Chicago's gang problem (Maywood, Madison, Polo: section 8, vouchers, living)

[mlwg1]

As for the original poster's question, L.A had the lowest number of homicides over the summer of 2008 since the summer of 1967. . . (google it and articles will pop up) The crime rate really has dropped significantly in the past 10 years, despite what many people say. It has to be related in part to the containment of gang violence. Can't really say too much about Chicago because I haven't lived there, but I thought I'd just throw that out there.

[Lookout Kid]

Anchorage, Alaska now has a higher crime rate than NYC (according to the City Data indices). That blows my mind.

[learroyo]

As a kid growing up in some of the worst, gang infested 'hoods in the city, or maybe even the country, I got to see how they operate first hand. The problems in Chicago are so deep that I know some 4th generation gang members. Color or race has nothing to with it, gangbanging is the culture in some of these neighborhoods. White guys belong to Spanish and Black gangs and they , from my own experience, can be some of the worst offenders. Its a way of life for some people and I never thought I would be able to get away from it. As a kid i thought the whole world was like South Chicago. I was just a kid growing up in South Chicago in the early 90's, it was horrible. The gangs had the entire neighborhood living in fear. Almost every street in my 'hood was home to a different gang. They fought daily for turf and revenge and any other reason they could think of. They took what they wanted from everyone in the neighborhood, and if your not a member of their gang then your the enemy. Everyone is a target, your either with them or against them. I knew a guy who said he shot up a house and a 2 year old little boy died as a result, when I asked him if he felt any remorse he said "no, the kid was just in the wrong place at the wrong time". I no longer reside in the city and am happy to report that the whole world does not operate like South Chicago.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by HUEY P

Lookout kid I truly feel for you.No one should live in fear from anyone especially in their own home.I hope things get better in your neighborhood and the gang problems can settle down.

It's really not that bad. Just occasional flair-ups, but I am angry about the recent bold nature of the crimes more than anything else, and just want the little @ssholes swept out of here. Joining CAPS, forming 911 trees, and all of the typical block club stuff doesn't seem to be working anymore. We had the gangs on the run until recently, and we have to scare them out again.

Here's a problem that I see. Last summer there was a major drug bust near Wilson and Broadway that took 18 dealers off the street. That left a vacuum of power, and the result has been this stupid crime wave as the two biggest gangs try to get control. Most of the perps have been from outside of the neighborhood, so clearly the Uptown drug trade is considered valuable to higher-ups in GD and the P-Stones.

[Manigault]

Originally Posted by katrose

I'm with advengerfire!

Well this is what that poster said:

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

You clean up your area by getting the bad apples out of problem areas. In most cases in Chicago these bad apples are low-educated and low-income people of "color"-Black and Brown. Then you are called a racist for getting these types out of your neighborhood.

My question is what if moving is not an option and everyone in your neighborhood (Chiicago housing patterns being what they are) is either Black or Brown? Who do you get rid of then? You can't get rid of yourselves or the nice folks next door; only the 'problem' people in the area.

Then the lightbulb goes off in your skull: If one should only get rid of the 'problem' darker-skinned folks in dark-skinned neighborhoods, then why can't the same be done in more diverse neighborhoods, including whatever 'problem' white folks you may discover? You keep that up and eventually you will be getting rid of 'problem' people and not worrying about their ethnicity!

I don't know what the race baiters will do then!

[baldwindeb]

Originally Posted by HUEY P

Do any of you guys know or ever talk to a "Gang member" personally or actually live in the neighborhoods that are plagued with the worst problems?Just a question?

Yes, I live in a gang area, actually I am on the boarder of Gangsters and Cobras and as I said in my initial post my eldest son went to school from kindergarten thru high school with most a lot of them. My son is not a gang member but some of his friends are.

[Humboldt1]

Though you are now considering putting me on your "ignore list", they meant to say on the border. Baldwin and I had some nice follow-up discussion regarding this. I am sure she has a much better fashion sense than either of us (you will have to ask about this).

[Rusty_Shackleford]

Originally Posted by Drover

You're "on the board"? What, these creeps have board meetings now?

Believe it or not, this practice does exist. At least one of the big gangs in Chicago does this. They try to model it after legit big business.

[miserylovesco.]

I know quite a few gangbangers who run their their people like a boss would.

I stay out of that stuff and concentrate on the friendship part.

[baldwindeb]

Police received a call about 9:40 p.m. in the 4200 block of West Kamerling Avenue for a gunshot victim, police News Affairs said. The man was lying in the street with several gunshot wounds.