Getting Gangs Out of Local Parks

Re “Make the Parks Gang-Free,” editorial, Dec. 7: As I read recently with horror of the brutal gang murder of 13-year-old Marquese Rashad Prude at the St. Andrews Recreation Center in South Los Angeles, I was reminded of my own experiences with the Oakwood Recreation Center here in Venice. The Oakwood Recreation Center is and has been an unabated central meeting place for local gangs for years. It seems that the only thing that will spotlight our problem will be another gang murder.

For myself, I stopped my daily ritual of walking my dogs there years ago. I was attacked with glass bottles simply for being suspected of cooperating with local police trying to curb gang violence. Needless to say, I stay away from the park and by all means have nothing to do with the police. I might add, nothing has changed at the park either.

Morgan McBain

Venice

It seems every now and then someone is killed by gang violence who gets everybody’s attention. However, there are numerous killings by gangs all the time that go without attention. Until this issue is the No. 1 priority for law enforcement, gang violence will continue to escalate for years to come. This means The Times will continue to waste gallons of ink reporting on gang violence, as it has done many times in the past, because this problem will never go away.

Elmer “Rich” Richardson

Corona