Salinas Summer Rescue

Salinas Alliance Plans Summer Recreation Rescue

CASP group seeks volunteers to keep schools, centers open.

A group of Salinas government, education and nonprofit leaders have teamed up to prevent gang violence and seek help from the community to rescue summer recreation.  The Community Alliance for Safety and Peace (CASP) group wants to keep school and city facilities open for children and teens this summer, despite steep budget cuts that have shut down summer schools and city recreation programs.

In an attempt to close the $9.5 million deficit, the city of Salinas plans to close three recreation centers and reduce hours at other centers. This is in addition to the Salinas Union High School District’s plans to reduce summer school classes by 40 percent. Dennis Donohue, Salinas’ mayor and CASP co-chair states, “We are going to have a big problem. There’s going to be too many young people with too much time on their hands.”

CASP members hope to develop a plan to address this issue by mid-March but is looking for community volunteers who would be willing to supervise youth in summer programs.

Look forward to posts in coming weeks about specific agencies recruiting volunteers for this summer rescue plan.

Information taken from:

Zamudio, Maria. “Salinas alliance plans summer recreation rescue: CASP group seeks volunteers to keep schools, centers open.” The Californian 4 Feb. 2010: 1A