The Gang’s All Here, but Should We Pay?

Regarding “Jump-Shot Time” on Oct. 26:

In these times of economic recession, financial hardship, and shrinking public dollars, I was happy to find that the needs of the gangbangers were being met. It was heartwarming to find that the LAPD, which is supposedly understaffed and underfunded, manages to allocate five squad cars and a police helicopter so the gangbangers can have a friendly game of basketball three nights a week.

However, I was disturbed by the comment by one gang member who stated that the program took up only three nights a week. We, the tax-paying, law-abiding citizens should do our civic duty and fix this crisis. The families of victims of violent crimes should vote to subsidize programs to improve the quality of the gangbangers’ leisure activities. As a matter of fact, we should just give them spending money. How can we let these gangbangers go “bored” for four nights a week?

GERRY BARTON

Van Nuys