No, I don’t mean the tragic spate of shootings that we’ve seen these past two weeks. I mean the escalating battles between City Controller Laura Chick, and City Councilman Tony Cardenas (and any number of other interested parties), about how the city ought to go about dealing with its gang problem—other than simply handing it to the cops. Again.
LA Times editorial writer Rob Greene had a good, unsigned editorial on the subject on Sunday, and Duke Helfand has a detailed follow-up in this morning’s paper.
I’m in the midst of a deadline so I’ll let the articles mostly speak for themselves.
The bottom line is, after two expensive studies (Chick’s the most recent), plus a slew of good national studies, we have enough information. Now we need some action.
But after a year of this nonsense, no one has managed to do anything but form more committees. Tony C.’s ad hoc committee on gangs has managed to form a sub committee that, in turn, managed to define what it meant by “gang intervention.”
That’s it. Seriously. In 11 months.
Plus we have Laura’s report, and Connie Rice’s report—both of which have value IF—and only if—we use them.
Sadly, the last I heard, Councilwoman Wendy Greuel said the Chick report—which recommended a gang department be formed under the aegis of the mayor’s office—-called for more committees.
Oh, yeah, we also have Jeff Carr the mayor’s gang czar, a nice, bright capable fellow who, to his credit, spends time in the various gang neighborhoods, and has gotten to know a lot of the players, but has no power. (Because the above persons are too busy fighting over it.) This means he’s sort of a committee unto himself.
Meanwhile the mayor’s MIA stumping 24/7 for Hillary in hopes of getting a cabinet position.
This needs to stop. All of it.
Kids are dying. The police can’t do it all, damn it. Grow up. Everybody pee on the various reports, if that makes you feel better. Then get on with it.
(More on all this as the days go by.)
One of the cable channels has been showing Charles Bronson’s “Death Wish” vigilante series recently. “Death Wish 3” was the best, where he walked around and wiped out a neighborhood gang with a machine gun while one of the neighbors walked fed the ammo belt into the gun. Of course the shows are stupid, but they’re good for some laughs.
If you want to stop the gangs, arm all of the citizens with guns.
Now that HBO’s “The Wire” aired the last episode, HBO needs a new replacement show. I can save HBO $millions$ in the creation and writing of their next hit series. HBO only needs to write verbatim, what happens here in Los Angeles politics. We have it all, ineffective politicians, career first politicians, crime, gangs, criminals running gang intervention programs, frustrated cops, budget problems, and a city in crisis mode. And Los Angeles also has the Hollywood angle for an added twist to a new show. Paris Hilton and Britney Spears costing the city valuable police and jail resources, or cops fraternizing with dope smoking “B” celebrities. And just in case that isn’t enough there is always the corrupt sheriff who shows up for his federal indictment with his wife and mistress. I believe the saying is “you can’t make this shit up”.
How soon before Villaragosa’s mug appears on milk cartons?
What an utter failure! Jimmy Hahn! All is forgiven!
The thing I find most depressing about this is that even if these gang programs could be wrested free of an absurd and petty political bureaucracy, I doubt that they’d make much more than a small dent. Hope I’m wrong, but this seems like a replay of too many such programs – large urban school systems probably being the central example – where energies and resources that would be hard-pressed to keep apace of large shifts in demographics, culture and socio-economic realities under the best of circumstances are further hobbled by the worst sort of “politics” and buck-passing.
I’m the only one to offer a solution so far–give everyone else a gun, like Charles Bronson.
I watched a History Channel show on gangs yesterday–primarily MS-13. Really, really sick. But, let’s not let stopping illegal immigration be on the table to fight gangs. (My second suggestion.)
What if we offerred them chocolates to stop crime?
Woody – so far as I know, anyone in Los Angeles who wants to own a gun – including a handgun – can do so. Or are you advocating one of those “big government” programs where everyone is mandated to own a weapon and we provide subsidies to folks who would have trouble affording them. Sounds socialistic.
Hasn’t the venerable Father Boyle already figured this out for all of us? Granted, Homeboy is working with a (generally speaking) slightly older population of students than our middle and high schools. But many (not all — I’m not that naive) of these kids can be steered away if they are hooked up early enough with a mentor, mental health services, and lots to do when not in school. The problem is, it will cost a fortune for the beyond-the-school-bell activities and mental health services. And it will demand an amazing amount of time and patience on the part of the mentors. Perhaps the public will to go all in for these kids could be stirred up, but it would require from the general public a more nuanced view of who these kids are. (It would take more Celestes in the world!)
Kennesaw, Georgia has a mandatory gun law, and it has had success. Maybe we could get rid of costly anti-pollution requirements for cars so that the citizens can afford guns with that money. A gang member is less likely to hassle someone packing a pistol. I personally, would carry a pump shot-gun.
Maybe, we could just make gangs illegal and get voluntary compliance–like the U.N. asking Iraq and Iran to play nice.
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“I personally, would carry a pump shot-gun.”
It didn’t save Omar…
“It didn’t save Omar…”
Exactly. (Brilliant writing choice for Omar’s death scene. David Simon and Dennis Lehane, who wrote that particular episode, are amazing.)
BTW, I didn’t watch last night’s final episode as I was too deadline-crazed to be able to enjoy it (I’ll watch it tonight.) so if there are any other characters who couldn’t be saved by large firearms please—I beg of you as a friend and an American patriot—don’t mention it until Tuesday.
The thing I find most depressing about this is that even if these gang programs could be wrested free of an absurd and petty political bureaucracy, I doubt that they’d make much more than a small dent. where energies and resources that would be hard-pressed to keep apace of large shifts in demographics, culture and socio-economic realities
I would agree with that statement, when I think back to the times of “Happy Days”, when music, movies and television were all so different than today. Now we have younger kids being exposed to sex and violence from even more forms of communications media. We have too many young kids with no ethics and the morals of Caligula. I rarely hear the words, Sir or Mam anymore.
Add to that, a government which seems to favor corporate interests over the interests of the working masses. We used to have mothers whose job was to educate and socialize their kids. I think back to my mother who spent 24/7 raising her kids, she dragged us to church, made sure we were in school and kept us busy in organized sports programs. Now you have families in which both parents have to work and don’t spend enough time with their kids.
Another anecdote, I was at a gas station, when a convertible full of young teen “ladies†pulled up to the gas pumps, with the radio blasting. The girls were all singing along, to a song whose lyrics are
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTcrWeJ7hTg
all u ladies pop ur p***y like this
shake ur body don’t stop don’t
do it good lick this p***y just like u shud
rite now lick it good lick this pussy just like u shud
my neck my back lick my p***y and my crack
I knew our society’s future was doomed, when I saw these young “ladies†as our future mothers.
LA Res, some cool dude pulled into a gas station where I was filling up. He had his windows down and his radio was blaring a filthy profanity-laced song. I, of course, gave him a lecture and let him know that he needed to keep that type of song out of hearing range of the public and to be glad that my son wasn’t with me. He didn’t get mad and was probably stunned. I keep a cattle prod handy for that purpose.
NO SPOILERS, JERKS!!! I’m DVD renter! ARGUDGHAD!
Yeah Woody we sure wouldn’t want your son polluted by profanity. Lord knows the crap he hears at home!
No profanity in our household. We have a good family, and our kids have turned out just fine. At least they learned to think on their own rather than follow the herd instincts of liberals.
Celeste,
It’s time for “The Wire” post.
I think you’re right, LA Res. Let me think on it. Tonight it may have to happen. (I finally saw the final episode a night late. I’m already in a state of separation anxiety.)