Community Symposium
Join SAFE and County Partners for a Community Symposium to Address Illegal Street Racing and Street Takeovers
On Saturday, May 18th, Streets Are For Everyone and partners from the County invite you to a comprehensive community symposium dedicated to addressing the issue of illegal street racing and street takeovers. This event will assemble experts actively combating these activities alongside residents like yourself to exchange perspectives, generate solutions, and formulate recommendations for ending illegal street racing and takeovers.
Your invaluable insights into the impact of street racing are crucial for county officials to enact meaningful changes that benefit the community and ensure community input into potential policy decisions.
Street racing and takeovers remain a significant public health concern in Los Angeles, posing dangers to both participants and bystanders. These events, characterized by reckless driving maneuvers with sometimes stolen cars, jeopardize neighborhood safety and community well-being. Just recently, on April 13th, a young woman tragically suffered severe injuries, possibly resulting in her death, after being struck during a street takeover at the intersection of Manchester Avenue and San Pedro Street. This incident and many more underscore the urgent need to stop these events that impact the lives of families, friends, and communities.
The symposium, divided into three sessions, will include hearing from those directly impacted by street racing, whether county officials, residents, victims of traffic violence, and/or street racing individuals themselves.
In the first session, the symposium will address how young people can be kept out of the legal system, focusing on diversion, education, and prevention strategies. We'll hear from nonprofits that educate youth, district attorneys, public defenders advocating for a "care first, jails last" approach, and the County Department of Youth Development discussing their diversion efforts.
In session two, we'll have experts from law enforcement agencies and legislators discussing their roles in addressing this issue. We'll talk about the challenges they face and the strategies that could improve street safety.
There will be a lunch break between sessions one and two and an interactive break-out session in which the County is eager to hear from community members like you. During these smaller break-out groups, officials will lead a deeper dive into the morning discussions. Together, the plan is to explore various approaches and work on crafting solutions. With representatives from different sectors like public health, law enforcement, and local government, it's a collaborative brainstorming session that residents don’t often get to experience.
We hope you can join us; your voice is crucial.
It's not just about putting the brakes on illegal racing; it's about fostering safer, healthier communities for everyone. We look forward to seeing you at the symposium!
EVENT DETAILS
The Community Symposium, hosted by Supervisor Holly Mitchell’s office and open to the public through advanced FREE registration, will take place on Saturday, May 18th, from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Breakfast, lunch, and refreshments will be provided.
Register to attend for FREE here: https://bit.ly/TakeoversAndRacing
Parking Info: Free Parking in Parking Lot F on the north side of Compton College Entrance Gate is on South Campus Drive and E Greenleaf Blvd.
Additional Info: Breakfast, lunch, and refreshments will be provided!