The City of Long Beach has been selected to join a U.S. Department of Justice National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention (Forum). The national designation will enable the City to apply for federal grant awards to implement its Safe Long Beach Violence Prevention Plan (Safe Long Beach). Long Beach is one of only five new cities in 2014 selected to join the Forum and receive a grant aimed at preventing youth and gang violence. The Long Beach City Council formally accepted the grant and designation at its public meeting on Nov. 11.
“It is an honor to be recognized on a national platform for our City’s collective efforts toward protecting our youth and preventing violence in families, schools, and communities,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “This designation will further support implementation of Safe Long Beach, providing a framework for citywide safety and improved quality of life.”
The City of Long Beach was eligible to receive the federal designation as a result of the Safe Long Beach Plan, which was approved by City Council in May 2014, after over two years of community outreach and preparation. Safe Long Beach addresses a broad safety agenda aimed at reducing all forms of violence, including domestic abuse, child abuse, elder abuse, hate crimes, bullying, gang violence, and violent crime. The plan draws upon the City’s many existing assets to target violence at its roots and attain its goal of building a safer Long Beach by 2020.
Long Beach crime statistics continue to show a positive trend, with the number of reported violent crimes at their lowest level in 41 years, according to the City.
The Forum now consists of 15 U.S. cities that share ideas and best practices to tackle the issue of youth and gang violence. Established in 2010, the Forum is designed to raise awareness and drive action through coordinated prevention, intervention and enforcement strategies. To enhance these efforts, the federal government provides technical assistance to Forum cities as they work to promote positive youth development and build strong, safe communities. Other cities designated this year were: Seattle, Washington; Louisville, Kentucky; Cleveland, Ohio; and Baltimore, Maryland.
For more information on Safe Long Beach or to view an electronic copy of the document, visit lbvpp.com .
Source: City of LB
