COUNCIL TO SEEK BIDS ON ANTI-GANG PROJECT : PROGRAM IN NEED OF $3 MILLION IN FUNDING.

Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer

The City Council voted Wednesday to approve a request for competitive proposals from anti-gang agencies interested in operating the $11.2 million L.A. Bridges program, which will target neighborhoods around 26 middle schools with intervention efforts.

Although council members said they still have not secured $3 million of the money, the panel approved asking anti-gang agencies to submit proposals so the program can begin operating July 1, 1997.

``It is obvious that for the last year we have been grappling with how we as a city can do a more effective job with respect to the youth of our city, particularly those we think are at risk,'' said Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas. ``We have designed a program that is citywide in scope.''

Under the program, intervention teams will work with neighborhood councils to target students at 26 middle schools, including five in the San Fernando Valley, with programs including counseling, parent-training, after-school recreation and mentoring to keep kids out of gangs.

Officials in current anti-gang programs, including Hope In Youth and L.A. Stars, are expected to submit bids to run the program.

Councilmen Hal Bernson and Richard Alarcon voiced concern that some schools with gang problems in their districts are not among the 26 identified for targeting, but the council agreed to give the intervention teams flexibility to go beyond the targeted neighborhoods if problems crop up elsewhere.

``In order for the intervention teams to work in the San Fernando Valley, we have to make sure that the intervention is happening all over the San Fernando Valley, because gangs don't know about areas getting funding and not getting funding. They just kill each other,'' Alarcon said.

Councilman Mike Hernandez, who heads the council committee which reviewed the proposal, acknowledged Wednesday that all of the funding has not been lined up yet.

``There's about a $3 million shortfall,'' Hernandez told his colleagues.

He said the Harbor Department and the Department of Water and Power have not yet acted on requests to contribute funds, and the Airports Department has turned down such a request.

``The airport has taken a position that they cannot participate in the program, and I think that is wrong,'' Hernandez said.

Hernandez said the airport benefits from anti-gang programs around its facilities so use of airport money can be justified.

If airport and harbor departments and the DWP do not provide funds, Hernandez said, the council will have to consider allocating general fund or federal block grant money to the program.