TORONTO `A RIPE MARKET' FOR GANGS

Toronto's young people could be travelling the same gang-plagued road
as Los Angeles' youth if anti-gang and violence roadblocks aren't
placed in their way, says a California youth worker.

``Proper action now will prevent a large-scale dilemma later,'' said
Rob LeVine, a former law professor who is now a youth worker and
director of communications at the Hollenbeck Youth Centre in Los
Angeles. He's also worked in residential treatment centres, the
Ventura County Juvenile Hall, and now spends part of his time at the
Los Angeles County Central Juvenile Hall.

LeVine was speaking to a group of more than 150 people at the Central
Neighbourhood House on Ontario St. in Cabbagetown, on ethnically and
racially diverse youth involvement with violent gangs. It was one of
several events to mark yesterday's United Nations' International Day
to Eliminate Racial Discrimination.

By implementing an anti-gang program now, Toronto can head off the
problems that Los Angeles is dealing with now, he said.

``I can assure you Toronto is considered a ripe market,'' LeVine said.
``You are dealing with a force in motion. You are dealing with an
energy that will continue to grow until it is stopped.''

He said in order to prevent ``borderline'' kids - those most preyed
upon by the gangs - from looking to the illegal groups for the love
and attention they might not be getting at home, the community must
look out for these children before they don gang colours.

Schools need to start spreading the anti-gang and anti-drug message as
early as Grade 3, LeVine said. There must be places where kids can
spend time after school and partake in meaningful activities; and
children, particularly those living in the inner city, need to know
they have choices, LeVine said.

The kids must also realize that jail is a place they don't want to
spend any time.

``They need to know they are risking everything to cross that line.
And they need to know it before they cross it,'' he said.

Kids who have already been drawn into gang culture need help getting
out - which most of them want, said LeVine, who's worked with hundreds
of children within the U.S. juvenile justice system.

Most of them, he said, want to have the same things as other youths do
- - a job, family, education and self-respect.

The Hollenbeck Youth Centre, which works in partnership with local
businesses and the Los Angeles Police Department, tries to show them
all their dreams are possible. There, tough inner-city kids play
sports, work on state-of-the-art computers, and go on trips to local
universities.

And they learn that places like the University of California, Los
Angeles, UC Berkeley, and the University of Southern California aren't
just place names - they're highly respected schools where they can
thrive, LeVine said. LeVine said the connections between illegal drugs
- - which he says most members use - and gang activity must be
underscored.

``The drug connection must be understood and dealt with,'' he said.
``They also need something to fill the void they were seeking to fill
with drugs.''

Los Angeles' gangs make millions of dollars selling illegal drugs, he
said.