The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
City Manager Regina V.K. Williams outlined Tuesday what she called a comprehensive plan to curb youth violence that includes bringing efforts to end gang violence under one umbrella organization.
H er 90-minute presentation to the City Council included a proposal to begin a gang prevention task force that will oversee "prevention, intervention and suppression efforts," she said.
Her proposal, which will create four new city wide committees, emphasizes attacking the problems that lead youths to join gangs.
The council gave Williams the go-ahead to implement the program, which will cost about $720,000, some of which will be spent on new city positions.
"It's a very impressive proposal," Mayor Paul Fraim said, adding, "I hope there aren't so many moving parts that we can't get them all working together."
The plan was in part the result of prodding from Vice Mayor Anthony L. Burfoot, who pleaded with city officials for more than three years to come up with a way to combat gangs.
Under the plan, four new police officers and three civilian employees, including a gang coordinator, will be hired. The police estimate Norfolk has 68 gangs with as many as 1,800 members.
Gangs have carried out some of the city's most violent crimes in recent years, including a mob beating death of a man in East Ocean View in 2007.
Williams said programs to target troubled youths will be expanded, including a summer jobs program and a Second Chances program to include female youth offenders. Second Chances helps former offenders find job training and employment.
Much of the intervention effort will be carried out by social workers. Once young people have been identified as gang members, they will be referred to social workers, who will work with family and friends.
School Superintendent Stephen C. Jones said the program "will break down the silos" that have prevented the police, the school system, social services and other agencies from sharing information.
Burfoot said he is pleased, except for the composition of a Policy Leadership Committee, which will guide gang-fighting efforts. Police Chief Bruce P. Marquis, Williams, Jones and other city officials will join six residents and one minister on the committee.
Burfoot asked why elected officials weren't included.
"Elected officials change the dynamic of people coming together, of people saying what they really want to say," Williams said.
Burfoot disagreed.
"Council members are the people answerable to the voters," he said. "We need to be at the table."
Harry Minium, (757) 446-2371, harry.minium@pilotonline.com
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Ignorance
To the previous bloggers in response to the article on reducing violence-GET OVER YOURSELVES. This is the exact problem with our country today. Negative, disrespectful and arrogant citizens. How about you take a step back out of your ignorant world and truly think about this effort. Someone is actually attempting to make a difference in Hampton Roads crime-and you want to automatically bash it? What is wrong with you all? While Regina Williams has been working day and night writing a proposal and making ends meet with this project, ya'll are sitting at your desks, whining about your miserable lives and how the world isn't fair. Why don't you try and get involved in your community and see the hardworking people trying to make our 7 cities safer.
And in response directly to "42"-I'm truly glad I didn't hear you say that ignorant comment face to face. You need a reality check. Clearly you have grown up in the middle class or higher. You don't have the slightest clue what these kids endure day to day. All they know is gangs and violence. And you really want to be caddy and petty by belitteling them over the internet with "Count to ten (If they know how). I'm a preservice
Same O same O -
More buracracy. Yippee. So all my kid needs to do - to get guaranteed job training and other self enhancing development aid is break the law, form a gang, say they are a gang banger, sounds fantastic. Finally a way to elevate above the mundane of daily public school drevel. We also agree with keeping elected officials out and at bay, they are known for taking credit for areas that they had little to do with thus discouraging private citizen involvement and progress. And in closing, this is just another attempt to re-inventing the wheel. at a loss of $750,000 tax dollars. How many well behaved - deserving students, would benefit with access to that amount of money for their after school programs. Nope, gang bangers rule and the Judges are impotent.
something that might work
The old Roman practice of Decimation.
When you arrest them and find out they are a gang member.
Once a week line em up.
Have them count to 10 ( if they can ).
Force numbers 1 thru 9 kill the ones with the number 10.
I like this one.
The city is going to discuss ways to "reduce" gang activity. They are like cockroaches. Why would you want to reduce the activity? Would you only spray half of your house to keep the roaches under control or would you elliminate them altogether? The problem is anytime you come down on gang activity, you will have a slew of lawsuits claiming racism. And the cities are more afraid of that than they are of the gangs themselves. Face it, gangs are mostly made up of blacks and hispanics. Put away the racism card and fight them head on.
I can't
wait to hear what her proposals are for this. I can't imagine what she'll think is the way to approach this ever increasing problem in this city. Afterall this woman wanted to appoint a convicted felon to head up an anti crime office. Perhaps she'll recommend hiring a gangbanger for this undertaking. Wouldn't that be spectacular?
The only solution to twart gangs is
Good Education, Jobs and creative outlets. This has been true for the last 80 years at least. Idle hands make for the devils work. Please remember movies; blackboard jungle, wild in the streets, west side story,situations prior to the mad prevelance of street drugs and turf wars. So good lick with your idea ms. manager. anotrher band aid and waste of tax dollars, Why did you disolve the PACE program? 'Police Assisted Community Enforcement" - and I suggest doing away with the junior high, middle school concept in Norfolk, breeding grounds for civil disobedience. Return to K through 7 and 8 through 12, that would go along way, then make school uniforms mandatory in all public schools, remove all opportunites to display 'defiant unity' scarves, clothing etc.