Is gang activity decentralized or is it more organized in East L.A ? (Los Angeles: credit)

[prgm2000]

I would like any info on gang activity in East L.A.
Is it organizied as in huge groups with a hiearchy?
Do they profit hugely from their activity?
How many gangs are their in East L.A.

I would like to gain as much knowledge about the Latino community and how it interact with the gang activity in East L.A.

Thanks so much for your help!

Diane

[SoCal Person]

You might want to 'google' Los Angeles gangs. I know one time I saw a very large website that included a map of gangs in different areas, and all sorts of information about them.

I would say that my 'street smarts' tell me that when I come upon gang members in my work or while out and about I don't stare at the members, and I am polite as I would be with anyone. In my work I do come across many people who appear to be in gangs, and I treat them as kindly as I would treat a friend but then in my job I can do that as we're not in an adversarial relationship. I have never had a problem, and I've driven through some rough parts of town, and many there appear to be in gangs. (in the daytime) I would also recommend reading the book called Do or Die, which about gangs in Los Angeles.

[abstrak_tokatl]

what are you a cop? i'll never... oh wait... it's you... it would be best to say that they are not active and mostly just tag. i haven't heard of a gang shooting in two years, and that was a retaliation for some drug thingy. It's mostly the young ones (10-14 year olds) that get uppity and are smacked down by older gang members.

One of the things about the gang members in the area (in general) is that everyone knows everyone in someway, even if you aren't in a gang. Over the years to me it seems to have been shifted from heirchey to family. But it's late and i'm lucid.

[prgm2000]

Originally Posted by SoCal Person

You might want to 'google' Los Angeles gangs. I know one time I saw a very large website that included a map of gangs in different areas, and all sorts of information about them.

I would say that my 'street smarts' tell me that when I come upon gang members in my work or while out and about I don't stare at the members, and I am polite as I would be with anyone. In my work I do come across many people who appear to be in gangs, and I treat them as kindly as I would treat a friend but then in my job I can do that as we're not in an adversarial relationship. I have never had a problem, and I've driven through some rough parts of town, and many there appear to be in gangs. (in the daytime) I would also recommend reading the book called Do or Die, which about gangs in Los Angeles.

SoCal,

Thanks, for the advice about the the book, I shall research it. I have already done a lot of research on East L.A and gangs. Academia can only provide so much. I like to get my information from the only true source, the people.

Thanks,
Diane

[prgm2000]

Originally Posted by abstrak_tokatl

what are you a cop? i'll never... oh wait... it's you... it would be best to say that they are not active and mostly just tag. i haven't heard of a gang shooting in two years, and that was a retaliation for some drug thingy. It's mostly the young ones (10-14 year olds) that get uppity and are smacked down by older gang members.

One of the things about the gang members in the area (in general) is that everyone knows everyone in someway, even if you aren't in a gang. Over the years to me it seems to have been shifted from heirchey to family. But it's late and i'm lucid.

Abstrak,

You are so funny!!!

I would say no!!! I am not a cop!!! But I did work in the Criminal Justice area for years in a law capacity and on both sides which is the best way do do it.

The stress was to much for me..My kindness to other people was my down fall. I have seen to many ugly, horrible, disgusting things happen in the little city where I grew up. And that is why I swithched careers, no emotional drain in coding a program.


Well, I need to discuss this further with you when I get to this part of my book.

But when you spoke of the shift to family would say that it has been multigenerational. Could I say that a legacy of ( gang activity has been passed down to a son or sons? Of course my book is fiction but I want it to be as factual as it can be. Could I also say that so called dynasty( for a lack of better words) has generated a lot of money, and is responsible for a lavish lifestyle of a gang member. I'm all about the facts!!!



I know it all sounds stupid but I really want to write this book! All give you credit if you want!!!

Thanks!

Diane

[abstrak_tokatl]

oh no.... you can't be kind to someone in L.A. Not to get to the point of being cruel, but if you start getting kind to one person, then another and another.... Eventually you gotta stand up for your self. Which personally is why i think all those people coming out here for a movie career fail.

Um... on the family thing. I can only speak from what i saw. So here goes (i could write my own book if i went in to details).

My families (mother and father sides) moved out here back in the 20s. They did their thing for family and country and we envolved in the Zoot Suit riots. But they were middle class hard working steal workers. Military and all that, but not in the battle area, for what ever reason. Durring the Korean war, etc, etc.

Now then, that's my grandparent's stories. My uncles, both directly related and otherwise were both involved in the military, gangs and the 1960s walk outs at Rosevelt highschool (amoung other schools). Not all of them where gang members, but alot where, including my father, but my grandmother kicked his ass. heh. Eventually, they all realized how ****ed up gang life was and raised their kids to love education, though not all did. But now you get your ass kicked if you don't educate your self.

So for some, the gang way is a life style, But for most that i know, bettering your self is the current goal. Even if it's within the gang, it has changed to something more meaningful then just shooting someone to gain respect. After all, everything changes after you have kids.

The gang life style that i think you are thinking of is more akin to the drug dealers and not the gangs of them self.

And for the record, i've never been a gang member. And they've never bothered me.

Gang member: "Where you from?"
me: "my mama."
Gang member: **walks away**

[prgm2000]

Originally Posted by abstrak_tokatl

oh no.... you can't be kind to someone in L.A. Not to get to the point of being cruel, but if you start getting kind to one person, then another and another.... Eventually you gotta stand up for your self. Which personally is why i think all those people coming out here for a movie career fail.

Um... on the family thing. I can only speak from what i saw. So here goes (i could write my own book if i went in to details).

My families (mother and father sides) moved out here back in the 20s. They did their thing for family and country and we envolved in the Zoot Suit riots. But they were middle class hard working steal workers. Military and all that, but not in the battle area, for what ever reason. Durring the Korean war, etc, etc.

Now then, that's my grandparent's stories. My uncles, both directly related and otherwise were both involved in the military, gangs and the 1960s walk outs at Rosevelt highschool (amoung other schools). Not all of them where gang members, but alot where, including my father, but my grandmother kicked his ass. heh. Eventually, they all realized how ****ed up gang life was and raised their kids to love education, though not all did. But now you get your ass kicked if you don't educate your self.

So for some, the gang way is a life style, But for most that i know, bettering your self is the current goal. Even if it's within the gang, it has changed to something more meaningful then just shooting someone to gain respect. After all, everything changes after you have kids.

The gang life style that i think you are thinking of is more akin to the drug dealers and not the gangs of them self.

And for the record, i've never been a gang member. And they've never bothered me.

Gang member: "Where you from?"
me: "my mama."
Gang member: **walks away**

Dear Abstrak,

It has been a true joy conversing with you. You are very articulate, kind, and knowlegeble..The info that you have provided to me has been very usefull.
Somebody from you site has lambasted me so I will no longer be posting questions..I said to myself I would only post ? if it stayed positive...

Thanks again,

Diane

Remember one thing, really bad thing happen everywhere, even where I live.

I am not immune to poverty, violence, racial problems, drugs, corruption, crime, despair.

Keep a stiff upper lip and tudge through it. What doesn't kill you, will make you stronger.. that is what we say up North, believe me it ain't great here either!!!

[HuntingtonPark]

So which city would you rather live in Huntington Park or East l.a

[abstrak_tokatl]

thanks for the compliment. I take it proudly since i had been drinking in those posts. Wooo.. drunk mexican! Though i am curious by what you mean by "Somebody from you site has lambasted me.'" My personal site? or this forum? Or that al-Qaeda guy that keeps harassing me for a tour of L.A.?

I would rather live in east L.A. the huntington park. it smells like farmers johns pig plants there. =P