08-21-1978 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Prior to the motion, Police Chief Raymond .~Davis gave a summary of the Sunday cruising activity on South Main Street that has been steadily increasing over the past several months. He stated that traditionally cruisers violate the laws, litter and damage private and business property, disturb the peace, and clog traf-. fic arteries; that South Main Street has experienced all of these and more since March, probably as a result of stepped-up enforce- ment in the City of Whittier, where cruisers have long been active; that the cruisers are predominantly teenagers; that a week ago on Sunday 60 citations were written and 20 arrests were made for a variety of reasons, including curfew, equipment and traffic violations, unnecessary'honking of horns, etc.; that barricades had been set' up to regulate traffic flow; that SO to 55 per cent of the cruisers are not residents of Santa Aha and are in the City due to the wide distribution of handbills ~invit- ing people from all over the Southern California area to come to the City. Chief Davis reminded Council that the Police Department has an investigation and complaint process that may be utilized in the event of police complaints but that no one had utilized the process as a result of police enforcement of the cruising situation on South Main Street. The following persons addressed the Council on the subject: Steve Baca, 529 South Van Ness, President of LULAC Ruben Reyna (no address given) Gloria Perez, LULAC member, 5124 - D West First Street A1 Amezcua, 1246 South Rosewood Rudy Jimenez, Deputy District Director of LULAC, 1306 S. Baker Mickey Madden, 2319 N. Rosewood Alex Acevedo, President of the Mexican-American Chamber of Commerce of Orange County Juan Barba, 1246 S. Rosewood There were six other persons who spoke who did not file an identification form; consequently their names are not included in the interests of accurate addresses and spelling of names. Those who spoke stated that Chicano youth had been arrested, antagonized and harrassed by Santa Ana Police officers; that representatives of LULAC had met with Mayor Evans to request the number and nature of the complaints against the cruisers, and an explanation of the use of road blocks by the Police; that the Chicano Community is willing to work to assist the Police Depart- ment; that a one-sided article on the matter had been published by "The Register"; that low-riders are "here to stay and will continue"; that low-riding is a form of expressing creativity and personality; that the problems can be worked out through a monitor system that includes the Hispanic Voice; that the COP (Community Oriented Policing) group in the area is willing to help; that Buena Gente,. a newly formed organization initiated by youth to promote unity among all Orange County barrios, is willing to assist to help solve the problems; that no one likes to see the deterioration to the City caused by the graffitti, litter, and property damage which accompanies the low-rider activity; and that the monitor committee should include a youth representative as well as parents, and South Main business people. CA 45.1; CA 47 RECESS members present. At 10:40 P.M., Mayor Evans recessed the meeting; at 10:50 P.M., Council reconvened with all CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 357 AUGUST 21, 1978