MAYOR ERIC GARCETTI
CITY OF LOS ANGELES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2014
CONTACT: Communications Office, 213-978-0741
MAYOR GARCETTI KICKS OFF 7th YEAR OF SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS
Public Parks Host an Expanded Series of Evening Events to Reduce Crime and Violence during Peak Months for Gang-Related Activity
LOS ANGELES—Mayor Eric Garcetti, along with LAPD Chief Charlie Beck and Youth Squad members, announced today the start of the seventh year of the Summer Night Lights (SNL) program. Summer Night Lights is an expanded series of evening events in 32 public parks located in areas with high rates of violent crimes. Summer Night Lights, along with Summer of Learning to keep youth engaged in learning and Hire L.A. Youth to provide 10,000 young Angelenos with summer jobs, is part of Mayor Garcetti’s Summer of Success initiative for the City of Los Angeles.
“As a City Councilmember, I created a program in 2007 called At the Park After Dark that served as a model for Summer Night Lights,” said Mayor Garcetti. “It has transformed communities once plagued by gang violence and provides safety and opportunity for L.A.’s youth during the critical summer months.”
SNL launched in 2008 and keeps city parks open until 11:00 pm, Wednesday through Saturday, for six weeks during the summer. The program provides activities for at-risk youth and their families, job opportunities, and a safe place to spend the summer evenings at 32 sites.
Last year, Mayor Garcetti raised $1 million within a month of taking office to extend the 2013 Summer Night Lights program an additional four weeks. This year, SNL will again be extended four weeks on Fridays & Saturdays at all 32 sites
Summer Night Lights will run Wednesday – Saturday, June 25th – August 9th from 7:00 – 11:00 PM and Friday – Saturday, August 15th – September 5th, from 7:00 – 11:00 PM.
For details, visit www.lamayor.org/SNL or see the attached document (English & Spanish).
During the 2013 four-week extension, gang-related crime dropped significantly at the 32 sites:
· 73.1% reduction in gang-related crime
· 100% reduction in gang-related homicides
· 87.5% reduction in shots fired
· 85.7% reduction in victims shot
· 83.3% reduction in aggravated assaults
During the extension, 85,636 meals were served, 3,000 people participated in workshops, and an estimated 137,018 visits were made to the 32 sites.
Summer Night Lights also provides at-risk youth with the opportunity for employment and professional development. Youth Squad members undergo training on a variety of relevant topics prior to the start of Summer Night Lights and receive a stipend for their work implementing the programs. Over the course of the entire 2013 program, an estimated 1,097 jobs were created, including 320 jobs for Youth Squad Members ages 17-24. The total crime cost savings to the city of Los Angeles was $9,655,376.
Summer Night Lights is funded in part by the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles, a nonprofit organization focused on creating partnerships between the City of Los Angeles and the private, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors.
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