What are the problems gang stories can solve?
Your racist and sensational stories on gangs seem to demonize low-income young people for wearing hip-hop fashions and painting graffiti. You quote a Gainesville lawman who says graffiti proves ”you already have a gang problem” even if our own police chief doubts it, and you quote an anonymous teacher who equates the wearing of rosaries and dark colors with criminal gangs. You quote a ”reverend” who says he has witnessed all kinds of crimes, including rape, that were never reported to police (by him or anyone else, apparently). I don’t want to minimize the problems or dangers, since Athens has had a couple of shootings that smack of youth-gang rivalries. But I have lived for years within shouting distance of Garnett Ridge Drive, and I don’t find my neighbors so intimidating. I could complain (and do, to the police) about some occasional late-night celebrating, but the neighborhood improved when a new manager bought many of the units several years ago. Some of these neighbors are pu
