Looking to address a growing gang problem in the west San Fernando Valley, the Los Angeles City Council passed a motion Wednesday that seeks to increase efforts there by the Mayor’s Office of Gang Reduction and Youth Development.
The motion specifically asks for the office and the Los Angeles Police Department to report on the process and funds required to either expand the Devonshire-Topanga GRYD Zone to include the West Valley area or to create a new GRYD Zone.
“GRYD Zones are proven to help make sure our children have safe after- school opportunities that divert kids from local gangs,” Councilman Bob Blumenfield said. “We must continue to use this data and find creative ways to combat gang violence in the West Valley.”
GRYD implements anti-gang initiatives in declared zones, but currently only serves part of the west San Fernando Valley in the area of the Topanga Division.
The initiatives include education campaigns, gun buybacks and seasonal programs like Summer Night Lights, where community youth events are held in parks at night to deter them from become gang hangout locations.
The report found that there are 16 gangs operating in the West Valley, and that the amount of violent gang-related crimes have gone up over the past three years, from 177 in 2014, to 288 in 2015, to 289 in 2016.
–City News Service