Let there be Peace in the Northeast

On Saturday morning, hundreds of Northeast LA residents marched for Peace in the Northeast. Crime, drugs and gangs have all been spotlighted in the community this past year and it was time to take back the streets. "It was amazing to see the people who came out and to have hundreds of folks standing for peace in their own community," explained Councilman Eric Garcetti, who represents part of the region, over the phone on Monday.

The event, which also included a resource fair (tattoo removal, HIV testing, expungement), was something Garcetti said has been done anytime violence has emerged in the Northeast. But this time it was different. "We finally have focused in a way we haven't focused in years. We have accountability in the mayor's office and we have intervention programs with Red and Parks and the school district," he said.

There's also now a clergy council at the area LAPD station and an informal working group that meets weekly with city staff to address "meat and potato" issues in Glassell Park like illegal dumping, lighting and other broken windows theory fixes. And with all this energy and community and political leadership, peace in the Northeast can be a reality.