Activist Killed

* Re “Venice Anti-Gang Activist Killed in His Driveway,” Oct. 19:

Sadly, Cynthia Jean Moore is correct in saying that with the murder of anti-gang activist James Richards, the gangs have won. And they will continue to win as long as we allow heavily armed terrorist gangs to freely go about their deadly business in our cities.

We need to reinstitute loitering and vagrancy laws, and the IRS needs to go after these gang members for tax evasion. Oh, but I forgot! The ACLU and other pro-criminal, anti-law organizations would never put up with that, would they?

DAVE MUSIKOFF

Pasadena

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Richards was gunned down at 4 a.m. in his own driveway. He was a Guardian Angel (the red beret folks) for about 15 years.

“Pop-N-Fresh” (street name) was a fearless crime fighter. He was very dependable on patrols and hard as nails on drugs and gangs. It took nine mutant bullets to down Richards. I’m sorry, Pop-N-Fresh.

BRODIE BRODERSON

North Hills

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On Oct. 21, there were two different articles about the city of Venice, “A Conflicted Portrait of Slain Activist” and “Wave of Wealth Could Wash the Grit and Diversity Out of Venice.”

It looks like the almighty dollar is at it again. What community activist Richards was not able to do--return control of a crime-ridden city to decent citizens from the grip of criminals--will be done by people with large incomes buying up inexpensive properties and turning the area into another privileged mecca for those in the entertainment and technology industries. Truly, the dollar is mightier than any effort by police, government or community.

JACK CORNEJO

El Monte