School Board to Discuss Gang Prevention

Gang prevention will be the topic of discussion at for the San Bruno Park School District board.

Board President Jennifer Blanco called for the discussion, saying that the triple homicide in South San Francisco last December and in San Bruno had led her to believe that a more measured approach to violence prevention is needed.

“I’ve been interested in getting programs here in San Bruno for our youth at Parkside and Cap for some time,” Blanco said. “The gang activity in San Bruno is not as bad as it is in our neighboring city, but my concern is just giving kids another outlet so that they can be successful.”

The board’s discussion at its 7 p.m. meeting will center around forming a committee that would look into applying for a grant from the state’s California Gang Reduction, Intervention and Prevention Initiative, which helps cities develop gang prevention and job training programs by forming multi-agency partnerships.

Blanco said she is interested in looking into CalGRIP funding for a job training program that could be developed in San Bruno for 14-year-olds and older. The target demographic would be students at and , she said, and hopefully the Police Department would be willing to be a partner. The Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center has already expressed interest, Blanco added.

The program has already led to successful efforts in five California cities—Modesto, Oakland, Oxnard, Salinas and Stockton—according to a staff report.