Yesterday, the Summer Night Lights (SNL) event at the Wilmington Recreation Center, also known as Will-Hall Park, was crowded with people eager to see Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.Even though he arrived a little late, the community happily welcomed him and excitedly took pictures with him.
The Summer Night Lights (SNL) program was created to reduce gang activity in neighborhoods where gang violence is high. As I type this, I hear police sirens and helicopter flying around Wilmington.
There’s been some controversy circling the Summer Nights program since July, when two teenagers were shot in Wilmington after one of the events. Villaraigosa defended SNL and said it was a great program in spite of the tragic events.
John Kramer, 20-year-old Wilmington resident, came out to the event after seeing a large group of people gathering. He acknowledged that the park does have a bad reputation for violence.“I heard there were 5 shootings in the past 2 months…I do agree it’s a gang violent park,” said Kramer. Whether those shooting happened but were unreported or whether those are rumors, community members suffer by feeling unsafe.
It was great to see so many resources available to community members, such as free on-site STD/HIV testing, financial assistance programs, the teen center, earthquake preparation organizations, other gang reduction groups and more. But the longest line was the line to get food.
Unexpectedly, retired American basketball player Bill Walton attended the event. Son Luke Walton, Los Angeles Lakers forward, was also expected to attend but sadly didn't.Since it was my first time attending Summer Night Lights, I was impressed by the great turn out, but according to Project Director of the Wilmington Teen Center, Melissa Cortez, said it was the first time so many residents and programs came out to show support.
“We don’t have this everyday…like the STD truck here. The DJ we have it once in a while,” said Cortez in a frustrated tone.
Cortez said the success of the large turn out was because of Villaraigosa’s appearance.
“It’s all politics,” she said.
Free chicken tacos were served for everyone, but according to Cortez it was the first time fresh food was ever served. She said that at previous SNL events frozen food had been given out.
According to the mayor’s office, since 2008, the program has expanded from 8 parks to 24 citywide, leading to a 57% reduction in gang-related homicides.
Mayor Villaraigosa said there have been 700,000 visits to the 24 parks and 400,000 people have been fed.
When I told him it was rumored that people were being fed frozen food at past events he said, “mi'ja, people are being fed.”
I also mentioned to him that I was told the event never had as many people or resources attend and he agreed that parks had bigger celebrations when he came out to them.
Overall, everyone seemed to enjoy their time eating the tacos, dancing to the music, playing sports, and getting their shirts signed by Villaraigosa. As a result of the positive reaction from the community the mayor plans to expand the program to more parks.
