9 comments:

• posted at 6:05 am on Thu, Mar 25, 2010.

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  David, I also was part of a group that tried to start a gang intervention program and ours is now on hold because one of our group had personal problems and LPD really wasn't interested in us either. We haven't gone away and hope to surface again when the economy improves. I also am privy to know why you left Lodi. We do have the help of the program in Stockton and have a rough draft of our mission statement. I personally want to thank you for your sincere efforts and see your blogs about the good old boys, wine interests and LPD and the way they rule and control everyone.

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• posted at 7:27 pm on Wed, Mar 24, 2010.

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  It is always good to get a reaction by poking at the Sacramento television News.

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• posted at 7:25 pm on Wed, Mar 24, 2010.

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  When I tried to hold a community meeting on gangs at the community room at the Lodi PD- David Maine, Virgil Monroe and then Chief Jerry Adams took me into the chief's office- made me turn the meeting over to Virgil Monroe and stated they wanted Lt Monroe to run the meeting so the people of Lodi didn't think they were living in Baghdad. It was like sitting in a council with the mafia. The best way to handle your neighborhood is door by door neighbor by neighbor. And you can bet the good ole boys and winery money will keep the people hood winked as long as they can. Ultimately I left town after the PD continually towed my car from the front of my house for not moving it more than 5 feet in any given day. Lodi has an underbelly- and the only way to get anything done is to scratch it. OR be very very public. They will keep the truth away fro the general public unless yo make a major stink about it.

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• posted at 3:47 pm on Wed, Mar 24, 2010.

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  Layla, why don't you list the gang activities in Lodi like you did above, showing names, ages and crimes? Why do you target Galt, yet never touch Lodi. You could fill half a page every other day in Lodi. Is it that the struggling wineries and good old boys don't allow you to report on the gang crimes in Lodi for fear they may lose a wine drinker ot two? Or find their own family name buried amongst those criminals?

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• posted at 1:06 pm on Wed, Mar 24, 2010.

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  Gang activity will continue to grow until a community as a whole stands up to it. It takes a police force who has the support of the community to go after these thugs. It takes landlords willing to evict people who are involved with gangs and it takes judges who are willing to enforce siezure laws against these urban terrorists. But make no mistake it would get worse before it got better.

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• posted at 11:51 am on Wed, Mar 24, 2010.

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  Galt Mom is right on!! Sensor spots, security gates, blocked alleys, and neighborhood watches help get control of your neighborhood. Also citizen paroling, and visibility. Call the landlords of the buildings that rent to gang members and pitch a fit. The local police know who the gangsters are-- video tape from your window, get involved with your neighbors, talk to your elected officials. There is a lot you can do to curb the problem. Open the Hale park community room, put up soccer goals, get church groups to hold functions in the parks. Get a Cub & Boy Scout Troop formed. When i was raising the roof on Locust st, I had a chance to talk to many of the gang members-- and most of them are bored, low self esteem driven misfits who have no one to identify with besides their peer pressuring homies. Most of them are wannabes anyway and not really that dangerous. They need alternatives and people that are willing to put themselves out there to make the neighborhood more livable.

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• posted at 11:10 am on Wed, Mar 24, 2010.

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  Before anyone pops off with political BS, lets stay on topic and realize that gangs have been in our community for decades! Most of you who deny this are fools. The problem is no one took notice much back in the 80's as gangs began to grow. By the late 90's, they were large and in charge! Now, the teenage gang bangers run the show of street terrorism and they don't care who they hurt or kill. Video games aren't real enough. Many join these gangs because they have no choice to, in order to stay safe in their own neighborhoods. If some refuse to join, they'll get beat down and robbed. The Hale park area in East Lodi should have police decoys in red to attract these terrorists. These gangs don't just target innocent hispanics who happen to be wearing the "wrong color," but also white teens due to an increase of whites joining the Norteno gang.

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• posted at 5:03 am on Wed, Mar 24, 2010.

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  Galt Mom - it is a shame that you are a prisoner in your own town. How did we get here? I think more and more people choose to be evil - thus the growth of gangs. Until we elect a Caesar for America, Guns will help. But some day neighborhoods will have to rise up. It is inevitable.

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• posted at 3:32 am on Wed, Mar 24, 2010.

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  We as citizens would be crazy to think that gangs are in select towns. of course their in Galt, I see them all the time know that the weather is changing. I live in a decent neighborhood, we take every precaution for our kids, we have new security doors, we built a skateboard theme in our back yard on an acre so that our kids and their friends have someplace safe to skate as the skate park is occupied by gangs. i won't allow them to walk to or from school, it's a shame that things are the way they are now. kids should be able to play in parks and walk to and from school with out being scared.

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