FRESNO (KMJ) – At issue, should the Fresno city council dedicate hundreds of thousands of dollars toward the anti-gang intervention program “Advance Peace.”
“You can’t ask us to reduce gun violence without allocating money toward that effort,” Councilmember Miguel Arias said.
Councilmember Miguel Arias, who sponsored the Advance Peace item, changed his motion to dedicate $200,000 to getting the program up off the ground, and also to give the city manager 90 days to either bring in Advance Peace or another gang intervention program.
“Giving money to people involved in criminal behavior and gangs, and hoping that they’re going to be good people is absurd,” Bredefeld said. “And I think there are much better ways to deal with people who are engaged in criminal behavior.”
Councilmember Garry Bredefeld, had been an outspoken critic of the Advance Peace program, was unswayed. When it was all said and done, the vote went 3-2 with Councilmembers Bredefeld and Paul Caprioglio voting no.
Clint Olivier, KMJ News.
