[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 143 (Wednesday, October 5, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 5, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                       GUNS, GANGS, AND GRAFFITI

                                 ______


                         HON. ROBERT K. DORNAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 5, 1994

  Mr. DORNAN. Mr. Speaker, the city of Santa Ana, CA has been 
particularly hard hit by gang activity and the graffiti so often 
associated with it. Indeed, at one point, Santa Ana surpassed the 
entire Nation in damages done by graffiti by nearly $1.2 million. But 
thanks to outstanding programs such as Guns, Gangs and Graffiti, we 
have been able to make headway in the fight against gang violence and 
graffiti in our community.
  Guns, Gangs and Graffiti was founded by a private marketing/public 
relations businessman, Robert Acosta, and his associate, Arlene 
Saralegui. Working together, they mobilized the entire outdoor 
billboard industry to join them in a public relations campaign to 
inform Orange County residents about the urgent need for action to 
combat gang violence and the defacement of public property by gang 
members. Bob and Arlene have also developed an innovative community 
park carnival program that will bring a little bit of Disneyland to the 
latino communities of Santa Ana while raising the necessary resources 
to fund their exemplary initiative.
  As a result of the Guns, Gangs and Graffiti campaign, 100 billboards 
and 175 bus shelters in Orange County are now displaying the message. 
``Listen Orange County * * * If you ignore the plague of the County--
Crime, our children will not have a future. Get involved now! Help 
reduce the causes of guns, gangs and graffiti.''
  Mr. Speaker, the Guns, Gangs and Graffiti campaign is an outstanding 
model for the entire Nation in the fight against gangs and gang-related 
violence and I commend them for their ongoing service to our community.

                          ____________________