Courier gets action

After The Queens Courier and El Correo de Queens pointed out a growing number of gang incidents in Elmhurst and Corona, lawmakers introduced measures last week to track gangs throughout the state and prevent their violence within schools.
Sen. John Sabini and Assemblyman Jose Peralta introduced several bills to stop gang activity in the 110th Precinct, where local residents say gangs plague their neighborhood with graffiti, drugs and intimidation tactics. Both politicians cited “The New Mafia,” cover story in The Courier and El Correo as the reason they introduced the legislation at this time.
“The package of legislation we’re announcing today, drafted in response to disturbing trends in gang visibility and activity, empowers both police departments and school districts to attack this problem before another child is recruited, beaten or killed,” said Sabini.
The bills would establish a statewide gang database for law enforcement agencies; ban gang symbols in schools; make some gang activities prosecutable crimes; create tougher laws against drugs and weapons in schools, and use seized gang property to help fund after-school programs.