Richmond arrives at a crossroads

In 2005, hardly a day went by that a boy or young man wasn't wounded or killed in a street shooting in Richmond.

[Yam Man]

Who wrote this propaganda crap...everybody knows Richmond is a hell hole...you make it sound like all of the community activism had turned the city into Disneyland before the rape happened. Wrong. They are approaching 50 murders this year...an increase for even Richmond...it will once again receive the honors of being the most "Dangerous City" in California... maybe the USA this year. Go Richmond !

[Anonymous]

Richmond needs to get the Feds to send in SWAT teams to clean sweep the town. Oh wait, the same thing could be said for Vallejo as well. A two-for-one deal. What's the number to call the SWAT office?

[Anonymous]

Their police force is better than Vallejo's thats for sure. Maybe the council will get rid of Nichelini now.

[BOLO BHM1825]

The Police Chief works for the City Manager, not the council. Now is not the time to add to organizational chaos by "getting rid of" a senior department head, especially after council has directed severe cuts to and resulting loss of service and patrol capability in the PD.
A hundred more police at half the cost would not equate to a reduction in the numbers of violent criminals packing heat just about everywhere in town.
And since they have certain rights, they are untouchable even when your instincts tell you they are armed.

[Dirt]

I read this article; is it April 1st?

[Unfair]

"Richmond, unfairly, is being characterized as a violent, urban wasteland."

Unfairly? Gang rapes on high school campuses, record numbers of murders, drug dealing in the streets, crime out of control, no end in sight... sounds like a fair characterization to me.

As for cutting the police department in V-town, don't do it. There's only one solution available now. Eliminate all non-police personnel. Hire more cops and clean up Vallejo. When that's done, businesses, people, and visitors will want to come back and stick around. The revenues they generate will allow others to be rehired and the city to grow again. It's was too late to try and piecemeal this thing now. Drastic times require drastic measures. Let's hope the new council can see that.

[Out Of Context]

When guns are are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. It is high time that LAW ABIDING CITIZENS be allowed to carry concealed handguns so that they have the most basic of all human rights - the right to self defense. It is a fact that if more law abiding citizens carried and the criminals know that many were, the chances are extremely good that the majority of these sensless crimes would be reduced. California is in the minority when it comes to banning citizens from carrying concealed weapons and we can now see the result. You tried it the bleeding heart cowardly way, now it's time to try the practical approach and allow people the right to defend themselves and the thugs and gangbangers will get the message.

[chrissy]

Out Of Context wrote:

When guns are are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. It is high time that LAW ABIDING CITIZENS be allowed to carry concealed handguns so that they have the most basic of all human rights - the right to self defense. It is a fact that if more law abiding citizens carried and the criminals know that many were, the chances are extremely good that the majority of these sensless crimes would be reduced. California is in the minority when it comes to banning citizens from carrying concealed weapons and we can now see the result. You tried it the bleeding heart cowardly way, now it's time to try the practical approach and allow people the right to defend themselves and the thugs and gangbangers will get the message.

OHHH MYYY PRAISE THE LORD...JESUS PACKS A NINE RIGHT??? JUST LOCK EM UP AROUND THE KIDS........NOW...WE WOULDNT WANT TO HURT THEM.....RIGHT FRIEND??? LMFAO :)

[interesting]

I've seen the news reports from Richmond about this incident. I've seen the friends and families of the accused saying "he dinn do nuthin!" on the news again and again. I've seen the faith community come togehter and support the victim, and I've seen their "stop the violence" pleas on the TV news. What I have not seen is a single person take on the great cultural norm that leads to these types of crimes. There is a stated value within a cultural group in our country that states "Stop Snitchin'" The social pressure and the accepted cultural norm is to blame, distrust, lie to, and disrupt the efforts of all law enforcement. The basic tenent of this belief system is that the cops are always wrong. This leads to a situation in which doing anything you want, evading the police, and getting away with your crime makes you MORE accepted in that cultural group.

So, here's my question to those who cry "Stop the Violence" and "Stop the Killing". How about your own campaign AGAINST the "Stop Snitchin'" thug mantra with "Stop Shootin'", Stop Bangin'" "Stop Rapin'", "Stop Robbing'", "Stop Killin'", "Stop Lying" and the like? If you want to stop the violence, stop the gang rapes, stop the 12 year olds shot while trick or treating because some 18 year old thought they were rival gang members, then you have to hold accountable those doing the raping, shooting, and stabbing. You do this by COOPERATING with law enforcement. The more the lack of cooperation with the police is glorified and encouraged as a social norm, the more of these crimes we'll face.

This has nothing to do with race. It has everything to do with the value system that has been adopted in one section of American culture. The answer is to change that value system. That's when the violence that it glorifies will stop.

[Yam Man]

Dear "Interesting"...in a perfect world I would have to agree with you...but we are far from perfect...just put yourself in the witness's shoes...you have thugs living to each side of you and all throughout the neighborhood...the case goes to court and because the cops didn't dot the "i" or cross the "t"...the suspects are released...now you have 10 years of being terrorized by the suspect, his family and his gang. Thanks but no thanks.

[chrissy]

Yam Man wrote:

Dear "Interesting"...in a perfect world I would have to agree with you...but we are far from perfect...just put yourself in the witness's shoes...you have thugs living to each side of you and all throughout the neighborhood...the case goes to court and because the cops didn't dot the "i" or cross the "t"...the suspects are released...now you have 10 years of being terrorized by the suspect, his family and his gang. Thanks but no thanks.

GOOD EYE ....WHY IS IT SO HARD FOR SOME TO BELIEVE THAT POLICE ARE HUMAN AND THEREFORE CAPABLE OF ERROR OR EVIL.....THE ISSUE IS TRUST!!!!! FLAV WAS RIGHT "CANT TRUST IT "

[interesting]

Yam Man wrote:

Dear "Interesting"...in a perfect world I would have to agree with you...but we are far from perfect...just put yourself in the witness's shoes...you have thugs living to each side of you and all throughout the neighborhood...the case goes to court and because the cops didn't dot the "i" or cross the "t"...the suspects are released...now you have 10 years of being terrorized by the suspect, his family and his gang. Thanks but no thanks.

The concept that someone is going to get off becasue of the cops is just a different version of the whole "no snitchin" metality- the cops are the enemy, so don't tell them anything. If you do tell them anything, the cops will screw it up anyway, so just don't snitch. So its always the fault of the cops.... Are you kidding me?

The goal of witnesses should be to tell the truth about what has occured. If you're not willing to be part of the solution, then don't get on tv and cry about being innocent, and wail about stopping the violence.

And yes, I've had to go to court to testify in a criminal case, and yes I was threatened. Guess what happened? The accused went to prison because he was guilty, and the threats never amounted to anything but a bunch of posturing in the courthouse parking lot.

[interesting]

chrissy wrote:

<quoted text>
GOOD EYE ....WHY IS IT SO HARD FOR SOME TO BELIEVE THAT POLICE ARE HUMAN AND THEREFORE CAPABLE OF ERROR OR EVIL.....THE ISSUE IS TRUST!!!!! FLAV WAS RIGHT "CANT TRUST IT "

So, what's the answer then? If a segment of the community refuses to trust the police, and therefore won't answer to law enforcement for what they've seen or what they've done, what's your proposed solution?

[chrissy]

interesting wrote:

<quoted text>
The concept that someone is going to get off becasue of the cops is just a different version of the whole "no snitchin" metality- the cops are the enemy, so don't tell them anything. If you do tell them anything, the cops will screw it up anyway, so just don't snitch. So its always the fault of the cops.... Are you kidding me?
The goal of witnesses should be to tell the truth about what has occured. If you're not willing to be part of the solution, then don't get on tv and cry about being innocent, and wail about stopping the violence.
And yes, I've had to go to court to testify in a criminal case, and yes I was threatened. Guess what happened? The accused went to prison because he was guilty, and the threats never amounted to anything but a bunch of posturing in the courthouse parking lot.

FACT: CASES ARE LOST AND SUSPECTS ARE FREED ON TECHNICALITIES
FACT: PEOPLE HAVE DIED FOR TESTIMONY
FACT: PEOPLE HAVE DIED KILLED BY CAPITAL PUNISHMENT WHO WHERE LATER PROVEN INNOCENT , SOME FROM EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY
POLICE ARE REQUIRED TO INVESTIGATE...SO REGARDLESS OF WETHER A CRIME IS WITNESSED OR NOT...THEY STILL HAVE TO TRY AND SOLVE CASES THEY CANT ALWAYS BE HANDED THE SUSPECT ON A SILVER PLATTER......SOME HAVE DIED WHERE NO ONE HAS SEEN....WHAT OF THOSE VICTIMS .......THE IDEA IS NOT A SIMPLE AS SNITCH ......WE HAVE TO BE PROACTIVE AND PREVENT ISSUES NOT JUST REACTIVE :)

[chrissy]

interesting wrote:

<quoted text>
So, what's the answer then? If a segment of the community refuses to trust the police, and therefore won't answer to law enforcement for what they've seen or what they've done, what's your proposed solution?

NOT JUST A SEGMENT ...THAT IS TUNNEL VISION....AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH BY POLICE AND A PREVENTATIVE APPROACH IS THE SOLUTION ....NOT ANSWERING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT???? ARE U AWARE OF YOUR RIGHTS AND THE FACT THAT AS A CITIZEN AND TAXPAYER YOUR PAID PUBLIC SERVANTS SHOULD ALSO ANSWER TO YOU ??????

[Yam Man]

More power to you "interesting"...I'm glad you did what you did and survived...your ISP shows Napa...if that's the case...it's a little different in Richmond, Oakland, etc..you had a suspect to deal with....other folks have to deal with the family and fellow gang members...the system is broken....my only answer is that witnesses be kept anonymous and taped in the dark by a cop...that's just off the top of my head..I'm sure I'll get "clowned" for that suggestion

[fureal]

roflmao
yeah right !
Dome it and nuke it.

[Dirt]

Did a little research: Gangs from San Pablo have a prior history of killing off witnesses and possibly victims too. This is not the end of the violence directly related to this matter. The Yam fellow seems very wise.

[chrissy]

Yam Man wrote:

More power to you "interesting"...I'm glad you did what you did and survived...your ISP shows Napa...if that's the case...it's a little different in Richmond, Oakland, etc..you had a suspect to deal with....other folks have to deal with the family and fellow gang members...the system is broken....my only answer is that witnesses be kept anonymous and taped in the dark by a cop...that's just off the top of my head..I'm sure I'll get "clowned" for that suggestion

INTERESTING'S CASE IS JUST ONE ...THEY DONT ALL PLAY OUT THE SAME.....THAT IS WHY NO ONE THING IS A SOLUTION ...MANY THINGS MUST HAPPEN AND EVEN WITH ALL EFFORTS BEING MADE ....U CANNOT ELIMINATE CRIME 100% ANYWHERE ON THE PLANET EARTH....THANKS FOR USING CLOWNED ....I LIKE IT ;)

[Yam Man]

I agree Chrissy...and thanks for "having my back"...that goes to you to Mr. Dirt