The Homicide Report

There was an interesting article in the LA Times about the Homicide Report. The Homicide Report is a very sad collection of the endless homicides in LA. Living in the hood, I try to keep my ear to the street. But there are a lot of rumors and exaggerations. Also, the police will block off 3 or 4 blocks and not give you any heads up on what's going on. This blog has helped me keep better track of what's going on. 

Speaking of what's going on, I have been incredibly busy. A lot of the teachers have been looking a little tired lately. I'm doing ok. Some days are rough, but I have been getting a lot of positive feedback from students lately. That always helps to brighten my days. I have a lot of life choices to make right now. I lay them on soon, but right now, I'm going to keep them in my head! 

Crazy Days

Yesterday was a terrible day. I had seen a tag in the bathroom that I had seen on the streets on the East Side. It was BDSK crew written by Smoke. I was on the look out for who did it. Why? Because I believed that if we as a school got to him before the police, we could have a positive impact. I saw a kid in the bathroom and suspected it might be him because I see him in the bathroom a lot. I told him that he looked familiar and wondered where he stayed. Coincidentally, right around the corner from where I saw the tag. I let the principal know. Unfortunately, this kid had a blunt, some weed, and a razor on him. What started as a mission to help redirect a lost youth ends with the principal having to call the police, and another young male entering the system. 

Today, things were no better. After school, a young banger from the gang across the street from the school was getting arrested. In front of the school, another kid from another gang was banging on one of our students and hit him in the face. Then they saw some Hoovas and tried to bang on them. On top of that, two of our students started fighting also. Outside, while working with security, I couldn't tell who was who because our new dress code allows almost any colored sweatshirt, so students can blend in. This new leadership at the school is weak. The dress code should be stricter and the security of the school more regulated. This is always what happens with people from outside the hood making decisions. It is extremely frustrating. 

It is hard to see, but in the background, you can see a cop car where the kid was arrested this afternoon.