Galt seeks own solution to gang activity

Territorial fighting between the Norteños and the Sureños makes up most of the gang activity in Galt, authorities say.

Both gangs are largely made up of young Latinos who fight over turf, according to Galt Police Chief Loren Cattolico.

Although a countywide sales tax increase has been proposed as a way to fight such gang problems, Galt is considering its own solution.

Members of the Galt City Council last week indicated they may not want to support the countywide tax. The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote July 22 on whether to put the measure on the November ballot.

Galt council members plan to discuss a sales tax increase that would be under the city's control and would focus on law enforcement rather than community youth resources, such as after-school programs and em- ployment the county's measure would include.

Andrew Meredith, mayor of Galt, said that the city needs to enhance its short-staffed police force.

"Under our initiative, all of the money will go toward additional officers and resources," Meredith said. "The county measure will not address the needs of the community. … Our problems are not the mirror image of the rest of the county."

Cattolico said there are young people in Galt with dozens of arrests before their 18th birthday. And typically, only he and one or two other officers are on duty.

He maintains that more police officers would improve the quality of life for people in Galt.

Though he said community programs would be a benefit, some of the gang members he comes in contact with must be dealt with by the law.

"I fully agree with the county's wanting to fight violence, but I don't approve of their methodology," Cattolico said. He said the Galt measure would direct more resources toward getting the additional officers that Galt needs.

Supervisor Roger Dickinson, who called for the countywide tax increase, said it is often difficult to sway individual municipalities when it comes to larger initiatives.

"We want this to be countywide; we don't live on islands, and if gangs leave Galt, they just go somewhere else," Dickinson said. "We can't arrest our way out of the problem; we'll only have a chance of success if we invest in young people."

The city of Galt's anti-gang ballot measure will be discussed further at the July 31 City Council meeting.

Dickinson said that with or without Galt's support, the countywide measure could still possibly succeed.

Officials from the cities of Folsom, Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova and Citrus Heights have questioned the need for the countywide tax.

The proposed countywide anti-gang measure would raise $1.5 billion over 30 years through a quarter-cent sales tax increase.

Should the measure be approved, half of the funds would be sent to local authorities to deal with gang-related issues.

The remainder would be handed over to a new countywide body of elected officials to appropriate.

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