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Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 10:55 am
by Rick Uldricks
http://www.gangsorus.com/graffiti.html Graffiti should not be tolerated in ANY community. It frequently, if left in tact, leads to the degradation of a neighborhood and the devaluation of property. Studies have shown in many cases that if graffiti is left unchecked and not removed, more and more graffiti will appear. The removal of graffiti is extremely costly and some cities, that have developed graffiti removal programs, have spent huge sums of money to reclaim and beautify the neighborhood or community.
Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 11:04 am
by LCannon
Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 11:25 am
by Shawn Juris
Does the Lakewood PD have a gang division? Is it appropriate and if we did could it be discussed or would it be something covert?
While the prevention (through diversion like hoops or neighbors on porches) are certainly cost effective, I think that Dan has a point about questioning if the city is willing to act on this. There is certainly a difference between putting our collective heads in the sand and worrying about the sky falling. From what I understand there is a real issue that needs to be addressed. I can certainly understand tax payers wanting safety provided rather than looking to become volunteer marshalls.
Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 1:37 pm
by Beajay Michaud
Rick Uldricks wrote:
So... if drug deals go down at Burger King, the city will shut B.K. down? Maybe this is a good strategy. j/k.
Arrest the drug dealers and thugs.
Maybe they should close down Corky's on Detroit there are deals going down behind there all the time.
Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 2:02 pm
by Stephanie Toole
"David Lay wrote:
If I remember correctly, Chief Malley said at last night's Council meeting that one of the reasons the hoops were taken down was because of drug paraphernalia found, and that drug deals were being made at the basketball courts... "
It was also stated that the cameras installed a few years ago have led to the reduction in crime at Madison Park. What?? How can they tell me the crime is down, when the playground is a disaster, the park looks like a disgrace, and they closed the courts because of CRIME and DRUG activity. Am I the only one who is confused here?
Why weren't cameras installed at the courts???
If crime is down at the park it is mostly likely because no one goes there anymore so there a fewer people to commit crimes against!!
I think if Cheif Malley lived in Lakewood he would be singing a far different song......Just my opinion.
Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 2:09 pm
by Grace O'Malley
Wait! Let me get this straight.
Did the chief say that crime at Madison Park has DECLINED?
If this is true, it completely conflicts with Ryan Demro's claim that crime has increased and that we need to keep juveniles off the streets to protect the rest of us from their crime wave.
So what's the TRUTH?
I've only asked several times in the curfew thread. What are the FACTS? What do the most recent crime stats say?
Are we truly seeing an increase in crime? If so, what types of crime? Who is committing the crime? What times of the day are we most vulnerable?
Or is the "increase in crime" a problem of perceptions not really coinciding with reality?
Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 2:15 pm
by Stephanie Toole
I can't possibly be the only one at the council meeting last night who heard the statement, by Mayor George, "that there has been a reduction in crime at Madison Park since the cameras were installed a few years ago!"
Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 2:51 pm
by Rick Uldricks
Stephanie Toole wrote:I can't possibly be the only one at the council meeting last night who heard the statement, by Mayor George, "that there has been a reduction in crime at Madison Park since the cameras were installed a few years ago!"
Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 1:31 pm
by Robert Overman
I went out Dan and Nadahal the other night to look at the graffiti. The graffiti had some definite parts to it, mainly the reference to "slobs", a 6 pointed star, an upside down 5, the 13 K, was literally BK (Blood Killer). These points led me to believe that these tags were from either cripts or folks, but if either one of the two of them did it the tags would have been in either blue (cripts), or black (folks). The Gold paint leads me to believe these kids didn't really know what they were doing, but i could be wrong.
Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 10:07 pm
by Rich VanArsdalen
Robert,
I agree whole-heartedly with this interpretation. I am in no way a "gang" expert, but spend every day working with young adults from East Cleveland. As a matter of fact, I have spoken to one of the individuals from East Cleveland involved in the Madison Library altercation a few weeks ago. These guys may be perceived as "thugs" and "drugees", but I see them as young adults without many (if any) positive role models in their lives that need rescued from their current lifestyles. As a Lakewood resident, I am not particularly fond of these individuals coming into our town and raising havoc; however, these young adults, though they may not be model citizens, by their own admission are not gang members. The consensus from the people I know who are involved in gangs is that Lakewood (and even most Cleveland) kids don't have a clue.
Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 2:15 am
by Dan Lotz
I'd concur with Robert's assessment. Though I haven't seen the graffiti, the star is typically associated with the crips, 'BK' (blook-killer) also a crip slogan, though the devil's pitchfork is usually for the 'Folks'. I also agree that if the colors are inaccurate and these symbols are side by side, it is a novice or wanna'be. Rival gangs would tag OVER eachother, not next to eachother.
However, wannabe or not, it is most-likely from transplanted city-of-cleveland kids, where this material is incredibly pervasive in the blighted neighborhoods. I work with these communities and know that Cleveland saw a dramatic spike in gang activity this year, with an abundance of 'wannabe's'--moslty kids trying to fit in with the area's prevailing gang and not really being connected.