Title
Recognizing the Philadelphia Police Department for its success in hosting the City's inaugural Summer Night Lights Program in North Philadelphia's 22nd Police District.
Body
WHEREAS, The Summer Night Lights (SNL) program, developed in Los Angeles, aims to combat violence by providing safe, positive, and engaging activities in neighborhoods with high levels of crime, particularly during peak gang activity hours. By offering these activities in community spaces during summer evenings, the program serves as a diversion for at-risk youth, helping to reduce violent crime while fostering stronger community connections; and
WHEREAS, SNL was developed by the City of Los Angeles as a proactive strategy to reduce violent crime by addressing the factors that contribute to youth involvement in gangs, including a lack of safe public spaces, limited economic opportunities, and overcrowded housing. By transforming community spaces into vibrant, safe environments with organized activities during critical hours, SNL has successfully reduced gang violence and promoted community engagement; and
WHEREAS, Key findings of Los Angeles' Summer Night Lights program include that keeping parks open and well-lit during peak summer night hours significantly reduces gang/gun violence, and transforming high-risk areas like parks into lively spaces for youth and families helps build social connections, offering alternatives to criminal activity; and
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Police Department, under Commissioner Kevin Bethel's and Deputy Commissioner for Community Partnerships Myesha Massey's leadership, identified the most violent grids in the City, with North Philadelphia's Pinpoint Area 221A (22nd Police District) as a priority target for this initiative's launch in Philadelphia. Philadelphia began piloting an SNL program in the 22nd Police District as part of the Philadelphia Police Department's (PPD) broader Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) strategy; and
WHEREAS, The...
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