san diego gangs

[tsuyoi_racing]

Originally Posted by Prairieman

It is true that there are undesirable areas with a gang presence in all of those North County cities. The key to the sprawling NC cities is that the gang activity in each city is relatively isolated to geographic pockets, while the rest of the city is often quite desirable. Thus, one can learn the approximate boundaries of the pockets, as well as the monikers of predominant gangs, and thereafter steer clear of the whole affair, as other posters have described. One should not regard the whole community as undesirable, as is the case in many neighborhoods of City Heights and Southeast SD.

Another important point about the NC is that the law enforcement officials and courts have been very pro-active in issuing and updating gang injunctions there. Kudos to them! Here is a link to the SD County DA's website, where the current injunctions (including monikers and maps) are posted. I am aware of only three NC areas with significant gang activity where an injunction has not (yet) been issued: the Back Gate area of Oceanside, the Carlsbad Barrio, and central Fallbrook (there was a big gang sweep there back in April).

I found this article about gangs even in Carlsbad!!! They said there's gang activity in Carlsbad Barrio (is that a location??) or name of gang? and where's Varrio Carlsbad Locos gangs located at? I wonder if they'll harass you if you keep to yourself. I suppose gang members only hurt rival gangsters. I just don't want to drive thru Melrose or College unknowingly driving thru gang terriory.

From what I've seen first hand, the following places seem pretty 'shady'. (I have no stats to back this up since I'm not a police officer or anything)
- Oceanside Blvd
- Emerald Drive (north of 78)
- parts of downtown O'side
- El Camino West
- Melrose North
- Rancho Santa Fe NW

[j760]

Originally Posted by tsuyoi_racing

I found this article about gangs even in Carlsbad!!! They said there's gang activity in Carlsbad Barrio (is that a location??) or name of gang? and where's Varrio Carlsbad Locos gangs located at? I wonder if they'll harass you if you keep to yourself. I suppose gang members only hurt rival gangsters. I just don't want to drive thru Melrose or College unknowingly driving thru gang terriory.

From what I've seen first hand, the following places seem pretty 'shady'. (I have no stats to back this up since I'm not a police officer or anything)
- Oceanside Blvd
- Emerald Drive (north of 78)
- parts of downtown O'side
- El Camino West
- Melrose North
- Rancho Santa Fe NW

I have driven through all those places numerous times and never felt threatened for my life. Your making this a bigger issue than what it is though, there are shady looking areas no matter where you go, and if your uncomfortable with them then simply don't live there or drive through them, not much else you can do.

Yes gangs generally do their harm towards other gang members, but that's not always a given. Gangs do commit crimes towards innocent people to, but so do non gang-members. Shady areas, crime, these things exist all over the country. In my opinion just stay away from those areas as it seems your not going to be comfortable.

[bdbusch]

He is Hispanic and I think grew up in Spring Valley....at least I know where to avoid now

[Prairieman]

Originally Posted by tsuyoi_racing

I found this article about gangs even in Carlsbad!!! They said there's gang activity in Carlsbad Barrio (is that a location??) or name of gang? and where's Varrio Carlsbad Locos gangs located at? I wonder if they'll harass you if you keep to yourself. I suppose gang members only hurt rival gangsters. I just don't want to drive thru Melrose or College unknowingly driving thru gang terriory.

Yes, I also read that article in the NC Times (see link below). The Carlsbad Barrio is a small area south of downtown between the 5 and the Coaster tracks, with Pine Ave. on the north and Tamarack Ave. on the south. I understand that it is the main hangout of the VCL gang, which is currently the only active gang in Carlsbad. The Carlsbad Barrio should be easy to avoid, and other areas of Carlsbad have no significant gang activity.

Police: Gang activity increasing in Barrio Carlsbad : North County Times - Californian

As j760 indicated, gangsters generally do not target innocent civilians. Of course there can be exceptions, but their leadership frowns on the practice, as it attracts unwanted attention to the gang.

From what I've seen first hand, the following places seem pretty 'shady'. (I have no stats to back this up since I'm not a police officer or anything)
- Oceanside Blvd
- Emerald Drive (north of 78)
- parts of downtown O'side
- El Camino West
- Melrose North
- Rancho Santa Fe NW

Two of the prominent gangs in Oceanside have their hangouts on the edges of the downtown area, so it is not surprising that some parts (but certainly not all) of downtown seem 'shady'. The other places on your list are relatively major streets that are not located in documented gang areas. (Of course individual gangsters are free to walk around on any public street that they choose.) Simply avoid those streets if they make you feel uncomfortable, but I would not expect problems if one is driving through on those streets, especially during daylight hours.