New requirements for employment

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City Wants Employers To Hire Gang Members Posted: Jan 11, 2010 10:31 PM PST Updated: Jan 13, 2010 9:07 AM PST Video Gallery Would You Give a Gang Member a Job ? 1:21 Salinas Leaders Come Up With New Plan To Combat Gangs 1:24 SALINAS, Calif. - The city of Salinas has come up with another plan to combat gang violence; by taking gang members off the streets and giving them a job. City leaders have told Central Coast News they will discuss the idea in Thursday's meeting. The city says that at this time they don't have a plan in place yet, and aren't sure which businesses will be a part of the plan. Monterey County is at 12 percent unemployment but with the record setting year of gang related homicides in Salinas, some are questioning if this is a good idea. Michael Filice has owned Quality Market for 63 years. He says the mayor's plan to cut gang violence this year is a great idea and the city is headed towards the right direction. "I don't see a problem in that. I already have a gang member working for me that's been with me for several years and he's one of my best workers," says Michael Filice. This gang member that works for Filice says opportunities like this are hard to come by. This job has helped him take more responsibility and look ahead to a positive future. He believes the city's proposed solution would be a life changing opportunity for other gang members. Filice agrees because jobs like this will help make a difference in the community. "Get them off the streets. They get that bi-weekly paycheck and I think that just definitely helps get them off the streets and keep them out of trouble for at least 8 hours a day," says Filice. Now that Filice has already taken the city's plan to the next level, he's got one piece of advice. "The next step is for the city to come up to the plate. Do not fear a guy because he's in a gang. Like I said, he is no different than you and I," says Filice. Now I have to be a gang member to get a job??? Bad enough that you have to be bilingual. uugghhh http://www.kionrightnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=11806126