Residents Against Gang Existence

A forum to help educate parents on how to combat gangs will be held at La Habra High School at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The evening will include presentations from Mario Machado, a Los Angeles television personality; Astrid Hagar, a staff doctor at USC Medical Center; Charan Levitan, a host on the National Crime Radio Channel, and Leticia Ruiz de Cruz of KMEX Television.

A forum to help educate parents on how to combat gangs will be held at La Habra High School at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The evening will include presentations from Mario Machado, a Los Angeles television personality; Astrid Hagar, a staff doctor at USC Medical Center; Charan Levitan, a host on the National Crime Radio Channel, and Leticia Ruiz de Cruz of KMEX Television.

City and school officials delivered messages of praise and caution to more than 60 members of an anti-gang community group last week, including serious concerns about the impact of proposed state budget cuts. City Manager Lee Risner told the audience at the meeting that the city could lose at least $1.8 million in state revenue this year. He also warned that the cut could threaten public safety. Risner said La Habra is already facing a $1-million shortfall in its $13.1-million budget.

City and school officials delivered messages of praise and caution to more than 60 members of an anti-gang community group last week, including serious concerns about the impact of proposed state budget cuts. City Manager Lee Risner told the audience at the meeting that the city could lose at least $1.8 million in state revenue this year. He also warned that the cut could threaten public safety. Risner said La Habra is already facing a $1-million shortfall in its $13.1-million budget.

Residents concerned about the growing gang presence in the city are invited to a meeting this afternoon at the La Habra City School District office hosted by Residents Against Gang Existence (RAGE). The group of residents, school and city officials, and church and Police Department representatives was organized last month to discuss ways to halt the growth of gang membership and activity in schools and neighborhoods.

The director of a successful project aimed at reclaiming streets from gangs instructed La Habra community leaders this week on how to stem the growing gang problem in the city and urged them not to write off today's youth as a "lost generation."

Twelve people are running at large for three seats on the La Habra City Council in the Nov. 3 election. The deadline to register to vote is Monday. To register, pick up a form at any post office, library or city hall. For more information, call the county registrar of voters at (714) 567-7600. Steven C. Anderson Age: 41. Occupation: Water engineering inspection supervisor.