How Long Have LA Gangs Existed?

[Mr. Opinionated]

Originally Posted by BIGBLUE 909SUR

Gangs in los angeles have been around way before 1981 chicano (mexican americans) started the first gang in the late 1800's "dogtown 13" which is still active today chicano's are the originators of gang culture in america the baggy clothes, bandannas,colors,violent gang initiations,gang hand signs,graffiti etc. This chicano sub culture has existed in los angeles for more than a hundred years the blacks didn't get started until 1969 with the crips copying the chicano sub culture before that blacks only had social clubs/groups they didnt dress gangster or do gangster activity

I'm confused. Is this something worth bragging about? Or are you merely clarifying Afro American involvement in gang history?

[Chicano3000X]

Originally Posted by Mr. Opinionated

I'm confused. Is this something worth bragging about? Or are you merely clarifying Afro American involvement in gang history?

It always seems to blur the line between bragging and stating facts eh? Some things are amazing like the art. Or even the lowriders. It's a shame they had to go hand and hand with a violent past.

[jm1982]

I think it could be argued that gangs have existed in L.A since L.A started. Read about the very early days about L.A , murder rates were very high and there was a lot of questionable activity going on. It is interesting that people think gangs are a modern problem. New York also used to be more gangster than it is now. From everything i've been reading it's much safer now than it has been probably ever. Maybe more gangsters or would be gangsters are now on their computers instead of on the streets? We could only hope.

[thedwightguy]

The City of Los Angeles has a Ph.D. "gang evaluator". I'm not sure what she does, but I went to Arroyo with her. (hi, Elaine!)
When I had a business on Slauson Avenue in 1972 the local gang was called "the US". the area was known then as "Flourescent" community and I heard the gang was later absorbed by another gang.
We employed locally and ran around the clock. We never had an issue. Later, the locals told me they thought I was either a major dealer or cop. i.e. young white guy with new trucks around all the time
No, I wouldn't due it today.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Jay F

How Long Have LA Gangs Existed?

For as long as there's been an LA.

[ferneelok]

LA for the most part is a safe city, the violence have decline significantly since it's peak in the 80, 90 and early 2000's. One tricky part to be aware of is that LA is a huge city, crime statistics are conveniently spread evenly across the city, which make it seem safer than Chicago per say, but most of the crime is mainly around the south central area and parts of the east. Avoid south central, watts, Compton, and some East and North East LA areas at night and you should have no problems the rest of the city is pretty safe.

[webmasterspride]

Originally Posted by majoun

Depends where one is living, where one spends one's time, and one's demographics. If you look at the L.A. Times Homicide Report or LAPD Crime Maps there are clear patterns to where violence occurs. Sometimes violence occurs outside of those areas, but it most often tends to occur in the same places. Even within neighborhoods some streets are worse than others.

L.A. is much safer than Atlanta is, and, as a whole, when measured against other US cities, is about average in levels of violent crime.

Very true.