Montgomery County Council members are backing an initiative to expand after-school activities as an “anti-gang” measure throughout the county.
The $2.5 million addition to the county?s $3.8 billion budget proposal would expand recreation programs from 10 to all 38 county middle schools, and bring versions of Montgomery Blair High School?s Sports Academy to four additional schools.
“We have so many parents working two or three jobs. We have to be part of the village that will raise these children,” said Council Member Tom Perez, D-5th District.
Even affluent Montgomery County has been affected by gang violence.
Last year, the last of seven young men was sentenced for his involvement in the stomping death of 16-year-old Malik McCoy in Silver Spring in June 2004. All seven were identified by prosecutors as members of a local “crew” or gang.
And in September 2005, police called the beating death of Stephone Wiggins at the hands of 19-year-old Quatrell Adedeji, of Germantown, “gang-related.”
Though the measure will compete with other additions in the budget process over the next few weeks, Council Member Howard Denis, R-1st District, said it has the support of five of the nine council members at this stage.
The measures are one part of an ongoing effort by Montgomery County to combat gangs.
On Monday, County Executive Doug Duncan and other representatives opened a Youth Opportunities Center in the Takoma/Langley Crossroads area, a key recommendation of the Joint County Gang Prevention Task Force.
The center cost more than $600,000, funded by Montgomery and Prince George?s counties, as well as $2.3 million in federal funding.
