Why does LA have such Bad Gang Problem

[catfish]

Why does LA have such Bad Gang Problem


Why does Los Angeles have such a huge gang problem.My brother and his family
are looking at a job offer but I don't know why unless your rich you would
want to live in Los Angeles.The valley used to be nice but looking at the
homicide reports on the LA times website gives me the idea it is going down
the toilet.Now I am of Cuban descent so I know that not all Latinos are as
stupid as the gangster doorknobs you have in LA.I live in sunny Florida and
we have allot of property crimes but no where near the gangs and just
senseless stupid homicides.Do the residents who are not rich fear for their
safety in the LA area? The south central area is a war zone and it looks
like other former middle class areas are following.I hope my brother stays
in Miami which I think he will.You would have to be a millionaire to afford
a home in good areas like orange county or Oxnard.I have visited and was not
that impressed with what I seen of downtown and Hollywood.I also found Santa
Monica to be overrun with homeless people by your peer.

[Wyoming53]

That's really nothing new. It's been like that for years. It was that way when I went into the Navy in 1974 and it wasn't new then.

[catfish]

Originally Posted by Wyoming53

That's really nothing new. It's been like that for years. It was that way when I went into the Navy in 1974 and it wasn't new then.

No it wasn't new but it gets worse every day. Have you been back there sense you got out of the Navy? You would not believe what you would see today

[Wyoming53]

I was back there about 4 years ago. Course, the places I go aren't gang ridden. And on that trip, I didn't get a chance to drive around and see the sights.

Although I did notice that down in San Diego they're having more problems in some area's.

When I lived in San Diego, the asian gangs were prevelent. But something unique about them. I was headed for the local safeway and turned into the parking lot before I noticed there was about 200 asian's engaged in a gang fight. When they saw my vehicle, they stopped what they were doing. So I went ahead and parked, got out and walked into the store. Some smiled, some nodded their heads, some actually waved. From both sides. When I come out of the store they had started up again, but as soon as they saw me, they stopped again until I got in the car and left the parking lot. I drove around the block and sure enough, they were at it again.

But the Asians seemed to take pride in the fact that they didn't endanger, nor bother, the local folks. Seemed like they was simply utilizing the realestate to conduct their business.

[Wyody]

Well, I see someone mention "The Valley". I have to wonder ... just which freaking valley you talking about? The San Fernando has been unliveable for well over 30 years! You can jump onto the desert-side of the mountain and do okay - if you don't mind the daily body found in the ditches since the mid-70's.
Hollywood never has been that great a place to hang. Eden Park isn't bad, several close-in "hoods" aren't so bad and I actually find Santa Monica refreshing compared to everything else around. Was just there in November - but must also admit that I'm no longer a "regular".
I remember when I left San Diego the first time in about '75. Nice existence. Had a little place in quiet North Park. Spent a lot of time in Lemon Grove and Lakeside and also down at the beach although most of my time was spent from DelMar north (territory). I moved back to San Diego less than a year later ... Quiet little North Park then had SWAT teams ... on Patrol!! That was my last trip to San Diego although I still hear occasionally from some friends who ... well, they actually live near Tijuana but work in San Diego these days. Found them a nice retirement locale.
I still say, they need to draw an east-west line at about Santa Barbara and chain-saw that piece of California off - then do the same at the Golden-Gate ... giving us three Californias to choose from ... and maybe they can get one right!
It was an Asian gang that caused my "injury" some years ago. Thought I was busting up a domestic ... instead, learned I was busting up a "gang-bang" training session. Alone. I don't recall any of the politness you mention, 53.
I don't bust up too many things no more.

[Wyoming53]

Darn. I lived on 33rd in North Park. My hangouts were in Santee, LakeSide, oh don't get me started on tails of the Lakeside Hotel. haha

And that was in 75 or so. But in 92, you didn't want to live in North Park. Not anymore. South San Diego moved right up over the hill and took over North Park. Matter of fact, from North Park all the way West to where the main drags hit the top of the hill over I-8.

The Asian problem I run into was at the local Safeway. But you didn't want to venture into their turf. At that time I lived over in Linda Vista. The kids were more then safe going to school and coming home. But after 5, you didn't venture down to the Junior High because you were in for trouble.

[Wyody]

Originally Posted by Wyoming53

Darn. I lived on 33rd in North Park. My hangouts were in Santee, LakeSide, oh don't get me started on tails of the Lakeside Hotel. haha

Well, I can't remember my streets so well. I think my mainstay in North Park was near 30th and Adams. I used to watch the concerts down in the stadium from my roof. The last go-round, I had a little place on Utah St. betwixt Adams and El Cajon and moved to Utah next!
I had businesses in El Cajon and right on the border between Imperial Beach and National City. They're probably still there - sold a few years after leaving the state - finance companies. I preferred OB but there was just too much going on. Old Santee was fairly regular as I spent a lot of time in LaMesa and going to Mira Mesa (somebody had to teach those dang GIs how to shoot real pool!).
I can't recall the Lakeside Hotel .. at least not right now. Had a friend just out of town on one of those desert-type roads. That's where I learned my 3-day and 5-day spaghetti sauces and so, on side-trips to Julian, I always had plenty to eat. I lived all over the place down in SD - except for El Cajon. That burg was just too darned hot to live in - couldn't even hardly ever visit my office, it was so hot.
The only gangs were the (new) Scientologists downtown and the Hare Krishna - who hadn't yet figured out that they could do their stints at the airport and have controlled climate and vending machines and bathrooms.
We were probably blocks from each other. Acey-Ducey? Lo-Ball?

[PDXnative]

Whenever you have a large group of poor people living near each other within a large population, you will have gangs.

Get rid of the poor people and no more gangs. And not by some sort of final solution, but through dumping money into our education system and having college be free for anyone who wants it, just like Public School. Without a good foundation, you cannot build anything and the poor people of this country create a bad foundation for this country. Invest in the people, and the Country will grow smarter and stronger and gangs and poor will be a thing of the past.

[kimbercuddles]

Originally Posted by PDXnative

Whenever you have a large group of poor people living near each other within a large population, you will have gangs.

Get rid of the poor people and no more gangs. And not by some sort of final solution, but through dumping money into our education system and having college be free for anyone who wants it, just like Public School. Without a good foundation, you cannot build anything and the poor people of this country create a bad foundation for this country. Invest in the people, and the Country will grow smarter and stronger and gangs and poor will be a thing of the past.

If only it were that easy. It should be, but would those poor people actually take advantage of a system like that? People have to want to better themselves. Many of our younger people are much lazier than the previous generations. Would we also take care of their board and room, etc., while they are in the free college? It SOUNDS good, but.....

[PDXnative]

They could just live at home :)

Seriously, many people don't go to college becasue they cannot afford it. Make college part of the school system and anyone who does not go would be equivalent to a high school drop out. Offer dorms as part of the deal. Taxes going to fund welfare systems in the end could pay for the schooling and housing costs.

[PDXnative]

And for those who are not into the whole acadamia thing, send them to trade school to learn a useful trade. The whole point is, get the people off welfare and get them educated so that we can once again become a nation of production instead of consumption.

[kimbercuddles]

Originally Posted by PDXnative

And for those who are not into the whole acadamia thing, send them to trade school to learn a useful trade. The whole point is, get the people off welfare and get them educated so that we can once again become a nation of production instead of consumption.

Okay, PDX, I'm with you, but once again I think there is a lack of initiative in the younger generation. I would say probably 70% of the young adults who work for my husband would rather do as little as possible than actually have to earn their pay. I'm not sure where we lost the work ethic and pride in what we do. I understand that there are certain people who need assistance, but for the most part, I'd love to get rid of welfare.

I know that this is not going to go over very well, but the military is an excellent way to start and support one's country. If we could get the gang members to get their aggressions out while fighting for us, well, what a bonus. And don't forget the GI bill.

[PDXnative]

War is stupid!!!! Defense of our Country is great and needed, but fighting these stupid wasteful wars like Iraq are a waste of time, money, and human life and do absolutely nothing beneficial for anyone. Look at Vietnam. I rest my case!!

If they people of this Country were actually educated, they would see that war is stupid and not a new reality TV show. Conflict should be avoided at all cost and only used as a last resort. Iraq was not a last resort, it was payback for daddy!!!! Bush is a BITCH!!

[kimbercuddles]

Originally Posted by PDXnative

War is stupid!!!! Defense of our Country is great and needed, but fighting these stupid wasteful wars like Iraq are a waste of time, money, and human life and do absolutely nothing beneficial for anyone. Look at Vietnam. I rest my case!!

If they people of this Country were actually educated, they would see that war is stupid and not a new reality TV show. Conflict should be avoided at all cost and only used as a last resort. Iraq was not a last resort, it was payback for daddy!!!! Bush is a BITCH!!

I'm not going to touch the first sentence of your post at all...although I don't necessarily agree with you. I don't see it as being that simple.

Conflict is a last resort...I pretty much agree, but if there isn't going to be a punishment that works, maybe we should just forget about any rules. How many times do you let someone get away with something before it has to be dealt with? It's not like Saddam didn't have any choice...it's not as though he wasn't warned numerous times.

All I'm saying is that our military is an excellent way of accomplishing many things while attaining one's goals at the same time. (basically free education, if you want it...that's cool) Before 1991, the military was a perfect way of getting some discipline, good benefits and an education at the same time. There was always the risk of being sent away for a while, but such is life. Twenty years of service and you have the rest of your life to look forward to...and deserve it.

[Wyody]

Originally Posted by kimbercuddles

Okay, PDX, I'm with you, but once again I think there is a lack of initiative in the younger generation. I would say probably 70% of the young adults who work for my husband would rather do as little as possible than actually have to earn their pay. I'm not sure where we lost the work ethic and pride in what we do. I understand that there are certain people who need assistance, but for the most part, I'd love to get rid of welfare.

I know that this is not going to go over very well, but the military is an excellent way to start and support one's country. If we could get the gang members to get their aggressions out while fighting for us, well, what a bonus. And don't forget the GI bill.

Just in case you've gotten old enough to have forgotten, every generation says the same thing about the next one ... "lazy azz no-accounts wouldn't know a good day's work if you walked them thru it". We can't get rid of welfare until somebody brings our pay up from the 1977 level to somehow match cost of living - which has never stopped increasing. Somebody needs to get us all back our Blue Cross/Blue Shield so we can take our kids to the doctor and dentist and even go ourselves and somebody needs to stop making "toys" for young people that cost parents as much as a used car used to!!
Mini-Rant on the G.I. Bill: When I was a young man in seminary school, making my grades, travelling the country with my piano, speaking to groups of many thousands - life was pretty cool. Then, I got my draft notice.
Fine - ripped out of school. Ripped from a great "employment" that netted me many thousands of dollars every month. Ripped from my suits and stage-gear and thrown into military clothes. Served my country. Got letters from the President. Met the President. (me and Forest). Served the President. Got out of the service. Immediately signed up at UofM (FL) and started taking classes aiming for pre-law. 4 weeks later - had to drop out. Paperwork Snafu over the G.I. Bill. Fine. Went into finance. Moved. Moved again. Signed up at UC San Diego. Started taking classes. 3 weeks later - had to drop out - paperwork snafu over MY G.I. Bill. This was 3 years later!! Short story - never did get my G.I. Bill - and then it expired. BS I say!! B.S.
That's "Big B" and Large, Stinking "S"!!
I would never send anyone into the military to fight. They make the stupidest clothing items and the stupidest backpack-gear ever made. Shoot - we all learned that way back in Boy Scouts when the gear we had was supposed to be "just like the Army" ... dang - that's the dumbest stuff I've ever taken on any hike ... and they're still making it!! Just try wearing a pair of "fatigues" thru the Rocky Mountains on almost any given day - you'll see what I mean. Dumbest boots. And this is in no way a dis on the military - it's just the way it is. Load our combat troops down with 100 lbs of stupid equipment they don't need when a good mountaineer could do the same with 20 lbs and a pair of Levis.
Did I miss anything? .... Oh yeah ... it's Bush's fault!

[kimbercuddles]

Originally Posted by Wyody

Just in case you've gotten old enough to have forgotten, every generation says the same thing about the next one ... "lazy azz no-accounts wouldn't know a good day's work if you walked them thru it". We can't get rid of welfare until somebody brings our pay up from the 1977 level to somehow match cost of living - which has never stopped increasing. Somebody needs to get us all back our Blue Cross/Blue Shield so we can take our kids to the doctor and dentist and even go ourselves and somebody needs to stop making "toys" for young people that cost parents as much as a used car used to!!
Mini-Rant on the G.I. Bill: When I was a young man in seminary school, making my grades, travelling the country with my piano, speaking to groups of many thousands - life was pretty cool. Then, I got my draft notice.
Fine - ripped out of school. Ripped from a great "employment" that netted me many thousands of dollars every month. Ripped from my suits and stage-gear and thrown into military clothes. Served my country. Got letters from the President. Met the President. (me and Forest). Served the President. Got out of the service. Immediately signed up at UofM (FL) and started taking classes aiming for pre-law. 4 weeks later - had to drop out. Paperwork Snafu over the G.I. Bill. Fine. Went into finance. Moved. Moved again. Signed up at UC San Diego. Started taking classes. 3 weeks later - had to drop out - paperwork snafu over MY G.I. Bill. This was 3 years later!! Short story - never did get my G.I. Bill - and then it expired. BS I say!! B.S.
That's "Big B" and Large, Stinking "S"!!
I would never send anyone into the military to fight. They make the stupidest clothing items and the stupidest backpack-gear ever made. Shoot - we all learned that way back in Boy Scouts when the gear we had was supposed to be "just like the Army" ... dang - that's the dumbest stuff I've ever taken on any hike ... and they're still making it!! Just try wearing a pair of "fatigues" thru the Rocky Mountains on almost any given day - you'll see what I mean. Dumbest boots. And this is in no way a dis on the military - it's just the way it is. Load our combat troops down with 100 lbs of stupid equipment they don't need when a good mountaineer could do the same with 20 lbs and a pair of Levis.
Did I miss anything? .... Oh yeah ... it's Bush's fault!

You know, it's one thing that you're top poster, but it's a whole 'nother thing that there is some major content in them!

Yes, you're absolutely correct...I remember having conversations with my grandfather when I was seven about how the world had gone down the tubes as far as laziness and work ethic. The funny thing, though, is that it was bad before he was a young pup and is getting worse each generation. There's definitely truth to that, in my opinion. The expensive toys for kids are a problem and kids feel that it is owed to them.

So, Odie, why all the snafus regarding the schooling and G.I. bill? Most people's major problem with the G.I. bill is that they just don't take advantage of it. I don't believe in using the draft unless it is a last resort and we're under attack. I guess you were robbed in a way and I'm sorry to hear that.

All Bush's fault, eh? Hey, do you know PDX?

[PDXnative]

Originally Posted by kimbercuddles

All Bush's fault, eh? Hey, do you know PDX?

Must be something in Oregon's water.

[kimbercuddles]

Originally Posted by PDXnative

Must be something in Oregon's water.

Oreg-groan's water? Possibly. You know I'm just giving you a bad time, PDX...and only cuz you can handle it.

You know you're a redneck if you wake up with BOTH a black eye and a hickey.

You know you're a redneck if you think 'loading the dishwasher' means getting your wife drunk.

[PDXnative]

LOL, funny.

You know you are a redneck if you still think that the Republican's help the blue collar workers....

[kimbercuddles]

Originally Posted by PDXnative

LOL, funny.

You know you are a redneck if you still think that the Republican's help the blue collar workers....

Grooooaaaannn.... I also really like this Mark Twain quote:

Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.
-- Mark Twain

[Wyody]

Originally Posted by kimbercuddles

... So, Odie, why all the snafus regarding the schooling and G.I. bill? .

All Bush's fault, eh? Hey, do you know PDX?

My short but illustrious "military career" was full of little tidbits ... like spending 6 weeks underground doing paperwork in some country it took nearly 24 hours to fly to ... but I never saw any square-inch of that country and never knew which country - was hustled in under cover of darkness and canopies and was hustled out the same way. Didn't even know for sure where we were for fuel stops ... although one old soldier had been that routine before and kept saying where he "thought" we were.
Several "trips" betwixt Floreeda and Virginia and NYC all on business of one sort or another and several attempts at making my records "disappear" - I think that had something to do with the paperwork snafu ... along with a few stories I can't tell. Funny, they always knew just where to find me while I was in ... but couldn't find me when I was "out".

I am e-quainted with PDX and must lightly agree that perhaps, it's in the water. Differences are; he's up there in the more radical city while I'm over on the more-conservative coast; he's younger and thus, less narrow; I'm older and perhaps less brash with, hopefully, slightly less wasted motion; he still has young'uns at home which means he probably gets more "recreation" from his PC time while my kids are grown and gone which means I probably get more "fantasy" time with my PC (hard to say that after looking at the "Deliverance" thread - or the "Foil Hat" thread). PDX has a good voice for a lot of things I think about and try to comment on.
Am I the only one who seriously wonders whether or not Mark Twain was really from this planet?

[kimbercuddles]

I love your posts, Odie...not only informative, but very creative. Especially like the signature line.

[Wyody]

Yo Cuddles; I know I was real quick on stealing that sig from your post ... but I'm kind of proud that I'm still quick enough to do that.
The odd part, KC, is that my mind has actually started working that way - the way some of my posts go - like a reconstituted Mark Twain Juice was put in my Ovaltine or something as a kid. I like it but it makes me do double-takes all the time at my own stuff.
Thanks - I get a kick out of everyone elses' posts as well .... but I'm wondering .... just how long can you go, 'Cud, being nicey-nice?? Who or what suffers your venting? Well, I guess that question is a bit too personal for forum-work but I just had to mention how long it's been since I've seen you even attempt to lose your cool. Just like a natural lady. Peace

Now, regarding the thread, I really didn't get a good chance to see any of the gang stuff on my last visit ... and am wondering where to look (please, not the Valley).

[kimbercuddles]

Originally Posted by Wyody

Yo Cuddles; I know I was real quick on stealing that sig from your post ... but I'm kind of proud that I'm still quick enough to do that.
The odd part, KC, is that my mind has actually started working that way - the way some of my posts go - like a reconstituted Mark Twain Juice was put in my Ovaltine or something as a kid. I like it but it makes me do double-takes all the time at my own stuff.
Thanks - I get a kick out of everyone elses' posts as well .... but I'm wondering .... just how long can you go, 'Cud, being nicey-nice?? Who or what suffers your venting? Well, I guess that question is a bit too personal for forum-work but I just had to mention how long it's been since I've seen you even attempt to lose your cool. Just like a natural lady. Peace

Now, regarding the thread, I really didn't get a good chance to see any of the gang stuff on my last visit ... and am wondering where to look (please, not the Valley).

Hey, Odie...I definitely do have my moments...that's a fact, but I've also been through some really difficult times and I'm so thankful for everything that I have. We're not wealthy and we don't have a lot, but my family means the world to me. Life is too short to focus on all the negatives...it brings my happiness to help others and to watch them smile. I guess it's just the realization of knowing one can't solve everything and being content with what one is able to do. Man, that sounds so cheesy, but it's true. The people on this forum are very respectful, though, and that's the important part. I was attacked numerous times on C-D...and I did retaliate...sort of.

Thank you for the nice comments. You never cease to amaze me with your wittiness and humorous observations.