In a year where Los Angeles was looking to cut everything that wasn't necessary, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa chose to take a stand behind a small program that makes a big difference in out neighborhoods.
The Summer Nights Lights program keeps parks open at night - until midnight four nights a week from July 7 to Sept. 4. But that's not all. The program hires staff to coach, teach and umpire, provides jerseys and even feeds families.
The bottom line:
Gang-related crime is down 40%
Gang-related homicides are down 57%
And shots fired are down 55%
The 24 Summer NIghts Lights sites attracted 710,000 people, served 382,000 free meals and provieded 1000 summer jobs for youth.
LA Times reporter David Zahniser reported Villaraigosa secured $2.1 million in private contributions, mostly from philanthropic foundations, for Summer Nights Lights, including gifts from the Weingart Foundation and the Wells Fargo Foundation.
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