By Laura DeKoven Waxman
August 1, 2011

Los Angeles’ successful efforts to reduce youth gang violence were highlighted in two sessions during the Conference of Mayors Leadership Meeting in Los Angeles. Conference of Mayors President Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa took the mayors to Costello Park to observe Summer Night Lights on the evening of July 21 and then convened a panel discussion on his city’s comprehensive anti-gang initiative July 23.

Summer Night Lights (SNL) provides extended evening programs in selected city parks during the summer. Its purpose is to create safe environments during the peak times for gang-related violence in communities affected by that violence. It serves the entire community – potential victims and potential perpetrators of violence. Its three primary components are extended hours and expanded activities; a youth squad in which community youth develop and staff the activities that occur in the extra hours; and community intervention workers who are assigned to each site to keep the peace in the park and in the surrounding communities.

SNL operates only in those parks located in areas that have experienced the highest levels of violence. It began in 2008 in seven parks and one housing development, has expanded each year, and now operates in 32 sites.

SNL is a part of Los Angeles’ Gang Reduction and Youth Development Comprehensive Strategy, which was developed by and operates out of Villaraigosa’s office under the direction of Deputy Mayor Guillermo Cespedes. During the July 23 discussion, Cespedes discussed the strategy’s components: prevention, intervention through both case management and violence interruption, community engagement, and suppression through on-going communication with law enforcement agencies. SNL is just one of 16 programs operating as part of the comprehensive strategy.

Joining Cespedes in the discussion was Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck, who explained that some years ago, Los Angeles’ approach to gang violence only involved suppression, and that the city’s “war on gangs” actually increased gang violence. Moving to a comprehensive strategy which focuses on prevention and intervention has led to a significant decrease in violent crimes, with last year’s homicide rate for the city the lowest since the 1960s.

Describing the development of Los Angeles’ anti-gang effort, Advancement Project Director Connie Rice commented, “’Frenamies’ came together and realized the war on gangs wasn’t working.” She explained that the effort that ensued brought together people from various sectors and disciplines, from the county and the city. Calling trust the biggest thing, Rice said it brought about huge changes. She also said that both Villaraigosa and Beck have displayed extraordinary political courage, citing, as an example, the chief’s willingness to work with gang members. Rice termed the 56 percent reduction in gang homicides around the SNL parks “game changing.”

At the session, 2nd Call Community Intervention Agency Executive Director Skipp Townsend explained the role that interventionists play in LA’s effort to overcome the disconnect between the community and law enforcement. Individual interventionists must have a “license to operate” in a particular community, where they work to diffuse tensions when an incident occurs. Their mission is to control rumors and stop retaliation. While the police provide them helpful information, interventionists do not share information with the police since that would jeopardize their credibility with the community.

Joining the discussion from the U.S. Department of Justice was Thomas Abt, Chief of Staff to the Assistant Attorney General for Justice Programs, who indicated the support of both Attorney General Eric Holder and Assistant Attorney General Laurie Robinson for Los Angeles’ approach. Abt commented that a comprehensive approach is not easy, but the evidence has shown it can be effective in addressing various forms of youth violence, and that it should include multi-disciplinary partnerships, a balanced approach which combines robust enforcement with prevention, intervention, and reentry, and focuses resources where they can be used most effectively. He also commented that the effort must begin at the top, with strong mayoral leadership, which gets people to work together and strong police leadership directed at prevention and intervention.

Summing up the session, Villaraigosa commented that LA’s efforts are working because they haven’t backed away from providing a panoply of programs, a multi-pronged approach, and have displayed broad commitment to the effort. He also stressed that they haven’t bowed to pressure to put SNL in every park in the city and have focused their efforts where they are needed most.