18th St. Gang
* As I read the letters (Nov. 22) responding to the series on the 18th Street gang, I felt compelled to respond to the heartless, out-of-touch comments made by one of the respondents in his comment about a quote attributed to me.
The gang problem in the inner-city communities of Los Angeles is not a new problem but for decades, even generations, families have suffered, died, “got along with” and survived, and some have even thrived in spite of this menace. This is not about “hopeless vermin” who need to be exterminated, but about hopeless human beings with the same needs and aspirations as you and I. True, the educational system, the justice system, the police and all concerned entities have to be funded adequately and held accountable to do their assigned jobs. But until the ax is laid at the root, the gang problem will continue to proliferate.
VESTER PITTMAN
LAUSD Police Officer
Huntington Park
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