Grass-roots effort against gangs

Re “Eyes open,” editorial, March 31

Neighborhoods have always tried to combat gangs because the mayor won’t. Some paint over tagging even though they risk being killed; others volunteer at underfunded after-school programs so that children have somewhere to be other than the streets. When the mayor made his statement, those of us who live in gang-infested neighborhoods were not surprised. However, we were surprised that the mayor was finally addressing a problem that has always been an issue for us. The Times said, “That statement also could have been made 15 years ago.” If it had been, maybe there would not be a need to make that statement now. The problem with gangs is not that there is rising racial violence but that gangs exist and continue to plague our neighborhoods. Let’s hope that, after gangs have been given the spotlight, something will finally be done about them.

Eric Valadez

Los Angeles