McMillan, Acquanette (Netta)
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Adriana Bautista
Monday, May 4, 2026 10:30 AM
PublicComment-AutoResponse
Heavenly Hughes; Jose Madera
Agenda Item 7, 5/4 City Council Mtg, City Correspondence Gang I ntervention_ Vendor May2026.pdf
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Dear City Clerk,
Please find a letter addressed to City of Pasadena Honorable Mayor, City Council, and City Manager. This Letter attached with the title "Gang lntervention_ Vendor May 2026.pdf" is in regards to an agreement that is scheduled to be presented for approval to the City Council today.
Please share this communique with all addressed parties. Thankyou in advance.
With kind regards,
Adrians
Adriana Bautista
04/20/
1 05/04/2026
Item?
Dear City of Pasadena Honorable Mayor and City Council, City Manager Furtrell, Public Safety Commissioners, and City Staff,
The proposed three year agreement with Ricky Pickens Jr., an individual, is up for review by the City Council as Agenda Item No. 7, without having first gone through the Public Safety Commission. Despite submissions from more experienced, cost-effective, and locally trusted organizations, the City is considering an out-of-state vendor who, after a five-year long contract, still has not established trust within the gang-impacted communities they are intended to serve.
Several applicants—including nationally recognized organizations such as 2nd Call, with more than two decades of experience and training—were ranked below the selected vendor. This raises concerns that the evaluation process may have favored prior City contractors over organizations with demonstrated expertise, a wider-array of gang intervention and prevention service offerings, strong community presence, and proven outcomes.
The Community Violence Intervention program was initially launched in response to a series of shootings in 2021. Since then, City leadership has reported a significant decline in violence. At the same time, Pasadena and Altadena have experienced major loss due to recent fires, fundamentally changing community dynamics and needs.
This raises a key question: are violence interrupters still the primary need? The community believes the City now needs credible messengers focused on intervention and prevention, not solely interruption. The selected vendor is known primarily for their interruption work, and offers limited prevention and intervention services. This work requires long-term transformation, trust-building, and locally embedded practitioners—not just short-term conflict mediation.
According to the "Guidebook for Grafting a Results-Driven RFP" published by Harvard, research and input from community stakeholders, peer cities, and end-users or program recipients are vital for both reviewing services delivered and informing the RFP process prior to writing the RFP.
We respectfully ask the following:
1. Why commit to a 3-5 year contract (through 2029-2031) for predominantly interruption services instead of a shorter-term agreement with a vendor offering the full range of gang interruption, intervention, and prevention services that allows flexibility for a new City Manager to review outcomes and evolving community needs?
2. What measurable outcomes define success? Where are the data, accountability standards, and lived-experience testimonials built into the RFP, other than local stakeholders?
3. How did more experienced vendors score less points, and why were experienced, nationally recognized local organizations not ranked in the top tier?
4. Were vendors evaluated for transparency and accessibility, including public-facing information such as websites, services, and credentials?
5. Did scoring prioritize local presence, including staff within a 15-mile radius who can consistently engage the community?
6. Why was an out-of-state sole proprietor prioritized over established, community-trusted organizations?
7. Did the RFP assess training models (e.g., de-escalation, trauma-informed care, accessibility to ongoing prevention services) that support long-term transformation?
8. Inclusion of Departments like Parks and Recreation—more directly connected to community needs— would be beneficial. We see Police and Public Health were included, but not anyone from Parks and Recreation, could they be included in the future?
9. Will the City incorporate meaningful community feedback before finalizing this decision? It is important to distinguish between approaches:
Violence Interruption
An immediate, short-term strategy that uses trusted individuals (often with community or street credibility) to mediate active conflicts, de-escalate tensions, and prevent violence—especially shootings—before they occur.
Intervention
A longer-term, relationship-based approach that helps individuals exit gang involvement or cycles of violence. It focuses on personal transformation through mentorship, case management, and connections to resources such as education, employment, counseling, and life-skills development.
Prevention
A proactive strategy aimed at stopping violence before it starts by addressing root causes. This includes supporting youth and families through education, economic opportunities, community programs, and early intervention efforts that reduce the likelihood of gang involvement.
Pasadena has an opportunity to pivot toward a comprehensive model that integrates all three—prioritizing intervention and prevention while retaining interruption capacity when needed.
We urge the City to reconsider this contract and issue a new RFP for a one-year program, with the possibility of a year-long extension, that emphasizes transparency, accountability, measurable outcomes, and strong community partnership (including review of services delivered and input for future expectations).
This is a critical investment—over $2 million—in a time of financial strain and families needing support that goes beyond interruption. The community deserves a program that builds trust, delivers measurable results, and addresses the root causes of violence.
We ask you to take this opportunity to get it right.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
/yw
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McMillan, Acquanette (Netta)
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Yadi •
Monday, May 4, 2026 1:04PM
PublicComment-AutoResponse
Public Comment - Pasadena City Council Meeting 05/04/26 Public Comment - Pasadena City Council 05-04-26 Gang Intervention.pdf [ I ] CAUTION: This email was delivered from the Internet. Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button. For more information about the Phish Alert Button view article "KB0011474" on the DolT portal.
Hi,
Please find attached my public comment for the May 4, 2026 Pasadena City Council Meeting, agenda item 7. Gang Intervention.
Thanks,
Yadi
(Attachments: 1)
04/20/
1 05/04/2026
Item?
7. Gang Intervention Contract
Please be aware that the Consent item 7. Gang Outreach and Violence Interruption was not heard in the Public Safety Committee, as the scheduled April meeting was cancelled.
NEW BUSINESS
1. AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TqjENTtf^llfl ^I^GREEMENT WITH R1CKY PICKENS JR. FOR THREE,y(4PIS INfitlP'RlVIOUNT OF $440.201 ANNUALLY WITH TWO OPTttMi^DNE-YSAR EXTENSIONS, FOR GANG OUTREACH AND V]P NCE tl-^KRUPTION^^WCES; AND AUTHORIZE
THE CITY MAWKtA t^JNCfcASE TM£ tEtEl/<l|FUND APPROPRIATIONS BY$1J0
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2. IIVIMIGRATION
3. FLOCK UPDATE*
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What is the point of committees if they don't hold meetings, aren't rescheduled, or are cut short? Yadi
Pasadena City Council Meeting
May 4, 2026
7. Gang Intervention Contract