RSSToppenish group says get tough on gangs with tougher laws
Yakima Herald-Republic
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TOPPENISH, Wash. -- A group wanting to rid the city of gang violence called for drastic changes in laws dealing with such crime when it met with state lawmakers during a Tuesday night forum.
A crowd of more than 50 filed into the Toppenish High School performing arts hall, voicing concern about gangs in this rural town of 9,140 people, where drive-by shootings occur at least twice a month.
City Council members, school officials, police and officials with the state Department of Social and Health Services also attended.
Having state lawmakers along with officials from various agencies attend shows the group, Community Safety Network, is gaining traction, said group leader Simon Sampson.
"It's coming together," he said. "We just need to keep getting people involved."
Gang violence last Sunday left a 20-year-old man injured in a drive-by shooting in the 500 block of East First Avenue. And last month, gang members fired a dozen shots into an upstairs apartment on F Street, striking a pregnant woman twice in the torso. Her injuries were not life-threatening and her unborn child was not struck.
In March, a drive-by shooting near where the railroad tracks intersect with Buena Way left two young men dead.
Police have documented more than 250 gang members in the city on the Yakama reservation, but many of them are from other areas.
Group members handed state Sen. Jim Honeyford, R-Sunnyside, and state Rep. Bruce Chandler, R-Granger, a list of proposed laws clamping down on gang violence.
State Rep. David Taylor, R-Moxee, was invited but didn't show for reasons not immediately available.
Proposed laws range from treating gang houses like drug houses, subject to seizure and forfeiture, to tougher curfew laws, a minimum five-year sentence for anyone involved in a drive-by shooting and a minimum life sentence for anyone involved in a gang shooting that claims a life.
"It's pretty extensive," Honeyford said of the list of proposals. "But with the support of Toppenish citizens and citizens in other communities, I think we can get some of it done."
Dialog between residents, officials and lawmakers ranged from protecting witnesses to forming Block Watch groups and seeking funds for gang prevention programs.
Franciso Maltos recently formed a Block Watch group on F Street on the east side of town after the pregnant woman who lives across the street was shot.
Maltos told how he began getting residents together at his home for meetings and a barbecue to form the Block Watch.
"I think that we as citizens, we need to contribute to our community and not take away from it," he said. "I think the No. 1 way we can contribute to our community is to be a good parent."
Mayor Loren Belton said he attended one of the meetings at Maltos' house and learned the people living just houses apart didn't know one another.
"We don't even know our neighbors anymore," Sampson added.
Group members are now talking about forming alliances with similar groups in Yakima and Sunnyside.
"The reality is if we do something together, then we can make something happen," Sampson said.
Some headway at least. But, we can't do ANYTHING without the appropriate legislation from our STATE legislature passing a law to allow the "Civil Injunction" language into our justice system.
I'm not sure that is possible, given their history in this regard - the west-side seem to think that gangs aren't a problem and that "those poor children of the almost holy migrant worker" should be given a break. Since the west-side rules the state, we are facing an uphill battle.
Sometimes I wonder who is worse - the gangs or a non-responsive legislature. Too bad our law enforcement agencies won't just push the law a little and start harassing these gangers some - I don't think anyone will retaliate by suing us. Time to thumb our noses at the ACLU and take our cities back.
(This comment has been removed by a Yakima Herald-Republic moderator)
There's enough people in the valley with what I would call a racist attitude that may make them hate others. These gangsters shouldn't be violent but you guys are violent. There's this creepy feeling reading your post and I think you like to stoke race problems. After your "hunting" statements I'm wodering what you do in your free time.
Report ViolationNick do gangs affect you personally ?, Can't you move ? Are the gangs having an affect on your local government officals locally, personally ? Don't you vote ? Where in the US are they solving gang problems ? Washington DC ? Do they have fruit to pick in Washington DC ?
Just asking, Gangs have no affect on my life. I see it in the papers,news, killings all over the world. We are rounding up Taliban right now.
You made a point NICK. I dont believe its a RACE issue I believe its a parenting issue.. We lost the basics of raising our children. Nobody learns self respect, common sense, Self Discipline, respecting others, or anything of common knowlage and descency.. Gang Violence does not affect me personally but it does affect my community. A stray bullet went right thru my nephews crib last month luckily he was in bed with his loving devoting parents.. Other wise it would have affected me personally. Where are these "GANGSTERS" parents??? Kind of funny that they claiming EAST SIDE WEST SIDE In toppenish of all towns. Isnt that where the west still lives.. LMAO!
Report ViolationCan somebody please explain to me why my comment was censored? Because I simply stated that my dad disciplined me enough to keep me away from gangs? I'm really sorry the "thought police" failed to recognize the premise of my comment was: Good parenting prevents gangs.
Report Violationbut at what point do you come to terms with civilization and America. Freedoms are what make us great & bad. The problem must get so bad before it can be solved. We are not there yet. Not even close. You can't afford to move away from the bullets ? Who's problem is that ? Look at the rest of the World, you got it pretty good.
Jordan, you act like you are condoning the gangs. We shouldn't have to move. We move, then we are giving in-. And yes, many can't afford to move. The elderly for example. And it affects all of us personally. Anyone can be hit by a stray bullet. We are losing revenue b/c people don't want to visit our gang infested town. We have a great convention center, but how many companies want to have a convention in the middle of gang warfare? You should get your head out of the sand. You should really re-think your argument, currently you appear to be uneducated and sympathizing with gangs.
Report ViolationIf you want to know what Yakima will look like in ten years, go look around Toppenish. If you want to know what Yakima will look like in 20 years, go take a walk around Wapato. Like Yakima, those were nice communities a couple decades ago. You see the same transition and degradation taking place through many of Yakima's neighborhoods, schools, parks and business districts. Another similarity is the lack of leadership and vision from the city council and city staff complicated by internal squabbles.
Report ViolationI don't condon gangs. Gangs don't pay taxes, they don't vote either. Why are they having a larger impact on society than the people who vote and pay taxes in these neighborhoods or anywhere. Why is that ? I'm just posing questions. Who will solve the problem ? Really....
Report Violationcurrently you appear to be uneducated.
I Don't fully understand your comment.
Your Leaders are Educated-I assume. Why haven't they solved your gang problem or are the problems getting worse.
Leaders solve problems-Posers tell you what you want to hear.
You can Move, Vote, what else can you really do ?
Jordan - I'm shocked by your questions, but here are my answers, (Add to them, the comment from Jay).
In the order in which you asked:
Yes, my general neighborhood had something like 30 shootings in 30 days this summer.
No
Some
Yes
LA, CALIF.
Yes, mostly blacks and Puerto Ricans - Here is is mostly Mexicans and Central Americans.
The only fruits I know of in DC are the few Senators that are gay.
Move? Not that easy. Vote? Why bother, but I do out of desperation. Politicians haven't got the vaguest idea how the rest of us live anymore. What else? Like I said, go hunting, block watches, pass laws like California's Civil Injunction 0- that seems to work. Last option, if anyone shoots at me, they will be dead, if I am not already.
Jordan, If you, personally, are truly hunting Taliban, then Thank You for your service. If that makes you some kind of superman or elitist and the only one to be allowed to protect yourself and property, sorry. I don't go that far. However, we ALL want to protect our homes, and will do so, just like you are protecting our way of life here. I really don't know why you are such an apologist, unless I misread your comment.
Why they are affecting us? We have no LEGAL remedies in place, and they don;t bother with legalities. Now, if you advocate getting on their level, fine by me. I think you are just a liberal, apologist snob who thinks you are too good to get involved - let everyone else do it while you sit back and criticize. But, guess what - the "Silent Majority" is no longer silent.
We agree on many things..I could tell you not to move. but that would be no fun.
I wonder if Saddam Hussein, Ahmadinejad, or Fidel Castro could solve the gang problems. The people americans hate the most. Maybe take them 2 days, a week @ the most.
The Taliban was a joke. we can round up gangs in other countries but not our own country.
When you do vote: ( They also Vote in Iran ) These are the options:
Scum 1:
Scum 2:
Scum 3:
Scum 4:
I have never been called a snob, liberal, or an elitest. Other names come to mind tho. I'm from the same side of the Tracks or River as you. I just moved.
If the neo nazis in Yakim (you know the ones who talk about "hunting" illegal with guns) would quit bringing them up and also quit stealing lots of the grants, etc. that are supposed to go them Yakima could get better.
The far right bringing illegals up? What is the far, far right? Well they're not religious that's for sure. And wasn't Hitler some kind of degenerative pervert? Well, you got that here too. And these people can't even call the police. THE NEO NAZIS ARE THE ONES BRINGING THEM IN HERE.
Mr. Sampson's efforts are positive. Toppenish is small town and could make tracks to take back their town with the gang problems. If they don't, the lower valley will become another "Oakland"; I used to own real estate in Yakima and Toppenish, and sold all of my investments because of the decline of tourism and economic downfall in Yakima valley. No one wants to visit because of the crime issues. And yes this type of crime, is found all over the world. It can be dealt with one small peice at a time and I see this happening with the community taking action by getting the "responsible" local lawmakers and representatives to help them take action. Yakima has their own issues but, Toppenish just might have a chance. Everytime there is a report in this paper about the violence and Community action meetings in Sunnyside, and Toppenish, and or other towns that have these gang issues, I see all kinds of comments, some are somewhat on the crazy side, but, never the less, must view the passion you all have in dealing with the gang problems as a positive approach of voicing your concerns about the decline of safety in the valley. Must close by stating, getting to know your neighbors, where ever you may reside, is a key element in knowing what is going on in your town.
Report Violation(This comment has been removed by a Yakima Herald-Republic moderator)
Yes, gangs affect me. They tag and steal my property. Ultimately, the cost me money...money I would rather spend other ways!
Yes, gangs affect all of us. Their crime and murders give the valley a bad name. I know many, many people who refuse to visit the valley anymore; these are people who used to be regular visitors to the land of sun - you know the west siders who want sunshine and love to spend their money here?
I applaud Toppenish for doing something! Yakima - are you next in line???
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