Barrios makes his own plan to stop gangs

Months after criticizing Somerville's anti-gang ordinance as insufficient, state Sen. Jarrett Barrios unveiled a plan to battle street gangs throughout the state this week.

"No one in Massachusetts should ever feel afraid to walk down their street or play in their neighborhood park," Barrios stated in a press release Tuesday. "It's time for a revitalized statewide focus on putting a stop to gang violence that threatens the safety of our neighborhoods."

Barrios, who has been rumored to be considering a run at the state attorney general's office, released a 22-page report outlining a three-pronged anti-gang initiative for the state.

The report focuses on stronger laws, targeted policing and more prevention of gang-related crimes. The plan followed a day-long hearing last September to investigate statewide increases in gang-related crimes. The hearing was sponsored by the state legislators' Joint Committee on Public Safety, which was co-chaired by Barrios and Cambridge/Somerville State Rep. Tim Toomey.

Last summer, Barrios criticized an anti-gang ordinance passed by the Somerville Board of Aldermen, which seeks to target known gang members in locations identified by police as high-crime areas in Somerville. The Somerville law was passed in response to gang related crimes by MS-13.

But Barrios, D-Cambridge, said he was "unconvinced" the local law would be enough to solve Somerville's gang problem. Fellow Somerville state Sen. Charlie Shannon criticized Barrios at the time as being "disingenuous" about his support for the law.

"I've had my disagreements with other Somerville officials as to whether that is effective [public safety legislation]," Barrios said Tuesday.

Barrios said his proposal this week is an effort to provide the "real tools" needed to fight street gangs.

His proposal includes several measures the Somerville law was criticized for not including, such as funding devoted to partnerships between local law enforce enforcement and community-based anti-violence organizations.

"It's important to be tough on crime, but also on the cause of crime," Barrios said.

Barrios' proposal would also strengthen witness protection laws; increase funding for community policing in communities with gang-related problems; and toughen the penalties against gun trafficking.

Shannon's chief of staff, Sean Fitzgerald, said Shannon was "pleased" to see one of his "previously filed bills" toughening gun laws incorporated in Barrios' plan.

But the price tag of Barrios' plan is a concern, Fitzgerald said.

"It means $1 million in witness protection programs alone," Fitzgerald said. But Fitzgerald said Shannon would be working to secure more money for preventative programs targeted in Barrios' plan, such as out-of-school and summer youth programs.

Mayor Joe Curtatone said Tuesday that he fully supports Barrios' anti-gang proposal, saying a stronger statewide effort is needed.

"This is a problem that doesn't stop between party lines and city boundaries," Curtatone said.