From AuburnReporter.com:

Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna and Representative Charles Ross, R-Naches, this week announced a new proposal to fund programs that prevent young people from joining gangs and offer ways for current gang members to find a way out.

McKenna and Ross suggest setting aside a portion of money from consumer protection settlements negotiated by the Attorney General’s Office — approximately $1 million per year — for an account dedicated to such programs. Language creating the program will be introduced today to a bipartisan bill, sponsored by Rep. Ross and Rep. Christopher Hurst, D-Enumclaw.

“The gang crisis is a public safety emergency that deserves a response this year,” McKenna said. “Our proposal to generate investments in prevention programs will pay off in years to come, while our anti-gang protection order and other measures will provide immediate tools for communities seeking to make their neighborhoods safer.”

Read the Rest…