concerned citizen wrote on Jul 16, 2008 9:17 PM:I know in general where the Diablos are located but where are the Westsiders? What are the police and or city doing about our gang situation?

bryan wrote on Jul 16, 2008 9:54 PM:Lets have a gang injunction for the entire city. If any known gang banger is found in the city limits they should be locked up. The last thing we need is more talk and more commities to study how bad our gang problem is, more children being murdered, more of the same. We need action now.

We can talk wrote on Jul 16, 2008 10:36 PM:all we want, but what we need is good, definitive action. If there are documented gang members, deport them to another country, whether they are U.S. citizens or not! This type of deterrent will send a strong message that our streets must be safe for good people.

Good job wrote on Jul 16, 2008 10:40 PM:The Chief is doing an excellent job of showing exactly why he is in the top spot. Unfortunately, the police are probably in the worst position to take real, positive action to prevent the spread of gangs.

Teachers and the schools are the front line gang prevention specialists. I know that Doug Paulson at Valley High used to do a great deal with gang prevention. What has happened that our schools are so silent on this topic?

Chief Barney wrote on Jul 16, 2008 10:44 PM:Chief Barney is at it again, leading a fireside chat while nothing is being done to stem the tide of rampant lawlessness on the streets of Mayberry.

Ed wrote on Jul 16, 2008 10:46 PM:I feel a full page rant article coming along from those pesky anti-law, obstructing justice, your "targeting" certain groups, people.
Put the law abiding peoples safety first and don't worry about the groups that are just out to destroy this country.
Go EPD.

Elvin wrote on Jul 16, 2008 11:21 PM:The city doesn't have enough resources to properly fight this battle because our illustrious city council would rather flush a million plus dollars down the drain every year by giving it to the white elephant center of the arts. Just think where that million dollars could do. I bet the police chief could come up with a good list, as well as the folks who run the recreation programs for the kids (whose programs were on the chopping block...thanks arts center).

confused... wrote on Jul 16, 2008 11:28 PM:I understand the purpose of the meeting from this article but WHAT are they planning to DO about the problem? That was not covered and that is the most critical thing! Are they just planning on talking, having more meetings, and drawing pictures of what they visualize? Seriously... two children are dead and all that was covered about this meeting were facts that anyone could guess on their own just by walking down certain streets here?! Please NCT... was there more to the meeting than that? Is there a PLAN? Also... the group's goal SHOULD be to ELIMINATE GANGS FROM ESCONDIDO. If we believe that that is not possible then the gangs win. What are we going to do? Negotiate with the gangs to be nicer to each other? I am all for being active about the gang problem, but from this article alone I don't feel confident that much is going to change. PLEASE report more about what our citizens can do to help this very serious and out of control problem in our community.

Danny P wrote on Jul 17, 2008 12:16 AM:I'm part of this group and I want to thank Chief Maher for the great leadership and to Major Pfeiler for coming to support our efforts; it's a shame that we didn't have any of the council members there to see this amazing group.
finally somebody it's doing something in the right direction!
this is a multicultural group made of people that cares for this city; most of the members of this group I known and I had work with for several years,I can say that I feel honored to be part of something that will change this city for the best and that have such a great human beings.
together will make it better and divided will destroy our beautiful city.

How about addressing wrote on Jul 17, 2008 1:22 AM:the fact that there is about 4,000 people residing in Escondido that cannot be accounted for AFTER you factor in the illegal immigrants? Who the heck are these people???

Why won't anyone in government or the police address this issue? (It is a safety and security issue here!)

Yes, let's make the whole damn country anti-gang. Make the gang injunction span the entire United States!

I am sick of this crapolla. (Pardon my French, ladies)

"We can talk".... I liked your idea as well.

Sheeze, this country is going down the tubes.

EscoWatchDog wrote on Jul 17, 2008 5:24 AM:You can't deport US citizens! You are crazy to even propose this. Start the gang prevention early in the elementary to middle schools.

Citizen wrote on Jul 17, 2008 5:45 AM:I'm not real sure why this cop is asking for help! Wouldn't he be expecting an answer like we get from them? We hear...It's a federal problem and he should hear...it's what you get paid for, it's your problem...do something about it now!!

Funny you should mention wrote on Jul 17, 2008 5:53 AM:this. Last night we had to call the police on a few gang bangers who I haven't seen in our restricted area before. If you hear the gang whistling, call the police, you see them hanging out, call the police, you see graffiti in the area, call the police. What you want is for the police to have to keep coming back to a certain area, this ties up their resources and you will find something being done about the problem. You want to make life so miserable for the gang bangers they will go somewhere else. Keep up the goodwork Chief and the entire EPD, we do appreciate what you do for us.

Hatch in Escondido wrote on Jul 17, 2008 6:23 AM:Chief Maher is once again showing himself to be a community activist. It would be easy to simply enforce laws, write out citations and lock people up and nothing more. Instead, the Chief is constantly with the people, communicating, listening, and working hard to make Escondido safe. He's got a lot on his plate, but, I am convinced he can handle it. A salute to you, Chief Maher.

When you have wrote on Jul 17, 2008 6:36 AM:gang bangers that can't speak any english, it is probably a safe bet that they are illegal aliens. But what is good is that the City has told its citizens that they have an ICE agent available at the Escondido jail, no need for them to take the gang bangers to the Vista jail to ID their nationality.

esteban wrote on Jul 17, 2008 7:56 AM:How many times do I have to say it? Gangs will never go away unless the people want them to. There are still way too many anticops that want to foil the cops every move...even at their own expense. The ACLU needs to get off the cops backs and let them do their jobs as well. Many of the same people who complain about the cops doing nothing are the same ones that will complain if the cops do something.

Had it wrote on Jul 17, 2008 8:13 AM:As long as you have a meeting in which people are asked to draw pictures, NOTHING will ever be accomplished. Until we bring back the concept that the law is the law, and if you break it, you will be PUNISHED, our society will continue to deteriorate. Personally, I don't care how someone "feeeels," I care about how they behave, period.

well said wrote on Jul 17, 2008 8:14 AM:well said esteban! I agree 100%! I live in one of the areas infested with gangs and I see too many people stand by and do nothing when a crime occurs! I once called 911 on about 5 teenagers tagging an elementary school while there were at least 7 other people witnessed the same thing. I have to say when I called 911 about this EPD was there in 2 minutes! We have to be the ones to call these guys into the EPD if we want to clean up our town! Also, we have to let the EPD do their job!

to estaban wrote on Jul 17, 2008 8:16 AM:right on the nose buddy

Send alert wrote on Jul 17, 2008 8:27 AM:Somebody please send an alert to Bill F and Raoul C. They are constantly telling us how well behaved the illegals among us are. Quote from the article: "Escondido has four gangs, all Latino". I know, the article does not give the citizenship numbers, but one can bet many are illegal. And if they are Latino citizens, am I supposed to feel better?
Arcela Nunez-Alvarez said she was "pleased to see many segments of the community represented Wednesday". Yes, many segments want to see the problem stopped, but it seems only one segment is causing most of the problem.

Concerned One wrote on Jul 17, 2008 8:36 AM:Just curious, where does La Raza, El Group, Mr. Flores and the rest of the Latino activists groups play in this effort? Are they helping? Regards, C-1.

Faux wrote on Jul 17, 2008 8:47 AM:Just because the gangs are mostly Latino doesn't mean the gang members are illegals, it is likely that the gang member was born here to illegal parents. The best early intervention would be long before 12 years of age,it would be to build the fence and stop the invasion.

duh wrote on Jul 17, 2008 8:57 AM:I've too called the police about "gangbangers" walking down the street at 10 at night and they ask so what are they doing? Well walking with a baseball bat at night is probably no good then they want your address so they can come and talk to you. For that I got my front windows busted out and my car and then the DA FORGOT to get me restitution which was over $2,000.00. So that's why I no longer get involved. I've called on several other occasions and go no where. If they are whistling and you call and you don't know exactly where they are the police ask so where are they what are they doing.

How come wrote on Jul 17, 2008 9:20 AM:in all these posts, there has not been any mention of the responsibilities of the parents? That is because their parents do not care. They let the gang raise them, so they do not have to be bothered with them. If parents would stop being afraid of their kids, and stop trying to be a friend first, and stop letting them "be who they are" alot of this problem would not exist. I used to work for a large retailer in the city and almost everytime we would catch a shoplifter, they would tell us that their parents had no idea they were even coming to that part of town. Parents need to know what is going on in their childrens lives, forget privacy, as long as they live under your roof and you pay the bills and feed them, then they do not have any rights to privacy. If they want privacy then "GET TO STEP'N"

When the chief wrote on Jul 17, 2008 9:28 AM:wants to start enforcing immigration laws then he can address the gang problem. As long as he coddles illegals gangs will rule.

Gringo wrote on Jul 17, 2008 9:34 AM:NCtimes, why allow the names of these gangs to be printed in comments online? This just glorifies and adds credibility to their stupidity. Don't give publicity to these criminal groups by printing whatever names they call themselves. We already know who they are.

GFN wrote on Jul 17, 2008 10:44 AM:I totally agree with Hatch at 6:23, "Chief Maher is once again showing himself to be a community activist. It would be easy to simply enforce laws, write out citations and lock people up and nothing more. Instead, the Chief is constantly with the people, communicating, listening, and working hard to make Escondido safe. He's got a lot on his plate, but, I am convinced he can handle it. A salute to you, Chief Maher." Mr. Flores of El Grupo...this is how you handle a problem; quit being like Jesse Jackson who just yells at those who are trying to solve the problem!

City Council wrote on Jul 17, 2008 11:25 AM:...should forget about the downtown hotel and tourists and spend their money on keeping Escondido safe for the residents.

If Only wrote on Jul 17, 2008 1:48 PM:If only the illegals could be ran out of town (you know, back to their home countries that are desperatlely missing these hard working individuals) and then new stats gathered.

I would bet the gang activity would be drastically reduced.

RG wrote on Jul 17, 2008 1:57 PM:Why in the heck weren't the council members there? Too wrapped up in strategizing parking regulations?!

I think the comment that the parents dont care is slightly off the mark--you've got several factors here--multiple jobs, so the parent isnt home enough, broken families, so the kid gets shuffled around, OG's (original gangsters) who are older relatives that the kids end up looking up to--it's this dysfunction that gives way to the kid looking for his/her pseudo-family.
These parents need to be educated that their time spent parenting makes a HUGE impact on the choices the kids make later. Here's the rub--do we make them quit their second job so they can stay home and spend time with their child? Do we provide treatment for the alcoholic parents so the kid gets a better mom or dad? Do we close the bars or not sell liquor to Latino men with tattoos? I mean, come on, sucking up welfare as a career is bad enough but if you and I as the taxpayer have to shell out for these proverbial leeches on society, I'd like to choose where my money goes--hell yes, I'd like my money diverted to rehab programs to help the parents, hell yes, I'd like my money diverted to mandated parental education programs for welfare recipients. Hell yes, I'd like my money diverted to career building get-off-welfare programs.
I'd like to think this is where this feel-good, picture-drawing meeting was heading, but I doubt it.

Native E. wrote on Jul 17, 2008 2:33 PM:Do you want to know who the problem is? It's the majority of you who spend more time blogging about how bad Esco is and not doing anything about it, including informing yourself.
First, as the article stated it was a meeting on prevention. Being a gang member is not illegal. Its when they break the law can police step in and take action. But gangs work on intimidation and fear, which works in their favor. Nobody calls when they break the law, and the police can't be everywhere. They are tough on gangs they were one of the first to have a gang injunction in place and have kept up with that. But we need to prevent kids out of the gangs, its too late once they get in. And for you that are concerned about immigration, the illegal gang members have already been deported. I read that in the paper. Stay informed be part of the solution.

Gary wrote on Jul 17, 2008 5:40 PM:Gangs are ruining Escondido. It is not racial profiling these gang members are latino. The Parents are to blame and they need to keep these kids in school. I thought with the arts center Escondido was on its way up to be a classy city, don't let these punks ruin for everone, lock- em up and throw away the keys.

Danny P wrote on Jul 17, 2008 9:22 PM:NEWS FLASH! to all the people that believe that this is an illegal issue; you're wrong! around 2-3% of the docummented gang members are illegal and they're out of this country already.
talk is cheap and I challenge you to join us in this effor! one of the main purposes of this groupo will be to coordinate the people that wants to help. we will be working with kids at high risk and giving them the opportunity to have other choices than gangs and drugs. it's time to take back our city and we need to stand together in this. I appreciate the support of the chief and the prays of all of you.
i'll be working with the faith groups and we need all people of faith to join us to put in practice the love for your neighbor.
please, if you have nothing good to say about this , refrain for saying anything. a lot of us are doing this for free and risking a lot for you and our kids.

Why wrote on Jul 18, 2008 7:56 AM:does everyone keep asking "What are they going to do about it?" This is a city wide problem and it will take the whole city to fix it. Yes,poor decisions on prior city administrators created a lot of the problems by not addressing it sooner, however the problem is here in full swing. So instead of asking who or how are they going to fix it. Ask how are we going to fix and push these idiots out of our town.

westside wrote on Jul 18, 2008 10:36 AM:CHIEF MAHER: Why wasn't the meeting open to the general public? I, for one, would have liked to attend and I am sure there are other residents who would have liked to know how to help fight against gangs. I report graffiti on almost a daily basis and call the police if I see something reportable. I have had the same experience as "duh" when I have called sometimes - it depends on who answers the phone at the EPD whether or not they will send someone or expect you to practically build a case and make an arrest before they come.

I wish we could have police do walking patrols in our neighborhoods - I would be willing to pay more in taxes to support that.

I do appreciate all of the hard work that the EPD does and especially the gang unit - we need to increase that unit. They definitely make a difference in our community!

well all I have to say is wrote on Jul 18, 2008 1:07 PM:Danny Medina was no gang member!
Those who committed the crime are kids who were trying to "earn their 'bones' and do the work," or in other words "younger members that commit violent crimes to raise their status."

I just don't like the fact that they say
"both of whom were killed in separate gang-related attacks this year."

I can't say that Eddie's wasn't because I don't know Eddie, but I know Danny Medina was no GANGBANGER!

~Sincerely,
Close friend of his.

Brian wrote on Jul 18, 2008 10:35 PM:Thank you, Police Chief Jim Maher, and other concerned Escondido citizens for stepping up to the plate to inform yourselves of the gang prevention challenge and starting towards resolution. I and others of the Americans for a Department of Peace have met with Congressman Bilbray and his aides a number of times to persuade him to co-sponsor the House bill (HR808) for a Department of Peace and Non-Violence. An aspect of the bill addresses gang issues such as those experienced in Escondido and many other communities around the nation. Effective gang involvement prevention programs such as the Tariq Khamisa Foundation would receive the institutional heft and financial backing to get serious about effective programs and resources. So far, Congress persons Susan Davis and Bob Filner are on board. I'd love to see working solutions implemented and customized as appropriate for each locale.

JOE wrote on Jul 19, 2008 12:29 PM:If it looks like a duck, and sounds like a duck....

STOP wrote on Jul 22, 2008 3:51 PM:STEREOTYPING!

Mike wrote on Jul 22, 2008 6:24 PM:Maybe we can stop stereotyping when the same people quit doing crimes.