MyFox
 

Phil_Shuman's Blog

by Phil_Shuman from Fox 11 News

Last Post 3 days, 8 hours Ago


More bang for the buck
Apr 21, 2008 | 4:53 PM
Category: News
Report This Post

     This is about gangs.. or more specifically how to 'get rid' of them.   Forests have been sacrificed to writings on this subject, however, that shouldnt stop us from trying to contribute.  "Gangs" are hot right now, to be cynical, because of some high profile gang murders and Mayor V's budget , but that's cyclical.  ( Not of course, to the families and friends of the dead)  .  Much has been made of late of the need to spend money on the programs that work, which would be a lot easier if we could figure out which programs work  . Having said that, i'm thinking that the key to all this is basically two words... education and jobs.  Again, not radical concepts.  But in spending a long nite w/ some honest to goodness gang bangers... past and present, tough and not so tough, and hearing their stories,  it was crystal clear to me that if we offered a way to see them thru school, and a guaranteed job with health benefits in exchange for saying good bye to their local clique... we'd be a long way down the road towards ridding ourselves of the gang violence that is bred by turf wars, the drug trade, and macho posturing.  Father Greg Boyle has been proving this for years .  and dont even start in about another whiny liberal in the media who wants to provide babysitting services for gang bangers...

       Now this is of course way too simplistic.  There is a small percentage of gang bangers who are hard core criminals and to them I say lock em up and throw away the key, and if they happen to have something worse happen to em along the way i will shed no tear, but they didn't get that way overnite.   

    So, how do we do this.. hmmmm  let's see... money..?  that's the key, as always... and we aint got enough, right ?  Well, it's a question of priorities.  The last LAPD budget in round numbers i believe is a billion dollars... The amount of money the city of LA spends on intervention and prevention is about 20 million.. you do the math..... and we aren't even talking about LA County yet.... So that's why community leaders and politicians who have the courage to be ''non P.C.'' say that much of the talk about fighting gangs is lip service cause we ain't putting the cash on the line to fund the programs that can make a difference...,and if someone like Janice Hahn proposes a 'parcel tax " to specifically fund anti gang programs, everyone criticizes her for wanted to raise taxes....  but she and many others have been to the funerals and also been to the intervention and prevention programs that make a difference.... so the basic concept is 'put up or shut up' and continue to live in violence and fear and tragedy and another generation or two of gang bangers lives are wasted when  they should be able to  say '' i want help'' and get it.
7 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 7
Page 1 of 1
sebar read my blog view my photos
Apr 22, 2008 | 1:56 PM

It is a very easy solution. A gang banger pulls the trigger, give him a 30 day speedy trial, find him or her guilty then Lethal Injection. Works fast, no twenty years in jail waiting with endless appeals. If they squeeze a trigger, then the state squeezes its trigger. Only problem is the corrupted politicians who are what Hillary started "Politically Correct."

American Author, Poet, Songwriter and Filmwriter
"Mark Paul" Sebar
The Power To Write The Best!
Peter_Palmer read my blog
Apr 22, 2008 | 2:43 PM

peasants.
marv read my blog view my photos
Apr 22, 2008 | 4:39 PM

a guaranteed job with health benefits.
yeah, wouldn't everyone like to have such?
Cunny-Lingus read my blog view my photos
Apr 22, 2008 | 9:34 PM

NlGGERS!
craftyguy read my blog
Apr 22, 2008 | 11:15 PM

legalize drugs, prostitution, and gambling and tax it all no more gangs large income for state and federal governments
1goodcop
Apr 23, 2008 | 11:51 AM

Im Former LEO and the problem is focus, we know who they are but we let run the streets. I will say this and believe it or not the police don't fix the problem due to job security.Fix it you don't need all of the ploice. The police selectively enforce. They will allow it to continue and ask for bigger budgets. How many police officers does it take to make an arrest? 2 and 20 to stand and watch. This is the training you see it every time before and after a police pursuit. I wish I was still a cop. But 1 good cop like others make bad cops nervious.
1goodcop
Apr 23, 2008 | 12:35 PM

One more thought My spelling and grammar were a little off, But the words were true.
I also want to stress I'm a former police officers with nearly 10 years of experience.
My screen name also needs definition. There are many good cops and they don't get the credit they deserve. We didn't buy into the culture and and training of "Us against Them"
The police come from the community, they were non-sworn before they became sworn Peace officers. Sworn to "Protect and Serve" I always preferred Peace Officer who was a peace maker.
Thank You, if you read this and think about it.
Page 1 of 1


Write your comment below:




Phil_Shuman

This is a picture of me at the DEA firing range near Castaic. It's an automatic weapon...what agents use when things get serious. I'm not a 'gun person 'but it was a fun and different day for a story on the DEA 's Citizens Academy..." I "killed" a guy who pulled a gun..oops.. a cell phone out of his waistband when I was serving a 'search warrant..." Gives me more insight into cops challenges.... I'm a news reporter here at Fox 11.. been in LA since '83... aside from the traffic it's awesome.. why wouldn't you want to live here ? I have a great job.. the people here are fun... I get to do what we call ''long form'' stories, investigations, half hour specials.. we can really get into some serious issues here... ( no not Britney). Someday i hope to meet Jillian. Later.

Member Since: 7/4/2006


 

View All Photos


RSS: XMLWhat is RSS?