This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
We're All in the Same Gang

Local gang activity doesn't make the papers much anymore but the Crips and Bloods are still here. Maybe we've just grown accustomed to gang warfare as a part of our daily lives. Maybe we've just gotten good at hiding the problem. Maybe it's now just a part of our culture.
That doesn't stop us from wondering about what Laura Bush is going to do as our newly appointed gang czar to deal with the myriad of problems in the inner-city that leads to the proliferation of gangs. What does Laura Bush know about urban malaise? The folks of Pennsylvania (her first stop in her war on gangs was Philly)don't think she's up for the job. Earl Ofari Hutchinson thinks the problem isn't really Laura Bush, it's that President Bush rarely funds the big programs he touts with the money necessary to really make them work. In fact, this current plan only provides about a million dollars in funding for each state per year to deal with the problem.
LAist is less concerned with these debates about funding and the relavency of Laura Bush. We're too busy placing bets with our friends on how long it will take before there is a scandalous headline about the obviously red colored Bloods getting more support than their blue hued rivals, the Crips.
-
Cruise off the highway and hit locally-known spots for some tasty bites.
-
Fentanyl and other drugs fuel record deaths among people experiencing homelessness in L.A. County. From 2019 to 2021, deaths jumped 70% to more than 2,200 in a single year.
-
This fungi isn’t a “fun guy.” Here’s what to do if you spot or suspect mold in your home.
-
Donald Trump was a fading TV presence when the WGA strike put a dent in network schedules.
-
Edward Bronstein died in March 2020 while officers were forcibly taking a blood sample after his detention.
-
A hike can be a beautiful backdrop as you build your connection with someone.