Los Angeles, CA - Like many large cities, gangs, poverty and crime continue to plague the city of Los Angeles, and to shed light on the problem, District 7 Councilman Richard Alarcon held a two-panel ad hoc committee Tuesday at Los Angeles City Hall to discuss ways to combat the problems. This was the seventh in a series of meetings. Committee participants brought to light that crime, gang activity and poverty are interrelated. Alarcon originally introduced a motion to create the Ad Hoc Committee on Ending Poverty in Los Angeles in the spring of 2007.