[eastbay]

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ss ... rtlan.html

The gangs are active at all hours. Everyone must avoid their claimed land. Or else.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('IgnoranceIsBliss', '
')So going forward, these types of crimes will continue to grow. We have huge and growing numbers of "idle" youth with a complete lack of decency in this country, so things are going to get interesting.

[SeaGypsy]

Hey E.B.
I once went up to a bunch of "Taggers" and asked them why don't they use a few brain cells and actually say something instead of wasting paint on the ugly brain dead crap they were doing.
They looked at me like I was a surprisingly noisy cabbage and kept 'Tagging'.
Just another reason I'm glad it's hard to get a gun in Australia.

[JohnDenver]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', 'I') spent part of this morning cleaning off fresh gang graffiti from fences in our neighborhood. As I was powerwashing I had a thought about preventing costly garden vandalism. Currently, those responsible will be dealt a wrist slapping at most. They know this which is why they perform such acts without fear of arrest. So why not pay the local street gang a small protection fee. Seriously, check it out.

The cops obviously can't protect us now, the citizens are mostly afraid of intervening or reporting what they see, so imagine what it will be like a few years in the down the decaying road! I envision the newly recruited criminal street gang wanna be's and prospects would be assigned to stand guard as part of their initiation process. They wil stand vigilant guard duty because they want into the gang and screwing up an assignment as a recruit means Very Bad Things Will Happen to Them. So the gardens will be protected.

Everyone will be happy! No vandalism, the gang picks up a few bucks or some free food, and whomever attempts such destruction gets.... uh.... 'dealt with very quickly'.

[...]

It wouldn't matter whether or not it 'was' them. The destruction will cease if they're paid off. The pay wouldn't have to be that large, maybe something representing 10% of the garden production... a 'tax' if you will.