When I was 21-years-old, finding an apartment—or another apartment—was simple. You just filled out a one page application, signed the thing and plopped down your first and last months rent. With the help of a few college buddies you moved in the next weekend. Same thing with getting a job—or another job; it was a piece of cake.
It’s been a long time since I tried to find a place to live, or looked for a job. Forty years just slipped by, without me taking nary a notice that a young person today who has any blemish on his/her driving record, employment history, residential background, or credit report, might as well pull up a cot on skid row. Without some serious intervention or help, he’s not going to find a regular job. And forget about decent place to live!
Take a look at this generic Rental Application, for example. I don’t blame landlords; I understand that screening is necessary to protect their interests. Why invite trouble. But on the other hand how about the young person who’s trying to turn his life around? How is he or she expected to change and make a new start if no one will give him a chance?
I can’t tell you how many people took chances on me: My mother, teachers, mentors, landlords, employers, even a few cops. How about you? Were you such a perfect youth? Today, parolees and undocumented workers get a better break when it comes to resources than do this group of troubled or misguided youth.
What parents like me need is a lighthouse—la casa de luz. As we float in despair on the open, foreboding seas of fear and uncertainty for our children, we need to be guided quietly, stealthfully to the shores of sanity.
I’m just one person, but it seems to me that the City Attorney’s Witness-Victim Assistance Program should be that beacon. After all, if you’re a witness or a victim, where else should you start looking for help?
It’s not like you went to fugitives’ boot camp or survivors’ academy. Nobody gives you the playbook on how to survive a gang home invasion. Or how to deal with death threats. If you are in my position you need HELP!!!
You need some basic questions answered, like: When to go for “outside” assistance, where to find advocates in your area, what to ask the police, and how to make a helpful witness/victim statement. And you certainly need to make a plan.
But while time for you stands still, the gang is on the move and you’ll need to employ some new guerilla strategies to stay on top of the situation. Someone’s got to teach you how to duck, tuck and roll when you hear gunfire…and how to recognize vehicle license plate numbers (and letters) at a glance. And for your daily routine, you’ll need to gain some new parking, driving and shopping survival skills that’ll help you avoid unwanted encounters with your new adversaries.
No one can teach us these things unless they’ve had such experiences. Or are versed in gang behavior. That's why we need a lighthouse! I just want to remind City Hall that we may be just little boats, but so many little boats make up a fleet worth saving.
I’m praying that the Witness-Victim Assistance Program will be my lighthouse. But since they’re not open this weekend—I’m guessing especially over Easter weekend, with everyone enjoying family activities—that I’ll have to call first thing Monday to find out exactly what they can/will do to help save my son’s life. Meanwhile, my weekend plan is to lay low, stay sane and keep my six-foot-tall man-child hidden away like a moldy old wedding dress, like himself the criminal, or like hidden treasure I want to selfishly covet.
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The City and State dealt with gangs for so long only through supression, without regard for intervention and prevention. Now we've caught on that we need a multi-faceted approach, but the whole thing is so random. Throw some money here, throw some there. Nothing will be effective until there's an umbrella approach and accountability.
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