Levels of trust begin to grow when people from the community can have 'heart to heart' discussions with the police; with the City Attorney; with the educators; with the politicians; with each other. The Watts Gang Task Force is a clearinghouse of not just ideas, but of emotions (both negative and positive).
So that is why, for example, the Watts community can put on a three day carnival which closed down (lawfully) some City streets and which drew people from throughout the community - gang and non-gang alike. People knew what was expected of them. The 'interventionists' from the community were there to provide a buffer, with the police providing the ultimate back-up. There was not one incident even though rival gang members came.
Having pulled this off, and of course, there was no press coverage of the good news, the Community, the police, the interventionists, the churches, everyone, could take pride and satisfaction in being able to accomplish something which other parts of the City probably take for granted .
At the task force meetings, there is generally a Deputy Chief of Police, a Commander, and the local captain. This kind of concern and compassion results in a reciprocal kind of respect - such that now when there is a hint of a potential problem, a direct line (literally) exists between the community leaders (interventionists) and LAPD, so that the Police can, with confidence, know what is happening, what is being done, and what needs to be done to quell any problem.
In short, there is trust being built between the police and the community. This is important because the gangs rely on a lack of trust in order to stir up trouble and swell their ranks.
At a recent Watts Task Force meeting, there were discussions about positive community activities for kids, issues relating to the projects and how people can become more empowered and take responsibility for their lives; and there exists in every meeting the subtle positive sense (and hope) that comes from just being listened to.
The CRA has now opened up an office in Watts - a direct result of the task force. The CRA representative participates in the meetings - as do representatives from both the Charter and non-Charter public schools, as well as the private schools. There are the beginnings of what could become a viable youth sports league (modeled on the Valley Youth Conference.
When Janice Hahn told the community that it was necessary to devise and develop a definition of 'intervention' and a way of measuring the successful expenditure of funds, the community rose to the challenge and came up with a definition. For the first time (possibly ever) this and other definitions and protocols, as devised by the community, were adopted by the City Council. This was not the work of a bunch of academics (although some were involved); it was the work of the community - including people on the front lines.
In some ways, what these young kids have to confront resembles living in a war zone. At some point, we have to begin to reach across the mountains between the Valley and the other parts of the City and begin to demonstrate real concern, compassion, love, and respect - That way it will be easier to isolate those who really do wish us ill from those who get sucked up into a culture not because they want to necessarily, but because they have (or perceive they have) no alternatives if they are to survive (or because their parents have messed up or don't know any better because they are kids themselves).
The Watts Gang Task Force is working to provide this 'clearing house of opportunity', grounded in respect, compassion, love, and redemption. It sounds corny but honestly, its really wonderful to behold and experience; and it works and is working.
Ron Kaye is the former editor of the Los Angeles Daily News where he spent 23 years helping to make the newspaper the voice of the San Fernando Valley and fighting for a city government that serves the people and not special interests.
Twice in recent years, Los Angeles Magazine listed Kaye among the city’s most influential people, specifically in the area of politics. Kaye has been variously described in the media as the “accidental anarchist,” “the Patrick Henry of the San Fernando Valley” and a “passionate populist.” He is now committed to
carrying on his crusade for a greater Los Angeles as an ordinary citizen. Previously, Ron worked at the Los Angeles Herald Examiner,
Associated Press, Cleveland Plain Dealer and The Australian as well as papers
in Fairbanks, Alaska and Yakima, Wash. He also wrote for Newsweek magazine, The Guardian in London and the Naitonal Enquirer.
Good news. People getting to know each other instead of simply hating. Thank you, Mr. Weiss.
No doubt about it, trust is one of the ingredients lacking in all of L.A., but in the gang-infected areas especially. Sheesh, I live in a "nice" part of town but because of my past dealings with police I sure don't trust them. I'll still call them if I have to, but I always keep in mind that:
a) The police attitude is to never believe anyone, even those telling the God honest truth.
b) Some jerks will always become cops and some cops are jerks. One must be discerning and try to figure out if they are talking to a good one or a super-jerk.
c) Some cops are acting like cops. They aren't the real thing.
d) If a cop treats you unjustly there is often nothing you can do about it.
So, the moral is, stay out of trouble, don't get into a relationship with an abusive anyone, and know your rights.
I don't know why gang members think gangs are a partial solution to problem cops. I think most cops know what they are doing, try to do a good job and care about their communities. However, if you happen to interact with a few jerk cops over the years chances are you will remember that for the rest of your life.
I don't like Bratton's brushing off anyone who wants to get illegal alien gangmembers and felons off our streets and out of our country, "Immigration Hater," which makes him supportive of blurring lines between all legal and illegal immigration, his/ their ultimate agenda. But as for interacting with the community at all levels, I think the current LAPD is more trustworthy than a decade or so ago.
I'm a white woman from the Valley who drives a BMW, and had a couple of experiences picking people up from LAX at night that gave me some insight into how they used to think. Once I was stopped going down Sepulveda for allegedly running a light, which I didn't do, it was yellow -- and once the cops saw me they were clearly surprised, expecting to see some black dude, no doubt, with that kind of car in that hood, but they pressed their ticket, refusing to back down. They even lied about it in court, backing each other up, and looked like they were enjoying their "court holiday." I was shocked, and never will be naive about how they operate again.
But more recently I was stopped, lights flashing, told to put my hands up, same area (2 a.m.), but when this cop gingerly approached and saw and talked to me, he apologized and said my car just fit the profile they were looking for. The clear assumption is, anyone in that area late at night in that kind of car, is likely to be stopped and questioned. Probably fairly. The issue is, how do the cops react once they stop you. Hopefully, they'd be the same if I weren't a white female.
The flip side: I was harassed once at curbside by a dark-skinned, ethnic cabbie, who then got a bat out of his car to threaten me: when I flagged down an airport cop (black), he believed the cabbie over me; a white cop came along and encouraged me to report the first cop, and I did send in a complaint but never heard anything again. Yes, it would be nice to get color-blind justice all around.
How about a little story on the opening of the public pools in Watts. The savages were getting jiggy quickly. As soon as they had 200 people in the pool they had to drain it and disinfect it. Evidently some of the locals thought it was a big toilet. Oh and remember the lifeguard they stabbed to death a few years ago.
The CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) has opened an office in Watts? There goes the neighborhood.
They sound good on paper, in reality the CRA is the #1 evictor in the City of Los Angeles.
All the CRA knows is big box development and blah sameness like Roebeks, Starbucks, blah, blah, blah. Mom and Pop stores disappear.
The CRA evicts neighbors and brings blahness to the unique parts of our city.