SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS IS A GREAT SUCCESS

SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS IS A GREAT SUCCESS
September 10, 2008

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Los Angeles: At a press conference this morning in Baldwin Village’s Jim Gilliam Park, Mayor Antonio R. Snl_close_2_3Villaraigosa and Chief William J. Bratton announced significant reductions in violent crimes in the areas surrounding the City’s eight Summer Night Lights’ parks. Developed in partnership with USC Football Coach Pete Carroll’s “A Better LA” program, Department of Recreation and Parks, Los Angeles Police Department, Department of Cultural Affairs and the Los Angeles Unified School District, the Summer Night Lights program targeted eight park facilities in the City’s Gang Reduction and Youth Development zones by expanding programming, after-school activities, athletic leagues, art initiatives and family programs.

The eight targeted parks were: Southwest Area’s Jim Gilliam Park, Hollenbeck Area’s Ramon Garcia Park and the Ramona Gardens Recreation Center, Northeast Area’s Cypress and Glassell Parks, 77th Area’s Mount Carmel Park, Newton Area’s Ross Snyder Park and Foothill Area’s Hubert Humphrey Park. Communities surrounding the Summer Night Lights parks experienced a 17% drop in violent crimes, an 86% decline in homicides and a 23% reduction in aggravated assault after the program’s eight-week run.

Grateful for the support of the Mayor’s office, Department of Recreation and Parks’ staff and community members, Chief Bratton stated, “This summer, thousands upon thousands of people came out into their parks and enjoyed them in ways they never did before. . . . a lot happened this summer. A lot happened in a positive way and it prevented a lot of negatives from happening.”

Speakers also included Councilmember Herb Wesson, Councilmember Wendy Greuel, Police Commission Vice President John Mack and the Mayor’s Director of Gang Reduction and Youth Development Reverend Jeff Carr. The Summer Night Lights program is funded entirely through philanthropic donations. Reverend Carr raised nearly $1 million for the summer program.

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