TERROR IN COSTA MESA--READ THE TRUTH AND YOU'LL KNOW WHY WE NEED TO KEEP IMPROVING OUR CITY
Whenever the CM PRESS tells the truth about the gangs that are terrorizing Costa Mesa, a couple of local dimwits try to counter the truth with lies.
These dimwits claim that we don't really have a gang problem. They say things such as: Oh, gee, we have a few gang members, but that graffiti that you see, well that's the work of taggers, not gang members.
The truth: According to CMPD stats on graffiti, about 40% is gang related and 60% taggers. And in either case it cost taxpayers $254,690 to remove in 2006 as opposed to $97,528 in 2005. (See Gang Status and Gang Initiative," infra)
These lies and attempts to minimize a very real problem are just an updated version of the lie that some previous City Council members used to tell; until we started having so much gang crime that the presence of gangs could no longer be denied.
"We don't have gangs, we just have people who wear gang looking clothes," said those former Councilmembers. The CM PRESS used to spoof that nonsense by saying, after every gang shooting or crime, that it was "fashion models" who were doing the crimes.
The truth: This is directly from the CMPD "Gang Status and Gang Initiative" report dated February 22, 2007 that was presented by the CMPD at the City Council Study Session on March 13, 2007 (You can request a copy of the report from City Hall or you can try this LINK).
Direct quotes from the report:
"Presently, seven local criminal street gangs are identified as being active and based in Costa Mesa. This is an increase from the four identified local gangs in the City ten years ago. The total local gang membership in Costa Mesa is approximately 300 adult and juvenile gang members, of which roughly 60% are juveniles and 40% are adults. This total is approximately three times the membership from ten years ago.
"A further indicator of gang activity is represented by incidents of graffiti as reflected by the Graffiti Abatement program. In 2006 approximately 2034 incidents (compared to 1,229 incidents in 2005) of graffiti were reported....
"Violent gang crime involving firearms has also risen during the last year."
As we get closer to the election this year, keep the above in mind.
While the CM PRESS is critical of all of our elected officials on various issues from time to time, there are three people on the Council right now who are generally right about crime and gangs. You know who they are. They deserve your support.
# # #
Those are our opinions. Thanks for reading them.
