We get mail

Bravo Mr Turner. If you read this blog or other blogs in the area, many of us in Monrovia have brought forth the information on Day Day.

Your letter very eloquently points out the problems with the gang mentality and their victims are just innocent people simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

If you know where the fund raising efforts are being made, who we can send money to, put that up.

I think Mr. Turner makes my point that this is in fact race related in terms of who is being shot at. Not because of racial tension between law abiding Hispanics and Blacks, but Day Day was shot by a coward due to his skin color and no other reason.

If Day Day was Asian or White he wouldn't have been shot, regardless of where he was or if he was a gang member or not. If Mr. Rollins didn't live, either with or next door to a Black gang member, and was White or Asian, than he doesn't get shot and killed.

In the mean time nobody seems to be doing any in depth investigation of the source of the hostility. When rival gangs of any color merge to eliminate another gang based on their skin color and percentage of the drug market they have, you can bet the shots are being called by others. Those others are state prison gangs.

All the while some papers, politicians and gang apologists call for more programs resources for gang members.

Here's the result of one such program, and it's not the only one where something like this has happened. Please give me the 1.5 million next time, I promise not to sell weapons to gangs.

Local Boy

LOS ANGELES — A former gang member who founded an anti-violence group called No Guns has pleaded no contest to federal weapons charges.

Hector "Big Weasel" Marroquin, 51, and co-defendant Sylvia Arrellano, 25, entered pleas Thursday for three counts of manufacture, distribution and transport for sale of an unlawful assault weapon.

Arrellano also pleaded no contest to machine gun conversion and possessing a silencer and acknowledged that the crime was committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang.

She was given until Tuesday to surrender for sentencing and would likely be sentenced to four years in prison, prosecutors said.

Marroquin attorney Patrick Smith did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment Thursday. No phone listing was available for Arrellano.

Marroquin was arrested in June at his Downey home following a nine-month investigation into weapons sales by the 18th Street gang, to which he once belonged.

Arrellano was arrested at a Cudahy home as a result of the same investigation

Marroquin founded No Guns in 1996, ostensibly to reduce gang and gun violence. The group received $1.5 million from the city as a subcontractor on anti-gang efforts but its contract was canceled last year after authorities learned that Marroquin had hired relatives, including his son, Hector "Little Weasel" Marroquin.

The son is an acknowledged 18th Street gang member who pleaded no contest in June 2007 to home-invasion robbery and was sentenced to nine years in state prison.

I agree with Mr. Turner, our community politicians and media fail to give the full story. Unfortunatly, citizins are left to fill in the blanks (some truth, some hearsay, some gossip), often suspecting the worse of the victims as such believing they too are affiliated with gangs. My displeasure really came home as I drove down Myrtle Ave on Tuesday and the news vans were covering the "Neighborhood "speed problem" on NORTH PRIMROSE. I really wanted to pull over and say "Are you kidding me, that is the story you are covering?" Head over to the High School, drive down Peck and talk to people.
You will find less students walking home from school in the near future as parents are afraid to let thier kids walk. Yes, the flyers came home telling us to be aware, telling our students to walk in groups...But parents are opting out and picking them up. Does that send the message that our city is not safe? Is that the community we want? Is this the ALL AMERICAN CITY?

There was another shooting
Friday night near Peck &
El Camino. Didn`t see it
in your paper. Our Mayor
has to get serious, in
Monrovia

Mr. Turner's letter, again, identifies a faulty basic assumption and lack of dignity on behalf of SGV Tribune Editors.

The Paper cannot delve into the complexities of those murdered because it complicates the simple Good Guy v Bad Guy mentality that the paper and police force need in order to maintain social order.

The fact of the matter is Day-Day deserves a measure of dignity not because he went to church or picked up trash after school, but because he is human. The same can be said of ALL victims of gang-violence (even those who affiliate themselves with a gang).

That is to say, the Paper should interview a family and friend of all victims so as to present a more dignified look at the victim.

I don't think so. Gangsters are not victims regardless of your attempt to portray them in that manner.

You join a gang than you reap the results of that action. I'm tired of hearing about some poor gangsters terrible lot in life that caused him to join a gang, as someone like Day Day recuperates in a hospital bed or Mr. Rollins rests in his grave.

Local Boy

Boy,
Gangsters are not inhuman regardless of your attempts to portray them in that manner.

You have to focus your point: while a criminal who dies while commiting a violent criminal activity might forfeit their right to, shall we say, more rounded coverage, its not at all clear that a person who decides to join a gang at 14 years old forever loses their right to dignity.

Anonymous 411, the area you are pointing at is likely unincorporated county land using the Monrovia postoffice for a mailing address.

That area falls under LA Sheriff for the most part and the rest of monrovia is not responsible for cleaning it up or patrolling it.

usaagin, intersting comment, but the gang lifestyle is inherently violent and dangerous. It is one that resouces to prevent kids from making that choice needs to be committed. Oddly from what we see in the news continuously is their inhumane treatment of others, like Mr Rollin's or DayDay that my daughter has known for years as just a "good guy". Can you say their treatment was human committed by someone with a shred of humanity left?

This may fall better under another headline, but I would like to comment on an article I read in the MONROVIA WEEKLY. You can read the article online at www.coremg.net or pick up a copy of the 1/17/08 pub:

In regards to the shooting death of Mr Rollins and Day Day; A quote from Dick Singer, Monrovia's Public Information Officer: "THIS IS A REGIONAL THING, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MONROVIA OTHER THAN SOME OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED LIVE HERE". "IT'S ONE GANG SHOOTING A MEMBER OF ANOTHER GANE AND A MEMBER RETALIATING, IT'S TARGET RETALIATION"
Okay, I must be confused, if he says it is not a Monrovia thing? Then why are my children talking about it? Why are my kids afraid to walk to thier friends house "down there" as he later quotes in a long article?
I need to tell you MR SINGER... This is a Monrovia thing!!! This is a problem not only for those involved but for all residents, all bystanders, and all parents who are leaving work early to pick thier kids up from school so they don't have to walk. This is a problem for us home owners as our property values will continue to drop, as families move out, which inturn Mr. Singer becomes a city problem because you will not have the tax revenue to continue all your glorius spending. This is a problem Mr. Singer as our small town feel, with small town police force now have a big city problem. A few shootings here and there, a few robberies here and there grow rapidly.(Man with gun at Pavillions this weekend) And to his last comment that it was "Down there" I would invite you to tour down there, Cypress is 1 block south of Huntington, I dont go down there to go to Taco Bell, I dont go down there to go to Jack in the Box nor do over 1200 students go to school down there at Santa Fe or Plymouth, we don't say down there, so please don't refer to it as "Down there" again. Nor do I doubt when the housing project at California and Duarte Rd are complete will you promote them as affordable housing "DOWN THERE"! I don't even live in the area as you protray as down there and I am offended!

Frazgo,
Those people who murder others forfeit their right to life (and their right to have their humanity dignified by the community paper).

But this certainly isnt the case for most of the gang members we read about getting murdered. Most gang members are not murderers. And unless there's reason to think they are, the SGV Tribune should treat those murdered with some dignity.

Simply bc a person understands their behavior engenders certain dangers (e.g., police officers, military men, airline attendants) doesnt mean we shouldn't mourn their violent passing.

MidMonrovia, you have to remember Singer is only a mouth piece putting things out that those above him want put out with their spin.

I'm with you in that the gang problem here in Monrovia is on a huge upswing. It's been that way for a while. AFter watching 3 fights with obvious gang signs being flashed about last spring break out during the Friday Fesitval my kids are no longer allowed down there on Friday night. We as a family when we go are in and out before it get's dark.

We have gangs at war and innocent people are getting hurt. Plenty needs to be done and honestly it needs to start with increasing the size of the police force and enlisting outside agency's to bring it back in check.

We can't stop people from making bad choices and joining ganges, but once they start breaking the law we need to have enough police on the streets to arrest and put them away. None of us deserve to have a sense of fear in our homes or in the community.

I will never mourn the death of any active gang member. I could care less. Your comments are nothing more than the comments of someone who either a) is a former gang member or b) someone who has friends or relatives in a gang. Whatever the case you only tell half the story.

There was a guy who was Duroc years ago and his so called friends took advantage of him because he was mildly retarded, he was nade fun of and ridiculed by his own homies. I never remember hearing that he was really involved in gang activity.

He was found face down with a bullet in his back next to a home on Central early one wet and cold morning. The gangster, obviously MNV or DES, who did it was a coward and nothing more.

Any gangster who was in the car that knows about the shooting, any gang member who was told about it and did nothing is as bad as the coward who shot Ricky. That was his name, but I doubt any of them knew that when they murdered him.

Even gangsters who don't murder take part in other crimes, attempt to strike fear into students and adults alike and act in accordance with and in support of gang activity. There own presence on a street causes parents to keep there kids inside so they can't play outside. That's ok with you though isn't it usagain? How many kids in gang areas are being robbed of the ability to just play outside because of these maggots?

Without this so called majority of gang members that swell gang ranks though don't kill anyone, gangs would be easier to control. We don't need to do that though do we? They're just misunderstood and we need to entertain them so they won't hurt us.

Spare us all your backwards apologist thinking dude, nobody with half a brain is buying it.

Lock them all up and throw away the key.

Local Boy

I know it is impossible, but what are we doing at the school levels to "educate" the kids against gang involvment? I know they have a "DARE" program in 5th grade for drug awareness but no mention of gangs. I live in an area near Santa Fe and I see hoards of black hooded students over powering the sidewalks and other students walking home/to school. These students yell at passerby cars, smoke and seeminly have a disrespect for personal property. For these younsters it is just the begining as I am sure many of them increase in size and lack of respect as they enter High School and beyond.

Lboy,

How is it I tell half the story but you tell the full story? Oh, must be that half-brain you referenced. Sorry.

To think that a person forfeits their right to human dignity bc they belong to a gang (when "belonging to gang" is a nebulous notion)is foolish and evil. A person might lose some freedom, access and opportunity, but never dignity...and that's because it was never in the hands of another person (whole-brained persons included) to begin with.

Lboy,

How is it I tell half the story but you tell the full story? Oh, must be that half-brain you referenced. Sorry.

To think that a person forfeits their right to human dignity bc they belong to a gang (when "belonging to gang" is a nebulous notion)is foolish and evil. A person might lose some freedom, access and opportunity, but never dignity...and that's because it was never in the hands of another person (whole-brained persons included) to begin with.

Lboy,

I wonder how you would extend your moral logic to child-soldiers in Africa?

Please don't make the mistake of assuming I think the case of the American gangster and child soldier are IDENTICAL-- I simply want to see how your logic works by extension.

On your view, a person can act in such a way as to forfeit their human rights. I think this strikes most of us half-brainers as morally repugnant.

Usagain..Here is what you wrote in the post I responded to that I forgot to remark on. I will now.

"Simply bc a person understands their behavior engenders certain dangers (e.g., police officers, military men, airline attendants) doesn't mean we shouldn't mourn their violent passing."

Are you out of your mind? Soldiers, cops, airline attendants and many other occupations are entered into by people who want to do a "SERVICE" to their community or the public at large. They don't do their jobs to terrorize others or support those friends of theirs that do! That's what gangsters are all about and you know it.

What don't you understand about the difference? I'm guessing going on a ride-along with a police officer might be a bit different than going on one with your local gangster. Have you done either?

Cops, soldiers, fire fighters and most others in the vast majority of jobs are acting for the common good. You can't put gangsters in that group.

In your twisted logic, gangsters are supposed to have some type of dignity bestowed upon them because they enter into a criminal group and recognize the danger of it? You are out of your mind if you think that way and for even trying to put these thugs on equal footing with the others you mentioned.

As for child soldiers in Africa, it's not something you can even compare. Two different things entirely, your attempt at rationalizing the behavior of any gangster is falling on deaf ears.

Right now I'm watching the news and somebody shot into a car on the 5 fwy in Sylmar. Gee...wonder what type of person the shooter was? Any chance he was a gangster? Did the shooter care about what happened to those in cars around him?

"All" active gangsters deserve no dignity, no respect and no more chances. Regardless if they murder or not. Lock them all up and throw away the key.

If you're so much into them you can visit all you want, free country. Have a good time.

I won't mourn even one, not ever and I've know many and some very well. It's an occupational hazard, too bad. Better them than others.

I could care less what you think is moral. You're just a gangster cheerleader and not making any sense with your silly stance. You can't defend the indefensible but I'm sure you'll keep trying.

Local Boy

LBoy,
Sadly, you make the mistake of conflating "active gang member" with "active criminal." There are some gang members who are not criminals, and some criminals who are not gang members (chart, anyone?).

Of course, you think you score rhetorical points by accusing me of cheerleading violent and criminal behavior. I don't, so find another straw man to burn.

My point is that active gang members (and their family and friends) deserve to be treated with a meausre of dignity by the local paper when they are victims of a senseless, violent murder.

You're smart to avoid the question of child soldiers bc your simple fairy tale morality cant account for the moral complexities of children drawn into vicious warfare.

A little church, some moral instruction and guidance might do you some good. You might be surprised to learn that the Jesus guy might some day judege you according to how you treat the imprisoned.

I'm well aware that message boards and police stations arent places for naunced conversations on right and wrong, good and bad...it's too bad, though.

I believe the 2 of you have a good argument on both sides of the story, however, here we are, in MONROVIA, CA and neither the victim of the said homicide (Mr. Rollins) nor the 16yr old Day Day are gang members. Therefore, both of them, thier families deserve the dignity we ALL agree they deserve. But you 2 keep going way off topic as if we are debating thugs on either side of Crenshaw (to name a popular street) shooting at eachother. NO, again we are in MONROVIA and 2 of our own, citizins, a senior and a student (not that age matters, but..) were shot. Whether either have a "family member" that is a gang member or a neighbor, neither of them have gang ties, they were shot because they were black, but we are losing sight of that.
By the way, 3 police cars pulled up to Citibank quickly upon 4:00. I doubt they were all trying to get there for the toasters.

Anonymous..take a look at my other posts and copies of articles from papers I've printed. I've said from the get go this is racial attacks based on green lights given by a very powerful prison gang...The Mexican Mafia. There would be no way that MNV and DES would be working together if it wasn't so.

Usagain...try as you may your rhetoric regarding child soldiers in Africa is a simple attempt to directly avoid confronting what you know to be true and throw a curve ball. I went to college back in the 70's on a fully paid basketball and baseball scholarship and can hit the curve.

To be so naive as to think you can equate gang violence here to what's going on half way across the planet in third world nations is comical. Is that all you can come up with?

I've never said you automatically disrespect every gangsters family, look at my posts on the Flores murder and you'll see that. I said I would never mourn an active gang members death, regardless of how it happened or why. It's amazing you think there's something evil about that but are ok with being a gang member. That shows what you're all about.

I certainly have no respect for some of these gangsters families who accomodate their decision to be in a gang or groan about it when their little felon reaps their reward for their criminal conduct.
Act like a parent and step to the plate or others will have to.

Families who try to get their kids straightend out are to be commended. I know people who have moved to other towns to get their kids straightened out and clear of gang activity, sometimes it's worked and sometimes not.

Last thing I need is some moral advice from some gangster pr man. You're making no head way...give it up.

Local Boy