Keeping Things Cool in L.A.

Summer in the nation’s inner cities can often be a time of mayhem as youth grow restless and find few outlets for their energy. But the mayor of Los Angeles decided that this year would be different. He succeeded—in a big way. Violent crime was down 17 percent, murders 86 percent.

By Nicole Nasiatka, NCPC Staff

For many large cities, the summer months bring more than just warm weather and lazy days at the pool—they tend to bring an increase in crime. No school and longer days mean that troubled youth, including gang members, have more time to indulge in criminal activity. The imposition of curfews and the deployment of more law enforcement officers in crime-plagued neighborhoods are two of the ways many cities prepare for the possible peak of summertime crime. Earlier this year, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa decided that things would be different.

To curtail violent crime and gang activity, Mayor Villaraigosa initiated an anti-gang program known as Summer Night Lights. According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, the program ran from the Fourth of July to Labor Day in communities where gang activity was most prevalent. According to the Times, the program targeted at-risk youth by offering “special movie nights and other youth- and family-oriented events until midnight four nights a week, the peak time for gang activity and other juvenile-related crime.” Hundreds of new officers were also hired to help with the initiative.

Summer Night Lights pumped life into parks that were normally empty by offering games of basketball and soccer and providing music and free food. In Ross Snyder Park, located in one of the areas most affected by gang violence, an ad-hoc recording studio was set up at a recreation center. It gave young people the chance to record rhymes over hip hop beats and explore their talents.

The Summer Night Lights program hired a group of young people on the edge of taking the wrong path in life to be a part of a Youth Squad that promoted and staffed events. Those involved in the program hoped such youth-related activities would show troubled teens that there are positive ways to spend their time. Police officers were present but kept a low profile so as not to scare away the possible gang members who might want to attend the program. Organizers wanted to not only deter potential members from joining gangs but also to show those already initiated that there was a way out.

The one million dollar program proved to be a terrific investment. The communities involved in the program experienced a 17 percent drop in violent crime and an incredible 86 percent decline in homicides. The entire city of Los Angeles saw a reduction in crime as well. The city had the fewest number of homicides in more than 41 years. According to the Los Angeles Times, “From June through August, there were 84 homicides in Los Angeles, the lowest number since 1967, when there were 79 during the same period.”

Mayor Villaraigosa was able to pay for the one million dollar program through a variety of donations. Groups such as the Weingart Foundation, the California Endowment, the Ahmanson Foundation, the Eisner Foundation, the LA84 Foundation, the Wellness Foundation, Wells Fargo Bank, and the Hauptman Family all pitched in to help make this a success. An anonymous donor also contributed to the effort.

“It's programs like Summer Night Lights that prove community involvement with local law enforcement is an effective way to deter crime and create safer neighborhoods,” said Terri Kelly, NCPC’s managing director of Community Outreach. NCPC highlighted this concept through its new Celebrate Safe Communities initiative, which started October 2-4 as part of this year’s Crime Prevention Month.

Crime prevention is everyone’s job. Even though they may not have the kind of resources or budget that Los Angeles has, local jurisdictions should strive to create programs like Summer Night Lights and make them more than seasonal initiatives. Just look at the enormous success of this summer’s program in Los Angeles—not just in terms of lives saved and crimes prevented, but in terms of youth rescued from doubtful futures. Those are dividends worthy of any investment.