Members of the Albany-Dougherty Gang Task Force participated in the conference which was sponsored and hosted by the National League of Cities.
Three panelists — from Tulsa, Okla., Boston, Mass., and Fresno, Calif.— explained their cities’ efforts to curb gang violence through targeting gang affiliation and youth development and fielded questions from listeners.
Gang violence has been the recent topic of choice for city leaders after increasing numbers of crime are being attributed to gang activity.
Monroe Nichols, the special assistant to the mayor of Tulsa, touted his city’s partnership with private businesses, law enforcement and area schools to create a model to spawn programs geared towards youth development and education.
“We really need to focus on how we can re-direct our young people,” Nichols said. “That’s why, we believe, that a comprehensive model, targeting the gang problem from the top down and funded through grants and private businesses, is the solution for a long-term, anti-gang program.”
Jennifer Maconochie, the director of planning and research for the Boston Police Department, said that one program her department has success in involves the use of officers and social workers going to homes of at-risk youth and bringing their message into the living rooms.
“Our gang squad commander has the belief that the best way to see where a kid is coming from is to sit in his living room,” Maconochie said. “That kind of interaction seems to be having an effect.”
Albany Mayor Willie Adams said after the conference that it is encouraging to see people united for a cause.
“Some positive things that came out of this, I believe, is seeing people coming together for a common cause,” Adams said. “This coming year, our major goal will be to reduce crime and the perception of crime — I don’t believe we have as much crime as some say we do, so we need to tackle that perception.”
Adams said that he and the City Commission are dedicated to providing the support — from both a morale and financial standpoint — to develop programs to deal with gang-related issues.