Southeast Los Angeles Hits Home

Thanks to Jocelyn Y. Stewart and photographer Clarence Williams for the fine coverage of the sad conditions in Southeast Los Angeles (“Our Town,” Jan. 7). No matter how many police officers are assigned to this troubled area, or how much federal or state money is dispensed to local politicians, a return to normalcy depends on the ethics and discipline instilled in the youth of Southeast Los Angeles.

Stewart’s article points out the need for strong neighborhood organizations such as Cub Scout packs and Boy Scout troops, which give young boys the incentive to live productive, healthy lives and improve their community. Let’s bring back the Boy Scouts and allow them the use of schools, fire stations and parks for their activities. Please keep up the good work in reporting on conditions in our city, the once-great City of Angels.

Charles Jenner

Los Alamitos

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How sad that the latest plan by civic leaders to transfigure downtown Los Angeles has absolutely nothing to do with a more needed transformation of Southeast Los Angeles. We spend so much time and energy creating a pristine environment where no one chooses to live, instead of responding to a community that so desperately fights to survive. If we only had a mayor or governor or senator who had the insight, vision and courage to devote to Southeast Los Angeles even a quarter of the resources that have been devoted to the transformation of L.A.’s downtown.

Michael D. Bryant

Northridge

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I was the school psychologist at Locke High School from September 1995 to March 1998. Your special report on the Southeast community was memorable. Reviewing the accompanying list of victims, I can identify five of the 76 as former special-education students from Locke (6.5% of the total). Special-education students are often not accepted in alternative schools due to poor attendance. Being left on the streets gets them into special reports, not special education.

Robert E. Olson

Via the Internet

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The tragedy told by the crime statistics in Southeast Los Angeles brought tears to my eyes as I read the list of victims’ names. The community suffers more death and destruction than many European nations combined. It points to a failure of our government, the community and our lack of handgun control. We need to commit the entire country to the problem of crime, rather than hope it doesn’t visit our homes.

Kevin Park

North Hollywood

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I wish the NRA would go to Southeast Los Angeles and instead of preaching tougher penalties, offer parents some possible solutions--especially regarding the ease of access to guns.

Margaret Verge

Santa Monica