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Council wary of county gang initiative
  
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Elk Grove Council questions county plan for distribution of funds, commission
By Gamaliel Ortiz - Citizen Staff Writer
Former gang leader Ron Montez addressed the Elk Grove City Council on Wednesday, attesting that counseling programs helped straighten out his life.
“The little intervention I received went a long way,” he said.
Montez, executive director of a gang violence program accompanied Sacramento County Supervisor Roger Dickinson, who presented a countywide plan that would hike taxes by a 1/4 cent and is designed to fight gangs and violence throughout the region using prevention, intervention approaches such as after school programs and job training and new law enforcement.
“We don’t arrest away the problem,” Dickinson said of solely using enforcement for fighting crime. He noted that the county proposal will be multifaceted in programming and input from cities, nonprofit organizations and schools - all of which could vie for funding under two different plans under consideration by the board of supervisors.
As it stands, the proposal would give half of the revenue, expected to be about $25 million, directly to Sacramento County cities and unincorporated areas and consolidate the other half of the funds to a countywide commission of elected officials to attack crime at a county level. Up to 10 percent of the commission’s budget would be for staff.
The county will also consider a plan that would give 100 percent back to each jurisdiction.
Cities will have plenty of flexibility to use funding as they see fit, Dickinson said.
Dickinson said a major reason why he was touring area city councils meetings was to act as a sounding board to figure out how to best present a possible measure to the voters for a problem that everyone could agree upon: violence and gangs.
“I don’t think I need to tell you about the scourge of youth violence that we are presented with,” Dickinson said.
The plan, however, was met by some reservations from the Elk Grove council over how the funding would be distributed, a planned countywide commission that would require administrative costs and might limit the voice of individual cities, said Elk Grove Council Member Sophia Scherman.
“We want to be able to work with everyone,” said Scherman, who fears the plan might be divisive, as cities could compete with other cities for funds.
“It’s a balance,” Dickinson said, noting that everyone must cooperate, adding that it’s possible for one crime-fighting entity to ask a city and the commission for funding; or for a city to help fund a countywide measure to combat crime.
“I’m uncomfortable with another commission,” said Elk Grove City Council Member Pat Hume. “I think you might be taking some of the money away (with administrative costs) from what could be put toward programs.”
Hume suggested that if the supervisors decided to go with a commission plan, that the commission be responsible for figuring out and auditing funding for programs so that money is used most efficiently. Dickinson said he’d consider it.
“We’re not trying to reshape the Earth, here,” Dickinson said. “What we’re trying to do is give everyone more resources to do the kind of work that will be beneficial.” And the realities of regional districts vying for funding will have to be dealt with by working together and compromise, he said. Gangs do not respect these regional borders, the supervisor said.
Before voters can decide in November, the county supervisors must first finalize the language of the initiative - if they even want to present it to voters. Dickinson said that he is confident his colleagues will move forward.
The plan could bring in about $50 million annually and $2.25 million to Elk Grove. The supervisors are looking for a 30-year life for the initiative.
“Suffice it to say that I support this effort to fight crime in Elk Grove and in the county,” said Elk Grove City Mayor Gary Davis.
“We need to give these kids hope and opportunity,” said Elk Grove City Council Member Jim Cooper.
Also supporting the plan was Elk Grove resident Sayuri Sakamoto, an area school teacher who spoke of the importance of after school programs and shared some poignant stories stemming from gang violence. She talked about a 3-year-old victim who was shot and paralyzed.
“I really hope that Elk Grove will support this,” she said.
Dickinson said there are some dire numbers behind gangs, which prompted him to pursue a new tax to fight them. According to Dickinson: the county is home to more than 65 gangs and 6,000 members. The county also spends about $75,000 a year on one youth inmate in a juvenile detention center.
The tax hike, Dickinson said, will save taxpayers money in the long haul and fights a growing problem now.
The supervisors will hear the proposal on July 22 and alter language if they see the need to do so. No earlier than July 29 will the board decide on whether to put the gang initiative on the ballot.
“The little intervention I received went a long way,” he said.
Montez, executive director of a gang violence program accompanied Sacramento County Supervisor Roger Dickinson, who presented a countywide plan that would hike taxes by a 1/4 cent and is designed to fight gangs and violence throughout the region using prevention, intervention approaches such as after school programs and job training and new law enforcement.
“We don’t arrest away the problem,” Dickinson said of solely using enforcement for fighting crime. He noted that the county proposal will be multifaceted in programming and input from cities, nonprofit organizations and schools - all of which could vie for funding under two different plans under consideration by the board of supervisors.
As it stands, the proposal would give half of the revenue, expected to be about $25 million, directly to Sacramento County cities and unincorporated areas and consolidate the other half of the funds to a countywide commission of elected officials to attack crime at a county level. Up to 10 percent of the commission’s budget would be for staff.
The county will also consider a plan that would give 100 percent back to each jurisdiction.
Cities will have plenty of flexibility to use funding as they see fit, Dickinson said.
Dickinson said a major reason why he was touring area city councils meetings was to act as a sounding board to figure out how to best present a possible measure to the voters for a problem that everyone could agree upon: violence and gangs.
“I don’t think I need to tell you about the scourge of youth violence that we are presented with,” Dickinson said.
The plan, however, was met by some reservations from the Elk Grove council over how the funding would be distributed, a planned countywide commission that would require administrative costs and might limit the voice of individual cities, said Elk Grove Council Member Sophia Scherman.
“We want to be able to work with everyone,” said Scherman, who fears the plan might be divisive, as cities could compete with other cities for funds.
“It’s a balance,” Dickinson said, noting that everyone must cooperate, adding that it’s possible for one crime-fighting entity to ask a city and the commission for funding; or for a city to help fund a countywide measure to combat crime.
“I’m uncomfortable with another commission,” said Elk Grove City Council Member Pat Hume. “I think you might be taking some of the money away (with administrative costs) from what could be put toward programs.”
Hume suggested that if the supervisors decided to go with a commission plan, that the commission be responsible for figuring out and auditing funding for programs so that money is used most efficiently. Dickinson said he’d consider it.
“We’re not trying to reshape the Earth, here,” Dickinson said. “What we’re trying to do is give everyone more resources to do the kind of work that will be beneficial.” And the realities of regional districts vying for funding will have to be dealt with by working together and compromise, he said. Gangs do not respect these regional borders, the supervisor said.
Before voters can decide in November, the county supervisors must first finalize the language of the initiative - if they even want to present it to voters. Dickinson said that he is confident his colleagues will move forward.
The plan could bring in about $50 million annually and $2.25 million to Elk Grove. The supervisors are looking for a 30-year life for the initiative.
“Suffice it to say that I support this effort to fight crime in Elk Grove and in the county,” said Elk Grove City Mayor Gary Davis.
“We need to give these kids hope and opportunity,” said Elk Grove City Council Member Jim Cooper.
Also supporting the plan was Elk Grove resident Sayuri Sakamoto, an area school teacher who spoke of the importance of after school programs and shared some poignant stories stemming from gang violence. She talked about a 3-year-old victim who was shot and paralyzed.
“I really hope that Elk Grove will support this,” she said.
Dickinson said there are some dire numbers behind gangs, which prompted him to pursue a new tax to fight them. According to Dickinson: the county is home to more than 65 gangs and 6,000 members. The county also spends about $75,000 a year on one youth inmate in a juvenile detention center.
The tax hike, Dickinson said, will save taxpayers money in the long haul and fights a growing problem now.
The supervisors will hear the proposal on July 22 and alter language if they see the need to do so. No earlier than July 29 will the board decide on whether to put the gang initiative on the ballot.
