So far, so good: Report not followed by violence
PICO NEIGHBORHOOD — A recent warning issued by police that hostilities might be increasing between gangs from Los Angeles and Santa Monica has not coincided with an increase in violent crimes committed in the city, officials said.
Last week, the Daily Press published a report which said local law enforcement was on higher alert after receiving a tip that gang tensions between members from Los Angeles and Santa Monica have intensified.
On Tuesday, representatives from the Santa Monica Police Department, which provided the information for the Nov. 23 report, “Writing on the wall could spell trouble,” said there have been no reported incidents of local gang-related violence since the advisory was released.
As a precautionary measure, the SMPD will continue to have increased patrols in the Pico neighborhood, according to SMPD Lt. Frank Fabrega.
Last week, the SMPD had received unconfirmed and uncorroborated information from an informant regarding recent gang activity in the Los Angeles area. The information identifies a Santa Monica gang as a potential target for retaliation, according to police.
The SMPD reports an increase in gang-related graffiti in the Pico neighborhood, which is indicative of increased tensions. Such graffi-ti in the past has been a precursor to gang violence.
The SMPD has been in contact with the LAPD for the surrounding area and they have received no recent reports of gang violence attributed to Santa Monica gang members as suspects.
Residents on Tuesday shared a mixed reaction to the report.
Oscar de la Torre, a school board member and community activist, said he has noticed more graffiti in recent weeks, but based on his observations, he said it’s not the kind that should be of much concern to community members.
“I haven’t seen an increase in gang-related graffiti, but I have seen an increase in tagger-related graffiti, the latter which we should be less alarmed about,” de la Torre said.
Another long-term Pico resident and community activist, Mat Milen, noticed in early November graffiti on the corner of 17th Street and Delaware which he believed was authored by the Venice Shoreline Crips, a rival gang to those in Santa Monica. The graffiti contained a “187” — the penal code for murder.
Milen was concerned the appearances of such graffiti might indicate heightened tensions between gangs and a threat of violence.
However, Milen said he has not seen any other new gang graffiti since.
De la Torre, who is also director of the Pico Youth & Family Center — which works along with the Police Activities League to help youngsters resist the gang life — said more can be done to help the cause of such organizations.
“The issue of youth violence has been around for many years,” de la Torre said. “We need to invest more in prevention and intervention programs to ensure that young people stay away from crime, violence and drugs.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 1, 2005. Read the original PDF.