NORTH HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD SPLIT ON GANG INJUNCTION; CRIME-PRONE AREA TARGETED.

Byline: Yvette Cabrera Daily News Staff Writer

Long before the sun rises, Orion Avenue resident Eloisa Puerta gets off work and rushes down her street, with her head down and her heart filled with terror.

``The street is always full with people selling drugs and I pass through there, but I'm filled with fear that something will happen to me,'' said the mother of two, who works at a bakery until 2:30 a.m.

Now Puerta feels hope, however.

She stood on Orion Street and listened Tuesday as Los Angeles City Attorney Jim Hahn pledged to explore a possible gang injunction to rid the notorious Orion Avenue area of crime. And Puerta said she thought to herself that maybe one day she and her children would be safe walking down the street.

``I think the injunction is the best thing the city can do for kids and for the elderly who are stuck in this dump, where because of the drugs there's a lot of crime,'' said Puerta.

However, not everyone would support an injunction, which would bar known gang members from gathering.

Some parents see the injunction as a way to secure a safe environment, but some leaders of the community and some minors said North Hills needs more jobs and youth programs, not court orders.

Hahn's commitment came at the request of City Councilman Richard Alarcon who introduced a motion in City Council on Tuesday asking for $1.18 million to expand Hahn's gang unit, from four deputies to seven, to handle gang injunctions.

``The street gangs and the criminals that have taken over this neighborhood are being put on notice today,'' said Hahn, at a news conference at Langdon Elementary School, which borders Orion Avenue. ``North Hills has said enough is enough and they're going to take back their own streets and we're going to help them do it.''

An injunction is a court order police can use to restrict gang activity believed to be associated with criminal acts. For example, an injunction can prohibit gang members from being lookouts, carrying pagers or gathering on public property in groups.

The North Hills injunction would encompass a two-mile-square area south of Nordhoff Street and north of Parthenia Street, with west-east boundaries of the San Diego Freeway and Sepulveda Boulevard.

Alarcon said during the news conference that an injunction is necessary. Despite a doubling of the police presence in North Hills and other anti-gang efforts, children still aren't free to play in their front yards without fear of a drive-by shooting or a drug deal, said Alarcon.

``This isn't about tying up somebody's freedom, this is about allowing a community to have peace and happiness,'' said Alarcon.

Doris Castaneda, a North Hills mother of eight, fears the gang injunction will give police carte blanche to harass a community that already feels besieged by officers.

``They abuse us, especially the people who don't speak English,'' said Castaneda, a 10-year resident of Rayen Street who is also co-chairwoman of a group of concerned North Hills parents called Families United.

``We need programs that will help the kids. If they bring in the gang injunction, the gangs will just move to other communities nearby,'' she said.

Hahn stressed the injunction would only target people identified by the Los Angeles Police Department as being the worst gang members.

One 18-year-old, who only identified himself as ``Bouncer,'' said he doesn't believe the injunction will curb gang activity.

``I think it's wrong, we need to have activities, they should leave us alone,'' said 18-year-old Bouncer.

A 16-year-old gang member and student at Monroe High School, who did not want to be identified, said the area's youths need jobs instead of injunctions.

``There's always going to be gangs, it doesn't matter how many cops they put here,'' he said. ``I tried to get a job at McDonald's, but they pay too little.''

Hahn and Alarcon will hold a community meeting in October at the Our Lady of Peace Church in North Hills for residents to voice their opinions on the injunction. The date and time has yet to be announced.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos, map

PHOTO (1) A youth, identifying himself as ``Bouncer,'' says more activities, not a police crackdown sought by City Attorney Jim Hahn, would keep Orion Avenue gang members out of trouble.

(2) City Councilman Richard Alarcon and City Attorney Jim Hahn discuss a gang injunction plan Tuesday.

David Sprague/Daily News

Map: Targeted area for gang injunction