Speaking of GANGS

[Detector]

Anyone watch the news last night or this morning? I think it was KSN? that is running a special on our gang problem. I remember some time back I started a post about the gang problem and to quote the response, "We don't have a gang problem, these are just kids being kinds."

Well now that "these kids" have grown up and passed their ambitions on to the youth, we have a real problem. Thank you once again beef packers for blessing our small community with big city problems.

The special is supposed to run all week at 5:00pm Next they plan to interview some of the local families that have had their lives changed from our local kids being kids.

KSNW - Local News - Showdown in Dodge: Gang violence cripples the historic Wild West

Lopez says fear of retaliation keeps him and other students from going to the staff. The 13 year old says it's easier to rely on friends

That and the fact that reporting crimes to the school administration does no good.

Fueled by the meat packing industry, Dodge's population grew steadily. With that growth, came social problems including gangs.

Which also fuels our immigration problem which fuels our gang problem. Lets give credit where credit is due.

[JayhawkMom]

I would like to whole heartedly thank whichever group of "city fathers" thought these beef packing plants were the answer to our economy.............This use to be a pretty nice town to raise kids in.........My kids, thankfully, graduated school here just as the Gang situation started, so they didn't have to deal with it much. I have a grandson that most definitely will not go to school here. My family will move first.

[TexKan]

It's not just the meat packers - gangs go where thier livelihood is supported. Thier livelihood is not workin at the meat houses - its stealin, drugs and pimpin be it humans or horses, cock fights, or dog fights. They turn money to make money. If Dodge has the population to support the gangs activity - they will stay - they are real protective of thier turf -

Granted there are some gang members probably working but the majority of the hard core members are not your average 9 to 5 worker. It don't pay enough money.

Dodge and many small towns are nice towns to raise the kids - just be in by dark!

In Houston and larger cities you really have to pick your neighborhood carefully! During the day and night!

I think gangs have just become an accepted culture almost. Too bad but that's the way it seems in some towns. I think some towns feel if you can keep em in one area - then you are winnin. The taggin really ticks folks off but I would rather paint over a "tag" everyday if we could stop the daily murders that are gang related. That's how Houston's murder rate climbed like it did - gang wars from NO with our local gangs. It got pretty bloody! They stepped up the task force, started arresting and ofcourse the local Tx gangers killed quite a few of the NO gang. NO gangs started leavin or dyin.

Good luck with ya'lls issues - they aren't easy that's for sure!

[Bubba]

But this news report specifically tied the meat packing industry to hispanic workers and hispanic gangs.

[JayhawkMom]

Originally Posted by Bubba

But this news report specifically tied the meat packing industry to hispanic workers and hispanic gangs.

Thanks Bubba.............the point I was trying to make is that there wasn't a problem in this town prior to beef packing.......I've lived here all my life and until they moved in, we NEVER had a gang problem.

[Firedog]

When a parent finds out thier kid is in a gang and can't do anything to get them out they move. Well guess what, you can take the animal out of the jungle but you can't take the jungle out of the animail. The kid moves and goes with is parents ideas, but the whole time they are checking things out. Then they see what is going on, they make a few phone calls and get some drugs in and start selling them, that goes good for them, then they have some gang members come to town and set up shop. They got drug, guns, girls. Now they start getting kids to join in that town. That is how most gangs move and get bigger. Now another small town has a gang problem, or kids just being kids.

[TexKan]

I'm not sayin that meat packing industry doesn't bring in some unsavory characters - what I'm saying is you would still have gangs even if you didnt have meat packing plants.

[Made in the USA]

Originally Posted by JayhawkMom

I would like to whole heartedly thank whichever group of "city fathers" thought these beef packing plants were the answer to our economy.............This use to be a pretty nice town to raise kids in.........My kids, thankfully, graduated school here just as the Gang situation started, so they didn't have to deal with it much. I have a grandson that most definitely will not go to school here. My family will move first.

Several of us tried to warn them about what would happen. I personally saw it happen in every town that they came to, but all the "CF" could see was $$ and the BS that they were being fed from the packers. At that time we had Hy Plains Dressed Beef, but LOCAL AMERICANS worked there, and Sam Davis ran a tight ship!

Originally Posted by Bubba

But this news report specifically tied the meat packing industry to hispanic workers and hispanic gangs.

I don't remember any white gangs before we had the packers. Packers arrive, the we have Vietnamese gangs, then hispanic.

Originally Posted by JayhawkMom

Thanks Bubba.............the point I was trying to make is that there wasn't a problem in this town prior to beef packing.......I've lived here all my life and until they moved in, we NEVER had a gang problem.

You know it Mom!!

Originally Posted by TexKan

I'm not sayin that meat packing industry doesn't bring in some unsavory characters - what I'm saying is you would still have gangs even if you didnt have meat packing plants.

That's not necessarily true Texie!! We used to be able to manage our situation here, then they give the "Key to the City" to the packers. Now they run the place!! Seems like everybody is afraid of them for some reason!! I say F*ckem, let 'em leave. WE were doing just great before they arrived and ruined our "way of life"!!

[TexKan]

I undertand what you are sayin - my sister's garage gets tagged bout every month - sometimes 2X's a month - that's probably gangs.

My house got paint balled - that' wasn't gangs. - It was Kids bein Kids -

I just think you would have gangs with or without the packers. Are they worse cause they are there???.......... surely they are.

Are they the MAIN cause????........ probably

Would the gangs dissappear with the packing plants????........... unlikely. You still have the drug market -

Would you notice them???........... perhaps not.

Would that be acceptable???............ more than likely.

I'm not disagreeing - I'm just lookin at it differently. We don't have packers - we have gangs (lots of gangs)

We had gangs (Bandidtos (lots) Hells Angels (afew) in the 60's, Bloods and Crips (70's), Brown Assians and Asian gangs - 80's......... now we got all of em.) The Bloods and Crips are not from Mexico............ they are home grown.

[K C Muffin]

I agree with you, but I still think the strongest ties to gangs came with the packers. I was with the Chamber of Commerce when they were trying to get the packers here. We worked very hard gathering information, having meetings, listening to citizens, etc., etc., etc. I don't remember for sure, but I do believe we looked for feedback from other cities the packers called home. I honestly don't remember what feedback we got. It was a huge coup, as it was expected it would be run like Sam ran his plant.

That said, I believe there would still be gangs there now, not as organized, maybe, but they'd be there. The only thing is - there ISN'T a good neighborhood to be in there because they aren't localized. Here, there are good neighborhoods and bad ones. And sometimes the good ones become bad ones as they get older. I'm probably a little spoiled now....I don't ever have to go into one of those neighborhoods (unless I'm lost! ). I just know I couldn't put up with living in the same neighborhood they do and I see you have to. I'm sorry.