Community leaders from throughout Westbury resolved to work together to combat drugs, gangs and violence, through separate efforts sponsored by the Westbury Council of Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) and the Turn Around New Cassel/Westbury Drugfighters in recent weeks.

On Thursday, Nov. 2, the Westbury Council of PTAs hosted a communitywide meeting to address the increased presence of gang-related crime in the community. The meeting was attended by PTA and school officials, clergy, civic groups (including the Drugfighters), parents and elected representatives.

Just weeks before that meeting, the Turn Around New Cassel/Westbury Drugfighters, a grassroots organization that works to rid local neighborhoods of drugs and gangs, renewed its commitment to this effort through a third anniversary candlelight march. The march was held on Prospect Avenue in New Cassel on Friday, Oct. 14, and was attended by local residents, community leaders and elected officials.

During the PTA Council meeting, parents shared stories of their children being victimized by gangs on the streets of Westbury, and police officials presented information about the types of gangs that are active in the community. School officials described ongoing efforts with law enforcement authorities to discourage gang activity.

"This meeting is a special meeting," said Rose Walker, president of the Westbury Council of PTAs. "It's a meeting that is called because of a concern that we have about gang presence and gang activity in our community." She noted that parents are concerned about the safety issues this presents to students, and are not content with allowing, "the majority of students who are not involved in those activities be overshadowed by those who are."

To illustrate the problem, Walker introduced two local parents who described attacks on their children by gangs. "A lot of people have been harassed or victimized by gangs," said one father, who noted that both his son and his son's friend, who are not involved in gangs, had been attacked by gang members within the same week during last school year, when he was a high school senior. He added that gangs are a reality in Westbury, and that they can often be seen congregating outside Powell's Lane School. One woman who recently moved into the community from Queens, said her 18-year-old son, who also is not involved in gangs, was attacked several times by gang members as he walked through the streets of Westbury on his way to school. "I was appalled. I was taken aback. I was in disbelief," the mother said, noting that she wants to help stop the problem in the community. She added that she fears for the safety of her 13-year-old daughter because of gangs in the community.

Local law enforcement officials present at the meeting confirmed the presence of gangs in Westbury, and described ones with names ranging from MS 13, composed of young Hispanic immigrants, mostly from El Salvador, to the Bloods, composed of African American youth throughout Westbury, to the Prospect Piru, composed of African American youth in New Cassel. The officials noted that similar gangs have a presence in such communities as Hempstead, Uniondale, Freeport and Amityville, and although they have a local presence, are not entrenched - and are not nationally affiliated.

Police Lieutenant Matthew Simeone, of the Nassau County Police 3rd Precinct, in a telephone interview prior to the meeting, confirmed that during the past five years, gang violence has increased in the local area, due partly to an increase in recruitment by Hispanic gangs that resulted from an influx of Central American immigrants. "We have a gang presence. I wouldn't say we have a gang problem yet, but we have a gang presence," he said.

Although there has been reported gang violence on the streets, including a suspected gang shooting in New Cassel during the summer, both school and police officials have stated that their joint efforts have successfully prevented gang violence in the schools. "As far as we know, this stuff is not happening in the schools. This stuff is happening in the community," said Lieutenant Simeone. He added, "I know they send a strong message at the high school, that this is not happening in our school."

Ongoing programs in the schools to deter gang activity include mentoring and peer mediation programs, and regular meetings and presentations from Lieutenant Timothy McQuade of the Old Westbury Police, as well as a night school program for those found to be involved in gang activities.

During the PTA meeting, Manny Arias, assistant principal at the high school, noted that school officials have worked closely with police to identify suspected gang members. "We have never denied that there is a problem," he said, noting that by admitting that there is a problem, school officials have been successful in addressing it.

Dr. Constance Clarke, superintendent of Westbury Public Schools, noted that the schools are being kept safe, despite gang incidents out on the streets of the community. "What we are talking about is what is in the community," she said.

"Our community is important to us," added Clarke, noting that although it may not be possible to eradicate gangs, members of the school and greater community must work together to ensure the safety of students.

The community forum resulted in a resolution to form a task force to address the issue of gangs in the community, according to Chester McGibbon, president of Westbury High School PTA, who helped organize the meeting. Those who attended the discussion placed their names on a sign-up sheet, and will be called upon for the task force, he noted.