into 12 "Gang Reduction Zones" that would target sections of the city where children are at greatest risk, a high-level aide said today.

Deputy Mayor Jeff Carr said the L.A. Bridges program -- L.A. Bridges I, which works to keep kids from joining gangs, and L.A. Bridges II, which tries to get youths out of gangs -- would be phased out by Dec. 31.

The mayor's strategy will be mapped in detail late this afternoon, when he gives his annual state of the city address.

Villaraigosa's proposal caps a decade of debate over the initiative, which was created after the killing of a 3-year-old girl in Cypress Park in 1995. The scrutiny of L.A. Bridges intensified last year, after the head of one anti-gang program was arrested on charges of selling illegal assault weapons to undercover agents.

Carr, who serves as the mayor's "gang czar," said the new approach would allow the city to send resources to the children who need them most. But he also argued that the change in strategy should not be seen as an indictment of successful existing programs.

Community groups that have administered the L.A. Bridges program until now would have a chance to compete for city money as part of the reworked initiative, Carr said.

Villaraigosa's proposal comes more than a year after the city received a report from the Advancement Project, a civil rights organization, calling for an ambitious, expensive "Marshall Plan" to combat gang violence.

[BurbankKarl]

In January, Hector “Big Weasel” Marroquin, whose group No Guns had received $1.5 million in city money over a three-year period, was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to weapons charges.

[Zack Nguyen]

Why not make the entire city a “no-gang zone” and enforce the law accordingly?

[sheana]

Because that would put a whole bunch of ‘feel good’ people out of business.

[redstateconfidential]

Wasn’t that an episode of THE SHIELD?

[fr_freak]

All of these task forces and outreach programs are worthless. They only serve to make the people administering them feel good about themselves. They do nothing to deter the savagery that is gangland. If we really want gangs to go away, we need to execute those who engage in gang activity, and I don't mean after 10 years of appeals. You do a drive-by? Hanged. You engage in armed robbery? Hanged. Etc.

Any other approach will simply continue the status quo, or even allow gang activity to increase. Our forefathers understood this, which is why they dealt harshly with crime.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

A great solution to a gang problem are rural work camps, far away from the city lights. Out of sight, out of mind. Plenty of fresh air and sunshine. Lets the gangsters help improve society by doing things like planting forests.

If you work 14 hours a day, it’s surprising how little energy you have left for mischief.

If they are the ultra-violent type, they can use up a lot of passion making little rocks out of big rocks.

[Chode]

i guess KILLING them is out of the question...

[BurbankKarl]

well, they are killing each other.

[Chode]

just not fast enough to stop replacement... they should pick up the pace a l'il bit.

[Brad's Gramma]

well, they are killing each other.

Well! THAT's not nice! Isn't that against the law or something???

[ought-six]

Villaraigosa is a gang member himself, I believe.

[ought-six]

“Hanged.”

I like your line of thought, friend.