Stockton mayor questions nonprofit's claims of gang violence intervention
A national nonprofit organization claimed it brokered a 21-day ceasefire that will help to quell gang violence in Stockton, following the deadly mass shooting at a child's birthday party that left four people dead and 13 others hurt.But city officials, including Mayor Christina Fugazi, questioned the group's credibility and ties to the community. The Youth Peace and Justice Foundation, also known as the Uvalde Foundation for Kids, states on its website that it is dedicated to ending violence, advocating for youth welfare, and promoting community safety. The organization claimed to have brokered the truce with gangs in Stockton, which city leaders say they cannot verify."What do you know about Stockton that we haven't published?" Fugazi said. "Who do you know in Stockton? Who do you truly have ties to in our city? Because we have hard working people in this city, and none of them know who you are."Fugazi said she couldn't confirm that anyone with the organization was in Stockton or actually met with gang members. The nonprofit has been communicating through emailed press releases, demanding that city leaders implement a group violence intervention model. It describes this as "a zero cost political commitment to reevaluate and adopt the proven GVI model for long-term violence reduction."Fugazi mentioned an upcoming council agenda item on Tuesday where the city's Office of Violence prevention has received a grant of $8 million over the next few years. The nonprofit said in a statement that, "By voting YES on the 8 Million grant and ignoring the GVI Resolution, the Council will be recorded in its minutes as having chosen misaligned money over a zero-cost commitment to proven, life-saving peace." Fugazi said it seemed that the group didn't want the city to accept the money. "Why would we turn down money to help us expand services, to get to the very people that they're saying that they're working on peace with?" she said. KCRA 3's efforts to reach the organization for an interview have been unsuccessful, as it has declined requests for nearly a week. Meanwhile, the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office has reported no updates on the mass shooting investigation as it continues.The sheriff's office did release a statement about the purported truce, saying it was not involved in or briefed on it. "At this time, no information has been provided identifying who participated in a meeting, how any claimed agreement would be monitored, enforced, or sustained, or if any agreement was in fact made," the sheriff's office said. "Without verifiable information, law enforcement cannot confirm or validate claims that violence has been paused, sanctioned, or controlled by unnamed individuals or groups. These claims do not change the Sheriff’s Office’s operational mission or its responsibility to prevent violence and protect the public."The sheriff's office said the unverified ceasefire claims "can create confusion, elevate risk, and unintentionally compromise public safety."See the full statement here. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
