Summer Night Lights

Garcetti and Youth Leaders of Summer Night Lights
Originally uploaded by CD-13

When I was talking to community members in Glassell Park after last week’s gang raid, many of my constituents asked about the programs available to help prevent kids from joining gangs or to help young people who want to get out of a gang to turn their lives around. Today I joined with Mayor Villaraigosa, other city and community leaders, and 80 young people to announce the new Summer Night Lights program that will give kids a supervised place to go and a great alternative to hanging out on the streets.

Research shows that youth are most likely to commit violent crimes during the hours of 4 p.m. to midnight, and this program was designed to attract the most at-risk youth in our city and give them something fun to do. This summer, over ten city parks will offer extended night hours and educational, recreational, and artistic activities for young people. Summer Night Lights was modeled after the successful At the Park After Dark that we piloted in Glassell Park last summer.