New gang chief

In the city's continued fight against gangs, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has tapped an ordained minister with decades of experience creating youth programs in poor neighborhoods as the city's first gang czar. Rick Coca in today's Daily News.

Although Jeff Carr is not well known by some in City Hall, his appointment, expected at a press conference today, demonstrates the mayor's push for prevention and intervention programs in the battle to rid the city of its decades-old gang problem.

"In a sense, we're in a war with gangs and gang leaders," said John Mack, president of the Los Angeles Police Commission. "If we're going to win the large majority of young people, they're going to have to see they have some other options ... than life on the street with gangs. The selection (of Carr) says that the mayor recognizes that."

Mack said that, although he doesn't know him "extremely well," Carr appears well qualified for the appointment with his background as a minister who worked with the Bresee Foundation, an L.A. faith-based organization that offers health, academic and employment services.

Most recently, Carr worked as the chief operating officer and chief of staff for Sojourners/Call to Renewal in Washington, D.C., managing 50 employees and overseeing the finance, personnel and marketing development for the organization. The organization's mission is to "articulate the biblical call to social justice, inspiring hope and building a movement to transform individuals, communities, the church and the world," its Web site states.