Agencies and Organizations Meet to Coordinate Reduction Strategies
 
SALT LAKE CITY – Mayor Ralph Becker believes the recently formed Salt Lake City Gang Reduction Forum will help address Salt Lake City’s gang issues. Members of the group include community leaders, government officials and law enforcement experts who are already working individually to address gang violence. The goal now is to coordinate efforts and create a clearinghouse of ideas and strategies that can be used effectively to curb gang activity.
 
The Gang Reduction Forum, assembled under the direction of Mayor Becker, meets on a regular basis in order to reach an improved understanding of the community’s gang problem and decide on the most holistic and sustainable way to take action. Mayor Becker has asked his Community Liaison, Michael Stott, to coordinate the work of the group and provide organizational vision and support.

The group’s initial focus is to address the problem from a variety of angles and create partnerships, services, and programming that will be sustainable. The group has already mapped out the existing gang reduction efforts in the community and is working collaboratively across agencies and organizations to identify gaps in those efforts and improve the overall approach to the growing gang problem.
 
Three key elements of gang reduction are prevention, intervention, and suppression. The Gang Reduction Forum concluded that prevention and intervention efforts need to improve and recently formed committees to focus on those two elements.
 
Prevention refers to activities aimed at preventing members of the general public from joining gangs.  These activities might include educating kids and parents about the dangers and signs of gangs and improving access to positive activities. Intervention refers to activities aimed at intervening in the lives of known gang members and those who are at high-risk of joining.  With intervention, a group of collaborating agencies may create a personalized intervention plan for a gang member to address a variety of needs and risk factors in areas such as school, home, work, free time, relationships, substance abuse, and patterns of attitudes and behaviors. 
 
In announcing the group’s formation Mayor Becker stated “We recognize there is a problem. We want to better understand the problem, our resources, our strengths and our weaknesses, then move forward in a well-coordinated collaboration between governments, community groups, and residents to truly make a difference.”
 
Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank added, “The Police Department is committed to working with members of our community to impact gang violence in our neighborhoods.  The Mayor’s commitment of participation is a crucial component to our success.”
 
The Forum’s efforts may also be helpful beyond City boundaries. Some participants, including the state, county, and city, are considering creating a gang reduction framework that could be used by other cities experiencing gang problems similar to those in Salt Lake City.
 
The Gang Reduction Forum has held three meetings and will continue to meet on a monthly basis. Members of the group include representatives from the following organizations:
 
·        Utah Adult Parole & Probation
·        Utah Board of Juvenile Justice
·        Utah Commission on Criminal & Juvenile Justice
·        Utah Division of Homeland Security
·        Utah House of Representatives
·        Utah Juvenile Justice Services
·        Utah Third District Juvenile Court & Juvenile Probation
·        Salt Lake Peer Court
·        Salt Lake School District
·        Salt Lake City Management Services
·        Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office
·        Salt Lake City Police Department 
·        Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office
·        Salt Lake Area Metro Gang Unit
·        University of Utah/Utah Criminal Justice Center
·        Boy Scouts of America
·        Colors of Success
·        Community Councils
·        Learning for Life
·        NeighborWorks Salt Lake
·        Project 180
·        The Romero Alternative
·        Stripling Warriors Football/SALT Program
·        Utah Coalition of La Raza
·        Utah Dream Center
 

Playground Will Strengthen the Community and Benefit Children

WHAT:             More than 150 volunteers from The Home Depot, Salt Lake City Corporation and organizers from the nonprofit organization, KaBOOM! will join together to build a state-of-the-art, 2,500 square foot playground in one day.  The playground will provide a safe, fun environment for the children at the 17th Street Park. 
                                        
The playground is funded through a $57,400 grant from The Home Depot Foundation along with a $10,000 contribution from Salt Lake City Corporation.  As a founding partner of KaBOOM!, The Home Depot provides financial support, materials and numerous volunteers for play space projects across North America as part of its ongoing commitment to give back to the communities its stores serve. 
 
The Salt Lake City Corporation (City of Salt Lake Parks Dept) is committed to providing clean and beautiful green spaces in the community.
 
WHERE: 17 Street Park, 1200 West 1700 South, Salt Lake City 

WHEN:             Thursday, November 6, 2008
                            8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.  Project Kick-Off: Volunteers Arrive
                            9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Best viewing of playground construction
                            1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.  Final construction phase and adjustments
                            2:30 p.m.                          ”Board-Cutting” closing ceremony with city officials,
                                Western Division Home Depot President Joe
                                McFarland
                           
CONTACT: Kathryn Gallagher, kathryn_gallagher@homedepot.com, (949) 887-2268 on-site cell phone
 

Monday, November 3, 2008
 
9:00 a.m.          Budget Meeting
 
12:00 p.m.        Meeting with RDA Director
 
1:15 p.m.          Phone Call with New Fire Chief
 
1:45 p.m.          Recycle Market Development Zone Meeting
 
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
 
8:30 a.m.          Executive Staff Meeting
 
9:30 a.m.          New City Employee Hire Orientation
 
12:00 p.m.        Professor Emeriti Club Lunch at the University of Utah
 
3:00 p.m.          RDA/SLC School District Meeting
 
3:45 p.m.          Budget Meeting
 
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
 
7:30 a.m.          Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce Achievement Awards
 
9:40 a.m.          Depart for Washington D.C. for Meetings with Congressional Delegation
 
Thursday, November 6, 2008
 
All Day             Meetings with Congressional Delegation
 
10:00 a.m.        Senator Hatch’s Office
 
11:00 a.m.        Senator Bennett’s Office
 
12:00 p.m.        Congressman Matheson’s Office
 
2:00 p.m.          House Appropriations/ Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, & Urban Development
 
2:30 p.m.         House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure/Subcommittee on Highways & Transit
 
3:30 p.m.         Meeting with Executive Director of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Meeting
 
Friday, November 7, 2008
 
10:00 a.m.        Meeting with Executive Director of the National League of Cities Meeting
 
11:00 a.m.        Representative Bishop’s Office
 
12:00 p.m.        Senate Appropriations/ Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing & Urban Development
 

Salt Lake City – The Salt Lake City Human Rights Commission will host its first town-hall discussion in the Dialogue on Discrimination Series tonight, a five-part series of public discussions intended to gather public input on discrimination issues in Salt Lake City to eventually help inform the development of public policy. Joél Arvizo and Karla Padilla will begin the dialogue by discussing personal and expert accounts about the effects of poverty and how it connects to discrimination. The audience will then break into smaller groups to discuss any discrimination concerns within Salt Lake City. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.
 
Who:               Salt Lake City Human Rights Commission members
 
·        Karla Padilla, community advocate and member of numerous boards including the Salt Lake Civil Service Commission and the Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities.
 
·        Joél Arvizo, Partnership Management for Youth Education and Success with University Neighborhood Services.
 
What:              Dialogue on Discrimination Series
 
Where:            Sorenson Multi-Cultural Center 855 W. California Ave. , Salt Lake City, UT
 
When:             Wednesday, November 5 at 6:00 p.m.
 
 
Please Note:   CART captioning for the hearing impaired and a Spanish translation table will be available.
 

Cory Lyman is Salt Lake City’s New Director of Emergency Management
 
SALT LAKE CITY – Salt Lake City has a new Director of Emergency Management. Seasoned SLCPD veteran Cory Lyman has been hired to fill the newly created post and help Salt Lake City design, develop, and effectively carry out its Emergency Management Plan. Lyman brings 26 years of law enforcement experience and an enthusiasm to return to serving Salt Lake City after a five year hiatus.
 
Since 2003, Lyman has served as Police Chief in Ketchum, Idaho. Prior to his work in Ketchum, he was a dedicated member of the Salt Lake City Police Force for 21 years. Lyman’s extensive management experience in the areas of investigations and special operations and his ability to carry out missions successfully in times of crisis made him a top contender for the Emergency Management position.
 
In his duties as Director of Emergency Management, Lyman will work with all city departments, government agencies, and private and volunteer groups to ensure the implementation of emergency preparedness education and exercises.  Lyman’s responsibilities will also include serving as the radio communications director in the event of an emergency. 
 
During his previous work in the SLCPD, Lyman oversaw multiple units and departments. He also served on a wide range of committees, including the 2002 Olympics Communications Committee. Lyman demonstrated his crisis leadership as commander of the Elizabeth Smart Kidnap Task Force. 
 
In making the announcement, Mayor Becker stated, “Helping the community be prepared for an emergency is an important role of City government. I know Cory brings the right combination of expertise and leadership to help our City and its residents be ready to effectively respond in the event of an emergency.”
 
In accepting the new position Lyman commented, “Salt Lake City is a wonderful place to live and work.  I am thrilled to be back and serving the community in this new role.”