Comments about ‘West-siders focus on stopping gangs’

Alright! Finally! I think we all need to do what we can to rid ourselves of these terrible, violent gangsters. Utah is definitely NOT the place for them.

Asking thugs to not join a gang is like asking a shark not to bite. Thugs stick with their own group, and we call it a gang. You won't change thugs until you change the attitude of their families who rear them... or ignore them.

The part I am not getting, is that Tony Yapias is saying that the city recognized Community Councils don't reflect diversity. Tony needs to get out more. I was at the Glendale community council last Weds night. It was about as ethnicly diverse as you can get. This article points out that Michael Clara is in the Poplar Grove Community Council. I happen to know that Archie Archuleta is in the Glendale Community Council. It sounds like Tony just wants to start another group based on skin color. What's next, the White supremacy community council?

Hey Glendale, why don't you start by asking your government officials to get rid of all of the illegals in your neighborhood. Stop being so naive! If you can't admit that illegals are a big problem in Glendale then I can't feel sorry for you and your rapidly failing neighborhood.

So, if I read this correctly, La Raza is now willing to abandon it's position that they support amnesty for illegals. Good for them.

The allure of legalization has attracted over 60% of illegals to the United States according to a Border Patrol survey in January 2004.

La Raza wants to remove the magnet? Change your position on legalization.

La Raza is relieved to see illegals arrested? Encourage your members to turn them in.

Methinks La Raza is disingenuous in their comments at the meeting.

I know a good way to stop gangs, deport THEM and their immediate family members, whether they are here legally or illegally. You lack the parenting skills to adequately raise a child, then you will give up the opportunity that was given to you to come here for a better life. There are plenty of people who would die to come here and live a better life, and if you're coming here and creating gangs, thugs, committing violent crimes, killing, trafficking drugs and humans, get out!

When society glorifies and promotes violence, drug use, instant gratification, and downplays the importance of two parent families, parental discipline, the hazards of sexual promiscuity, showing respect for the rights of others, morals etc. etc. - gang life looks pretty appealing... quick money from illegal activities, protection from competitors instead of legal reaction that often takes months or years, an exciting lifestyle etc.etc. and no obvious punishment for crimes committed in the name of the gang. You can even get revenge for transgressions or percieved wrongs just by getting rid of your rivals. There isn't any crime in mafia run neighborhoods... Where's my Smith and Wesson?

Sarkis, I understand and sense your frustration; but, if you're going to deport parents or family members who are here "legally", who in your judgement, must be bad examples, you'd better get a lot of buses! In fairness, your policy would have to apply to all of us, regardless of race. And, to say the least, that would be a legal and administrative nightmare.

There is one solution too gang violence period;"HANG EM HIGH"

Two words describes this problem:

Illegal Immigrants

And two more words describe why nobody will do anything about it:

Political Correctness

It is literally killing our country....

Nice try all you east siders that think deportation is the answer. Unfortunately many of the gangbangers i had the misfortune of encountering throughout my experinence in the SLC school district where born and bred right here in the states - I belive the term is "anchor babies".

While deportation would help the situation, first of all it is not the entire problem. Secondly, on one of the recent incidents the perpertrator WAS DEPORTED and CAME BACK.

Please, remember not illegal are gang members. Gangs are not just latinos, gangs come in all colors. I think that parents needs to be more involve in thier childrens life. I know that alot of parents have to work more than one job to live. I know because I'm one who work more than one job when my children was going up. We as parents need show are kids that we love them by spending more quality time with them so, that they don't go looking for it else where. We need to be PARENTS TO OUR KIDS NOT OUR JOBS.

I would like to see the statistics on different ethnicities and their relation to gangs. Even without seeing them I think the results are pretty obvious. As one of the previous posters commented political correctness is killing us. I 100% agree. Call a duck a duck. Illegals bring cheap labor, but they also fill our prisons, commit a majority of the violent crimes in our state and are the primary participant in gangs.

My solution:
1) Continue to deport illegals, BUT permenantly mark them on the top side of their hand. Mark them in a way that they will never be able to remove it without it being obvious. If this means tatoo then fine. That way when they go back and change their names they are still marked.
2) I think we need to vote better candidates into office. If you are on government help you should lose your right to vote. Once you are off, you get your rights back. I seriously believe we have a conflict of interest with our current system. Mediocre people continue to vote for mediocracy. Welfare should be there to help, not to support.

Right on, Family Matters! But if they don't have the ability or desire to be good parents, then the government becomes the nanny. Government programs are a lot of things...expensive, inefficient, ineffective, non-judgmental (and parenting doesn't work that way!), and politically correct to a fault.
Sisyphus was better off!

First, I want to said that Family Matters said it just right, We need to be parents to our kids not our jobs. And there is this misconception where we as latinos coming from poor countries and arriving here, we want to live like the people in the Brady Bunch and have a house and two cars,T.V,and every thing but then financial hard times come and Mom and Dad have two or three jobs and never seen their kids at all. And even worse with today economy hanging by a tail, our times at work became longer.
But we need to work with our kids. In another hand immigration is a hot topic but this is a country of law and laws are to be obey or paid the prize.
But Education and understanding is a priority in how we combat this gangs not hate and persecution or single out people.Gangs are all colors please lets be civil and lets keep support grups that support good values and morals for the sake of the neighbourhoods.

TemplarReborn, no one could have defined our situation better, Thanks!

I live on the east/west side border. We have the same problem. We recently had a drive-by shooting just blocks away from my house, and next door (less than 20 feet) away from an elementary school. Luckily school was not in session, but a young mother was shot in the leg. Drug deals are also a big problem. Our neighborhood program is in the process of trying to stop the problems, but more help is needed from the Mayor, and police. Both issues are gang related crimes. I don't care if the gang members are legal or illegal, I just want the responsibly parties to be punished and/or deported if need be. I want my neighborhood to be safe our children lving in the area, and those who attend our schools.

Not all gang members are undocumented aliens and not all undocumented aliens are gang members. Kids from all ethnicities join gangs, including white kids and even U. S. citizens. Its not always based on bad parenting, either. Its dangerous to generalize based on color or nationality. Its dangerous to try to simplify such a complicated social issue. Some kids join gangs because they feel marginalized by mainstream society, and the kinds of attitudes I'm reading here are what creates that environment. I think its a good idea for community councils to come together and find innovative solutions to the problem. We need to find ways to come together to solve these problems, instead of finger pointing and name calling. It has to be a joint effort between individuals, families, communities, and government. We need to find ways to provide options and opportunities to young men and women of all national and economic backgrounds.
To some of the more racist posts here: Demonizing and dehumanizing "illegals" or any other human being is not going to solve the problem. (branding?! are you kidding me?!) It only makes them worse.

I have nephews and nieces that where gang members and I ask them what attracted them to being gang members this is what they said.

1. They got attention they didn't get at home.

2. Respect. (What they thought was respect).

3. They got a family.

I got the same answer from other ethic gang members also. This is what attract kids to being in gangs and not just latino gangs but GANGS.

It is simple, gang affiliation needs to be treated like mafia affiliation back when the mafia was brought down. Identify gangs for what they are, terrorists and apply the same enforcement. While it is not the same as illegal immigration any illegal activity needs to be discouraged. Overlooking "little" things like illegal immigration only serves as a springboard into more volatile things like gangs. This comes from some one who was involved in gangs in inner city Baltimore and is part of the Hispanic community. Role models need to be in place, but illegal activity also needs to be clearly outlined with its corresponding pros and cons.