LONG BRANCH — Neptune High School senior Dyese Davis, 18, said Monday she was glad to see elected officials, educators and community leaders from across the state come together the day before legislation aimed at cracking down on gang activity is expected to be introduced by U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez and cosponsored by Rep. Frank J. Pallone Jr., both D-N.J.
"You can't fully eradicate it but you can lessen it," Davis said following a roundtable discussion held at Long Branch High School.
As part of the Neptune Mayor's Youth Advisory Cabinet, Davis and the 11 other members were invited to sit in on the event that brought together close to 30 education, elected and housing authority officials as well as prosecutors, pastors, community and civic organizers.
The focus is on prevention, recidivism, increasing police presence and utilizing data, Pallone said.
Long Branch was one of the first towns that brought community leaders together to address the problem, Pallone said.
"That's a big part of it," Pallone said about combating gang activity. "It's really important that we acknowledge a problem exists and we figure out as the State Police did what the nature of the problem is, because until we have that data and we acknowledge it, we won't be able to do anything to get rid of or cut back on gang activity."
Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson Briggs said she was participating in the event to share ideas with other community leaders.
Menendez said with an estimated 244 gangs embedded throughout the state's communities the mission is to make towns safe and secure as well as to save young people from becoming involved with gangs.
Neptune Deputy Mayor Randy Bishop said cash-strapped municipalities that already have had to cut back on essential programs are unable to provide the resources needed to keep kids' interest away from gang activity. He hopes regionalized programs will combat the problem.
"Gangs are excellent at communicating across geopolitical lines. We aren't," Bishop said.
Menendez first introduced the Fighting Gangs and Empowering Youth Act in 2007. The new legislation would allow the U.S. attorney general to make available grants for projects targeting at-risk youth and juvenile offenders and policing efforts. While the bill toughens sentencing of such crimes, it also would provide programs to help with the transition from prison to jobs and active members of a community.
"We need to preserve these young people the best way possible," Menendez said. "It will be challenging but it's a challenge we have to take."
Michelle Gladden: 732-643-4095; mgladden@njpressmedia.com; twitter.com/mgladdenAPP
"You can't fully eradicate it but you can lessen it," Davis said following a roundtable discussion held at Long Branch High School.
As part of the Neptune Mayor's Youth Advisory Cabinet, Davis and the 11 other members were invited to sit in on the event that brought together close to 30 education, elected and housing authority officials as well as prosecutors, pastors, community and civic organizers.
The focus is on prevention, recidivism, increasing police presence and utilizing data, Pallone said.
Long Branch was one of the first towns that brought community leaders together to address the problem, Pallone said.
"That's a big part of it," Pallone said about combating gang activity. "It's really important that we acknowledge a problem exists and we figure out as the State Police did what the nature of the problem is, because until we have that data and we acknowledge it, we won't be able to do anything to get rid of or cut back on gang activity."
Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson Briggs said she was participating in the event to share ideas with other community leaders.
Menendez said with an estimated 244 gangs embedded throughout the state's communities the mission is to make towns safe and secure as well as to save young people from becoming involved with gangs.
Neptune Deputy Mayor Randy Bishop said cash-strapped municipalities that already have had to cut back on essential programs are unable to provide the resources needed to keep kids' interest away from gang activity. He hopes regionalized programs will combat the problem.
"Gangs are excellent at communicating across geopolitical lines. We aren't," Bishop said.
Menendez first introduced the Fighting Gangs and Empowering Youth Act in 2007. The new legislation would allow the U.S. attorney general to make available grants for projects targeting at-risk youth and juvenile offenders and policing efforts. While the bill toughens sentencing of such crimes, it also would provide programs to help with the transition from prison to jobs and active members of a community.
"We need to preserve these young people the best way possible," Menendez said. "It will be challenging but it's a challenge we have to take."
Michelle Gladden: 732-643-4095; mgladden@njpressmedia.com; twitter.com/mgladdenAPP
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