TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager, in cooperation with the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) and other community resources, to provide the staff and assistance to initiate a series of Long Beach Community Family Fairs, with the first event to take place in early January in Bixby Knolls. This event could include a youth forum, roundtable discussions and a resource fair to highlight the many positive opportunities available for youth in our City.
DISCUSSION
The terrible incident that took place on Halloween night in Bixby Knolls will have a significant lasting impact on the young people involved, their families, the surrounding neighborhood, and the entire City.
Our justice system must be allowed to work, and let the facts be sorted out in the court of law.
This was an isolated incident, born out of a number of factors unique to that time and place, that does not define what Long Beach or the vast majority of our youth are about.
However, the outpouring of interest and concern about this incident gives our City an opportunity to bring the community together and discuss the many positive options that are available for our youth.
In order to help the community following the Halloween incident, City officials and staff are working with community leaders and the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) to facilitate the healing process on many levels.
A Community Family Fair is an opportunity for the community to come together to discuss and refocus on the many positive resources available in our City for our youth.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
COUNCILMEMBER RAE GABELICH, EIGHTH DISTRICT