Is the gang problem in LA overblown? (Los Angeles, Long Beach: crime rate, houses)

[CTownNative]

Alright, I've heard alot about gangs in LA, Compton, and many other Los Angeles suburbs, but I was wondering if people who live in Los Angeles feel that the whole gang thing is overblown? I mean I understand areas in Compton, Los Angeles, Long Beach, ect are bad, but if you look at crime rates overall LA and Long Beach really don't seem very dangerous. Even a place like Compton which Usually has more than 40 murders a year doesn't have as high of a crime rate as alot of cities in the East.

[nori_garsi]

I would say yes and no.

I worked as a teacher in Watts, right across from Nickerson Gardens. There were a lot of gang problems in the area that affected our students. When I first started working there it was pretty safe. I made home visits to my student's houses (in the surrounding area, not in Nickerson) and as long as you kept to yourself and didn't bother anyone it was fine. In our program at UCLA we had to do a walk through the neighborhood for a project and no one bothered us. The last year I was there (which was about three years ago) it got pretty bad . The kids were seeing dead bodies on the way home from school, right outside their after-school program. My kids were on the yard when the school had to be locked down because there was a gang shootout right in front of the school (and this had never happened in all the years I had worked there). We had a few parents get in fights at dismissal time...real nasty fights too. The worst thing was when one of our teachers was robbed at knife point on a smoking break in the middle of the day literally in front of the school. I think in some areas it is bad and often getting worse, but in most areas, if you don't bother anyone they won't bother you...

[Princess8883]

The gang problem in California is spiraling out of control.

[AnUnidentifiedMale]

Reading, writing, and diving to the floor when gunshots are heard are all part of the routine for second-graders.

Steve Lopez
March 22, 2009

Gina Amodeo shouted "Pancake!" and her second-grade students knew exactly what to do. They immediately dropped to the floor and flattened out, minimizing the chance of getting shot.

It was only a drill, but they've been doing the real thing far too often lately. With a recent surge of violence in the vicinity of Monte Vista Elementary School in Highland Park, the students are terrified.

Surge in Highland Park violence terrifies students - Los Angeles Times

[nori_garsi]

Originally Posted by AnUnidentifiedMale

Reading, writing, and diving to the floor when gunshots are heard are all part of the routine for second-graders.

Steve Lopez
March 22, 2009

Gina Amodeo shouted "Pancake!" and her second-grade students knew exactly what to do. They immediately dropped to the floor and flattened out, minimizing the chance of getting shot.

It was only a drill, but they've been doing the real thing far too often lately. With a recent surge of violence in the vicinity of Monte Vista Elementary School in Highland Park, the students are terrified.

Surge in Highland Park violence terrifies students - Los Angeles Times

Yes we practiced this drill as well in our elementary school. We didn't have a cute name for it, it was called the "drop-down" drill. I taught first-graders and they were so scared when they had to learn it, but...it sure came in handy when they were on that yard that one day and the shots started being fired in front of the school. The school went on lock down and our yard staff had to get all six first grade classes safely into the auditorium. It was a scary day.

[user_id]

The gang issues in LA are pretty serious, but the gangs at this point are most involved in black market business and stick to themselves (In this sense they are more similar to the Mafia).They are more interested in making $$ than messing with innocent people. Plus, whenever someone innocent gets involved it causes greater focus on them.

Legalize pot and 60% of their revenue is gone.

[LASam]

I'm relatively new to LA, and from what I've seen the gang problems today are really nothing compared to the early-mid 90's (based on a little research). It seems like most gang violence today is african american gangs and latino gangs warring with each other in East LA and South LA. Very seldom, if ever, do I see it spill out to most of the other areas of the city.

[the one]

it IS blown out of proportion.

its not like it used to be. and these gangs dont want the cops or the media being so critical of them. they are trying to do things on the low...

does gang violence still happen, yes of course. but its not as bad as people think.

[ohhi]

yeah, way blown out of proportion.

[antialphabet]

I think the fascination of the world with LA gang culture kinda overshadows reality, but its there.
Any number of people dying over bull is too many anyway.
It never effects me personally, because I'm not involved with gangs. But people are dying over it..
The Homicide Report | Hollywood: Man, 46, shot | Los Angeles Times