Politics & Government

Feuer Says He Supports Echo Park Area Gang Injunction

The city attorney discusses his priorities at Tuesdays GEPENC meeting.

During the Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council meeting Tuesday, City Attorney Mike Feuer shared some of his priorities for his upcoming term.

Feuer said, he wants to revitalize the neighborhood prosecutor program. This is a program where members of the city attorney’s office work with members of the neighborhoods to identify problems where an intervention of the law could help.

He also said he wants to work with the LAUSD to make pathways to schools safer crack down on gun violence and “be a leader in managing risk in the City.”

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During a short question and answer period, Feuer was asked his opinion on the gang injunction sought by his predecessor, Carmen Trutanich.

The injunction creates a safe zone that covers approximately 3.8 miles and includes Echo Park, Elysian Valley and parts of Silver Lake. It covers six gangs and precludes them from congregating or otherwise associating in public areas. A court hearing for the injunction will be held on August 21, the Eastsider LA reported.

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Feuer said while he supports the gang injunction, he considers it an “important ingredient among many other ingredients.”

“You’ll see me focused on prevention, intervention and suppression,” he said.

Feuer said he supports an avenue for gang members to get out of the gangs. That will give opportunities to former members who are actively working to get out by doing things like removing tattoos or getting job training.

“It doesn’t mean looking the other way or being soft on people who do bad things but saying there is a carrot as well as a stick,” he said

Most of his priorities will not be met without cooperation from the City Council. Over the last three  years, Feuer said his staff was cut from 1,000 to 827 and he will need support from the City Council to gain additional personnel to supplement for things like the Neighborhood Prosecutor Program.

“The budget was just enacted and it’s not a budget if you change it all the time, but I do need to have some flexibility,” Feuer said. “I had no responsibility for the budget I had and I hope people are receptive to some modest expansion.“


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