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Community groups urge council to protect community violence-intervention funding after federal cancellations
Summary
Local service providers and students urged the Long Beach City Council to consider city funding for community violence intervention (CVI) programs after the federal government canceled certain CVI grants; speakers described program impacts and requested that the city include CVI in next fiscal-year budgeting.
Members of Long Beach community organizations, program participants and students urged the City Council on May 6 to protect community violence-intervention (CVI) funding after federal notifications that some CVI awards were being terminated.
Cindy Sagun, CVI program coordinator at Centro CHA, told the council that the U.S. Department of Justice terminated certain CVI and prevention awards under the Safer Communities Act and that the cancellations risked disrupting front-line services. Sagun said the local 1 Long Beach collaborative had previously awarded $196,000 to 11 community organizations and that an additional April 2024 mini-grant round provided about $300,000 to more groups. She asked the council to consider CVI in next year’s budget planning to sustain services that “are proven to save lives.”
Students from Cabrillo High School, including Kania Williams and Pierre Tolliver, described Safe Passages as a school-based CVI program that provides prevention education, bystander training and alternatives to risky behavior. Williams said Safe Passages “is an amazing organization that helps students be safe and educate someone on problems such as abuse in relationships, consent, and bullying.” Tolliver said the programs give students a “safe place” and tools to avoid violence.
Other community speakers reiterated the plea for local support and urged the council to consider CVI funding as the state and federal landscape changes. Councilmembers present thanked speakers and the Health and Human Services Department noted ongoing budget and program planning.
