Altadena Town Hall Meeting     (4/1/2005)
by Xavier Higgs
Source: The Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley Journal

In a setting not often seen in most communities, gang members, police, community activist neighbors, and families gathered to discuss the increase in gang activity in the Pasadena and Altadena communities.

About 200 people stood and sat shoulder to shoulder at the Altadena Community Center on Tuesday, March 29, to thrash out apprehensions about neighborhood gang violence.

A nine member panel representing law enforcement, the probation department, clergy, community partnerships and the County Supervisor’s office engaged the audience in a dialogue about gang awareness. The Sheriff’s Department presented an audio visual presentation explaining the gang culture and their concerns about increased gang activity in the Altadena area.

According to law enforcement statistics, in 2004 there was an increase in criminal activity in Altadena due largely to local gangs according to FBI statistics. “This is not just a law enforcement or justice system problem it is a society problem,” says Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Captain Joe Gutierrez.

But Tahra Goraya, who is the Executive Director of Day One Community Partnership Organization, says “It also takes parent involvement.”

The Town Hall Meeting was sponsored by the Altadena Sheriff’s Community Advisory Committee and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Altadena Station.

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