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California Governor Schwarzenegger Appoints Former U.S. Attorney Paul Seave as Anti-Gang Director
September 4, 2007 - As a part of his California Gang Reduction, Intervention and Prevention Program (CalGRIP), California Governor Schwarzenegger today appointed former U.S. Attorney Paul Seave as state director of gang and youth violence policy along with ten advisory team members to help build comprehensive, long-term strategies to fight gang violence. The Governor also released $2.8 million in discretionary Workforce Investment Act funds for local government to expand job training for at-risk and gang-involved youth and gang members.
“Today my administration is enacting critical measures to implement our CalGRIP strategy that targets more than $31 million in state and federal funding toward local anti-gang efforts, including intervention, suppression and prevention. CalGRIP will provide important job training and education programs, while at the same time giving tools to local law enforcement that will allow them to closely track gang leaders and make our streets safer,” said Governor Schwarzenegger.
"I am pleased to have such an experienced professional as former U.S. Attorney Paul Seave in this post as we implement this critical program to fight gang violence across California. Paul's extensive experience and strong law and order credentials as a former U.S. Attorney and his knowledge of violence prevention as a former director of the Attorney General's Crime and Violence Prevention Center will be instrumental to the success of CalGRIP. His leadership will be matched with ten outstanding advisors serving on our CalGRIP Advisory Committee who represent a broad spectrum of stakeholders from across California who are fighting our gang problem."
As state director of gang and youth violence policy, Seave will coordinate anti-gang programs and grants at all state agencies, serve as the state contact for local governments and community organizations and collect, evaluate and promote local best practices. He will also track all federal anti-gang funding and grants.
After working as a federal prosecutor for 13 years, Seave served as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California from 1997 to 2001. Seave chaired the Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, served as co-chair of the Greater Sacramento Hate Crimes Task Force and founded Project HELP: Sacramento Mobilizing Against Substance Abuse. His office prosecuted more than 20 Stockton gang members as part of a multi-agency collaboration that reduced the city’s homicide rate by 75 percent. From 2001 to 2005 Seave was a Special Assistant Attorney General and Director of the California Attorney General’s Crime and Violence Prevention Center. In 2005 the Governor named Seave to his current position as Chief Counsel for the State Board of Education. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $128,004. Seave is a Democrat.
Today, the Governor also appointed the following CalGRIP Advisory Committee members (see complete biographies below). Meeting on a regular basis with the state director of gang and youth violence policy, the committee will help build comprehensive, long-term strategies to fight gang violence.
- Jerry Dyer, Fresno Chief of Police
- Harvey Woo, Lieutenant, Sacramento Sheriff’s Department
- David L. Brewer III, Superintendent, Los Angeles Unified School District
- Jack Calhoun, President, Hope Matters; Leader, 13-California City Gang Prevention Network
- John Shegerian, CEO, Electronic Recyclers, Fresno
- Connie Rice, CEO, The Advancement Project, Los Angeles
- Reverend Dr. Joseph Bryant Jr., Senior Pastor, Calvary Hill Community Church, San Francisco
- Darryl Charles, Founding Member, Overcoming Gangs, San Diego
- Deborah Aguilar, Founder, A Time For Grieving
- Sandra Rodriguez, Principal, San Bernardino High School
The Governor today directed the release of $2.8 million in discretionary Workforce Investment Act funds for local government to expand job training for at-risk and gang-involved youth and gang members. Under the plan, local programs will match state funds at a 1:1 ratio, for a $5.6 million total impact in 2007-08. Next year, CalGRIP will redirect $11.5 million in uncommitted funds, for a total impact of $23 million.
In May, the Governor introduced CalGRIP to confront the recent dramatic increase in gangs across the state and their proliferation in suburban and rural areas. There are more than 420,000 gang members statewide. Gangs are responsible for crimes including money laundering, extortion, narcotic production and sales, prostitution, human trafficking, assassinations for hire, theft and counterfeiting. In spite of an overall decrease in crime in most California cities since the 1990s, rates of gang-related violent crime remain steady.
The CalGRIP strategy targets more than $31 million in state and federal funding toward local anti-gang efforts, including intervention, suppression and prevention. The program will double funding for witness protection from the state Victims Restitution Fund to a total of $6 million. CalGRIP will also establish a "High Risk Gang Offender" designation to subject offenders to special parole conditions that limit their ability to recruit children into gangs and limit their access to gang-infested areas. CalGRIP will also develop a list of community organizations that rehabilitate and provide job training to former gang members, as a resource for businesses interested in hiring them. It redirects $1.1 million in uncommitted, discretionary Juvenile Accountability Block Grants for programs targeting at-risk youth.
The Governor’s enacted 2007-08 Budget invests a total of $547 million in after-school programs and another $208 million in school counselors to give at-risk kids alternatives to gang life.
Last month, consistent with CalGRIP, Governor Schwarzenegger committed additional California Highway Patrol officers to patrol in Oakland in response to a recent spike in homicides and a request from Mayor Ron Dellums. Under the program, additional California Highway Patrol officers will rotate through 90-day deployments in High Intensity Gang Areas.
In July, Governor Schwarzenegger signed SB 271 to give prosecutors more tools in the fight against gangs. Also in July, he signed AB 104 to give city attorneys the tools they need to pursue gang injunctions and two other anti-gang measures to assist cities in curbing the source of income that funds gang activity, SB 706 and AB 924.
Over the past several months the Governor has met with mayors, law enforcement, faith-based and community organizations, local officials and legislators to discuss how communities across the state are fighting gangs and what resources they need to strengthen their success. At every meeting the Governor heard about the same problems: lack of coordination between state and local agencies and programs, lack of funding and lack of a comprehensive approach to anti-gang efforts.
Paul Seave
State Director, Gang and Youth Violence Policy, Office of the Governor
After working as a federal prosecutor for 13 years, Seave served as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California between 1997 and 2001. In addition to directing an office of 65 attorneys, he chaired the executive committee of the Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, served as co-chair of the Greater Sacramento Area Hate Crimes Task Force, and founded Project HELP: Sacramento Mobilizing Against Substance Abuse. Seave’s office prosecuted more than 20 Stockton gang members as part of a multi-agency collaborative that reduced that city’s gang homicide rate by 75%. From 2001 to 2005, Seave was a Special Assistant Attorney General and Director of the California Attorney General’s Crime and Violence Prevention Center. His staff of 40 focused on such areas as domestic violence, gang violence, and elder abuse. In 2005, Governor Schwarzenegger named Seave to the position of Chief Counsel for the State Board of Education, where he served until his current appointment as Director of Gang and Youth Violence Policy, Office of the Governor.
Seave received his bachelor’s degree in history from Princeton University, and his law degree cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Deborah Aguilar
Founder, “A Time For Grieving”
Deborah Aguilar is the founder of “A Time For Grieving,” a support group for Salinas mothers who have lost children due to violent crimes. After her son Stephen was killed in 2002 while driving home from a convenience store, Aguilar began efforts to unite mothers against gang violence so they could find ways to cope with tragedy and fight back to protect their communities. She and other mothers in the group continue to hold candlelight vigils and organize public rallies to raise awareness about violent crime in the area. Aguilar is also currently working with Salinas Mayor Dennis Donohue on the mayor's anti-gang initiatives.
David L. Brewer III
Superintendent, Los Angeles Unified School District
Brewer was unanimously selected by the LAUSD board to become its superintendent in October of 2006. Brewer’s experience in managing large-scale educational operations began in the U.S. Navy, where he served as the Vice Chief of Naval Education and Training Command. Brewer organized contracts for the U.S. Navy with 11 institutions of higher-learning, which have provided bachelor and associate degrees to over 300,000 military personnel. As Superintendent of the LAUSD, Brewer oversees the second-largest school district in the United States and a $ 7.5 billion budget. Brewer also heads the David and Mildred Brewer Foundation, a philanthropic organization which provides scholarships to African American students.
Brewer received a B.S. in Biology from Prairie View A&M University in Texas. He received an M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in Newport, RI.
Reverend Dr. Joseph Bryant, Jr.
Senior Pastor, Calvary Hill Community Church, San Francisco
Pastor Bryant is the Senior Pastor of Calvary Hill Community Church in San Francisco, and is the Director of Church Life for the San Francisco Peninsula Baptist Association (an organization affiliated with 65 churches). Pastor Bryant oversees Calvary Hill’s community outreach programs, which offer job training, GED programs, hip-hop workshops and after-school activities. After graduating from UC Santa Cruz, Bryant worked for nine years in various capacities for the San Francisco Unified School District.
In May 2003, Rev. Bryant received his Master's of Theological Studies (MTS) from the Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. In April 2004, he was confirmed with an honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree from the Saint Thomas Christian College.
Jack Calhoun
President, Hope Matters; Leader, 13-California City Gang Prevention Network
Jack Calhoun worked toward founding the National Crime Prevention Council and served as its CEO for 20 years. He also managed the 4,500-member Crime Prevention Coalition of America. In 1979, President Carter named Calhoun to be the U.S. Commissioner of the Administration for Children, Youth and Families, where he worked on violence-prevention strategies. Over the past two decades, Calhoun has lectured around the world, and his expertise on violence-prevention has been featured on programs such as the “Today Show” and “Larry King Live.” As a current leader of the 13-California City Gang Prevention Network, Calhoun helps to coordinate anti-gang strategies among federal, state and local governments.
Calhoun holds a B.A. from Brown University, a Master’s in Theology from the Episcopal Divinity School, and a Master’s in Public Administration from the Kennedy School at Harvard University.
Darryl Charles
Founding Member of “Overcoming Gangs,” San Diego
Darryl Charles owns several small businesses in San Diego; he has been involved in teen mentoring programs throughout Southern California which provide inner-city adolescents positive examples of African American men in their community. Charles also offers employment opportunities and internships to local at risk families and gang-involved youth. Charles is a member of Black Men United, providing services to at risk families, the local community and disengaged youth (ages 18-24). As one of the founding members of “Overcoming Gangs,” Charles focused on highlighting the ways in which young people from troubled backgrounds can overcome challenges to become successful entrepreneurs and professionals. Charles serves on San Diego’s delegation to the 13-cities Gang Advisory Network.
Jerry Dyer
Fresno Chief of Police
Prior to becoming police chief in 2001, Dyer supervised several high-profile units, including SWAT and the “Major Narcotics Unit.” During Chief Dyer’s tenure, Fresno experienced five consecutive years of crime decreases, culminating in a 35-year low in crime in 2006. Dyer’s anti-gang efforts during this period also resulted in over 2,500 gang-related arrests. Chief Dyer has been extensively involved the Mayor’s Gang Prevention Initiative (MGPI). Under Dyer, the Fresno Police Department has also developed a program which assists gang-affiliated individuals to dissolve former ties to local gangs. Dyer currently serves as the first Vice President of the California Police Chief’s Association and will assume the role of president in 2008. Chief Dyer has nearly three decades of law enforcement experience.
Dyer received a B.S. in Criminology from Cal State Fresno; a Master’s Degree in Management from California Polytechnic University in Pomona; and is a graduate of the California Command College (where he was voted, “Most Inspirational Student” by his peers.)
Connie Rice
CEO, The Advancement Project, Los Angeles
Constance (Connie) L. Rice is CEO of the Advancement Project in Los Angeles, an organization that works to reform local government to improve services for low income residents. The Advancement Project recently completed a comprehensive study of Los Angeles’ gang problem, including 13 recommendations for ending gang violence, and presented the study to the Los Angeles City Council for consideration. Ms. Rice is a civil rights activist and was previously Co-Director of the Los Angeles office of the NAACP Legal Defense & Education Fund. Ms. Rice provides commentary for NPR on issues of civil rights, gang violence, and other legal issues.
She has an AB in government from Harvard (1978) and law degree from New York University (1984).
Sandra Rodriguez
Principal, San Bernardino High School
Sandra Rodriguez has been a school administrator at San Bernardino High School (SBHS) for five years; she assumed her role as principal in March of 2006. Since becoming a school administrator, Rodriguez has contributed to a drastic reduction in the amount of on-campus violence. (She has been directly responsible for the Safety and Security of San Bernardino High School for over one year). Rodriguez has also been involved in after-school programs for most of her career in education. While working in a youth violence program known as Kids against Crime, she cooperated with law enforcement agencies and helped victims of crime in the local community. Since taking over as principal, Rodriguez has additionally created a number of student programs designed to curb the level of juvenile delinquency at SBHS and in the surrounding community.
Rodriguez graduated from California Baptist University in 1999. She holds two master's degrees; one in Special Education (2000) and another in School Administration (2002), both of which are from Azusa Pacific University.
John Shegerian
CEO, Electronic Recyclers, Fresno
John S. Shegerian is the Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Electronic Recyclers, Inc., (ERI), the largest recycler of electronics (such as unwanted televisions, computers and monitors) in the State of California.
He has co-founded and served in leadership positions on several business ventures, including FinancialAid.com, Addicted.com and Homeboy Industries. Mr. Shegerian's willingness to hire former gang members to staff his businesses has helped reintegrate many of these individuals back into society. Mr. Shegerian serves on the California Commission for Jobs and Economic Growth, as an Ambassador of Education at California State University at Fresno, and on the Board of the Boys and Girls Club of Fresno.
Shegerian is a graduate of New York University.
Harvey Woo
Lieutenant, Sacramento Sheriff's Department
Woo has worked in law enforcement for 19 years, serving the various unincorporated communities in Sacramento. As a lieutenant in the Sacramento Sheriff's Office, Woo was the Central Division Assistant Commander for the 2005 Asian Homicide-Gang Task Force. Woo had worked as a detective in the Gang Suppression Unit and served as an expert instructor on street gang validation and investigation. Woo has experience managing Patrol Operations and Corrections Operations of the Sacramento Sheriff's Office, overseeing a staff of nearly 300 and a budget of over $38 million. Woo was recently reassigned from Corrections to serve as the Assistant Commander of the Northeast Patrol Division. Woo is also on the Board of Directors of the Asian Peace Officer Association.
Harvey Woo holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Cal State Sacramento.
Source: California Governor