Rep. Lofgren Lauds Alum Rock Initiatives
September 1, 2005
Federal, County and City Initiatives Celebrate Focus on Youth
Media Contact: Heather Wong, 202.225.3072— Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D- San Jose) joined by County Supervisor Blanca Alvarado and San Jose Councilmember Nora Campos, gathered today for an event focused on Federal, County and City initiatives in the Alum Rock Area. With the start of the new school year, leaders in the Eastside community highlighted new initiatives focused on youth, including programs such as the “Weed and Seed” effort and the Santa Clara County Juvenile Detention Reform Initiative.
Last May, Congresswoman Lofgren announced that the U.S. Department of Justice has approved $175,000 grant for the Weed and Seed Program for East San Jose. The Weed and Seed program is a community-based, comprehensive, multi-agency approach to combating violent crime, drug use and gang activity in at-risk neighborhoods. The implementation of this strategy is overseen by a steering committee made up of a collaboration of key stakeholders in the area, including the U.S. Attorney’s office; federal, state and local law enforcement; the business community; educational institutions; and area residents.
“The Weed and Seed program has two parts, the first designed to ¥weed out’ drugs and violent crime, and the second to plant the seeds of renewal,” said Rep. Lofgren. “I look forward to watching the Weed and Seed efforts grow and improve the community one block at a time, by sustaining safe housing for the residents, expanding ongoing neighborhood clean-up programs and providing job training and employment opportunities for residents.”
In addition to the Weed and Seed program, Congresswoman Lofgren secured a $400,000 appropriation in Congress in the Fiscal Year 2006 Science, State — Justice- Commerce appropriations bill that passed the House on June 16, 2005 for the Santa Clara County Juvenile Detention Reform Initiative. The Juvenile Detention Reform (JDR) initiative is critical part of Santa Clara County’s effort to reform their juvenile justice system. The initiative brings together individuals from probation and law enforcement as well as mental health and substance abuse professionals, the faith community, and youth advocates to address the disproportionate confinement of minority youth in juvenile facilities. The bill now needs Senate approval.
“We know first-hand that the Santa Clara County Juvenile Detention Reform Initiative program has helped greatly to reduce the number of incarcerated youth by helping young people lead more law abiding lives. I am pleased that the Alum Rock community will receive additional funding to continue these efforts,” Lofgren continued.
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