Tonight, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will kick off the first evening of the “Summer Night Lights” (SNL) program. Considered a violence reduction initiative, it keeps city parks and recreation centers open after dark with organized activities for at-risk youth, offering a safe place to spend their evenings during the summer months.

According to the mayor’s office, last summer there was a 40% reduction in gang-related violent and property crimes and a 57% reduction in gang-related homicides last summer in neighborhoods surrounding SNL sites.

Eight more sites will be added to this summer’s SNL program, for a total of 32 locations throughout the city of Los Angeles in communities most afflicted by gang violence. 

Here’s the breakdown of the Summer Night Lights program:

1.  Extended Hours & Programming: From July 6th to September 3rd, SNL sites extend their hours from 7 pm until midnight four nights a week (Wednesday – Saturday). Expanded programming includes community-centered recreational, educational and artistic programming to engage youth in positive activities during peak times for violence.

2.  Youth Squad:  10 community at-risk youth (ages 17-20) are hired to staff the extended hours and programs.

3.  Cease-Fire/Maintaining Peace: Community intervention workers are assigned to each SNL site to address potential conflicts and help keep the peace at the site and in the surrounding communities.

Do you think the program works?  What else should be done in your community to reduce crime and gang violence?