Are They Gangs or Just ‘Hanging Out’?
Re “Cities in South County Unite to Subdue Gangs” (Oct 14): I commend Debbi Abalos for educating her neighbors in Laguna Hills as to the perils of graffiti and gangs. I also salute our community leadership for their efforts.
Like Ms. Abalos, I have spent a few hours recently removing graffiti and educating neighbors. It appears the consensus among residents in Orange County is that gang activities in central Orange County are innate. The catch to this consensus is that gang activities and many other social problems native to urban areas are not bounded by municipal boundaries or social strata.
The gang problem is a carcinoma that spawns in urban decay and germinates in healthy suburban life. Orange County residents should spend less time associating gang problems with our urban areas and support efforts to resolve problems countywide and not just in their back yards.
S. MOORE, Garden Grove
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