COSTA MESA : Residents Ask Help With Drugs, Gangs

More than 350 residents filled the parish hall at St. Joachim Church on Wednesday night and pleaded with city officials to help combat gangs, drug dealers and other problems in their neighborhood.

The residents, many from the west side of the city commonly known as Shalimar, said they live in constant fear.

“Her 15-year-old daughter was threatened by gang members,” Sister Leticia Salazar translated for Guadalupe Ortiz, who cried as she spoke in Spanish. “She is terrified.”

In response, city officials said they would do what they can.

Chuck Carr, superintendent of recreation, told the gathering about several activities that are currently available for children, including the after-school program. He said he would be willing to consider other ideas.

Police Lt. Alan Kent, who is the police commander in the Shalimar area, told the residents that he plans to beef up bike patrols in the city’s westside and begin monthly meetings with residents, among other things.

“We would be more than willing to work with you,” Carr told the group.

The meeting was called by the St. Joachim Parish Community Organization after a door-to-door survey was conducted by the group. Members visited more than 300 homes and heard stories of drugs, gangs and absentee landlords.

Some of the stories were repeated at Wednesday night’s meeting.

“I used to let my kids play outside,” said Kathy Lewis, a 16-year resident who said she was afraid of gangs. “But I don’t anymore.”

Another woman, Nanette Bergeron, told how she was warned by a police officer to leave the Shalimar area. She had the resources to leave, she said.

“I was fortunate,” Bergeron said. “I am here to ask for help for my fellow brothers and sisters who aren’t fortunate enough to move out.”

While those gathered for the meeting were encouraged by the response from officials, Councilman Joe Erickson cautioned that with the city’s current budget crunch, finding money for new programs wasn’t going to be easy.

In fact, a request by the residents to lower or eliminate the $2 entry fee for the downtown swimming pool might be difficult to accomplish when the city is facing a potential $6-million budget shortfall, officials said.

Erickson pointed out that the city and community have worked together recently to schedule a neighborhood cleanup day later this year, among other things.

The residents agreed that they would be willing to do their share.

“No one should have to live in fear,” Father Jerome Karcher, one of St. Joachim’s priests, said after the residents spoke. “Tonight we brought all our voices together. We can make a difference.”