|
PNA
Creates
Violence Prevention Committee
In
response to an increase of gun violence the PNA formed the
Violence Prevention Committee to engage the broader Santa
Monica community in addressing the issues of gun violence
in the Pico Neighborhood. In various discussions PNA members
agreed that solutions to a complex problem such as youth violence
must include prevention, intervention and enforcement strategies.
In implementing this strategy the PNA Board went into action
and accomplished the following:
• Helped organize a speak out at SM City Hall on June
15, 2004 to ensure that the Pico Youth & Family Center
(PYFC) receives funding. The PYFC is the only youth serving
agency that serves older youth (16 to 24 yrs.old) in Santa
Monica.
•
On June 28, 2004 members of the PNA along with youth and parents
provided a presentation to the City's Social Service Commission
on the root cause of violence in our community. The powerful
testimony from parent Shana Habel, whose son was shot in the
head at age 13 while walking down Virginia Avenue, led to
the Commission voting to include youth violence as an agenda
item that they will discuss during their retreat. Former Pico
Neighborhood resident and now commissioner Marizsa Bravo will
ensure that the commission advocates for increased City resources
to end youth violence in our community.
•
PNA Board members have committed to speak at every important
board, commission or elected body to ensure that the violence
in our community is not neglected. Twenty-nine youth of our
neighborhood have been killed in our community since 1989.
Enough is enough! We are asking residents to join us in our
efforts to inform that community at-large about the root causes
of violence in our community. Be a part of developing solutions
to this complex problem!
•
PNA Board members met with representatives from SMPD and Community
Corporation of Santa Monica to address some concerns CCSM
tenants had about crime and violence in their community. PNA
Board members ensured that public safety becomes a priority
for both agencies.
•
The PNA along with School District Superintendent John Deasy,
Lt. PJ Giudo form SMPD organized a panel discussion on youth
violence. The panel discussion was organized as a response
to a shooting and a police confrontation with bank robbers
directly across the Edison playground. PNA Board member and
Edison parent Irma Carranza thought that the violence was
too close to the school for it to be ignored.
•
PNA Board members developed a position paper that offers solutions
(add it with click option).
|
