Wednesday, January 10, 2007

WE GOT OUR ANSWER.
As if making a direct response to our question in the previous post on how "targeted" versus "blanket" suppression would work, yesterday Chief Bratton and City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo unveiled a new strategy for addressing gang violence. The plan is to create a matrix using weighted factors to identify the "worst" gangs in the city and then hit them with a brick.

At first glance, it seems like an interesting idea and something that veteran law enforcement and even activist types have suggested in the past. We'll hold off on commenting about this particular approach until we can get more information on the stuff that can make or break any concept -- the details.

The LA TIMES article on this initiative mentions that one of the neighborhoods under consideration for special attention is CPA, "a relatively small gang that police say is responsible for a disproportionate amount of violence in the Valley." For decades, CPA had a reputation more as a party neighborhood than hard core shooters and looters. Obviously that's changing. The question is why? We a have a few theories but let's let the initiative take its course and see what develops officially. When it's over, we'll compare notes.

The takaway from the LA TIMES piece seems to be that the killing of Cheryl Green finally got somebody's attention and it created the motivation for this new strategy. This phenomenon clearly underscores the fact that it's not a story (in this case, ethnic cleansing) until the big media says it is. The Green case generated lots of ink, unlike almost all the previous cases.

Let's recap some of the racially motivated homicides and assaults and the level of press attention, shall we?
Kenny Wilson, Anthony Prudhomme, Christopher Bowser: Nearly six years after the fact.
Hightower: No press.
Haggins: No press.
Boikins: No press.
Winston: No press.
Mellancon: No press.
The Williams family: No press.
Green: No press.

We got a bunch more. The point is the gatekeepers of what qualifies as news literally have to be overwhelmed by reality before they take official notice of "racially sensitive" issues. In this particular instance, the reality that overwhelmed them was the Avenues trial last September. Once the ice was broken with that case, well, all of a sudden, it's NEWS!

I clearly remember numerous fruitless pitches and serious conversations with the gatekeepers about this phenomenon years ago. They didn't want to know it. They never heard of it. And will someone escort this man out of here?

In the immortal words of one brave editor, "We don't want to start a race war." Using that line of reasoning, no one should have reported the Rodney King beating or Pearl Harbor for that matter because it could raise some eyebrows.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

How does one differentiate between a "racially motivated crime" and a crime that involves a person of a different race? If a member of Florencia 13 shoots and kills a member of the ECC, is that considered a "racially motivated crime?" What if the shooters aim is off and they kill an innocent bystander that happens to be of a different race? There are two other problems that I see with the approach listed in the Times. The first is that the proposed no contact approach as a condition of parole will only serve to spread the reach of the gang whose leader is involved. We have seen this repeatedly with transfers of gang leaders from the State prison system to the Federal prison system. Also, let us assume, hypothetically, that the leadership of a gang is "neutralized." Does this then lead to the conclusion that the gang is neutralized or that the crimes associated with the gang will diminish? If history is correct then the answer is no. We are dealing with a hydra and not a snake. Neutralizing the head will only result in increased violence within the organization in question and from without. Finally, is it just me, or are they really saying that you only have to kill a few people of another race and you are in the infamous Top 10? If so, then notoriety will only incentivise the type of "mindcrime" that they are trying to stop.

Anonymous said...

The following is also of interest:

http://www.dailynews.com/ci_4981835

Anonymous said...

RACE WAR HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS IT JUST TO BAD ONLY THE PEOPLE THAT INSIDE THAT WAR KNOW THE REAL TRUTH.

Anonymous said...

TV violence is surging.
A media watchdog study of broadcast networks finds incidents have risen 75% since 1998.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-violence11jan11,1,1079657.story?coll=la-headlines-business
Insidiously we are becoming what we watch. The study by the Parents Television Council, titled "Dying to Entertain," said the 2005-06 season was the most violent since the group began tracking the issue in 1998. There were an average of 4.41 violent incidents each prime-time hour last season. Our teen's grow up emulating the actors on these shows, and adopting the values stressed by these 60 min. novelas, no wonder our youth seems to have lost nearly all social mores. The rage back east at prep U's is to have naked parties? Bling, bold, brash, loud, and in your face rule the day. No manners anymore. No ethics in the corporate world, ditto in our political landscape as well as in the UN, remember Kofi Anan's food for oil scandal? What are mothers to do?
America, ya'll is mad stupid.

Anonymous said...

wally,
How many comments have you had to nix as of this post? Twenty? Fifty? 100? Be a sport and let us know.

Anonymous said...

Wally,
How many pages of pictures in your book, if your allowed to tell us? Thanks either way.

Anonymous said...

Picture of four mexican charros planting the mexican flag on Iwo Jima.
http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/7620/617/1600/405762/image001.jpg

A portent of the change over in califas, that is to come?

(^:

Anonymous said...

I just finished reading "Moco Verdes" book "The Mexican Mafia, The Story" I found it very interesting and informative but out dated. It seems the Moco was a so-so good dick, but it dont look like like he spent as much time as he did shaking the bushes and pounding concrete with shoe leather as he did in a class room, the book is filled with misspellings and typos, which doesnt say much for his proof reader "Gabe". I was wondering if that Gabe is the same Gabe Morales who writes a Thursday boxing column for the SGV tribune, if it is than I understand all the errors the man is obviously punch drunk (tee-tee-ree). But since there is not much out on this subject the book was a good read. The best part of it though was when I took it down to where my old homies hang out (convelscent home) and had them veteranos thinking about the good ol days when men were men and you held your mud no matter what, a few of them even started to start flashing back on them chirujos that they used to chase around the yard, thats when I made my exit.
Ay te miro chamiro

Anonymous said...

Hey wally it seems you're always bringing up the racial cleaning stuff when it comes to mayates, just like the placas do when one of them gets shot[mayas].
Yet no one ever says or brings up the same suject when a chicano gets hit,now i know its puro perjudice and the gavas will never come across on a blanced level, but please wally you're down i know you are and i fully enjoy the blog.
But can you come down with some blanced info on the raza getting hit too.

Anonymous said...

To SV VBS,

You said; “ But anyways, I agree with you that some vatos do it dirty and raise their kids to become gang members. But most don't. I can only speak on my Barrio and what I have seen with my homies and I can honestly tell you that even the hardest vatos don't want their kids to follow in their footsteps.”

I wish everybody had this “code of conduct”.

I have not seen enough of this “code of conduct” in my own experiences, when I see a family where the father or older brother is in a gang the youngest kid is usually next in line to join the gang. That is why I have used the word parasite to describe gang members, because they are just infecting everybody else around them. This is what I consider the most significant factor in the continual growth of gangs. And of course we need more good-paying jobs, boys-clubs, better schools and etc. but if your own mother is recruiting gang members no amount of government spending is going to help you.

For any of you who doubt my words I will provide you the MySpace page of two of the most low-life ignorant women I can imagine. These two low-life pendejas were the moderators of the website www.xv3gang.com before a mad citizen shut them down. If you have two low-life mothers recruiting and encouraging problem youths to join gangs what do you expect from their kids?

Low –life #1 - http://www.myspace.com/payasa18rpk
Low –life #2 - http://www.myspace.com/latiny1SS18ST
Son of Low –life #2 - http://www.myspace.com/traviesox8

I wish I were a cop so I can go beat these women and show them some real police brutality with my aluminum Billy-club or 5-cell MagLite flashlight and then throw there asses in jail for 40 years.

Mad Mexican
(No wonder I am Mad)

Anonymous said...

"I wish I were a cop so I can go beat these women and show them some real police brutality with my aluminum Billy-club or 5-cell MagLite flashlight and then throw there asses in jail for 40 years.

Mad Mexican"

I dont agree with u MM some chicano BARRIOS dont look at their BARRIOS as a gang!

Anonymous said...

Yet another news story about the rising gang problems in San Fernando Valley.
http://www.lacitybeat.com/article.php?id=4879&IssueNum=188

As far as the Los Angeles Times not covering more gang shootings, the L.A. times has changed over the years one factor has been loss of subscribers due people using other sources such as the Internet for their news. I'm not sure which problem came first us being apathetic and stupid or news organizations not spending money to do good investigative stories. Most news mediums would rather cover the Donald Trump vs. Rosie O’Donnel war. I personally want to see this on the old reality show celebrity fights. We as consumers of news seem to be more interested about the lives of Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Tom Cruise baby etc. than real news. But even when the gang problems get news coverage most people don’t really care or much less get involved.

What do the people here think about gangs and immigration?
How much does illegal immigration contribute to gang problems?

The views of a well know gang expert L.A. Sheriffs Sgt. Richard Valdemar.
http://www.fulldisclosure.net/news/2006/11/hispanic-minuteman-cop-fights.html


El Gordo sin LA Flaca

Anonymous said...

I find it very curious OMM that you seem to disregard serious attempts at alleviating gang problems that are growing throughout the US, by stating all your qualifications and efforts at intervention in our communities, and then very quickly and cavalierly saying, yea yea yea good jobs, boys and girls clubs, more money for youngsters is ok, but the real problem is older brothers, fathers, and a couple of old chola's that defend gangs are the real problem. Hey OMM are you really serious? With all your experience I would think you would be more insightful.
This gang problem is spreading like a disease throughout the US even in small towns that haven't had a culture of gangs before. Sure theres an exodus of people escaping Califas who bring along there kids who are gangsters but there is an obvious lack of interest and money for youth intervention, and claiming that the entire cause of spreading gangsterism is due to some homies recruiting efforts is pure hogwash, and as far as I'm concerned "hiding our heads in the sand"!. Until we get serious with some solid remedies like Good Jobs, youth programs and intervention, a spanking of the media, movies, TV,violent computor games, and most of all "Money" for serious efforts at salvaging our plebe then you can keep putting all the old cholas and older family members in the pinta forever and the Big Homies will be smiling like a bunch of "Cheshire Cats" at a bird sanctuary.
Like there doing now, maybe their Mormons, you know "Bringem Young"!

Anonymous said...

To Don Q and my other admirers,

I would like to know what "serious attempts" at alleviating gangs do you think I am disregarding.

I am one of the few people here who defend the police when they want to get tough on street thugs.
Most people here are just saying that every new police effort/tactic will not work. I never said we do NOT need more youth programs and better education, quite the contrary. Read my old posts where I tell you how I was in the boys club and found it very useful in my own life. I played Ping Pong and Basketball instead of gang-banging. And education, education, education are the three most important factor for success in anyone’s life.

I am sure I spend more of my time and money than 99% of the rest of society who has have never done a thing to help another kid get an education and get him out of a gang. But that is the society we live in, where we expect some solution to fall from the sky or our government.

And if older gang members did not actively recruit new members there would be fewer gang members every generation and not more. I gave you examples of two “old Cholas” that you think are just “defending gangs” but they are actively encouraging recruitment of new gang members.
Like I said before they were moderating a now defunct site www.xv3gang.com. You need to carefully look at the MySpace Profile of www.myspace.com/traviesox8 and look at his “friends” profile and see how often these two old Cholas are posting all over many kids sites. But the main point is that this is more common than people think. You just need to talk to any new Belmont high school student and ask him how often he is harassed and intimidated by gang members. Is this not a also a method of recruitment by fear? And it is very effective for the new immigrant kid who does not know his way around yet.

If you look at the history of the 18th St. gang how do you think they became the largest gang in Los Angeles. They have a very active recruitment program to grow their ranks. I have been with mothers, out looking for their 14-15 year old sons, and when we want to take them home we have been threatened by older gang members. So I very aware of how older members take control of a kids life and use these kids to sell drugs and do their illegal activities. So excuse me if I do not endorse the “hug a thug” mentality. I have personally had guns flashed at me at several times; I should buy me a flack jacket.

I wish we could go back to the 1960 when Elvis Presley was the most provocative musician, “I Love Lucy” was the most provocative television show and James Bond was the most violent and sexual movie. But if really think that is ever going to happen who really has their head in the sand.

Even you do not think we should enforce our current death penalty law, and took a shot at me when I criticized the crazy ACLU for this. What do you think the ACLU would do if we try to censor music, television, video games and movies? So if want to take movie producers to task why not hold parents responsible for “defending gangs” as you call it. There is zero chance we will be censoring anything on a government level. (ACLU even defends Internet Porn in Public Libraries) But I can damn well censor what my kid watches and listens to in my house.

So I know I am sounding like a broken record but no government can or should raise your kids for you.

Mad Mexican
(aka Brown Bill Cosby)

Anonymous said...

To Wally who said.....................
"Where Hayden parts company with rational thinkers is his claim that the spread of violent street gangs is a result of the failure of the radical movements of the 1960s, the Viet Nam war, poverty, the triumph of neo-conservatism, crooked cops who actually want to increase gang violence to justify paramilitary measures and, that catch-all bugaboo entree of the month at the Anarchist all-you-can-eat buffet -- globalization."

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=14204


What is really funny/ironic is that most of your readers seem to believe what you so cleverly parodied in the article.

Que Locuras

Anonymous said...

Quote; "chicano BARRIOS dont look at their BARRIOS as a gang!"

Ahhhh1 Finally someone who can see the real. In this "fact" is the key why Chicano gangs have persisted over the decades and why they remain the brotherhoods that they are. Unlike the mob, drug dealing crews, the posee, jesse james and his gang or whathave you; the Barrios do not necessarily limit themselves as solely a gang or the neighborhoor consider itself a gang. The gang is composed of cliques, but the Barrio is composed of families, so while the young and the restless recruit members into their clubs, these however remain part of the greater Barrio,and that Barrio is not just the gang. So while the lil sobrino can be from a clique and the gang, el tio remains only as part of the Barrio, per say. Nevertheless ""both"" are from the Barrio, and as such, the Barrio is able to live on and maintain the next generation.

You ever gave any though into the birth of the term "ESE"?

Sabes que carnal, it didn't mean SureƱo. It didn't mean That Dude. It came from the predominat two letters in the Mexican last names of the FAMILIES that made up the Barrios.

Morales, Reyes, Torres, Martines/z, Gonzales/z, Rodrigues/z, Jimenes/z Gomes/z, and the list goes on. Just like the B in Barrio was substituted with a V, so to the Z in the last names were substituted with ESEs.

Here in this most rudimentary and small history lesson from the Barrio is where One can begin to fully understand the force that binds.