Racial Fairness, Feinstein’s Gang Initiative

Re “Study Questions Justice System’s Racial Fairness” and “Feinstein Unveils Bill to Fight Gangs,” Feb. 13: As indicated in the study by the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, the pattern of racial inequality is apparent when it comes to the arrests and convictions of African American males in our nation’s inner cities. Yet, Sen. Dianne Feinstein has the audacity to sponsor a bill that would continue this pattern of injustice. Why won’t she apply the same fervor and energy to the funding of prevention programs? In the long run, it would be far less expensive for everyone. Instead, Feinstein encourages cities to apply for some of the $8 billion earmarked in legislation two years ago. That is why she was elected--to ensure accessibility to those alternative programs by our youth.

Feinstein’s bill perpetuates the myth that the drug and gang problems are innate in urban minority communities. She seems to ignore the fact that the gangs have become “traveling syndicates” in an effort to meet the cross-state demands of white drug users. Why then concentrate law enforcement efforts solely on gangs who are distributors and not seek similar, if not harsher, punishment for the primary suppliers of narcotics?

BISHOP CHARLES E. BLAKE

Pastor, West Angeles Church of God in Christ

* Vincent Schiraldi, executive director of the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, hit it right on the head. If “four in 10 young white men were under the control of the criminal justice system, we would not be passing ‘three-strikes’ [laws] or building more prisons. We would be .J.J. funding education, jobs and drug treatment.”

Congratulations, Dianne, you’ve joined the ranks of Pete Wilson. I voted you into office, but I won’t do it again.

DONNA J. WARREN

Hawthorne

* It seems foolish not to commend actions taken by Feinstein to fight gangs. It is equally foolish to suppose, however, that gangs are “the” problem. Gangs are a manifestation of deeper troubles.

Sen. Feinstein, how about spending as much on education as on prisons? How about paying teachers what they deserve? To the state of California “powers that be,” how about realistic sex education curricula? As we attempt to punitively coerce our nation’s children to “just say no,” we overlook the underlying causes that render this catchy phrase so difficult to transform into a practical reality.

As a society, we give young people very little to “say yes” to. Everyone wants to feel good. Drugs feel good. Sex feels good. And the feelings, however misguided, of belonging, community, freedom and power which come with gang membership feel good. Putting a Band-Aid on a splinter does not make it go away.

LEAH B. MICHAELS

Redondo Beach

* What a joke. It has taken Feinstein this long to try to do something about the gangs that have terrorized our neighborhoods and killed many innocent bystanders when they do their drive-bys.

If this country can deploy the military to foreign countries to protect people from being killed by guns and bombs, why can’t our country do something for its people with some form of protection? We have kids killing kids in our schools and on our streets.

MARK A. BASHAM

Santa Monica