Gangs in California - how bad of a problem is it? (Los Angeles: safe neighborhoods, live)

[Heidi60]

Five cities – Long Beach, Los Angeles, Newark, Oakland and Oklahoma City – are the U.S. capitals of gang homicide.


The 5 U.S. Cities With the Worst Gang Violence - Nate Berg - The Atlantic Cities

[ExeterMedia]

Originally Posted by Heidi60

Five cities – Long Beach, Los Angeles, Newark, Oakland and Oklahoma City – are the U.S. capitals of gang homicide.


The 5 U.S. Cities With the Worst Gang Violence - Nate Berg - The Atlantic Cities

Long Beach is exaggerated. I have been dining in areas near 3rd street parallel to Ocean which people claim is full of gangs. Couldn't be further from the truth.

I would agree with all the rest based on homicides alone. Doesn't get worse than some parts of LA, Oakland, and Newark. I'd throw some parts of Chicago in there too.

[green_mariner]

It would be an issue for me, especially the racial aspect. Hearing of the killings between Blacks and Hispanics scares me, and breaks my heart at the same time. I'm a Black male, and I don't have any problems with Hispanics, Asians, Whites, or any other race. People are exactly that, people. I don't want some gang member making a cadaver out of me. I consider it a problem because I firmly believe a person should be able to walk where he/she wants, eat/live/go where he/she wants and not worry about being targeted because of said person's race. Gangs scare me because of their violence, but being killed because of your race, that really send chills down my spine.

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by Heidi60

Five cities – Long Beach, Los Angeles, Newark, Oakland and Oklahoma City – are the U.S. capitals of gang homicide.



The 5 U.S. Cities With the Worst Gang Violence - Nate Berg - The Atlantic Cities

Gang 'Homicide' is NOT the only form of Gang 'Activity' and this article is only about homicide-not the myriad other forms of violence that is associated with gangs.

For the overall picture of total gang activity and penetration, this is far more telling:

[ExeterMedia]

Originally Posted by green_mariner

It would be an issue for me, especially the racial aspect. Hearing of the killings between Blacks and Hispanics scares me, and breaks my heart at the same time. I'm a Black male, and I don't have any problems with Hispanics, Asians, Whites, or any other race. People are exactly that, people. I don't want some gang member making a cadaver out of me. I consider it a problem because I firmly believe a person should be able to walk where he/she wants, eat/live/go where he/she wants and not worry about being targeted because of said person's race. Gangs scare me because of their violence, but being killed because of your race, that really send chills down my spine.

Great post. Thanks for contributing.

[18Montclair]

So according to the National Gang Presence Map, 2011

Total Gang Members by California County
Los Angeles County 68,208
San Bernardino County 40,558
Fresno County 24,482
Orange County 15,106
San Diego County 14,699
Kern County 13,011
Riverside County 12,957
Ventura County 12,770
Santa Clara County 11,879
San Francisco County 10,000
Sonoma County 6,038
Monterey County 5,145
Santa Barbara County 5,045

[ExeterMedia]

Here's another article to add to the fire

10 most dangerous cities and gangs - Rolling Out

Highest rated California city on the list is Oakland apparently because of the following:

The number one violent crime in Oakland is robbery. Oakland’s location, also a gateway for drug trafficking routes, and its depressed economic state, makes it a magnet for violent crime.

[Heidi60]

Originally Posted by 18Montclair

Gang 'Homicide' is NOT the only form of Gang 'Activity' and this article is only about homicide-not the myriad other forms of violence that is associated with gangs.

For the overall picture of total gang activity and penetration, this is far more telling:

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by ExeterMedia

Here's another article to add to the fire

speaking of which, here are the actual numbers again:

Total Gang Members by California County
Los Angeles County 68,208
San Bernardino County 40,558
Fresno County 24,482
Orange County 15,106
San Diego County 14,699
Kern County 13,011
Riverside County 12,957
Ventura County 12,770
Santa Clara County 11,879
San Francisco County 10,000
Sonoma County 6,038
Monterey County 5,145
Santa Barbara County 5,045

It seems to be quite a slam dunk for the Los Angeles Area.

10 most dangerous cities and gangs - Rolling Out

Highest rated California city on the list is Oakland apparently because of the following:

Once again, until we see actual gang specific statistics, this is pure speculation.

And the FBI openly condemns organizations that use their data to rank cities by crime. fyi.

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by Heidi60

In other words it's okay to focus only the most egregious crime-murder to be the sole deciding factor, but totally ignore other violent crimes and property crimes caused by gangs?

Indeed.