SANTA ANA : Attorney Pushes His Gang Strategy

The former head of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce pleaded with the City Council this week to enact his plan to curb gang crime through the creation of a gang prevention commission and a youth activities program.

“Every time I pick up the newspaper either Sunday or Monday, I see reporting on drive-by shootings. I really believe the time is right to take some steps to deal with the issue,” said attorney Alfredo Amezcua, who completed his yearlong term as president of the chamber last week.

“Drug addiction is going on, killings are going on, 12-year-olds are doing prostitution, and I am telling you right now, we can still get a handle on this. Five years, 10 years from now we are not going to be in a position to stop it,” he told the council on Monday.

Amezcua proposed the creation of a gang commission and a special anti-gang task force of officials from the Police Department, the probation department, the district attorney’s office, the Santa Ana Unified School District, local community colleges and chambers of commerce, as well as business representatives and residents.

He also suggested implementing a hot line for reporting gang activities, distributing a bilingual booklet to parents on preventing gang behavior, developing a city directory of youth resources and starting community forums on reducing crime.

“I believe that we still have the tools for this city to take the lead and help us create a better and a safer community. I plead with you to consider this plan,” he said.

Mayor Daniel H. Young then asked City Manager David N. Ream to study the proposal and report back to the council.

Councilman John Acosta said he was particularly interested in involving the community, particularly parents.

“I think it’s very important that parents be counseled. Many times the parents are at a total loss. . . . Youngsters start running around with the wrong crowd. And I think that given a little bit of encouragement, with the support, these parents will cooperate tremendously.”

Amezcua also stressed parental involvement.

“If a parent calls an agency and wants someone to come out and talk to (a child)--who has not been in touch with the Police Department, who is not on probation, who has not committed a crime--it is very difficult to find (resource people) to come to their home and to be able to provide preventive counseling,” he said.