January 3, 2008
Adachi's "Path to Redemption" for Gangbangers
In what's turning into a slapfight between elected attorneys over civil gang injunctions, public defender Jeff Adachi recently sent a proposal over the Board of Supes that, according to the Examiner, "would give named alleged gang members priority when it comes to receiving city services, including, 'city funded economic development, employment, vocation, educational, housing, asset building, mental health, drug treatment and social service programs.' And Dennis Herrera is none too pleased.
Who would have imagined that practicing the art of rape, turf wars, murder, and the choreography of Jerome Robbins could produce such a civic bounty?
This is the most recent counterattack to Herrera's three gang injunctions that prevent certain types of people from breaking curfew, sporting gangbanging-esque primary colors, and loitering on street corners. While Adachi's heart is in the right place, or something like that, Herrera argues that this type of public assistance "sends an irresponsible message to law-abiding youth that the best way to gain local government assistance is to join criminal street gangs." (Everyone knows that going insane or contracting an incurable disease is the best way to do that, Dennis.) Herrera goes on to say that his injunctions help "disrupt gang activity effectively and early, before it reaches the level of felony crime."
Or, you know, there could be a heavier, more consistent police presence in gang-afflicted areas.
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This is sorta related - kids really need structure to feel safe. If they aren't getting that sense of safety from structure (certainties in life) at home, then they'll seek it out. If a gang provides structure, that's where they land. I am hopeful that the San Francisco USD will come to its senses and recognize that the ROTC program in the high schools is a good program for providing structure and a sense of security to kids who might otherwise find it in troublesome circumstances such as gangs. The next question is how to make sure these kids get good educations when they are in primary school and can develop the tools needed to either get good-paying jobs in the Bay Area (technology, biotech, finance, maybe a job with City and County) or at least be able to head elsewhere to find work. Keeping people in San Francisco who cannot get a good-paying job in San Francisco is not helpful to anyone, I don't believe.
How about free trips to the zoo?
Can't we give them security and structure without training them to be mindless, unquestioning cannon fodder? Personally, I don't want my kid having that kind of "structure."
They already know how to be mindless, unquestioning cannon fodder. This is just a way for them to do it without hurting any innocent bystanders.
True, better marksmanship whilst performing a drive-by would be preferable.
So how many will also qualify for the sub-prime loan bail-out?
The military remains an option of potential escape from poverty ... opinions of the current idiot in chief and his war aside.
Love, love, loving the West Side Story pic. Ha!
except for all the homeless war veterans..